Naval Research Laboratory, Attn: Code 3230, 4555 Overlook Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20375-5326

A -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SOL BAA 98-008 POC Brian Glance (ONR Code 252) (703) 696-2596 The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is interested in receiving preproposals for advanced development of systems for diver and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) and component technologies for use in Very Shallow Water (VSW)/Surf Zone (SZ) Mine Countermeasure Missions (MCM). This notice constitutes an ONR Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) as contemplated in FAR 6.102(d)(2). No request for proposal (RFP), solicitation, or other announcement of this opportunity will be made. ONR is interested in systems and technologies in the following major functional areas: A) Diver portable sensor, communications, navigation, signaling and neutralization technologies to enable the detection, classification, identification, mapping/reporting and neutralization of moored, bottom and buried mines in the near shore very shallow water (VSW, nominally 40 ft. depth to 10 ft. depth) region in support of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and VSW Mine Countermeasures Missions. Particular interest is in those technologies which might be available for diver team use in the near term (2-4 years) and also readily adaptable to autonomous small UUV platforms as platform systems develop. In the context of this BAA, UUV platforms include propellor-driven, tracked and legged vehicles or other locomotion schemes which offer advanced mission capability. B) Sensor/communications/signaling/navigation and neutralization technologies for systems of small (deployable in substantial numbers by dive teams or delivery platforms) UUVs to enable accurate mapping and reporting of mine and obstacle fields and remote command activation of neutralization devices from the VSW through the surf zone (SZ, nominally 10 ft depth to the high water mark). There is also interest in those technologies and systems which would have applicability in the water and on land into the craft landing zone (CLZ), although it is not a requirement that proposed concepts have such dual applicability. C) Small UUV platforms and component technologies such as power and control subsystems to enable the integration of advanced sensor, communications and navigation technologies into networks of affordable autonomous UUVs for hydrography, reconnaissance and mine countermeasure missions in the VSW and SZ. There is also interest in those platforms and component technologies which would have applicability in the water and on land into the CLZ, although it is not a requirement that proposed concepts have such dual applicability. Of particular interest are those platform technologies that are sufficiently advanced to permit integration of subsystems and progressive demonstration of mission capabilities in the near to mid term (2-7 years). D) Preproposals which cross functional areas (A, B, C) and address partial or full system concepts for use of autonomous UUVs in the VSW/SZ/CLZ MCM missions will also be considered. This Broad Agency Announcement is aimed at soliciting technology solutions to particular and critical missions performed by United States Navy and United States Marine Corps personnelin preparation for and during an amphibious assault from positions far at sea to military objectives ashore. To further inform the science and technology communities regarding the missions and in so doing promote more responsive preproposals, the ONR is establishing a World Wide Web site (http://www.onr.navy.mil/sci_tech/ocean/info/VSWSZMCM/) which contains links to several relevant documents describing the operational background. In addition it is planned to conduct a one day public briefing at the U. S. Navy Very Shallow Water Mine Countermeasures (VSW MCM) Detachment, at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, California on 30 March, 1998. This will provide a forum for potential offerors to obtain information regarding mission operating environments and constraints and obtain a better understanding of the advanced capability requirements necessary to effectively accomplish the missions. Offerors who wish to attend this briefing should respond with notice of intent to "vswszbaa@onr.navy.mil" no later than three weeks after the date of publication of this BAA, so that adequate meeting facilities can be provided at the VSW MCM Detachment. All expenses for attendance must be borne by the potential offeror. Additional information regarding the meeting format, local hotels, security procedures and other relevant information is available at the above web site. Approximately $35,000,000 of advanced technology development funds are anticipated to be available over a four year period beginning October 1, 1998 to conduct these research and development efforts. Awards may be in the form of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as appropriate. The maximum length of an award will be limited to 3 years. There is no a priori judgment regarding the number or size of individual awards or the allocation of total research and development funds across the functional areas listed above. A follow-on Engineering and Manufacturing Development effort, to be awarded by the Program Executive Officer for Mine Warfare, may be limited to participants in this initial phase. In addition a transition plan to the E&MD phase as well as a full-blown engineering proposal may be a requirement of the initial phase with further details to be provided during the conduct of the advanced technology development funded efforts. Interested offerors are requested to submit a preproposal, the purpose of which is to preclude unwarranted effort by potential offerors in preparing a full technical and cost proposal for efforts not considered responsive or for efforts evaluated to have very low overall probability of obtaining support. Preproposals are limited to seven pages and shall consist of 3 primary sections: Technical, Managerial, and Cost. The Technical section shall consist of clear descriptions of the systems/technologies being proposed, objectives of the proposed effort, technical issues to be resolved to accomplish objectives, approach to resolving these issues, assessment of advance and advantage over current technological capability with successful effort, and specific prior experience of offeror in the technology areas being proposed. The Management portion shall include key personnel, experience, facilities, and a plan of action with milestones. The Cost portion shall include a one page cost breakdown of the effort being proposed. One page curriculum vitae for the Principal Technical Investigator, Project Manager, and other key personnel should be submitted. The vitae will not count toward the seven page limit. Eight copies of the preproposals are due at the submittal address listed below by 16:00 EST, 17 April, 1998. Evaluations of the preproposals and proposals will be conducted using the following selection criteria: 1) Overall scientific, technical and socio-economic merits, 2) Understanding of VSW/SZ MCM capability requirements and technical/scientific innovation and risk to develop affordable successful solutions to the requirements, 3) Potential to enhance VSW/SZ MCM capabilities through the application of UUV technologies, 4) Potential for transition to fleet capability, 5) The offeror's capabilities, past performance and related experience, facilities, techniques or unique combinations thereof that are integral factors for achieving the proposed objectives, 6) The qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed Principal Technical Investigator, Project Manager, and other key personnel critical in achieving the proposed objectives, 7) Realism of the proposed cost and the availability of funds. For awards made as contracts the socio-economic merits of each proposal will be evaluated based on the commitment to provide meaningful subcontracting opportunities for small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business concerns, historically black colleges and universities, and minority institutions. The standard industrial classification code is 8731 with the small business size standard of 500 employees. In addition, contract proposals that exceed $500,000 submitted by all but small business, must be accompanied by a Small Disadvantaged and Women-Owned Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9. It is anticipated that the results of evaluation of the pre-proposals will be completed and disseminated to offerors by 8 May, 1998. The Government may encourage full proposals from selected offerors at that time and in a format to be posted on the World Wide Web at http://www.onr.navy.mil/sci_tech/ocean/info/VSWSZMCM/. In addition the Government will encourage selected offerors to attend a two day workshop in the Washington, DC area to be held 8-9 June, 1998. The purpose of this workshop will be to discuss in more detail promising technology developments and issues identified in the preproposal process and to provide an opportunity for potential offerors to interact with one another for the benefit of potential teaming and coordination of research and development efforts with government laboratories. Additional encouragement for selected full proposals will result fromthis workshop. Full proposals will be due by 17 July, 1998 at the submittal address listed below. Encouragement to submit a full proposal based on the preproposal and/or subsequent workshop does not assure award of a grant or contract. It is anticipated that final award selections will be made by 14 August, 1998. Preproposals and Proposals should be submitted by the due dates cited in the BAA to: Office of Naval Research, VSW/SZ MCM BAA, ONR Code 32, BCT-1, Room 407, 800 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22217. Use Kim Coleman, at (703)696-5122 for express mail purposes ONLY. Questions regarding business and legal matters relating to this BAA should be directed to: Office of Naval Research, Attention Brian Glance (Code 252), Room 720, Ballston Towers One, 800 N. Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22217-5660, (703) 696-2596. Information regarding technical matters is available on the World Wide Web http://www.onr.navy.mil/sci_tech/ocean/info/VSWSZMCM/ and additional questions may be submitted to "vswszbaa@onr.navy.mil". This is an Office of Naval Research synopsis. (0049)

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