Phillips Laboratory, Directorate of Contracting, 2251 Maxwell Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773

A -- MINOTAUR GRID STIFFENED LAUNCH FAIRING SOL PKVS-0108 DUE 080798 POC Point of Contact -- Rudy Chavez, Contract Specialist, 505-846-4987, Contract Specialist, Contracting Officer -- Shari Barnett, 505-846-6189 WEB: Minotaur Grid Stiffened Launch Fairing, http//www.plk.af.mil. E-MAIL: Rudy Chavez, chavezr@plk.af.mil. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Contracting Directorate, on behalf of the Space Vehicles Directorate, Space Technology Integration and Demonstration Division, Vehicle Technologies Branch, Kirtland AFB, NM intends to award a contract to for the following described effort. BACKGROUND: The Air Force is the lead government agency chartered to advance technologies associated with Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELVs) and related support systems. Currently, launch costs represent a significant fraction of a spacecraft's total life cycle investment. The intent is to establish a true "free market" economic model in space transportation by transitioning next generation expendable launch vehicle development and operation over to the private sector. To expedite this process, it is necessary to underwrite high risk/high payoff system architectures and associated technologies. This level of risk reduction streamlines future private financing of commercial full scale system development and operation. OBJECTIVE: The goal is to transition Advanced Grid Stiffened (AGS) structures technology to the Minotaur launch vehicle through design and fabrication of an AGS fairing for the second launch. This fairing will be designed and fabricated to accommodate the two payloads currently manifested on this launch. The contractor will be responsible for performing the following tasks. (1) The contractor shall conduct detailed design and analysis of the AGS fairing to include: (1a) Fairing Structural Analysis. The contractor shall develop the full finite element model, based upon the final grid structure and skin layup patterns, and any other necessary analysis techniques as they apply to the full fairing. Additionally, the contractor shall perform analysis, finite element or other, on all necessary details such as joints, access panels, cutouts and the separation system interface. Previous AGS Finite Element models shall be referenced and used as a guideline. (1b) Fairing Design. The contractor shall consult on the fairing design in telecons and face-to-face meetings. The contractor shall design fairing details to include the nosedome, mechanical interfaces, and separation interfaces. All relevant AGS theories, including those developed in Grid.xls shall be considered. (2) The contractor shall design and fabricate tooling for fabrication of grid stiffened fairings for the Minotaur launch vehicle. The tooling shall be "Hybrid" as specified in the literature and will use techniques developed in previous research at AFRL/VSDV and published in the literature. The tooling shall be compatible with Fiber Placement techniques. The contractor shall perform any engineering required to troubleshoot problems with the specified tooling concept that may occur during tool fabrication. All relevant "Hybrid Tooling" models shall be considered and applied to ensure proper AGS rib consolidation. (3) The contractor shall fabricate three grid stiffened fairings for the Minotaur launch vehicle to specifications and drawings provided by AFRL/VSDV. These fairingsare approximately 210" long and 60" in diameter with a concial AGS section, a cylindrical AGS section, and a bi-conic AGS/Monocoque section. The first fairing will serve as a qualification test unit and must be fabricated accordingly. The second fairing will serve as an acoustic research fairing and must be fabricated accordingly. The third fairing will serve as a flight unit and must be fabricated accordingly. The fairings shall be fabricated using primarily the Fiber Placement fabrication technique. The contractor shall perform any engineering required to troubleshoot problems with the fairing tooling that may occur during fabrication. (4) The schedule for this effort must be timed such that the qualification fairing is delivered by 29 May 99, the acoustic research fairing is delivered by 30 Jun 99 and the flight fairing is delivered by 04 Dec 99. These dates will be contingent on timely delivery of the fairing drawings and specifications to the contractor by AFRL/VSDV. The period of performance for the above tasks is 16 months with an anticipated start date of Oct 1998. Respondents should provide a statement of capability demonstrating their ability to fulfill the above requirements within the period of performance in order for the project office to determine the requirements can be met. A draft program plan as well as resumes of key personnel must also be included in the response. Responses are limited to a total of 25 pages including program plan, resumes, attachments, diagrams, etc. Submit responses to Rudy Chavez, DET 8, AFRL PRS/PKVS, 2251 Maxwell Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773 no later than 15 calendar days after the date of this announcement by 3:00PM, Mountain Daylight Time. Statements of capability may be faxed to Rudy Chavez at (505)846-6022. Firms responding should indicate if they are a Small Business, a Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Business, an 8 (a) Qualified Business or a Woman-Owned Business. To be considered a Small Business, the following applies: SIC 8731, size standard 1,000 employees. Foreign-owned firms are advised there may be restrictions to becoming the prime contractor. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors or potential offerors, primarily during the proposal development phase of this negotiated acquisition. The purpose of the Ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the Program Director or Contracting Officer, but to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel in the pre-proposal phase of competitive, negotiated acquisitions. Before contacting the Ombudsman, potential offerors should first communicate with the Contracting Officer. In those instances where offerors cannot obtain resolution from the Contracting Officer, they are invited to contact the Ombudsman at the Phillips Research Site of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Mr. Eugene DeWall, Deputy Director of Contracting (AFRL PRS/PK), at (505) 846-4979, or at 2251 Maxwell Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5773. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. Note 26 Posted 07/22/98 (W-SN227177). (0203)

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