Army Research Laboratory, ALC Procurement Division, ATTN: AMSRL-CS-PR-RD, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, MD 20783-1197

A -- NON-POLLUTING COMPOSITES REMANUFACTURING AND REPAIR FOR MILITARY APPLICATIONS SOL DAAL01-98-R-9207 DUE 031398 POC Linda Klein, Contract Specialist, (301) 394-3372, Carolyn S. Gonser, Contracting Officer, (301) 394-1604. The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) intends to procure for the development of techniques and materials which will result in toughened electron beam radiation cured structural resins, prepregs and adhesives for the manufacture and repair of PMC aircraft components. One objective of this effort is to assess currently employed resin systems in depot repair procedures to provide baseline target values. The effort will not develop new resin systems for alternative curing techniques; rather, the approach is to incorporate existing systems into new toughened structural resin and adhesive formulations. Radiation curing methods will be investigated and optimized. Repairs on model systems will be conducted using baseline resin systems; these include materials currently being used in depots as well as the existing resin systems that are to be reformulated. Processing will be carried out by autoclave, as well as non-autoclave, methods. Results from these tests will serve to benchmark resin and adhesive and processing developments. Adhesives currently being used for depot repair of thin-section composites will be evaluated to provide baseline properties. Two major classes of radiation-curable systems will be used in the overall program. This effort will formulate the cationic systems for improved toughness. Work will focus on developing a toughened E-beam-curable resin that can be processed by prepreg layup. Environmental impact and cost information will be collected and analyzed on a baseline aircraft PMC component application. Procedures will be established for collecting information on the repair/remanufacture alternate procedures on an ongoing basis. Information will be collected and provided to the project leadership to ensure that the project remains directed toward the greatest reduction in environmental impact and cost savings. ARL intends to award a contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC), Military Aircraft Systems Division, 8900 East Washington Boulevard, Pico Rivera, CA 90660-3783, pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. The anticipated period of performance is approximately 44 months (a basic effort of approximately 8 months and three 12-month option periods). NGC is uniquely qualified to perform this effort. NGC has world-leading in-house expertise in the development of cationic-based electron beam curing resin systems and established thin section repair techniques essential to successful completion of the proposed work. Firms that recognize and can provide the effort described above are encouraged to identify themselves and give written notification to the Contracting Officer, and provide supporting evidence to the Contracting Officer, within fifteen (15) calendar days after date of this publication. The final determination by the Government not to open this requirement to competition, based on any information provided, is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a bid or proposal which will be considered by the Agency. No telephone requests will be honored. See Numbered Note(s): 22. (0042)

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