Phillips Laboratory, Directorate of Contracting, 2251 Maxwell Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773

A -- RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SOL F29601-96-C-0107 POC Point of Contact -- Gail Hamblet, Contracting Officer, 505/846-4987 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the Contracting Officer via e-mail, hamblet@plk.af.mil. The Air Force Phillips Laboratory, Directorate of Contracting, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico on behalf of the Phillips Laboratory Space Technology Division, Dynamic Systems Branch, Kirtland AFB, NM intends to award a sole source modification to contract F29601-96-C-0107 awarded to CSA Engineering, Inc., (CSA) for the following described effort based on technology developed and demonstrated by CSA under previous Small Innovative Research Program (SBIR) contracts. BACKGROUND: The Air Force Space and Missile System Center, Space and Missile Test and Evaluation Directorate, Launch Test Program Office (SMC/TEB), provides launch systems and launch services to place Government payloads into orbit. The Orbital/Suborbital Program (OSP) is intended to provide these capabilities. OSP will provide enhanced capability and flexibility in producing low cost space and sub-orbital launch systems to meet a wide variety of mission requirements. The Government's objective is to utilize excess Minuteman assets to provide a launch capability to place small satellites into low earth orbits. The spacecraft being considered are < 1,500 lbs., with most of the spacecraft weighting < 600 lbs. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this effort is to design, analyze, fabricate and test a family of low-cost, passive launch isolation systems for OSP to reduce dynamic loads transmitted to satellite payloads during launch. The approach is to provide whole-spacecraft isolation from the launch vehicle (LV) structural-borne vibrations at the payload interface. The whole-spacecraft isolation system shall be designed to meet the following goals: (1) The isolation systems would be designed to be passive and provide axial and lateral isolation, (2) The isolation system will reduce the based-coupled root mean square (RMS) acceleration on the satellite by a factor of 3 when the base of the isolator is subjected to dynamic loads typical of the Minuteman LV, (3) Total design weight less than 15 lbs and have minimal or no impact on payload volume, (4) Satisfy all OSP interface requirements, (5) Compatible with the LV control system. The government shall provide all necessary satellite and LV models and load environments to complete the design and analysis of the family of launch isolation systems. A maximum of three launch isolation system types shall be developed to cover the range of expected LV/payload combinations. Designs shall be based on the results of coupled loads analyses using a maximum of four different load environments on a minimum of five LV/payload combinations to define the performance spectrum expected for the family of isolation systems. Component designs and overall system performance shall be verified through thorough analysis including a complete coupled loads analysis using the government provided launch environments. The contractor is responsible for the performance of all analyses including coupled loads analyses. These analyses must meet all of the requirements of the OSP program office. All isolation system components shall be designed, analyzed, fabricated and verified through ground testing. System level hardware testing shall be accomplished to verify analysis results. System level hardware testing may use either mass simulators or actual satellites. All delivered hardware shall meet all published OSP flight specifications. The performance period for the tasks shall be eighteen (18) months. The Government possesses SBIR or Government Purpose Data Rights to this technology, thus a Statement of Work is not available until those rights expire and convert to unlimited government rights. A contract modification will be awarded to CSA provided other sources cannot furnish the services at more favorable terms. Respondents are required to provide sufficient information concerning their ability to fulfill the above requirements within the eighteen month performance period in order for the project office to make a determination that the requirements can be met. A draft of a program plan as well as the resumes of key personnel must also be included in the response. Responses are limited to a total of fifteen (15) pages including program plan, resumes, attachments, diagrams, etc. Submit responses to Ms. Gail Hamblet, PL/PKVC, 2251 Maxwell SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773 no later than fifteen (15) calendar days after the date of this announcement by 3:00 PM, Mountain Daylight Time.: The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 6.302. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within thirty days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Foreign firms are advised that theywill not be allowed to participate as a prime contractor. Firms responding should indicate if they are a Small Business, a Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Business, an 8 (a) Qualified Business or a Woman-Owned Business. To be considered a Small Business, the following applies: SIC Code 8731, Size Standard 1,000 employees. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors or potential offerors, primarily during the proposal development phase of this negotiated acquisition. The purpose of the Ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the Program Director or Contracting Officer, but to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel in the pre-proposal phase of competitive, negotiated acquisitions. Before contacting the Ombudsman, potential offerors should first communicate with the Contracting Officer. In those instances where offerors cannot obtain resolution from the Contracting Officer, they are invited to contact the Ombudsman at the Phillips Operating Location of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Mr Bruce Grunsten, Chief, Mission Support Division (PL/PKM), at (505) 846-8273, or at 2251 Maxwell Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the source selection process. For contracting issues please contact Gail Hamblet, Contracting Officer, at 505/846-4987. For technical issues, please contact Gene Fosness, Project Manager at 505/846-7883. Notes 22 and 26. (0224)

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