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

A -- LUBRICANT EVALUATION AND PERFORMANCE IV SOL PRDA No. 98-02-POK DUE 013098 POC Contact Carl Norton, Contract Negotiator, (937) 255-5310 or Rebecca Maddox, Contracting Officer, (937) 255-5310 WEB: click here to view the supplemental package, http://www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/hp/htm. INTRODUCTION: The United States Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Laboratory, Aero Propulsion and Power Directorate, Fuels & Lubrication Division, Lubrication Branch (WL/POSL) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and cost) on the research effort described below. Proposals in response to the Program Research & Development Announcement (PRDA) must be received by 30 Jan 98, 1500 hours Eastern Time, addressed to Wright Laboratory, WL/POKA Bldg 7, Area B, Attn: Mr. Carl Norton, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on this solicitation. Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. Proposal receipt after cutoff date and time specified shall be treated in accordance with restrictions of FAR 52.215-10; copy of this provision may be obtained from the contracting point of contact shown above. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments that may be published in the Commerce Business Daily. This PRDA may be amended to allow subsequent submission of proposal dates. Offerors should obtain a copy of the WL Guide entitled, "PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry" dated November 1992. This guide is 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, address: www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/prdag.htm. B -- REQUIREMENTS: (1) Technical Description: The purpose of this solicitation is to advance technology in four major research areas: (1) Advanced Turbine Engine Lubricants, (2) Lubrication System Condition Monitoring, (3) Fielded Lubricant System Support, and (4) Improved Methods for Assessing Lubricant Performance. Each of these research areas include the following: (1) Advanced Turbine Engine Lubricants encompasses basestock/additive development of (a) advanced ester lubricantsand (b) other promising liquid/solid lubricant candidates with potential for use in the Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology (IHPTET) Program. (2) Lubrication System Condition Monitoring encompasses the development and evaluation of cost effective (a) on-line diagnostic techniques for current and future turbine engines as well as (b) improved off-line techniques. (3) Fielded Lubrication System Support encompasses (a) R&D investigations of lubrication system problems found in the operational commands and (b) "lead the fleet" evaluations to determine the safest, most cost effective means of correcting the problem, thereby minimizing any negative impact on the operational readiness of any given Air Force fleet. (4) Improved Methods for Assessing Lubricant Performance encompasses (a) evaluation/modification of existing techniques as well as (b) development/evaluation of new techniques to adequately assess the performance of current and future turbine engine lubricants. Growth versions of advanced engines such as the F119 and its derivatives (Joint Strike Fighter, etc.) will require ester lubricants with improved thermal and oxidative stability as well as reduced deposition characteristics. Advanced turbine engines being developed under the IHPTET program will require lubricant performance at temperatures up to 300 F above the maximum bulk oil temperature capability of current esters. New evaluation techniques are required to more accurately simulate the projected operational conditions of oil wetted components in these advanced engine designs. Aviation turbine engine lubricant research to be conducted under this program include but are not limited to efforts to develop advanced high temperature (450 F) ester lubricant(s) with improved thermal oxidative stability and reduced deposition tendencies; develop solid/liquid lubricants for the IHPTET (Phase II/III) program with improved corrosion resistance, tribological, and low temperature pumpability properties; develop techniques to evaluate the compatibility between these new lubricants and lubricant system materials; develop on-line as well as off-line techniques for improved lubrication system diagnostic and condition monitoring capabilities; investigate various lubricant degradation and tribological problems that arise within the operational commands and formulate causes/solutions to prevent engine damage or eventual catastrophic engine failure; evaluate new techniques for determining lubricant performance characteristics to enhance the lubricant qualification process; develop a better understanding of the effect of vapor pressure, evaporative loss, etc. on the performance of lubrication systems. (2) Deliverable Items: The following deliverable items shall be required, where appropriate: (a) Status Reports, (Monthly, DI-MGMT-80368/T), (b) Contract Funds Status Report (Quarterly, required, DI-MGMT-81468/T) (c) Funds and Man-hour Expenditure Report, (Monthly, required, DI-FNCL-80331/T), (d) Scientific and Technical Reports: Contractor Billing Voucher (Monthly, required, DI-MISC-80711/T), (e) Scientific and Technical Reports: Interim Report (DI-MISC-80711/T), (f) Scientific and Technical Reports: Final Report (DI-MISC-80711/T), (g) Still Photo Coverage (DI-MISC-80619, as required). (3) Security Requirements: The research areas specified are all unclassified. (4) Other Special Requirements: Equipment/technical data generated or delivered in performance of resulting contract may be controlled by International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). C -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Total contract period is 56 months for the technical effort plus 4 months for preparation and completion of final report. (2) The period of performance is expected to begin around July 1998. (3) Government Estimate: Total program estimate of $3,705,000 in government funds is anticipated (FY 98: $255,000 FY 99: $650,000 FY00: $650,000 FY01: $700,000 FY02: $700,000 FY03: $750,000.) This amount is an estimate only and 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) term. (5) Base support and government furnished equipment (GFE) will be provided during the performance of this contract. These support items provided at Wright-Patterson AFB and GFE are listed in a supplemental package. Offerors may obtain this information by accessing the following internet address: www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/hp.htm, or by faxing your request to Carl Norton at (937) 255-4434. (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 indicate their size status. (7) Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Such firms are asked to immediately notify the Air Force contact point indicated below upon making a decision to respond to this announcement. This action is necessary to begin review and clearance procedures. D -- PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: (1) General Instructions: Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the provision at FAR 52.215-12 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 in paragraph F below. Offerors should consider instructions contained in the WL PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry referenced in Section A of this announcement.. Technical and cost proposals, submitted in separate volumes, are required and must be valid for 180 days. Proposals must reference the above PRDA number. Proposals shall be submitted in an original and five copies. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered against the criteria set forth herein. Offerors are advised that only contracting officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the government. (2) Cost Proposal: The cost proposal/price breakdown shall be furnished with supporting schedules and shall contain a person-hour breakdown by task per year. Cost proposal does not have a page limitation, however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 15 pages, as a goal. (3) Technical Proposal: The technical proposal shall be limited to 50 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches. The technical proposal shall include a complete discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the technical approach. Only the first 50 pages will be considered by the government. Additional information on prior relevant experience, unique capabilities and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should be included as attachments to the technical proposal and are not included in the page limitation. Each proposal shall include as an attachment a list of hazardous materials to be used under the proposed effort and their application, and the offeror shall identify the potentially significant controversial environmental issues associated with the proposed effort. The technical 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 31.205-18. E -- BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on a scientific and/or engineering evaluation of an offeror's response (both technical and cost aspects) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to the announcement. The technical aspect which ranks as the first order of priority shall be evaluated based on the following criteria which are of equal importance: (a) new and creative solutions; responders must provide new or unique concepts, ideas or approaches in order to qualify for evaluation and consideration for award;(b) the offeror's understanding of the scope of the technical effort; (c) soundness of the offeror's technical approach; (d) the availability of qualified technical personnel and their experience with applicable technologies; (e) the offeror's past experience with high temperature turbine engine lubricants, including tribological characteristics, oxidative and thermal stability, deposition tendencies, foaming, corrosion, wear prevention and lubricant diagnostic techniques; (f) organization, clarity and thoroughness of the proposed SOW and (g) the offeror's past performance on any prior or current contractual efforts. Cost and/or price, which includes consideration of proposed budgets and funding profiles, is a substantial factor, but ranked as a second order of priority. The technical and cost information will be evaluated at the same time. (F) -- POINTS OF CONTACT: (1) Questions of a technical nature may be referred to the project engineer, Mrs. Lynne Nelson, WL/POSL, (937)255-3100, 1790 Loop Road North, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7103. (2) Questions of a contractual nature should be directed to the Directorate of R&D Contracting, WL/POKA, Attn: Mr. Carl Norton, Contract Negotiator,(937)255-5310, 2530 C Street, Bldg 7, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607, or you may address e-mail to him at Carl.Norton@wl.wpafb.af.mil. (3) An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns 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 program director or 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 proposals or in the selection decision. Interested parties are invited to contact Mr. Michael S. Coalson, ASC/SYI, telephone (937) 255-5535, ext 232, e-mail coalsoms@sy.wpafb.af.mil . All routine communication concerning this acquisition should be directed to the contracting point of contact listed above. (0350)

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