Dahlgren Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, 17320 Dahlgren Road, Dahlgren, VA 22448-5100

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FOR ENHANCED LANDING AIDS TO SUPPORT AVIATION COMBAT ELEMENTS SOL N00178-98-Q-1024 POC Dianne M. Purks, Contract Specialist, Code SD119 or Paul Learn, Contracting Officer, Code SD11 on (540) 653-7478 WEB: NSWCDD Procurement Division Homepage, http://www.nswc.navy.mil/supply. E-MAIL: Questions concerning the BAA N00178-98-Q-1024, dpurks@nswc.navy.mil. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHALL BE OPEN FOR RECEIPT OF WHITE PAPERS UP THROUGH 30 SEPTEMBER 1998. AWARDS MAY BE MADE THROUGH 30 SEPTEMBER 1999. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, (NSWCDD), in collaboration with the Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) is soliciting research and development "white papers" addressing innovative concepts to enhance the safety and survivability of operations involving Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) aircraft and unmanned air vehicles within the Aviation Combat Elements (ACE) while flying from amphibious ships at sea into austere expeditionary landing zones. Research and development white papers addressing this area from a variety of perspectives are of interest, e.g., research and analysis, exploration of new concepts, hardware and algorithm evaluation, feasibility analysis, as well as proof of principle and concept demonstration. Specific areas of interest include: developing or adapting emerging technologies to provide precision landing guidance systems that provide glide slope information during day/night, all weather, and instrument weather conditions. The landing aid should provide approach and guidance information during the terminal phase for all MAGTF Air Combat Elements and current/future unmanned air vehicles. From the Sea and Forward From Sea outline the foundations and state the requirements to maneuver naval forces from the sea into the littorals of the world. Operational Maneuver from the Sea (OMFTS) is the United States Marine Corps answer to from the sea and focuses on the operational objective and uses the sea to maneuver space creating a dilemma for the enemy. As the number of U.S. Bases overseas continue to diminish and the use of foreign bases becomes increasingly unreliable, the marine forces must have the capability to operate across the range of military operations from beaches, austere urban environments, and from ships at sea. Technologies must support the concepts presented in Ship-to-Objective maneuver doctrine and must be capable of supporting the ACE in the full range of ground operations, contingencies and missions in the full spectrum of combat operations from the shipboard environment to clandestine expeditionary operations ashore and during operations other than war. New technologies or adaptations of existing technologies should conform with the above elements for expeditionary warfare and should be capable of, or have the potential, to meet the following goals: offer a near term availability for a transition to production, consist of a common set of equipment for both shore based and shipboard operations, be small, light weight, two man portable, transportable by High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), be capable of all weather, day-night operations, provide sustained reliable solutions during period of restricted emissions or when overhead satellites are susceptible to jamming and solutions should have a minimal impact on aircraft and shipboard installations. Proposed technologies must be expeditionary in that they can be task organized with the MAGFT, quickly set-up to conduct immediate operations, and capable of self sustained operations from amphibious ships afloat and from land bases in the absence of pre-existing infrastructures. WHITE PAPER SUBMISSION: Offerors shall submit a one to six page white paper summarizing each proposed concept, and a rough order of cost magnitude to obtain a preliminary indication of potential NSWCDD/USMC interest. All proprietary portions of the white paper shall be clearly identified and will be treated in strictest confidence. White papers shall be submitted in original and three copies to the Dahlgren Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Attn: Dianne M. Purks, Code SD119, 17320 Dahlgren Road, Dahlgren, Virginia 22448-5100. White papers, proposals, and all related correspondence shall reference N00178-98-Q-1024. If desired, multiple white papers addressing different areas or concepts of research and development may be submitted. Each whitepaper shall state how the proposed effort relates to the objectives of this BAA, will increase scientific knowledge, advance the state of the art, and determine and exploit the potential scientific discoveries or improvements in technology, materials, processes, methods, devices, or techniques. White papers will be reviewed and formal technical and cost proposals will be requested from sources whose approaches have been selected for further consideration. An invitation to submit a proposal does not assure subsequent contract award. PROPOSAL EVALUATION: As noted earlier, after a review of the white papers, the Government will request formal cost and technical proposals for selected white papers for which NSWCDD/USMC deem to have scientific and technical merit. The offeror shall demonstrate an understanding of the research effort proposed and support the experience and qualifications of the principal project personnel (provide resumes) and the institutions or corporation submitting the proposal. The format for the in-depth proposal(s) should be divided into three sections: (1) a technical section which includes a clear statement of objectives, technical approach and methodology, supporting technical information (including an indication of proprietary aspects of the proposed effort), and a plan of action and milestones, (2) a management section which includes resumes of key personnel, a description of relevant corporate expertise, experience, facilities and other relevant resources, and (3) a cost section which includes a breakdown of the proposed effort described in the technical section. All proprietary portions of the proposal shall be clearly identified and will be treated in strictest confidence. All options and assumptions shall be clearly identified and defined. PROPOSAL EVALUATION: Proposals shall be evaluated using the following criteria: (1) overall scientific and technical merits of the proposal; (2) potential contribution and significance of the proposed effort to the United States Marine Corps' overall war fighting capabilities and (3) offeror's related experience, past performance, (4) the realism of the proposed cost and availability of funds, and (5) understanding of the research effort proposed, and qualifications, capabilities and experience of the principal project personnel and/or the institution or corporation submitting the proposal. Awards are contingent upon Funding Availability. Not all proposals deemed selectable will be funded. Decisions to fund selectable proposals will be based on funding availability, scientific and technical merit and potential contribution and relevance to the United States Marine Corps overall war fighting capabilities. The Government reserves the right to award on all, none or any part of a proposal and to fund all or part of the efforts presented in a proposal. Multiple awards are anticipated. Offerors shall identify proposed contract type (Firm Fixed Price/Cost Reimbursable) in their white paper submission. Information provided herein is subject to modification and in no way binds the Government to award a contract. Technical and other questions regarding this announcement may be submitted to Dianne M. Purks via telecopier at (540) 653-7088 or via Email at dpurks@nswc.navy.mil. This announcement shall be open for receipt of white papers during the period 16 December 1997 through 30 September 1998. Awards may be made up through 30 September 1999. This notice constitutes a BAA for NSWCDD as authorized by FAR 6.102(d)(2). Although no portion of this announcement is set aside for HBCU and MI participation, proposals are invited from all sources. This BAA should not be construed as a commitment or authorization to incur cost in anticipation of a resultant contract. Information provided herein is subject to modification and in no way binds the Government to award of a contract. This synopsis will be available on the World Wide Web at "http://www.nswc.navy.mil/supply". This CBD notice constitutes the solicitation, there is nothing further to request. (0351)

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