Smc/tekb, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue, Se, Bldg 415, Room 114, Kirkland Air Force Base, Nm 87117-5773

A -- SIX METER DIAMETER INFLATABLE OPTICAL SPHERE WITH INFLATION AND PRESSURE MAINTENANCE SYSTEM, EJECTION SYSTEM AND LAUNCH/PACKING CANISTER SOL FA8002-98-R-0704 DUE 111898 POC POC Lt. Louis Orndorff, Contract Specialist/Mr. David Castillo, Contracting Officer, (505)846-4055 1. Starfire Optical Range, AFRL/DES, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776 Inflatable Optical Spheres SOL FA8002-98-R-0704 DUE November 18 1998 POC Lt Louis Orndorff, Contract Specialist/ Mr. David Castillo, Contracting Officer (505) 846-4055. (i.) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii.) This solicitation number FA8002-98-R-0704 is issued as a request for proposal. Offerors may submit more than one proposal in response to this solicitation. Each submitted proposal will be evaluated as a separate offer. Mail proposals to Lt Louis Orndorff, AFRL/DE, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776 or fax proposals to (505)846-4063. (iii.) This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-05. (iv.) This requirement is full and open competition (The SIC code is 3761 and the small business size standard is 1000 employees). (v.) A list of CONTRACT LINE ITEM NUMBER(S) and items are CLIN 0001: 6-meter diameter inflatable optical sphere with inflation and pressure maintenance system, ejection system, launch/packing canister (quantity 1), and interface control document -- both mechanical and electrical (quantity 1). IDIQ CLIN 0002: Purchase of up to 4 additional 6-meter inflatable optical spheres with inflation and pressure maintenance systems, ejection systems, launch/packing canisters, and interface control documents -- both mechanical and electrical. IDIQ CLIN 0003: Purchase of up to 4 additional 5-meter inflatable optical spheres with inflation and pressure maintenance systems, ejection systems, launch/packing canisters, and interface control documents -- both mechanical and electrical. IDIQ CLIN 0004: Purchase of up to 4 additional 4-meter inflatable optical spheres with inflation and pressure maintenance systems, ejection systems, launch/packing canisters, and interface control documents -- both mechanical and electrical. No more than 4 additional systems will be purchased in total. These 4 systems will be exercised on an IDIQ basis. (vi.) DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENTS: The Starfire Optical Range plans to launch one inflatable spherical optical object into space to a 750 km, 98 degrees inclination orbit via an upcoming modified Minuteman launch from Vandenberg AFB in Sep 99. The object must be 6 meters in diameter (except CLINS 0003 and 0004), inflate to a tight spherical shape, remain inflated for a minimum of one year on orbit (with a goal of two years or more), and be made of a highly reflective, highly specular material such as aluminized Kapton. Each balloon is to be folded and packaged in its own launch /deployment canister. The folding and packaging shall be accomplished in such a manner as to avoid damage to the highly reflective external balloon surface. The canister shall contain the ejection system and be designed so as to let the inflating balloon escape without damage to the exterior optical finish of the balloon. Each inflatable optical sphere system consisting of the balloon envelope, ejection system, launch/packing canister, installation system and pressure maintenance system shall not weigh in total more than 50 pounds. Dimensions of the total payload package shall be no more than 20 inches long and no more than 14 inches in width or diameter. As part of the proposal, all prospective vendors shall clearly state the weight and dimensions of their finished inflatable optical sphere system. Since the objects will be used for optical observation, it is necessary that the outer surface of the balloons be metalized. The inner surface may be metalized if necessary to reduce gas diffusion through the envelope. The objects will be observed at wavelengths between 0.4 micrometer and 1.5 micrometer. Since the balloons are required to deploy on command fromthe host launch vehicle, the vendor shall provide an interface control document (both mechanical and electrical) for interfacing the inflatable optical sphere system to the launch vehicle. Each balloon shall be delivered with an Interface Control Document to be used with the expected launch vehicle identified by the Government for that particular balloon launch. To minimize integration requirements, the inflatable optical sphere system should be as self-sufficient as possible. To initiate deployment of the optical sphere into orbit, the host launch vehicle will provide two simultaneous 5 Amp current pulses of 20 msec duration. These two simultaneous pulses will serve as the deployment command for the optical sphere. While the primary interest is in a 6-meter inflatable sphere, the government also requires all offerors to include 4 and 5-meter diameter spheres (IDIQ CLINs 0003 and 0004) in their proposal. (vii.) DELIVERY is to be made FOB Destination to the integration facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA no later than May 03, 1999 for first optical sphere. Integration for the Sep 99 launch will begin in May 99. IDIQ deliveries will be made within 80 days of issuance of delivery order. Delivery orders with multiple system requirements will be allowed 80 days for the initial system and 40 additional days for each additional system. IDIQ orders will not be placed after two years from the award date of this contract. (viii.) FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items, is incorporated by reference and applies to this acquisition. (ix.) FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items, in incorporated by reference and applies to this acquisition. Para (a) The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers (in descending order if importance): (1) Technical capability of the inflatable optical sphere to meet the Government mission to include size/shape constraints; exterior surface properties; construction geometry; materials proposed for spheres; inflation pressure; on-orbit pressure maintenance; deployment testing; mechanical/electrical interfaces; size and weight of package. Offerors SHALL include a material sample with their proposal. (2) Price (to include options). (3) Past Performance see FAR 52.212-1(10). (x.) Offerors SHALL include a completed copy with their offer of the provision of FAR 52.212-3 and 252.212-7000, Offeror Representation and Certifications -- Commercial Items. Electronic copies of the provision may be found on the World Wide Web at http://farsite.hill.af.mil/. (xi.) The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (xii.) The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Applicable to Defense Acquisitions of commercial Items and the clause at 252.212.7001, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders Applicable to Defense Acquisitions of Commercial Items, apply to this acquisition. (xiii.) Additional Contract Requirements /Terms and Conditions: The Offeror SHALL test, fold, package and integrate each inflatable sphere into its launch/ejection canister. The offeror SHALL guarantee each completed balloon/canister assembly to have a shelf life of not less than one year from date of delivery. The clause at 252.204-7004, Required Central Contractor Registration applies to the acquisition. In addition, the following clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.216-18 Ordering, 52.216-19 Order Limitations, and 52.216-22 Indefinite Quantity. (xiv.) Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS): DO rating applies. (xv.) Commerce Business Daily Numbered notes #23 applies. (xvi.) All proposals must be delivered to the POC by 3:00 PM (local time) on November 18, 1998. Contractors interested in hand delivery of proposals must coordinate with Lt Orndorff or Mr. Castillo at (505) 846-4055. Mail proposals to Lt Orndorff, AFRL/DE, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776. (xvii.) For additional information regarding this solicitation, contact David Castillo at (505)846-4055. Posted 10/14/98 (W-SN261963). (0287)

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