Munitions Contracting Division (AFRL/MNK), Building 13, 101 West Eglin Boulevard, Suite 337, Eglin AFB, FL 32542-6810

A -- TANTALUM WARHEAD TECHNOLOGY (TWT) (PART 1 OF PART 2) SOL PRDA No. MNK-99-0007 DUE 041999 POC Ms. Renee Ramirez, Contract Specialist, (850) 882-4294, ext. 3409 E-MAIL: Renee Ramirez, Contract Specialist, ramirezm@eglin.af.mil. INTRODUCTION (PART 1 OF 2): Air Force Research Laboratory, Munitions Directorate, Damage Mechanism Branch (AFRL/MNMW) is interested in receiving proposals for the design, fabrication, and testing of a Tantalum upgrade to the Antimateriel Submunition Warhead Technology (ASWT) adaptable, or multi-mode, warhead. The emphasis of this program is to enhance the lethality of the ASWT warhead by introducing tantalum as the liner material in place of the baseline copper liner. Proposals in response to this announcement must be received no later than April 19, 1999 and addressed to Air Force Research Laboratory, Munitions Contracting Division, 101 W Eglin Blvd, Ste 337, Eglin AFB FL 32542-6810, Attn: Ms. Renee Ramirez (AFRL/MNK). This is an unrestricted solicitation. Proposals submitted after the cut-off date specified herein shall be treated in accordance with FAR 52.215-1(c), Instructions to Offerors Competitive Acquisition. Responders should reference the above number (MNK -99-0007). Proposals handled by courier shall be delivered to Bldg 13, Rm 337, Eglin AFB FL. Proposals submitted must be in accordance with this announcement. Since this is a Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA), there will be no formal request for proposal or other solicitation regarding this announcement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments that may be published. The Government reserves the right to amend the due date to allow for subsequent submission proposal dates. If sufficient proposals are received to satisfy the PRDA objectives as a result of the first submission, subsequent opportunities for proposal submission will not be available. Due to the size restrictions of CBD announcements, a supplemental information package is available as a part of this announcement. Supplemental information includes the security classification guide, DD form 254, and related classified documents. Distribution of supplemental information shall be limited to potential prime Contractors. To receive this information contact the Contract Specialist, Renee Ramirez at (850) 882-4294 extension 3409. B -- REQUIREMENTS: (1) Technical Description: AFRL/MNMW is conducting a technology development effort to enhance the lethality of the ASWT multi-mode warhead. This warhead was developed for the Powered Low Cost Autonomous Attack System (PLOCAAS). The PLOCAAS will combine ladar sensor ability to acquire and identify targets, with the ASWT warhead ability to function in different selectable modes, to provide increased effectiveness against the whole spectrum of ground mobile targets with a single munition. The ASWT warhead baseline design uses advanced initiation schemes to explosively form a copper liner in several different modes, to taylor the output to the specific target identified by the sensor. Conceptually, the sensor will recognize the target as a tank, an armored personnel carrier, a helicopter, etc. This information, along with the engagment information (stand-off, attack angles, and velocities), will be fed through on-board selection algorithm that will determine the most effective warhead output. Under Contract F08630-93-C-0014, completed March 1998, a baseline design was established and demonstrated for the ASWT with copper liner, capable of functioning in three selectable modes: an aerostable slug mode effective against heavy targets at long standoff, a long rod mode effective against heavier targets at short standoff, and a fragmentation mode most effective against lighter targets. During this previous contract effort the engineering analysis of form, fit, and function of a Copper ASWT warhead was completed. This effort demonstrated the robust versatility and maturation of several technology areas required for adaptable warheads. Results of this effort, including design and performance details for the Copper ASWT warhead are reported in AFRL-MN-EG-TR-1998-7062. In the effort proposed under this PRDA the baseline ASWT design will remain fixed except for the liner and initiator designs. The liner material will be changed to Tantalum, or Tantalum 2.5% Tungsten. This effort will demonstrate the flexibility within the engineering design space to mechanically integrate a Tantalum, or Tantalum 2.5% Tungsten, liner into the warhead geometry defined originally for the Copper version of ASWT. The contractor shall use a multi-point initiation scheme to manipulate the detonation process to selectively generate one of two possible warhead outputs. One mode will generate an aerostable EFP, the second mode will be for fragmentation. Design variables to be evaluated include the number and location of initiators, initiation time delays (if any), liner geometry, etc. Material for fabricating the liners will be provided as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). These liner blanks will be sufficient in size for the contractor to fabricate the envisioned warhead. Mechanical property information of the liner material will be provided by the Government to support the design effort. All other warhead components shall be the contractors responsibility to purchase, build, or fabricate to meet the program objectives. The contractor must have facilities and equipment to fabricate, load, test, and evaluate explosive test items. In order to investigate the mechanical integration of a Tantalum liner material into the ASWT warhead the following tasks shall be accomplished: (a)engineering analysis of the warhead design, (b) build, and/or fabricate, the warhead components, (c) test fire the warhead against specific targets, see classified supplement, (d) during the initial phase ( 0 to 24 months) both pure Tantalum and Tantalum 2.5% Tungsten liner materials will be investigated (approximately 9 warheads of each material), (e) at the Mid-Contract review the contractor shall present rationale and recommendation for down selecting to a single material, Government Sponsor approval is required, (f) second phase (24-48 months) the contractor shall continue the investigation using a single liner material (approximately 18 warheads). The performance and specification goals of the Tantalum ASWT warhead are as follows: penetration capability in the EFP mode shall exceed the capability of the baseline copper warhead, (see classified supplement), fragmentation mode performance shall meet or exceed the capability of the baseline copper warhead, (see classified supplement). (2) Deliverable Items: The following are required deliverable items: (a) complete design drawings in Government approved format, (b) an interim report documenting tests results and analysis through the first 24 months, (c) a final report to be delivered in draft form in Government-approved format no later than 30 days after the end of the technical effort. (3) Security Requirements: Portions of this program will be classified up to the SECRET level (Reference Warheads and Warhead Technolgy Security Classfication Guide, 15 May 1997, Air Force Research Laboratory, Munitions Directorate. (4)Other special requirements: The Government anticipates close coordination with the Contractor during the course of this program. The number, type, and location of various design reviews, video telconferences, meetings, program review, etc. are negotiable. It is the intent of the Government to participate with Contractors as an Integrated Product Team member and to pursue an overall strategy consistent with cooperation and success. The purpose of this dialog is to have insight into, not oversight of, the Contractor's design activities and approach. Therefore, the Contractor is expected to provide access for appropriate Government personnnel to the documentation necessary to gain visibility into the technical progress, schedule, management and financial status, and any other documentation required to complete this program. Data transactions shall include both paper and electronic media, as mutually agreed upon. A Kickoff meeting will be held at the contractor's facility within one month of the contract start date. Official reviews will be held every 6-12 months, as a minimum. A Mid-term and Final Program review will be held at Government Facilities at Eglin AFB, FL. C -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Anticipated Period of Performance: 48 months technical effort. Expected award date: August 1999. Funding Estimate: The Government expects to fund at a level up to $1.6 million for the entire 48 month effort. This is an estimate only, not a promise of funding availability. The Government anticipates only one award. Type of Contract: Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) is anticipated. Government Furnished Property(GFP-): It is the offeror's responsibility to identify any equipment to be used whether contractor-owned and furnished or Government-owned and furnished. The Government will assist in providing Government-owned property as appropriate if available. Size Status: For the purpose of this acquisition, the size standard is 500 employees (SIC 8731). Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Such firms are asked to immediately notify the Air Force technical point of contact 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: General: Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the provision at FAR 52.215-1(e), Instructions To Offerors Competitive Acquisition, to trade secrets or privileged commercial and financial information contained in their proposals. Offerors must submit approved DD Form 2345, Export-Controlled DOD Technical Data Agreement, with their proposal. Offerors should state whether they are a large business, small business, small disadvantaged business, nonprofit, educational, or historically black college or minority institution. Offerors should consider instructions contained in the "Proprietary Information" and "When and How to Submit" sections of the AFMC Pamphlet 64-101, "Unsolicited Proposal Guide," copies of which are available by writing to: AAC/BC, 205 West D Avenue, Ste 449, Eglin AFB, FL 32542-6863 or telephone (850) 882-2843. AFMC Form 190, Policy Agreements, does not apply to Program Research and Development Announcements. Additional proposal questions should be directed to one of the points of contact listed elsewhere herein. Offerors shall submit their technical proposal orally, via telephone or face-to-face preesentation, and their cost proposal in writing. Both must reference the above PRDA number. The offerors shall be allotted 1 hour 45 minutes each to present a technical proposal presentation and briefing charts, the latter of which shall become the statement of work. The cost proposal shall be delivered in writing and should address the price/cost portions of the proposal. Cost proposals have no limitations; however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 25 pages as a goal. Every cost proposal shall have at least one copy submitted on disk or via e-mail with a hard copy of the proposal with signature page sent via regular mail. Proposals submitted on disk or sent via e-mail are to be submitted in Microsoft Office 97 format. Note: The preferred format for all proposals is via electronic means, whether on disk or via e-mail. The Government intends to work proposals and awards through electronic means. To do business with the Air Force Research Laboratory/Munitions Directorate (AFRL/MN), you must have the Air Force standard packages (Microsoft Office 97 and JETFORM/Formflow Filler Version 2.15). All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered against the criteria set forth herein. Offerors are advised that only the Contracting Officer is legally authorized to bind contractually or otherwise obligate the Government. The cost proposal and technical proposal charts shall be delivered on the proposal due date. Offerors shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing at least two weeks prior to proposal due date that they intend to propose and to schedule an oral presentation date, which will occur within two weeks of the proposal due date. Cost Proposal: The accompanying cost proposal/price breakdown shall include a person-hour breakdown by task, a cost element summary (labor, overhead, travel, G&A, etc.). Estimated costs for tests or historical data for similar efforts are requested for program office budgetary estimation and value estimation. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract, or any other contract. It is, however, an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost specified in FAR 31.205-18. Technical Proposal Presentation: The technical proposal presentation shall include as a minimum : (a) detailed technical approach, (b) proposed component description (c) proposed program schedule. Posted 03/11/99 (W-SN307279). (0070)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0004 19990315\A-0004.SOL)