Dahlgren Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, 17320 Dahlgren Road, Dahlgren, VA 22448-5100

A -- RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) FOR ANTENNA-WITH-PROTOTYPE-INTERFACE TO DEFENSE TACTICAL CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) SOL N00178-98-Q-3003 DUE 042798 POC Susan Harding, Contract Specialist, (540)653-7765; J E Thomson, Contracting Officer WEB: Dahlgren Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, http://www.nswc.navy.mil/supply. E-MAIL: Dahlgren Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, shardin@nswc.navy.mil. For solicitations issued after 31 March 1998, DOD will no longer award contracts to contractors not registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) data base. Registration may be done by assessing the CCR Web site at http://www.acq.osd.mil/ec. Registration may be done via dial up modem at (614)692-6788 (User ID: ccrpub; Password: pub2ccri). Any certified value added network (VAN) can be used for registration. A paper registration form may be obtained from the DOD Electronic Commerce Information Center at 1(800)334-3414. THIS NOTICE CONSTITUTES THE SOLICITATION, THEREFORE THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER TO REQUEST. The Dept of Defense Tactical Control System (TCS) provides interoperable and scalable command, control, communication and data dissemination for tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) is soliciting research and development "white papers" to exploit existing antenna technology for integration into TCS systems. Papers should identify an antenna-with-prototype-interface-system module which can be designed, fabricated, and successfully demonstrated in a laboratory by 30 August 1999. If the lab demo is successful, an option for an array antenna (a complete shipboard system unit), scheduled for delivery six months after successful lab demo of the module, may be exercised. (Delivery would include shipboard installation and satisfactory shipboard demonstration.) The successful lab demo will present a module with positive potential for timely delivery of an array antenna which can: 1. Simultaneously control both payload and flight of at least two types of air vehicles from a single TCS and operate full duplex on both links to transmit/receive air vehicle payload and telemetry data. The links will operate in Ku band. 2. Be integrated into the TCS system and be deployable in ships and land vehicles. 3. Be electronically stabilized and steered (to reduce weight and maintenance associated with mechanically steered antenna pedestals). 4. Provide a single aperture to cover a minimum 90o quadrant while meeting the requirements of item 1 above. 5. Minimize impact to the radar cross-section of the ship or land vehicle (i.e., be designed for conformal installation). 6. Operate with Common Data Link-compatible data links. 7. Be cost-effective to produce. To keep antenna production costs low, the program goal is to select an antenna technology that is (or has the potential to be) 100% produced by automated production line. All documentation (algorithms, software, etc.) developed with Government funds, to design and create the array antenna system, shall be deliverable and Government rights to distribute and use such data within and for DOD shall be unlimited. (Proposals for concepts that have already been developed or proven are inappropriate for this BAA.) An Unclassified Industry Brief will be held on 7 April 1998 at 9:00 a.m. at the Station Theater located at NSWCDD in Dahlgren VA. The brief will include a description of the TCS program and future vision, the antenna array system requirements overview and discussion of evaluation process and evaluation criteria, and question and answers. If you plan to attend the industry brief, you must register: identify the name of your firm and the names of attendees (limited to two per company) on or before 30 March 1998 to the following E-mail address: ahadzim@nswc.navy.mil. Only U.S. citizens may attend the brief. If you fail to register timely, you may be excluded from attendance. WHITE PAPER PREPARATION: This announcement is open until 27 April 1998. Those who wish to respond, must submit a "white paper" which defines an approach to the task represented by the Government's requirement no later than 2PM on 27 April 1998. An original document and one 3 -inch diskette in Microsoft Word to Dahlgren Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Building 183, Attn: SD136/Susan Harding, 17320 Dahlgren Road, Dahlgren Virginia 22448-5100. White papers shall reference Broad Agency Announcement Number N00178-98-Q-3003. The white paper should identify a concise and informative research and development approach; it should be an UNCLASSIFIED document. It should consist of no more than 10 pages, consecutively numbered, single-sided, double-spaced (3 printed lines per inch), with one-inch margins, and 12-pitch print, on 8 " x 11" paper. All proprietary portions of a paper should be clearly identified. Papers should be formatted as follows: Section A: Title of paper; Company name and address, point of contact with title, telephone number, and e-mail address; Estimated price for the lab demo of the antenna array module; and Estimated not-to-exceed prices for options (the first for the shipboard antenna array system and a second and third option, for an additional system each, configured for installation on another type of platform, such as an air vehicle or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV)); Proposed cost sharing rrangements (if applicable). Section B: Technical Understanding and Technical Approach. Section C: Organizational/Mgmt Approach. The paper may include a separate attachment to address proposed terms and conditions for a contract, cooperative agreement, or other transaction. In the interest of equity, papers exceeding the 10-page limitation, excluding attachment for terms and conditions, will not be reviewed for further consideration. If an approach outlined by a white paper is selected for further consideration (on the basis of its technical merit and value to DoD), an invitation to submit a formal, in-depth, unclassified proposal may be issued. An invitation to submit an in-depth proposal does not assure the offeror of an award. Complete instructions for proposal preparation will be provided with the invitation to propose. Formal proposals will be evaluated against the following technical criteria in descending order of importance: 1) Overall scientific or technical merit; 2) Potential contribution to DoD's Multi Data Link Environment; 3) Offeror's capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques, or unique combination of these which are integral factors for achieving the stated objectives; 4) The qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed personnel; 5) Offeror's record of past and present performance. Criteria (1) and (2) are considered the most important and are rated equally. Criteria (3), (4), and (5) are significantly less important than criteria (1) and (2). In addition to technical assessment, the realism of the proposed cost and proposals for sharing costs will be evaluated. Award decisions will be based upon competitive selection from peer and/or scientific review and contingent upon a determination that the price is fair and reasonable and that funds are available. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals submitted or all or part of the efforts presented in a proposal. Multiple awards are anticipated. Awards may take the form of contracts, cooperative agreements, or other transactions. This notice constitutes a BAA for NSWCDD as authorized by FAR 6.102(d)(2) and, as such, solicits the participation of all offerors capable of satisfying the Government's needs. This BAA should not be construed as commitment or authorization to incur cost in anticipation of a contract, cooperative agreement, or other transaction; the Government is not bound to make an award. In the event successful operation of prototypes warrant a production decision, a contract for production may succeed this more immediate requirement. The Government will not consider any sources for a follow-on production contract, other than awardees of a contract, cooperative agreement, or other transaction to this BAA notice. You may address questions of a technical nature or concerns about the acquisition process to the following e-mail address: shardin@nswc.navy.mil. Some responses may be posted at webpage: http://uav.nswc.navy.mil/tcs through 27 April 1998. If questions are submitted in advance of the industry brief; an attempt will be made to answer them during the brief. (0079)

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