Munitions Contracting Division (AFRL/MNK), Building 13, 101 West Eglin Boulevard, Suite 337, Eglin AFB, FL 32542-6810

10 -- POWERED LOW COST AUTONOMOUS ATTACK SYSTEM (POWERED LOCAAS) SOL MNK-98-009 POC For contracting information, contact the Contract Specialist, John Hawk, 850-882-4294, Ext 3414 and for the technical and programmatic matters, contact the Program Manager, Mr. Norman Coker, 850-882-2220, Ext. 3209 WEB: LOCAAS, http://eglinpk.eglin.af.mil.RFP/LOCASS/OTLIB.htm. E-MAIL: John Hawk, hawkj@eglin.af.mil. A variant of this synopsis was originally published in the CBD on 30 Jan 97 and subsequently amended on 13 and 21 May 97. Enough programmatic issues have changed since that time that a new presolicitation notice delineating the restructured program is warranted. The Munition Directorate Assessment and Demonstrations Division of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) plans to pursue a procurement of an Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program for the Powered Low Cost Autonomous Attack System (LOCAAS). The anticipated contract value of this effort is $12-14M between FY99-02. All aspects of acquisition streamlining will be considered for this procurement, to include the use of Other Transactions Assistance Instruments under 10 U.S.C. 2371 expanded use for prototypes (Section 845). The purpose of the ATD is to demonstrate that a low cost, [NTE $30K average unit production cost (AUPC), not including the cost of dispensers/dispensing mechanisms], system can be produced using a Multi-Mode Warhead, solid state Laser Radar (LADAR) seeker with Autonomous Target Recognition (ATR), and INS/GPS midcourse guidance and that these components can be integrated into an air vehicle powered by a miniature turbojet engine. Munition concepts which do not involve these technologies will not be considered. The overall objective of the ATD is to provide an affordable standoff (minimum 90 miles) miniature munition to autonomously search for, detect, identify, attack, and destroy theater missile defense, surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems (i.e. SEAD) and interdiction/armor targets of military interest. The system will be capable of discriminating between classes/types of targets and between targets and non-combatants. The Powered LOCAAS system will be designed so as to be produced for less than $30,000 AUPC based on production of 12,000 units in 1994 base year dollars. It is the intent of this procurement, within 48 months of an award, to demonstrate military utility of a complete Powered LOCAAS munition level system frommission planning, using Air Force Mission Support System (AFMSS) or its successor, through possible launch from combat aircraft, to target acquisition and engagement. The offeror must be able to support development of a Powered LOCAAS mission planner and engagement simulation which is Distributed Interactive Simulation/Higher Language Architecture (DIS/HLA) compliant. This tool will allow simulation of multiple Powered LOCAAS munitions from mission planning through carriage release by Air Force platforms, as well as model and display Powered LOCAAS munition flyout and target engagement. The simulation will provide all necessary capability to exercise the Powered LOCAAS simulation in DIS/HLA wargaming exercises. This simulation and a detailed 6-Degree of Freedom simulation will be components of a modeling and simulation master plan which the offeror will be expected to support. The offeror is also expected to support aggressive pre-flight Government testing of the Powered LOCAAS system in the Kinetic Hardware-in-the Loop (KHILS) facility at Eglin AFB. This procurement is considered a continuation of on-going laboratory efforts previously accomplished at the US AFRL, Eglin AFB and the US Army MICOM, Redstone Arsenal. Particularly given government budgetary constraints, it is an objective of this procurement to take maximum advantage of relevant independent industry investment. The Government plans to make updated information concerning this acquisition available to qualified offerors via the Eglin Electronic Bulletin Board, located at @http://eglinpk.eglin.af.mil/OPS/LOCAAS.HTM. The Powered LOCAAS IPT will be available for one-on-one discussions with prime contractor teams in the February-April 98 time-frame as requested by the potential offerors. Program information package, including draft program task list and schedule, will be made available on request. A Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA) is planned for release in July 1998. Proposal submittal in early Fall 98 is anticipated, with award in Nov-Dec 1998. Information associated with this program may be classified up to and including SECRET/NOFORN. Only qualified U.S. prime contractors who have registered with and are certified by the United States/Canada Joint Certification Office, Defense Logistics Service Center, Battle Creek MI 49016-3412 (1-800-352-3572) are eligible to receive solicitations. Certification is accomplished using DD Form 2345, Military Critical Technical Data Agreement. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute an IFB or RFP, and is not to be construed as a commitment to contract by the Government. Prime contractors should submit a statement of capability within 15 calendar days of this announcement. If an offeror has already submitted a statement of capability under the 30 Jan 97 CBD for the LOCAAS ACTD then a letter indicating continued desire to propose is sufficient. In addition to one-on-one discussions with potential primes, a formal industry day will be scheduled and the announcement published in the CBD prior to the issuance of the solicitation. The basic strategy contemplated for the ATD is a four phased program. Phase I may consist of no more than two fully qualified contractors competing for downselect. This is a 6-12 month effort consisting of three main tasks. (1) Concept Definition: Which consists of a complete requirements flow down for entire munition system and address all munition performance requirements as well as mission planning dispense/delivery concepts. (2) System Design: A Detailed design for the entire munition, to include tactical safe/arm device (or function) and warhead interface. Munition design must be compatible with TMD (SUU-64, 66, 4 LOCAAS/TMD) dispense and be form/fit compatible with ATACMS and MLRS. In order to verify a dispensable design, sufficient level details must be provided for the TMD dispense system. Likewise, sufficient level of detail on a mission planning concept must be provided consistent with overall concept definition. The level of detail on the munition must be sufficient to support a design review and decision to fabricate flight test hardware. (3) Preliminary Seeker Captive Test: Operate a tactical seeker testbed in accordance with the concept definition and system design. All proposed scan modes and decision logic must be implemented in both hardware and software (including ATR). The ability to autonomously identify targets in all three target groups (Attack Ops, SEAD, Armor/Interdiction) must be demonstrated. The ATR must be demonstrated in real time operation using a representative flight processor. Together with concept definition and system design, preliminary captive test results will be used to support downselect and/or continuation decision. To be selected in this phase a competitor must have a proposal the government finds acceptable in terms of performance, cost, schedule, and risk for both the initial and follow-on phase for the completion of the ATD effort. Specific performance criteria will be established to guide the downselect and/or continuation decision. Phase II is a 2-year effort that will consist of three major tasks. (1) Tactical Seeker Fabrication & Qualification: Fabricate a form factored seeker for captive flight test. Seeker optics and gimbals should be essentially identical to those fabricated for flight test, with the exception of any modifications necessary to ensure extended use under captive flight test. All tactical modes of operation must be implemented consistent with the concept definition and system design. Seeker shall be capable (qualification tested) for operation in the full range of expected flight regimes. Captive pod must be fully instrumented for DGPS ground truthing, and weatherproofed for operation in heat, cold, snow, rain, salt spray, etc. (2) KHILS Seeker Fab & Installation Support: Fabricate tactical seeker (for delivery to AFRL's KHILS facility) will include mass balance gimbals/gimbal control system, PCE board, and flight processor (optical elements will consist of mass balance mockups). Support for installation and checkout at KHILS shall be provided. (3) Tactical Seeker captive Test: Test will demonstrate performance of seeker under full range of tactical scenarios. A minimum of three, 4-week test sequences in different geographical locations will be conducted, covering the full spectrum of LOCAAS targets and background settings. Performance vs. Known (deployed or soon to be deployed) countermeasure will be evaluated. Specific exit criteria will be established for selected missions and the LADAR/ATR performance will be judged against these criteria. Phase III is a 2-year 6-month effort to be run in parallel with Phase II. This phase will consist of 2 major tasks. (1) Tactical Munition Fabrication: Fabricate flight test articles to support a control flight test and three powered, guided flight tests with inert warheads. Whether inert or live, the guided flight test vehicles shall include a tactical safe/arm function or device. Sufficient number of warheads shall be fabricated to demonstrate tactical level performance, including end-to-end fire train. (2) Tactical Munition Qualification: Qualification test for entire range of test environments. Sufficient qualification to support inert munition drops from proposed platform. Qualification must include all test specific equipment such as telemetry (TM) and flight termination systems (FTS). Analysis shall be provided to show that the munition will survive the entire expected range of tactical flight environments. Phase IV is the culmination of Phases I -- III and shall conduct up to four guided flight tests as discussed above. 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 will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the source selection process. Interested parties are invited to call Lt Col Robert J. Wood, (850) 882-3003. The Ombudsman should only be contacted with issues or problems that have been previously brought to the attention of the contracting officer and could not be satisfactorily resolved at that level. The established channel for routine communications concerning this acquisition should be directed to the contract specialist, Mr. John Hawk at (850) 882-4294 ext 3414, e-mail hawkj@eglin.af.mil or the program manager, Mr. Norman Coker at (850) 882-2220 ext 3209, e-mail cokern@eglin.af.mil. Requests for scheduling one-on-ones should be directed to Mr. Coker. Collect calls will not be accepted. (0028)

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