Commander, Marine Corps System Command, Code CTQ, 2033 Barnett Avenue, Ste 315, Quantico, VA 22134-5010

A -- AVIATION TECHNOLOGY (MANNED & UNMANNED) SOL M67854-98-R-2124 DUE 060899 POC Procurement Analyst, Valerie Tolan (703) 784-5176; Contracting Officer, T. Famoso (703) 784-5822 ext 231 WEB: Click here to access MCWL website for this and other, http://mcwl-www.cwlmain.org. E-MAIL: Click here for point of contact at MCWL., tolanv@quantico.usmc.mil. The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) is issuing a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for research and development (R&D) concepts addressing areas relating to manned and unmanned aviation. This area includes platforms, payloads and operational concepts. The charter of MCWL is to measure the operational relevancy of warfighting capabilities enabled by emerging technology. R&D proposals addressing these areas from a variety of perspectives are of interest, for example; exploration of new concepts, techniques in modeling and simulation for scenario evaluation, hardware development, feasibility analysis, system integration, performance-based return on investment analysis, as well as proof of principle and concept demonstrations. Appropriate proposed systems might be selected for transition to a Marine Expeditionary Unit for operational experimentation. Major project categories that proposals may address include: (1) How UAVs may be utilized in support of new operational concepts, within cities and their surroundings. The MCWL is interested in UAV concepts that combine the speed of a fixed wing drone with the ship compatibility characteristics of a rotary wing drone. Any proposed system must be suitable, with respect to size and cost, for use by small forward Marine teams. Concepts should not be proposed that are unable to carry the experimental 25lb payloads previously developed by MCWL. Interesting concepts should include autonomous takeoff, landing and flight, auto routing, and enhanced Urban area survivability features. A good proposal will fully explain the connection between any novel proposed drone capability and warfighting. Any proposed prototype hardware should be designed in a manner that makes it suitable for rapid fleet experimentation. (2) High quality, low cost solutions to porting digital data and video from drones to ground control stations and then from a ground control station to points in the rear. Control of drones via a satellite link is of interest to MCWL. (3) State-of-the-art, low cost, low weight communication relays capable of being installed in either fixed wing or rotary wing drones. (4) Signature reduction or spooking technologies. The Laboratory is interested in using drones to deceive potential enemies as to the real identity of the airborne platform. (5) The utilization of drones to deploy sensors. The MCWL remains interested in utilizing Drones to deploy sensors over a dispersed battlefield. An interesting proposal will keep in mind drone payload weight and size restrictions. Any developed sensor payload should significantly increase battlespace situational awareness. (6) Weaponized drones. The MCWL is interested in concepts that will allow a drone to destroy a target once it is found. Concepts that do not result in the destruction of the drone are of special interest. (7) Specialized on-board sensors. The Laboratory is interested in on-board sensor technologies that are capable of detecting targets of military value that conventional FLIR/EO payloads would be unable to find. One specific area of interest is in see-through-the-wall technologies. Proposals should clearly identify what intelligence niche the proposed sensor will fill. (8) Simulation and study efforts which analyze new Aviation capabilities, techniques, tactics or procedures, when the procurement of experimental hardware for operational testing is either technically not yet possible or too expensive. (9) Targeting. The MCWL is interested in proposals that if funded, will lead to more effective utilization of airborne platforms in support of assigned targeting missions. PROCESS:The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory will review proposals that address all, some or one of the above listed technology subject areas for further exploration. Proposals that do not address identified technology areas will not be reviewed. Respondents shall first submit a one to five page "white paper" summarizing the proposed effort(s) and a rough order of cost magnitude in order to obtain a preliminary indication of MCWL interest. It is desired, but not required, for the contractor to present a technical briefing on the white paper at Quantico. Technical briefings should always follow the formal submission of a white paper. The Government is not liable for any costs associated with this brief. White papers, proposals, and all related correspondence should reference BAA Number M67854-98-R-2124. White papers shall be submitted in original form and three (3) copies to ONLY the following address: Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, MCCDC, 2042 Broadway Avenue, Suite 214, ATTN: Valerie Tolan, Quantico, VA 22134. Submitted white papers should indicate the willingness of the contractor to provide a technical briefing, should one be requested by MCWL. Contractors are allowed to submit multiple quality white papers, but the submission of numerous boilerplate white papers may result in the unreviewed automatic rejection of all submitted papers. Should MCWL determine that a submitted "white paper" has scientific and technical merit relevant forLaboratory requirements, it will ask the Marine Corps Systems Command Contracting Office to request the offeror to submit an in-depth proposal for each selected white paper. In depth proposal(s) should be divided into three sections: (1) a technical section which includes a clear statement of objectives, technical approach and methodology, supporting technical information (including an indication of proprietary aspects of the proposed effort), and a plan of action and milestones; (2) a management section which includes a description of relevant corporate expertise, experience, facilities, and other relevant resources, resumes of key personnel; and (3) a cost section, which provides a detailed breakdown of the proposed effort, described in the technical section. All options and assumptions shall be clearly identified and defined. Proposal evaluation and award decision will be based on Best Value to the MCWL considering technical merit, importance to agency programs, availability of funds, cost realism and reasonableness. The Best Value determination will address the following considerations: (1) The relevance of the proposal to the stated technology areas of interest; (2) The anticipated warfighting operational utility of the proposed capability; (3) The ability of the proposed system/study to be ready for field-testing or to be complete within one year of contract award; (4) The suitability of the proposed capability for inclusion in a warfighting experiment. Results of a simulation/study may be suitable for inclusion, but a contractor proposing paper vice hardware, needs to specifically address this evaluation factor; (5) Projected affordability of transitioning the technology to the fleet (for any developed hardware); (6) Past performance, experience and qualification of the principal project personnel and/or Institution Corporation submitting the proposal; (7) Realism of the proposed cost and availability of funding. This notice constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). Unless otherwise stated herein, no additional written information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for the same will be disregarded. The Government reserves the right to select all, some, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. This BAA shall remain open for receipt of white paper proposals until 8 June 1999. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code for this BAA is 8731 with the small business size of 1,500 employees. No portion of this BAA has been set aside for historically black colleges and universities or minority institute participants, though their participation is encouraged. For awards made as contracts, evaluation of the socio-economic merits of the proposal shall include the extent of commitment in providing meaningful subcontracting opportunities for small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business concerns, historically black colleges, universities and minority institutions. If a full cost proposal is requested by the contracting officer, and the total exceeds $500,000, any large business is required to include a Small, Small Disadvantaged, and Woman Owned Subcontracting Plan with its proposal package in accordance with FAR 52.219-9. White papers will be evaluated in the order in which they are received and may be accepted at any time within the year. White papers/proposals will not be evaluated against each other since each is a unique technology with no common work statement. Proposals identified for funding may result in a contract; however, there is no commitment by the Marine Corps to make any awards, to make a specific number of awards, or to be responsible for any monies expended by the proposer before award of a contract. Information provided herein is subject to amendment and in no way binds the Government to award of a contract. Address technical questions to Martin Kruger at krugerm@quantico.usmc.mil. Questions of a business nature may be directed to Valerie Tolan at tolanv@quantico.usmc.mil. The Government will not screen white paper topics on behalf of a contractor in advance of the submission of a white paper. (0160)

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