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

A -- GENERATION OF HIGH ALITUDE CALIBRATION STANDARDS FOR SOLAR SIMULATION POC Contract Specialist, Sherry Freeman, (505) 846-7201, Contracting Officer, Cisco Tapia, (505) 846-5021 SOURCES SOUGHT FOR GENERATION OF HIGH ALTITUDE CALIBRATION STANDARDS FOR SOLAR SIMULATION. Spacecraft solar array sizing is accomplished based on ground based performance measurements of space solar cells used on a particular array. Ground based solar cell measurements are made with solar simulators that illuminate the cells with simulated space (or Air Mass 0 (AM0)) intensity and spectral conditions. Accuracy of these measurements depends on calibration of the solar simulators to approximately AM0 conditions. Primary reference standards of various types, which are solar cells where the cell's short circuit current or I-V curve has been measured at a very high altitude (near AM0 conditions), are used for solar simulator calibration by adjusting solar simulator intensity until the reference standard's flight and simulated short circuit currents are calibrated. New primary reference standards are needed continually as space solar cell technology develops. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Vehicle Technologies Power Group (VSDV), is seeking Statements of Capability from qualified parties which can perform the tasks necessary to reliably create primary reference standards. TASK DESCRIPTION: Qualified parties must be able to (a) Perform calibrated AM0 pre-flight light I-V and temperature coefficient measurements on cells provided by AFRL. (b) Mount and instrument cells on a data collection platform such that the cells will be operating near short circuit current (Isc) under illumination. (c) Fly cells at a minimum altitude of 115,000 ft, and measure the Isc or light I-V curve of each cell as well as the operating temperature at the time of measurement. (d) Recover the cells and perform calibrated AM0 post-flight light I-V measurements. (e) Reduce flight data including correcting for flight temperature to determine the room temperature calibration current of the primary reference standard and deliver to AFRL. AFRL is interested in at least one flight per year consisting of between one and five samples per flight of various sizes up to 4x6 cm over the next 3 years depending on technology needs and funding availability. Statement of Capability: All Interested parties are instructed to submit a Statement of Capability (SOC). Foreign owned firms are advised there may be restrictions to becoming the prime contractor. All Statements of Capability should be specific as to 1) present capabilities and 2) present and past efforts of this type. Only those Statements of Capability which adequately address each item in the above task description will be considered. SOC shall be unclassified. Information submitted must be pertinent and specific in the technical areas under consideration. Do not provide advertisement brochures in lieu of a written SOC. The SOC is limited to 10 pages excluding resumes and must be received within 30 calendar days of publication of this announcement. No debriefings regarding consideration of submitted Statements of Capability will be given, and no information submitted to the governmentwill be returned. Respondents should indicate whether they are a large, small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), woman-owned, or Historical Black College or University/Minority Institution. For Technical Issues, please contact Capt David Keener at 505-846-5393. This announcement is for informational and planning purposes only. It does not constitute an Invitation for Bid (IFB) nor a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. (0022)

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