Naval Research Laboratory, Attn: Code 3230, 4555 Overlook Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20375-5326

A -- NAVAL AND COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT ARC FAULT DETECTING CIRCUIT BREAKER TECHNOLOGY SOL ONR BAA 99-011 DUE 051399 POC Dr. Phillip B. Abraham, ONR Code 331, (703)696-4307 E-MAIL: click here, youngt@onr.navy.mil. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is interested in receiving white papers for the development of electrical circuit protection components for military and commercial air transport vehicles. ONR is seeking development, for Naval and commercial aircraft requirements, of a device for which the company has aircraft electrical circuit protection experience. In particular, experience in development of an Underwriters Laboratory Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) is desirable. The device to be developed must meet requirements such as: accommodate aircraft electrical operational needs; detect and remove arcing faults to prevent electrical arcs from igniting fires. An arcing fault is defined as: a variable impedance sustained luminous discharge of electrical power across a gap in a circuit. A possible option under any contract awarded in response to this BAA is to provide an AFCI with remote sensing and resetting capability: therefore the device may be required to provide an interface to communicate AFCI status data from inside the circuit breaker to the appropriate aircraft interface and have an option to be remote-controlled. The following criteria, which are listed in descending order of importance will be used to evaluate the white papers: (1) General scientific, technical and socio-economic merits; (2) Potential contribution of the effort to the overall mission of ONR and the Navy; (3) The proposer's capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques, or unique combinations of these that are integral factors for achieving the proposed objectives; (4) The qualifications, capabilities, and experience of proposed principal investigator, team leader, or key personnel who are critical in achieving the proposed objectives; (5) Realism of the proposed cost and availability of funds. Cost plus fixed fee, cost sharing, and cost contracts are anticipated. Other types of contracts may be proposed, but vendors are advised that the Government is under no obligation to accept. The white papers (WPs) should not exceed 30 pages in length, including a cost estimate. If more than 30 pages are submitted, only the first 30 pages will be considered during proposal evaluation. BRIEFNESS IS DESIRABLE -- WPs RANGING FROM A FEW PAGES TO 15 PAGES ARE THE NORM. Cost estimates in WPs for stand-alone subsets of effort are encouraged. Offerors of those WPs found to be consistent with the intent of the BAA will be invited to submit a formal cost and technical proposal. The criteria used to evaluate the WPs will be used to evaluated the formal cost and technical proposals. An invitation does not assure an offeror of a subsequent contract award. One original and three copies of each WP, and later, if invited, of each formal cost and technical proposal, are to be submitted. This announcement constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated by FAR 6.102 (d)(2). Readers should note that this is an announcement to declare ONR's intent to competitively fund research and that no request for proposals (RFP), solicitation or other announcement opportunity will be made. Proposers should state in their cover letter or proposal that it is submitted in response to this BAA. Technical questions are welcome and should be addressed by E-Mail to Dr. Phillip Abraham @ (abrahaph@onr.navy.mil). Business questions should be addressed by E-Mail to Terry Young @ (youngt@onr.navy.mil). The standard industrial classification code is 8731 with the small business standard of 1,000 employees. In addition, contract proposals that exceed $500,000 submitted by all but small businesses, must be accompanied by a Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9. For contract awards, evaluation of the socio-economic merits will include the extent of commitment in providing meaningful subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, hubzone small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small business concerns, and historically black colleges and universities and minority institutions. This announcement is open for thirty days from the date of publication. Posted 04/13/99 (W-SN318819). (0103)

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