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

A -- UNINHABITED COMBAT AIR VEHICLE (UCAV) -- INTEGRATED TACTICAL AIRCRAFT CONTROL (ITAC) RESEARCH PROGRAM SOL PRDA No. 97-03-FIK DUE 022498 POC Engineering POC: James McDowell, Project Engineer, WL/FIGS-3, 937-255-8464; Contracts POC: Janet Cahill, Contract Negotiator, WL/FIK, 937-255-5901, or Mary Jones, Contracting Officer, WL/FIK, 937-255-4427 E-MAIL: click here to contact the contract negotiator, cahillje@wl.wpafb.af.mil. . A -- INTRODUCTION: Wright Laboratory (WL/FIK) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and cost) on the research effort described below. Proposals in response to this PRDA shall be submitted by 24 Feb 98, 1500 hours Eastern Time to Wright Laboratory, Directorate of R&D Contracting, Building 7, 2530 C Street, Area B, Attn: Ms Janet Cahill, WL/FIK, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. Proposal receipt after the cutoff date and time specified herein 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. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments that may permit subsequent dates for a submission of proposals. Offerors should refer to JanetCahill for additional background information. A copy of this package may be obtained by contacting Janet Cahill, WL/FIK, 937-255-5901. Offerors should request a copy of the WL guide entitled "PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry", dated November 1992. 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 stated herein. The guide is also available on the internet, at: www.wl.wpafb.af.mil.contract. B -- REQUIREMENTS: As part of the Wright Laboratory Flight Dynamics Directorate thrust area in Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs), this PRDA is aimed at the development and evaluation of core flight control and flight management technologies which will enable the full military potential of UCAVs. The ITAC program is an international, cooperative program with the French Ministry of Defense (MOD). Respondents to this solicitation will be required to demonstrate their ability to work cooperatively with theFrench MOD and their contractors. It is the intent of the overall thrust to fully integrate the program development; exchanging interface control documentation data, software, algorithms, development tools, and any other components or subsystems necessary to the success of the ITAC thrust. Project Officers at the USAF Wright Laboratory and the French Ministry of Defense/Delegation Generale pour l'Armament (DGA) organizations will oversee the collaborative ITAC technology development effort. Respective Project Officers will direct and coordinate national efforts, as necessary, to assure adequate planning and timely execution of collaborative activities and commitments. Each nation will manage, and fund their respective ITAC development efforts. The core development program will be executed as a basic contract with four options. Phase IA (Basic) is the Program Plan and Approval phase; Phase IB (Option I) is the System Design and Technology Base Development phase; Phase II (Option II) is System Mechanization and Verification phase; Phase III (Option III) is the Integrated System Assessment and Piloted Simulation phase; and, Phase IV (Option IV) is the Flight Demonstration phase. Phase IA will develop the appropriate documentation, and programmatic and technical definition, in order for participating allied contractors to achieve a common understanding of system level requirements, program tasks and associated major program deliverables. The functional task areas are essential to the accomplishment of the system development. The contractor will accomplish development of the system functions designated U.S. lead. Additionally, the contractor will integrate functional elements provided by French lead development organizations. Baseline technology development areas have been identified. Functional development lead responsibility has been assigned for consideration. The research areas and responsibilities are: Package Configuration/Reconfiguration (France); Task Allocation (France); Signature Management (France); Formation Management (France); Communication Management (France); Flight Management (U.S.); Health Monitoring (U.S.); Information Fusion and Tactical Situation Assessment (U.S.); Autonomous Vehicle Control (U.S.); Collision Avoidance (U.S.). The contractor will define the initial integrated system design concept, including a System Level Specification, Contractor Work Breakdown Structure, and appropriate Interface Control Documentation (ICD) associated with the U.S. lead functions. Participating French organizations will provide the initial integrated system test plan during Phase IA, along with appropriate ICDs associated with French lead functions. Participating U.S. and French industry lead organizations will function as associate contractors with respect to ITAC development efforts. Accordingly, participating U.S./French industry development organizations are expected to reach a common agreement and understanding of the global system architecture, system mechanization elements and system algorithm specifications as part of the Phase IA effort. The approval to pursue future program phasing is contingent upon allied contractors reaching an equitable Associate Contractor Agreement (ACA) mutually agreeable to by all parties. Primary Phase IA products will be a mutually agreed upon System Development Plan, and associated System Specification and Design Documents, Contractor Work Breakdown Structure (CWBS), and a Test & Evaluation Program Plan (TEPP). (1) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. The purpose of the cooperative technology program is to develop, integrate and demonstrate critical flight control and flight management technologies that enable cooperative flight operations of a package comprised of manned and uninhabited combat air vehicles (UCAVs). The contractor is responsible for the complete system development, integration (including elements provided by participating French organizations), ground and flight test efforts necessary to demonstrate program objectives. Two concepts of employment, and their associated concepts of management and supervision, will be formulated. The initial concept of employment emphasizes management and control of an integrated strike package, comprised of UCAVs and manned combat aircraft, by the aircrews in the combat aircraft. A secondary concept of employment is a strike package consisting solely of UCAVs with management and direction provided by aircrew/operators located in airborne mission control aircraft, such as an AWACS, JSTARS or ABCCC. The first major phase (Phase IB), System Design and Technology Base Development, will develop core flight control algorithms, situation assessment methods, optimized flight management and health monitoring system architectures, to permit safe and flexible UCAV operation (variable autonomy) in a mixed, multi-ship force package environment. In this phase, the crew systems interface and the flight management system architectures necessary to provide for the optimal blending of automated vehicle and tactical management will be developed. Supervision and management will be provided by on-the-scene pilots and/or from a stand-off Airborne Mission Control Aircraft (AMCA). Phase IB is expected to last approximately 25 months. Phase II, System Mechanization and Verification, will develop interface specifications and an integrated test capability. If Phase IV is exercised, selected subsystems critical to flight and operational safety will be integrated, tested, refined as needed, verified and validated for overall performance. Phase II is expected to take approximately 18 months. Phase III, Integrated System Assessment and Piloted Simulation, will develop a man-in-the-loop simulation to assess, verify and evaluate the products of Phases I and II. Phase III is expected to last 15 months, including flight test demonstration support. The Phase III simulation may be hosted in the simulation facilities located in Bldg-145, WL/FIG, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, subject to availability. Phase IV, Flight Demonstration and Evaluation, will provide flight demonstration and evaluation of the core technologies. Two aircraft, emulating fighter class unmanned vehicles, will be used. The core experiments will address the key operator issues of safety, authority, workload and control. Phase IV, Flight Demonstration, is expected to last 9 months. The flight demonstration will implement the multi-ship control algorithms in two flight vehicles. The implementation will be two manned vehicles; one command lead vehicle and one flown as an emulated UCAV with a safety pilot aboard. Flight test objectives will focus on verification of the US designated lead functional areas outlined above. Test flights will demonstrate core functions relating to control, safety and assured compliance with authority, operator/vehicle interactions, interactive flight management and health monitoring. The ITAC functional systems will be designed to provide a rapid role change-over capability for both test aircraft configurations, with respect to strike fighter lead and emulated UCAV functions. Offerors shall consider thefollowing test configurations and test sites, or propose alternatives. Availability of these facilities is not assured at this time. The proposed test vehicles may be the USAF VISTA test aircraft internetted with a TBD French fighter, VISTA internetted with a QF-4, or two internetted QF-4s, or other suitable candidates. The QF-4 aircraft is man rated and can be flown with a safety pilot. The test sites may be Tyndall or Eglin AFBs, the Niagara Falls ANG test range, the National Flight Test Range, Ft Irwin CA, Pt. Mugu NAS, or a TBD French range, subject to availability. (2) DOCUMENTATION. 1. Reviews, technical interchanges, collaborative program reporting and development of deliverables will be accomplished. Sufficient program documentation will be developed and available for publication and dissemination to facilitate technology transition. Major documentation areas include: a) Phase IA: System Development Plan, to include; Task Definition, System Specification and Design Document, Contractor Work BreakdownStructure, Test & Evaluation Program Plan; Associate Contractor Agreements; Final Report, Vol I; b) Phase IB: Control System Architecture; Algorithm Specifications; Interface Documentation; Final Report, Vol II; c) Phase II: System Interface Documentation; Facility Specifications; Experiment Designs; Software Configuration/Design Documentation; Interface Control Documentation; Final Report, Vol III; d) Phase III: System Evaluation Results; System Validation/Test Results; Strike Package Management Criteria; Videotapes and Photos; Flight Demonstration Definition/Test Plans; Final Report, Vol IV; e) Phase IV: Validated Design and Application Criteria; Videotapes and Photos; Final Report, Vol V. 2. The contractor shall develop sufficient technical documentation to support overall program technology development, demonstration objectives and programmatic key decision points. Documentation emphasis areas include flight safety/readiness, technology transition, technical performance verification, and system maturity assessments. 3. Technical reports are intended to serve as comprehensive summaries of the activities of each phase and shall be delivered at the end of each phase. 4. Baseline documentation developed in Phase IA shall be maintained throughout the life of the contract. 5. Program Reviews: The kick-off meeting will be held at WPAFB. Subsequent meetings will alternate between WPAFB, French Ministry of Defense, US and French test and evaluation centers and contractor facilities. Each major phase will culminate with a program management/technical review, in association with the appropriate key decision point. Technical interchange meetings will be held quarterly. Informal project engineer visits will be as appropriate to monitor progress. 6. Deliverable Items: Data and Reports: Offeror's shall submit the following data items, submitted in hard copy and electronic format, utilizing Microsoft Office (Word, Power Point, Excel) for Windows for Work Groups or Windows 95: (1) Scientific and Technical Reports, Final Report, DI-MISC-80711/T, One/R; (2) Scientific and Technical Reports, Contractor's Billing Voucher, DI-MISC-80711/T; (3) Contract Funds Status Report (CFSR), DI-FNCL-81468/T; (4) Funds and Man-Hour Expenditure Report, DI-FNCL-80331/T; (5) Program Plan, DI-MGMT-80909; (6) Conference Agenda, DI-ADMN-81249A; (7) Conference Minutes, DI-ADMN-81250A; (8) Status Report, DI-MGMT-80368/T; (9) Presentation Material, DI-ADMN-81373/T; (10) Data Accession List (DAL), DI-MGMT-81453/T; (11) Still Photo Coverage, DI-MISC-80169; (12) Technical Videotape, DI-MISC-81275/T, (13) Project Planning Chart, DI-MGMT-80507A; (14) System/Subsystem Specification (SSS), DI-IPSC-81431; (15) System/Subsystem Design Description (SSDD), DI-IPSC-81432/T; (16) Test and Evaluation Program Plan (TEPP), DI-NDTI-81284; (17) Software User Manual (SUM), DI-IPSC-81443. Offeror's should provide rational and make recommendations as to which of the following can be eliminated: (1) Software Requirements Specification (SRS), DI-IPSC-81433/T; (2) Software Design Description (SDD), DI-IPSC-81435/T; (3) Software Test Plan (STP), DI-IPSC-81438. 7. Security Requirements: TEMPEST requirements will apply. The contractor(s) may require access to classified information at the secret level. Generation of classified material for this solicitation effort is authorized only on equipment approved for classified processing by Air Force TEMPEST authorities. A Contract Security Classification Specification, DD Form 254, will be required in any contract award. 8. Consistent with the ITAC objectives and collaborative development arrangement delineated in Section B of the PRDA, the contractor shall obtain the necessary authorization to provide technical data, including, design documentation, configuration definition, and other interfacing system development/planning information to participating French organizations. Additionally, the contractor will integrate documentation/data provided by French organizations. The contractor will inform the cognizant Air Force technical POC/US Project Officer in advance with respect to planned/pending direct technical data releases. 9. The contractor shall provide periodic visibility into cost, schedule, and technical status relative to all major WBS elements. 10. Other Special Requirements: International Traffic in Arms Regulation and PL 98-94 applies. C -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Anticipated Period of Performance: The total length of the technical effort is estimated to be 48 months, including time for report processing. The phases overlap and are not sequential. (2) Expected Award Date: July 1998. (3) Government Estimate: The government funding profile is estimated to be as follows: FY98 -- $0.824M, FY99 -- $1.357M, FY00 -- $1.815M, FY01 -- $1.227M, FY02 -- $1.136M. Phase IA: $0.74M; Phase IB: $2.50M; Phase II: $1.12M; Phase III: $.999M; Phase IV: $1.00M. This funding profile 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), or other cost type contract. (5) Government Furnished Property/Base Support: No GFP; However, WL/FIG Simulation Facility, Bldg-145, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, may be available at the contractor's request. Contractors will be responsible for facility use costs. (6) Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: All foreign participation at the prime contractor level is excluded from this procurement. (7) Supplemental Data Package: ITAC Master Plan, CATA AMCA Report, Operator-Vehicle Interface Technology Integration (OVITI) Program descriptive information, SCT Report, Simulation Brochures. Contact Theresa Bailey, WL/FIGS, 973-255-8434 for a data package, baileytm@b045mail.wpafb.af.mil. (8) Size status: For the purpose of this acquisition, the size standard is 500 employees (SIC 8731). D -- PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: (1) General: 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 elsewhere herein. 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 or submitted in electronic format, utilizing Microsoft Office (Word, Power Point, Excel) for Windows for Work Groups or Windows 95. 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: Adequate price competition (APC) is anticipated; therefore offerors are not required to submit certified cost or pricing data. Notwithstanding, if after receipt of proposals it is determined that APC does not exist, certified cost or pricing data will be required. The accompanying cost proposal and price breakdown shall be supplied together with supporting schedules, and shall contain a person-hour breakdown per phase. Phase IA is the basic contract. Phases IA, and IB through IV shall be proposed as separately priced options. (3) Technical Proposal: The technical proposal shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research, the technical approach, program management, information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, data and facilities, and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort. Discussion shall include a time-line schedule. 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. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or SOW preparation shall be referred to the Technical POC cited in this announcement. (4) Page Limitations: The technical proposal shall be limited to 50 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double spaced, single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches. The page limitation includes all information, e.g., indices, photographs, fold-outs, appendices, attachments, etc. Pages in excess of this limitation will not be considered by the government. Cost proposals have no limitations, however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 20-30 pages as a goal. (5) Preparation Cost: This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to pay for any response preparation cost. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this PRDA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting or any other contract. However, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18. If selected for negotiations, qualifying offerors will be required to submit a subcontracting plan. -BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection of a source for award will be based on an evaluation of an offer's response (both technical and cost) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to this announcement. The technical aspect, whi (0007)

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