Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817-5700

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) RO/RO RAMP TO PLATFORM INTERFACE SOL N00167-99-BAA-0042 DUE 053199 POC Contract Specialist Catherine H. White (301)227-1077; Contracting Officer Faith L. Ferris (301)227-3602 BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Mobile Support Systems Program Branch (Code 293) is soliciting abstracts ("White Papers") for a strategic sealift technology development. Joint Logistics-Over-Shore operation requires the transfer of cargo from ship to a floating platform. A motion compensation interface system is needed between sealift ship ramps and the causeway Roll-On Roll-Off Discharge Facility (RRDF) platform. The purpose of this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is to obtain new, unique, and innovative ideas for solutions to technological and operational challenges. Offerors, either individual or teamed, are encouraged to submit abstracts outlining proposed research and development efforts. A brief description follows: RO/RO RAMP TO PLATFORM INTERFACE: The majority of existing sealift RO/RO ship ramps were not designed for Sea State 3 (SS3) RO/RO operation. Ship ramp structures were not designed for excessive relative motions between the ship and the platform in rough seas. A need exists for a motion compensation interface between ship ramps and floating platforms. The objective of this R&D is to develop a SS3 interface capability between existing RO/RO ships and existing and future causeway platforms. It is envisioned that this technology may comprise of a motion compensation interface, which provides the landing for a ship's ramp. The ship Ramp to Platform Interface (R/P Interface) would always support the ramp along its entire landing surface without overstressing the ramp structure or the ramp-to-ship hinge. An effective transition is also required to allow for drive-over of rolling stock at any relative position of the platform and the R/P Interface system. The R/P Interface must provide an appropriate bottom surface to prevent contact damage to itself or the platform it is on. The R/P Interface system shall allow the ship-to-platform RO/RO vehicle offload operation to continue in heavy weather by precluding torsion and acceleration loadson the ramp for which it was not designed. Interested parties are being asked to submit an abstract rather than a full technical and cost proposal in order to preclude unwarranted effort on the part of the offeror whose proposed effort does not fulfill our program needs. Each abstract shall include: 1) the concept and its application, including applicable sketches or drawings; 2) the scope of the concept development required; 3) the benefits anticipated should the concept be implemented; 4) milestone schedule; 5) rough order of magnitude costs; 6) special qualifications of the offeror. The abstract should not exceed total of five (5) pages including sketches and drawings. Text pages shall be double-spaced 12 point, times new roman font. An original and six copies of the proposal must be submitted to NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER CARDEROCK DIVISION (NSWCCD), 9500 MACARTHUR BLVD, BLDG 121, ROOM 200, ATTN: Catherine White CODE 3323, WEST BETHESDA, MD 20817-5700, ON OR BEFORE 31 MAY 1999. All abstracts will be evaluated at one time. Proprietary material shall be prominently marked as such. Acknowledgement of receipt of abstracts will not be made. Proposal concepts will be evaluated by a panel of in-house scientific/engineer personnel. Evaluations will be based solely on the merits of the concept, potential military benefits and contribution to project goals, risks associated with the concept; realism of the proposed costs and anticipated life cycle costs, and offeror's capabilities. The primary basis for selecting proposals for acceptance shall be technical, importance to agency programs, and fund availability. There shall be no formal Request for Proposal (RFP) in regard to this BAA. The type of contract award anticipated is Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) which may be funded incrementally. The Navy reserves the right to select for award any part of, all, or none of the proposals received. The BAA is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to pay any proposal costs for responses to the BAA. Responses should be forwarded at no cost to the Government. Offerors are advised that only the contracting officer is legally authorized to commit the Government to a contract. All work under this BAA is unclassified. Technical questions in reference to this BAA should be directed to Mr. Ben Oh, (301) 227-4579 (email: ohbk@nswccd.navy.mil), or Mr. Art Rausch, (301) 227-4590. Abstracts submitted in response to this BAA shall reference N00167-99-BAA-0042. Interested parties are requested to submit their name, address, email, and telephone and fax number to this same address in order to receive any additional information or future revisions to this announcement. All questions concerning this BAA must be submitted in writing to Mrs. Catherine White at the above address or "email" whitech@nswccd.navy.mil or faxed to her at (301) 227-3638 Fax, (301) 227-1077 Ph. Posted 04/12/99 (W-SN318410). (0102)

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