Commanding Officer, NAVFACCO, Bldg 41 Code 27, NAVFACENGCOMDET-SLC, 4111 San Pedro Street, Port Hueneme, CA 93043-4410

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTFOR SEA CACHE METHODS SUPPORTING NAVAL ASSAULTS FROM SEA-BASED FLEETS, BAA TOPIC NO. 99-020 SOL N47408-99-R-3950 DUE 092099 POC Contract Specialist David Crouch, (805) 982-2740, crouchda@slc.navfac.navy.mil This announcement constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NFESC) under FAR 6.102(d)(2) to solicit proposals for basic and applied research for new and innovative technological solutions to problems in the areas of SEA CACHE METHODS SUPPORTING NAVAL ASSAULTS FROM SEA-BASED FLEETS, BAA TOPIC NO. 99-020. Part of the proposed areas listed in these BAA's are being considered 100% set aside for Historically Black Colleges and Universities or Minority Institutions as defined by the clause at 252.226-7000 of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. Interested HBCU's and MI's should provide the contracting office as early as possible, but not later than 15 days after this notice, evidence of their capability to perform the contract, and a positive statement of their eligibility as an HBCU or MI. If adequate response is not received from HBCU's and MI's then institutions, non-profit organizations and private industry proposals will be evaluated. Background: Historically, Joint-Logistics-Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) maneuvers have been used during sealift exercises to move cargo from supply vessels anchored several miles offshore to the beach in areas where fixed port facilities are inadequate or unavailable. With the growing emphasis placed on sea-based fleets that operate from over-the-horizon in emerging postures such Operational-Maneuver-from-the-Sea (OMFTS) and Ship-to-Objective-Maneuver (STOM), radical changes in logistical support are imminent. Sea-based fleets may be stationed 100 miles or more from shore where conventional JLOTS methods of supply using lighters and other small watercraft are not practical. Thus the problems of supplying the initial assault with adequate quantities of ammunition, materiel and fuels become particularly challenging. The concept of sea cache encompasses a novel marine drop-and-use, materiel-storage facility with a unique float/sink capability that allows it to operate while on the surface or when hidden in watersup to 100 feet deep. The critical objective behind the sea cache project is to provide an innovative logistical stepping-stone capability that will afford Naval combat forces the privileges of immediate access and rapid surprise entry to beach areas when deployed from a pre-positioned, sea-based fleet operating from over the horizon. Modularity in construction and in connecting interfaces will enable elements of sea cache to be transported by existing sealift assets to littoral areas where individual units may be deployed singularly, or joined as multiples. The conceptual Sea Cache element is currently pictured as a nominal 30'x60'x13' reinforced and watertight pontoon module that can be carried aboard a lighter-aboard-ship (LASH) type vessel. Additional concepts for configuring, delivering and deploying are sought. In this vision, the Sea Cache is fitted for self-ballasting and self-anchoring functions, and can be moored on the surface as a platform for access by logistic helicopters; anchored on the ocean floor for covert activity from below; or, tethered at any intermediate depth. The positioned Sea Cache must remain fully operational in heavy sea conditions through sea state 3 and must be able to weather out storms during higher survival sea states. Submitted proposals should offer innovative solutions to anticipated technical shortfalls, and/or provide new techniques of numerical simulation and model testing in one or more of the following desired areas of technology: (1) structural assessment, including selection of materials and strength of supporting frame and skin, and integrity of watertight seals at water-pressure depths up to 100 feet; (2) methods of deploying, including transporting aboard ship, launching at the site, operating on and below the surface, and retrieving; (3) methods of loading, accessing, and unloading cargo from a Sea Cache module while it is on the surface or submerged; (4) automated ballasting and de-ballasting systems that are remotely activated and provide self-stabilizing withina variable range of cargo load-out density options; (5) automated propellant anchor system that can be actuated remotely; (6) methods of fabricating and manufacturing required for the modular construction of large pontoon hulls and container-connecting interface structures; (7) concepts for anchoring and mooring that will enable a container to remain grounded, or tethered beneath or on the surface; (8) optimizing (compromising) Sea Cache shape in terms of maximizing load, stability and strength, and minimizing drag and manufacturing cost; (9) underwater pumping technology, including fuel dispensing and submerged hose lines; (10) scale-model hydrodynamic testing to establish/verify drag and mooring forces, fluid coupling forces, relative and absolute platform motions, and vessel stability; and (11) analytical studies to extend the state-of-the-art relative to computational methods and computer simulation software programs predicting the dynamic response of a floating structure and tethered vessel that is subjected to the combined action of waves and currents. Solutions offered should take into account the expeditionary nature of Naval sealift operations. All systems proposed for development should be readily transportable by existing sealift and Navy assets, should be rapidly deployable and require a minimum of support personnel, should be operable with minimal training, should be field repairable, and should be of robust construction to withstand the proven harshness of the marine environment. The effective period of this BAA is through July 19, 2000 and cut off dates for submission of proposals are: 20 September 99, 20 December 99, 20 March 2000 and 20 June 2000. Proposals should be provided into three (3) sections: (1) A technical section which includes a clear statement of objectives, technical approach, and methodology, supporting technical information (including an indication of proprietary aspects of the proposed effort) and a plan of action and milestones. (2) A management section which includes a description of relevant corporate expertise, experience, facilities, and other relevant resources, resumes of key personnel. (3) A cost section, which provides a breakdown of the proposed effort, described in the technical section. All options and assumptions shall be clearly identified and defined. Proposal evaluation and award decisions will be based on a competitive selection of proposals from peer/scientific review considering technical merit, importance to agency programs availability of funds, cost realism, and reasonableness. Evaluations will be conducted using the following criteria: (1) The overall innovation, scientific/technical merits, and objectives of the offer, (2) The offeror's capabilities, related experience, techniques, or unique combination of these which are integral factors in achieving the offeror's proposed objectives, (3) the qualifications capabilities and experience of the principal investigator, team leader, or key personnel who are critical in achieving the objectives of the offer, (4) the reasonableness of cost relative to the proposed scientific/technical approach. All work under this BAA is unclassified. Offerors are advised that only the contracting officer is legally authorized to commit the Government to a contract; however, technical questions may be directed to Mr. Joe Barthelemy (805) 982-1314 [email: barthelemyjl@nfesc.navy.mil or Dr. Erick Huang (805) 982-1256 [email: huangt@nfesc.navy.mil]. Proposals identified for funding may result in a contract, however there is no commitment by the Navy to make any awards, or to make a specific number of awards, or to be responsible for money expended by the offeror before the award of a contract. Proposals will be evaluated for potential funding by the Navy under its' Exploratory Development (6.2) program. It is expected that two or three awards in the range of $20,000 to $50,000 for each award will be the targeted. Posted 07/20/99 (W-SN356732). (0201)

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