U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, ATTN: SMDC-CM-CK, PO Box 1500, Huntsville, AL 35807-3801/106 Wynn Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805-1990

A -- DASG60-98-0046 -- AIRBORNE TEST AND MEASUREMENTS SUPPORT (ATMS) SOL DASG60-98-R-0017 POC O. Wayne Koger, Contract Specialist, Donald C. Reesman, Contracting Officer, SMDC-CM-CK, (256) 955-3001 This notice announces the issuance of the draft request for proposals (DRFP) for the following-described U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) requirement: The Measurements Platforms Division of the Sensors Directorate of USASMSDC requires the Airborne Test and Measurements Support (ATMS) effort. This effort is a follow-on to the current High Altitude Observatory (HALO) program ATMS activities performed under USASMDC Contract DASG60-95-C-0028. The principal objective of the ATMS effort is to perform high altitude airborne measurements, collect test data, and reduce these data to provide optical signature information applicable to the theater and strategic ballistic missile defense environment; to include reentry vehicle/objects signatures, plume/wake phenomenology studies, missile/target intercepts, and debris characterization. Accomplishment of these objectives involves the following: (a) technical analysis of mission test requirements with respect to measurement capabilities; (b) mission planning support, range coordination, and mission conduct; (c) provision of aircraft, aircraft modifications, and associated aircraft operations and maintenance to support mission conduct; (d) sensor development, acquisition, integration, operation, maintenance, and coordination activities; and (e) reduction, analysis, reporting, and presentation of HALO-collected data. These activities will be conducted at the contractor facility and/or CONUS/OCONUS sites (U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll, Eastern Test Range, Western Test Range, White Sands Missile Range, etc.). The ATMS effort requires in-depth high altitude aircraft operation and maintenance experience, and electro-optical (ultraviolet, visible, and infrared) sensor hardware/software engineering experience. It requires the facilities and capabilities to provide and/or perform the following activities: measurement aircraft, including flight operations, certification, modifications, and maintenance; optical sensor instruments/systems, as well as subsystem components; and optical system calibration and data reduction. Subsystems include the electro-optical sensors; optical grade aircraft measurement windows (BK-7 glass, standard & UV fused Silica, and infrared ZnS & ZnSe); telescope, lenses, and optical subsystems; computerized sensor pointing subsystems; ground-to-air data uplink subsystems, data monitoring and recording subsystem; and associated sensor/aircraft electronics and power distribution subsystems. The planned period of performance for this effort is 59 months; with 24 months for the basic, and options to consecutively extend the term of the contract for an additional 35 months. A cost-plus-award-fee contract is contemplated. Award is planned for the first quarter of FY99, with performance to begin in the same quarter. The DRFP and the resulting RFP will be unclassified, but a TOP SECRET facility clearance and a SECRET safeguarding capability is required for performance of this effort. The DRFP will be made available to potential offerors by way of USASMDC's web site at http://www.smdc.army.mil. The DRFP will not be issued sooner than 15 days following the publication of this notice in the Commerce Business Daily. Potential offerors should thereafter check the web site on a daily basis until the DRFP is issued. Issuance of the RFP by way of the web is preferred, but any potential offeror not having access to the web may request that a copy of the RFP be transmitted by mail. The request must be made in writing to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, ATTN: SMDC-CM-CK/Mr. O. Wayne Koger, P.O. Box 1500, Huntsville, AL 35807-3801, and must cite this Commerce Business Daily notice number or the DRFP number shown above. Potential offerors requesting transmittal of the DRFP by mail should include their complete mailing address, with nine-digit zip code and Facility Security Clearance (FSC) number. This acquisition is a 100 percent small business set-aside and will not be open to participation by foreign firms. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code applicable to this procurement is 8731. Potential offerors requesting transmittal of the DRFP by mail should state whether they are small or small disadvantaged businesses, the size standard for which is 1,000 employees. Telephone requests for mail transmittal of the DRFP will not be accepted. Facsimile submissions can be transmitted to (205) 955-4240. The DRFP will be amended to become a final RFP on the web site and will not be announced in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD) again prior to issuance. Amendment of the DRFP into the final RFP is.estimated to occur approximately 30 days after release of the DRFP on the web. A bidder's library will be established at USASSDC in Huntsville, Alabama, upon issuance of the DRFP and will be available until award of the contract. Access to and use of the library will be specifically detailed in the DRFP. Individuals must have a SECRET level security clearance to use the library. Requests for use of the library must be in accordance with the instructions in the DRFP and any request submitted prior to issuance of the DRFP will be denied. Questions and/or comments regarding the content of the DRFP must be submitted within fourteen days of the issue date of the DRFP in accordance with the instructions accompanying the DRFP. Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 3.104, entitled "Procurement Integrity," all technical discussions and/or clarifications regarding this acquisition are required to be directed solely to the Contracting Officer (through the Contract Specialist identified herein). For written requests (for mail transmittal of the DRFP) transmitted by other than the U.S. Mail, the street address is: U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, ATTN: SMDC-CM-CK/Mr. O. Wayne Koger, 106 Wynn Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805-1990. (0166)

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