R&D Contracting Directorate, Bldg 7, 2530 C Street, WPAFB, OH 45433-7607

A -- LITHIUM-ION BATTERY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SOL PRDA No. 98-01-POK DUE 122297 POC Contact Dennis Strobel, Contract Negotiator, (937) 255-5310, or Kathy Walston, Contracting Officer, (937) 255-5310 WEB: click here to view the list of pre-solicitation conference attendees, http://www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/hp.htm. INTRODUCTION: The United States Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Laboratory, Aero Propulsion and Power Directorate, Aerospace Power Division, Battery Branch (WL/POOB) is interested in receiving proposals on the research effort described below. Proposals in response to this Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA) shall be submitted by 22 Dec 97, 1300 hours Eastern Time, addressed to: Wright Laboratory, WL/POKA, Attn: Dennis Strobel, Area B, Building 7, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7607, telephone number (937) 255-5310. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. Also, teaming arrangements between universities and private industry are encouraged. Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. Proposal receipt after the cut-off date/time specified herein shall be treated in accordance with the restrictions of FAR 52.215-10, a copy of which may be obtained from the contracting point of contact. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. There is a supplemental package available for Offerors which contains a list(s) of the various batteries and lithium-ion cells (as well as their requirements and projected delivery dates) to be delivered as hardware for this effort. Offerors may request a copy of the package by faxing Dennis Strobel at fax number (937) 255-4434. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments that may be published in the Commerce Business Daily. Offerors should request a copy of the WL Guide entitled "PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry." This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the PRDA/BAA proposal process. Copies may be requested from the contracting point of contact shown above. The Guide is also available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/ prdag.htm. Based upon market research, the Government is not using the policies contained in FAR Part 12, Acquisitionof Commercial Items, in its solicitation for the described supplies or services. However, interested persons may identify to the contracting officer their interest and capability to satisfy the Government's requirement with a commercial item within 15 days of this notice. B -- REQUIREMENTS: (1) Technical Description: The Lithium-Ion Battery Development Program is a joint DOD/NASA effort to develop high specific energy and long life lithium-ion cells, lithium-ion cells capable of operating over a wide temperature range (-40oC to +70oC) and withstanding severe mechanical shock/vibration of modern aircraft/space delivery systems, smart batteries for various DoD/NASA applications, and to establish U.S. battery sources, as well as demonstrate technology readiness. The various applications and technology readiness dates are i) Mars landers -- 2000 ii) Mars rovers -- 2000, iii) GEO satellites -- 2001, iv) LEO satellite/planetary orbiter -- 2003, v) Aircraft -- 2001, and vi) UAV's -- 2001. Detailed battery performance target goals are available from the technical points of contact cited in Section F of this announcement. The various efforts/tasks to be accomplished in this development program to meet or exceed the battery performance target goals are preliminarily envisioned as Cell Chemistry/Materials for High Performance and Long Battery Cycle Life, Cell Development (sizes 10-200 amp-hour), Battery Development (28, 100, and 270 volt), Smart Charger, Quality Manufacturing, and Application Specific Battery Development/Fabrication and Testing. (2) Deliverable Items: The following deliverable items shall be required, where appropriate: (a) Presentation Materials, DI-ADMN-81373/T, as requested; (b) Status Reports, DI-MGMT-80368/T, monthly; (c) Contract Funds Status Reports, DI-MGMT-81468/T, quarterly; (d) Funds and Man-hour Expenditure Reports, DI-FNCL-80331/T, monthly; (e) Scientific and Technical Reports (Contractor Billing Voucher), DI-MISC-80711/T), monthly; (f) Scientific and Technical Reports (Draft and Reproducible Final), DI-MISC-80711/T; (g) Developmental Design Drawings and Lists, DI-DRPR-81002A/T, as requested; (h) Test Plans, DI-NDTI-80566/T, as requested; (I) Detailed Specification Document, DI-SDMP-81464/T, as requested; (j) Test Reports, DI-NDTI-80809A/T, as requested. A list of hardware deliverables can be obtained by requesting the previously referenced supplemental package. (3) Security Requirements: Access to classified data up to and including SECRET may be required to support this effort, thus a DD Form 254 will be required. SECRET facility and storage clearance requirements apply. TEMPEST requirements will apply. Generation of classified material for this solicitation effort is authorized only on equipment approved for classified processing by Air Force TEMPEST authorities. (4) Public Law 98-84: Since Public Law 98-94 is applicable to this program, offerors must prepare a DD Form 2345, Export-Controlled DOD Technical Data Agreement, and forward it to: Commander, Defense Logistics Service Center, ATTN: DLSC-FBA, Federal Center, Battle Creek, Michigan 49017-3084, and/or provide evidence that registration with DLSC is already on file. (5) Other Special Requirements: Equipment/ technical data generated or delivered in performance of resulting contracts may be controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). C -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Anticipated Period of Performance: The total contract performance should be completed within 64 months of contract award. The technical effort is expected to take up to 60 months, with an additional 4 months for processing/completion of the final report. (2) Expected Award Date: March 1998. (3) Government Estimate: Technical levels of effort are difficult to estimate due to a wide range of contract possibilities; however, a total program estimate of $28,400,000 in government funds is anticipated with the following projected funding profile: FY98 -- $2.75M; FY99 -- $6.55M; FY00 -- $8.00M; FY01 -- $5.70M; FY02 -- $3.20M; FY03 -- $2.20M. This funding estimate is not a promise for funding as all funding is subject to change due to Government discretion and availability. (4) Type of Contract: Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) or Cost (no fee). Award of a grant to universities or nonprofit institutions, or an assistance instrument (e.g., cooperative agreement, other transaction,etc.), in lieu of a contract, will be considered and will be subject to the mutual agreement of the parties. (5) Government Furnished Property: Government information/ expertise developed under other existing or previous contracts may be furnished if its use is necessary and practical in the performance of technical tasks in this effort. (6) Size Status: Size standard is 1000 employees (SIC 8731). Firms responding should indicate whether they are or are not a socially or economically disadvantaged business, whether or not they are a woman-owned business, and should also indicate their size status. (7) Pre-Solicitation Conference: Said conference was held on 30 Oct 97 at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA for the purpose of presenting and clarifying this program to potentially interested offerors. A list of attendees is available on the Internet at the following address: http://www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/ contract/hp.htm under Contracting Opportunities. (8) Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Certain restrictions apply which preclude foreign or foreign-owned firms from participating as a prime offeror/contractor in this program. (9) All offerors should request via fax or in writing, a supplemental package which consists of a list of hardware deliverables required for this effort. The request should be addressed to Wright Laboratory, Directorate of Research and Development Contracting, 2530 C Street, Building 7, Area B, Attn: Dennis Strobel, WL/POKA, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607; fax (937) 255-4434. D -- PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: (1) General Instructions: Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the provision at FAR 52.215-2, Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data, to trade secrets or privileged commercial and financial information contained in their proposals. Proposal questions should be directed to one of the points of contact listed elsewhere herein. Offerors are advised that only contracting officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. (2) Specific Proposal Instructions: Preparation of proposals should follow all guidance found in the above referenced WL Guide. The technical and cost proposals must be submitted in separate volumes in an original plus ten copies. The proposals must be valid for not less than 180 days after the cutoff date for proposal submission. Adequate price competition is anticipated. Therefore, to permit a cost realism analysis, the submission of a SF 1448, available from the contracting point of contact, is required in lieu of a SF 1411. The cost proposal/price breakdown shall be furnished with supporting schedules and shall contain a person-hour breakdown per task. The cost proposal does not have a page limitation; however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 15 pages as a goal. The technical proposal should be limited to 75 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches, and must include a complete discussion of the nature and scope of the research and technical approach. The page limitation includes virtually all information, i.e. indices, photographs, foldouts, appendices, attachments, etc. The only exclusions to the page count are the transmittal page, cover page, and any hazardous material/environmental issue list (as noted below). Pages in excess of the 75 page limitation will not be considered by the government. Additional information on prior work in this area, description of available equipment, data and facilities, and resumes of personnel who will be participating in the effort should be included. Proposals should reference the above PRDA number. Each proposal shall also include a list of hazardous materials to be used under the proposedeffort and their application, and the offeror shall identify any potentially significant controversial environmental issues associated with the proposed effort. As mentioned above, these lists will not be counted against the recommended proposal page limits. The Air Force reserves the right to select for award any, all, part or none of the proposals received. The contractor's full proposal shall include a Statement of Work (SOW) detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the proposed effort, and suitable for contract incorporation. Offerors should refer to the WL Guide referenced in Section A to assist in SOW preparation. NOTE: this announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to pay for any response preparation costs. The cost of preparing any proposal in response to this PRDA is not considered a direct allowable charge to any resulting contract or to any other contract. It is, however, an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.305-18. E -- BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection of one or more sources for award shall be based on scientific and/or engineering evaluation of the offeror's response (both technical and cost aspects) to determine the overall merit of the proposals submitted in response to the announcement. The following evaluation criteria apply. Overall technical merit is the most important criteria. Uniqueness and creativity, when applicable, are of primary interest in the evaluation of the technical areas. These areas, all of equal importance, are: (a) The relevance of the proposed effort in supporting this initiative and the technology availability dates as cited in Section B, (b) The approach proposed to accomplish the technical objectives of the effort, (c) The offeror's understanding of the scope of the work, (d) The availability and competence of experienced engineering and other technical personnel, and, (e) The availability, from any source, of necessary research, test, laboratory, or shop facilities. Cost and/or price, which includes consideration of proposed budgets and funding profiles, is a substantial factor, but ranked as the second order of priority. No other evaluation criteria will be used. The technical and cost information will be evaluated concurrently. F -- POINTS OF CONTACT: (1) Questions of a technical nature may be referred to the program managers, Mr. Richard Marsh or Mr. Stephen Vukson, WL/POOB, (937) 255-7770, 1950 Fifth Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7251. Questions of a contractual nature should be directed to the Directorate of R&D Contracting, WL/POKA, ATTN: Dennis Strobel, Contract Negotiator, (937) 255-2730, Building 7, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7607. (2) An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concern from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The purpose of the Ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the Contracting Officer, but to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel. When requested, the Ombudsman shall maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of the proposals or in the selection decision. Interested parties are invited to contact Mr. Michael S. Coalson, ASC/SYI, telephone (937) 255-5535, ext 232, or e-mail coalsoms@sy.wpafb.af.mil. All routine communication concerning this acquisition should be directed to the contracting point of contact listed above. (0323)

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