R&D Contracting Directorate, Bldg 7, 2530 C Street, WPAFB, OH 45433-7607

A -- NON-AUTOCLAVE MATERIALS FOR LARGE COMPOSITE STRUCTURES SOL PRDA #99-06-MLK DUE 070599 POC Contact Michael Grommon, Contract Negotiator, (937) 255-5051, or Frederick E. Rueth, Contracting Officer, (937) 255-5051 WEB: click here to view the R&D Contracting home page, http://www.wrs.afrl.af.mil/contract/. E-MAIL: click here to contact the contract negotiator, grommonmg@wl.wpafb.af.mil. INTRODUCTION: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/MLBC) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and cost) on the research effort described below. Proposals in response to this PRDA shall be submitted by 07 MAY 99, 1500 hours Eastern Time, addressed to Air Force Research Laboratory, Directorate of R&D Contracting, 2530 C Street, Bldg. 7, Area B, Attn: Mr. Michael Grommon, AFRL/MLKN, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. Proposal submission after the cut-off date specified herein shall be treated in accordance with restrictions of FAR 52.215-10; copy of this provision may be obtained from the contracting point of contact. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments that may be published; offerors should request a copy of the Air Force Research Laboratory Guide entitled, "PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry." This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the PRDA/BAA proposal process. Copies may be requested from AFRL/PKO, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607, telephone 937/255-6969. The Guide is also available on the World Wide Web at www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract. B REQUIREMENTS: (1) Technical Description: The purpose of this effort is to develop the materials and processing technology necessary to demonstrate non-autoclave processing of advanced fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite materials of sufficient performance for application to large reusable launch and/or space vehicle structures, such as cryogenic tanks. Composite fabrication has historically been achieved through autoclave processing, limiting the size of a processed composite structure to the size of the available autoclave. For some aerospace applications, such as reusable launch vehicle propellant tanks, composite materials are required to meet weight and performance goals yet large structures are necessary due to cost or design constraints. Initial feasibility, design, and cost benefits of non-autoclave processable composites for aircraft have been demonstrated on a number of efforts. Processing, tooling, design, fabrication, and cost advantages that could be achieved through the use of composite materials that are processable out of the autoclave have been demonstrated. Yet the demonstration and validation of materials performance, including durability for long-term reusability; generation of sufficient materials data for design and cost trades; and demonstration of scale-up and applicability for transition to large structures still need to be addressed. It is recognized that there may be many enabling approaches to this multifaceted issue. It is not anticipated that a contractor address all possible approaches (for example one would not be required to have both liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen compatibility or both e-beam and thermal cure). However, it is anticipated that the specific approach will define specific applications and payoffs of non-autoclave composites for large structures; define material performance requirements based upon the proposed application; identify, develop/modify, characterize polymeric resin materials which meet the specific performance requirements; and demonstrate that the material system can be processed outside the autoclave and meet the specified performance requirements. Offerors are requested to propose efforts in clear phases that can be contracted as the basic effort and as additional options to be exercised in the event that additional funding becomes available. (2) Deliverable Items: The following deliverable data items shall be proposed: (a) R&D Status Report, DI-A-3002A/T, monthly; (b) Funds and Manhour Expenditure Report, DI-FNCL-80331/T, monthly; (c) Project Planning Chart, DI-MGMT-80507A/T, monthly; (d) Contract Funds Status Report (CFSR), DI-F-6004B/T, quarterly; (e) Presentation Material, DI-3024A/T, as required; (f) Informal Technical Information: Contractor's Billing Voucher, DI-S-30593/T, monthly; and (g) Scientific and Technical Reports, DI-MISC-80711/T, (Annual), (h) Scientific and Technical Reports, DI-MISC-80711/T, (Draft and Reproducible Final). (3) Security Requirements: Generation of classified material for this solicitation effort is not anticipated. (4) Other Special Requirements: International Trade in Arms Restrictions apply. C ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Anticipated Period of Performance: The total length of the technical effort is estimated to be 24 months. The contractor shall also provide for an additional four months for processing/completion of the final report. (2) Expected Award Date: 10 SEP 99. (3) Government Estimate: The government funding profile is estimated as follows: FY99, $75K; FY00, 175K; and FY01, $250K. This funding profile is an estimate only and is not a promise for funding as all funding is subject to change due to government discretion and availability. (4) Type of contract: Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) or Cost (no fee). Any grants awarded will be cost(no fee). (5) Government-Furnished Property: None contemplated. (6) Size Status: For the purpose of this acquisition, the size standard is 500 employees (SIC 8731). (7) Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Such firms are asked to immediately notify the Air Force point cited below upon deciding to respond to this announcement. Foreign contractors should be aware that restrictions may apply which could preclude their participation in this acquisition. D PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: (1) General Instructions: Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the provision at FAR 52.215-12, Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data, to trade secrets or privileged commercial and financial information contained in their proposals. Proposal questions should be directed to one of the points of contact listed elsewhere herein. Offerors should consider instructions contained in the AFRL PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry referenced in Section A of this announcement. Technical and cost proposals, submitted in separate volumes, are required and must be valid for 180 days. Proposals must reference the above PRDA number. In an effort to move toward paperless contracting, proposers are encouraged to submit technical and cost proposals via electronic means on computer disk or CD-ROM. Please note that classified information shall NOT be submitted on disks. If proposals are not submitted on computer disk or CD-ROM, proposals shall be submitted in an original and five copies. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered against the criteria set forth herein. Offerors are advised that only contracting officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the government. (2) Cost Proposal: The accompanying cost proposal/price breakdown shall be supplied on an SF 1411, together with supporting schedules, and shall contain a person-hour breakdown per task. Copies of the above-referenced forms may be obtained from the contracting office cited. (3) Technical Proposal: The technical proposal shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the technical approach. Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, data and facilities, and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included as attachments to the technical proposal and are not included in the page limit. The technical proposal shall include a Statement of Work (SOW) detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the proposed effort and suitable for contract incorporation. Offerors should refer to the AFRL Guide referenced in Section A to assist in SOW preparation. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or SOW preparation shall be referred to the technical point of contact cited in this announcement. (4) Page Limitations: The technical proposal shall be limited to 35 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches. The page limitation includes all information, i.e., indexes, photographs, foldouts, appendices, attachments, etc. Pages in excess of this limitation will not be considered by the government. Cost proposals have no limitations; however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 35 pages as a goal. (5) Preparation Cost: This announcement does not commit the government to pay for any response preparation cost. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this PRDA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting or any other contract. However, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18. E BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on an evaluation of an offeror's response (both technical and cost aspects) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to the announcement. The technical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be evaluated based on the following criteria which are of equal importance: (a) new and creative solutions; (b) the offeror's understanding of the scope of the technical effort; (c) soundness of offeror's technical approach; (d) the availability of qualified technical personnel and their experience with applicable technologies; (e) the offeror's past experience with applicable non-autoclave processing of composites and with aerospace structural composite applications; and (f) organization, clarity, and thoroughness of the proposed SOW. Cost is ranked as the second order of priority. No other evaluation criteria will be used. The technical and cost information will be evaluated at the same time. The Air Force reserves the right to select for award of a contract or grant any, all, part, or none of the proposals received. Award of a grant, in lieu of a contract, to universities and nonprofit institutions will be considered and will be subject to the mutual agreement of the parties. F POINTS OF CONTACT: (1) Technical Point of Contact: Engineer, Dr. Janis Brown, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7750, 937/255-0968. (2) Contracting/Cost Point of Contact: Questions related to the contract/cost issues should be directed to the Air Force Research Laboratory, Directorate of Research and Development Contracting, Michael Grommon, AFRL/MLKN, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607, 937/255-5051 ( E-mail: grommonmg@wl.wpafb.af.mil). An ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this 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 appropriate government personnel. When requested, the ombudsman shall maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the selection decision. The ombudsman point of contact is Lt Col Bixler, Det 1 AFRL/PK, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607, 937/255-4813/2358, e-mail bixlerjp@wl.wpafb.af.mil. All routine communication concerning this acquisition should be directed to the appropriate points of contact listed in Section F of this announcement. Posted 03/05/99 (W-SN305318). (0064)

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