Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL -- Wright Research Site, Det 1 AFRL/PK, Bldg 167, Area B, 2310 8th Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433-7801

A -- ADVANCED NONSTRUCTURAL MATERIALS SOL 00 -- 06-MLK DUE 080400 POC William Underwood, Contract Negotiator, Phone (937) 255-5369, Fax (937) 255-5302, Email William.Underwood@wpafb.af.mil -- Dr Shashi Sharma, Project Engineer, Phone (937) 255-9029, Email Shashi.Sharma@wpafb.af.mil WEB: Visit this URL for the latest information about this, http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ACode=R&ProjID=00 -- 06-MLK&LocID=904. E-MAIL: William Underwood, William.Underwood@wpafb.af.mil. 17. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Nonmetallic Materials Division, Wright Patterson AFB, OH, AFRL/MLBT, is seeking sources for a team of highly qualified personnel to conduct an on-site research, development and transition program on advanced nonstructural materials. Sources interested in this program must have available an interdisciplinary team consisting of: Physicists, Chemists, Materials Scientists, Engineers and associated technicians experienced in research and development (R&D) of nonstructural materials. This effort will include research and development on nonstructural aerospace materials including fluids, lubricants (liquid, grease and solid), tribological coatings, sealing materials (elastomers and gap sealants), aircraft coatings (topcoats, primers, surface treatments, and corrosion prevention compounds), spacecraft lubricants and thermal control coatings, and micromechanical devices. Effort can include chemical synthesis, characterization, establishing synthesis-structure-property relationships, formulation, mechanical and other performance evaluations, and computational modeling of novel coating materials, fluids and lubricant materials and fundamental mechanisms of phenomenon related to aircraft, missiles, and space applications. Liquid lubricants R&D will include the development of both base fluids and performance improving additives. In the fluids, liquids and grease lubricant area, special emphasis will be placed on quick reaction field support and problem solving which may require the analysis of system components as well as the fluids and liquid and grease lubricants. Tribological coatings development studies will include the deposition of different classes of solid lubricants and wear resistant coatings using pulsed laser deposition, magnetron sputtering and other techniques, and evaluation of their mechanical properties and performance. Coating architecture research will include functional gradient, nanocomposites, and multilayers.R&D studies will include fundamentals of friction and wear through mechanical assemblies. Surface analyses and other analytical techniques will be used to develop fundamental understanding of the tribology, tribochemistry and structure-property relationships of these nonstructural materials. Research and development on aircraft coatings can include development of, synthesis, and formulation of constituent materials and coatings, development of environmentally compliant application and removal technology/techniques, using a variety of metallic and nonmetallic substrate materials. Coatings research can include nanostructured and functionally gradient coating materials. R&D studies will include fundamental mechanisms of coating breakdown, corrosion initiation, signature control, and corrosion prevention. Molecular and surface analyses will be used to develop fundamental understanding of corrosion prevention and degradation mechanisms of coatings, as well as fundamental investigation of related phenomena, such as electrochemical behavior and life-prediction modeling. Spacecraft coatings R&D will include thermal control coatings and other thermal management materials, and their evaluation using an existing in-house space environmental effects simulation facility and other related equipment. Spacecraft lubricants R&D will include development of long-life, low-volatility lubricants (liquid and solid) and wear resistant tribological coatings and their evaluation in simulated space environment. The program duration is estimated at 48 months for technical effort, plus four months for final report preparation. Technical progress, financial status and annual reports will be required. This program will be conducted on-site at AFRL/MLBT, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH in order to reduce cost and utilize available specialized research equipment. Prospective offerors must demonstrate the capability to provide a quick reaction response to tasking requirements in order to accomplish the requirements in a timely manner, and will be required to maintain a full technical staff at AFRL/MLBT to conduct the R&D. Responses to this sources sought synopsis must include specific information related to capabilities in the above areas that indicate the organization_s background, understanding of the problem and personnel. Responses must include the identity and resume of personnel. Organizational brochures and letters of interest are unacceptable. Firms responding should indicate whether they are, or are not, a small business, a socially and economically disadvantaged business, a woman-owned business, a historically black college or university, or minority institution. For this item, the general definition to be used to determine whether your firm is small is as follows: _A small business concern is a concern that is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on government contracts and with its affiliates, and the number of employees does not exceed 500 persons._ SIC Code 8731 applies. _Concern means any business entity organization for profit, with a place of business in the United States, its possessions, Puerto Rico, or the trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, including but not limited to an individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, association or corporation._ The Air Force reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside based upon responses hereto. Small business respondents should provide a statement of capabilities to assist the Air Force in making a set-aside decision. Large businesses are only required to submit a statement of interest in the effort. All respondents shall include in any response their assigned commercial and Government entity code (Federal Supply Code for Manufacturers, a five digit code assigned by the Comdr Def Logistics Service center, Attn: DESC-CGD, Federal Center, Battle Creek MI, (616) 961-4381, Ref DOD 5000.129M). Respondents are further requested to indicate their status as a foreign-owned firm/foreign-controlled firm, and any contemplated use of foreign national employees on this effort. Foreign firms should be aware that restrictions might apply which could preclude their participation in this acquisition. Small businesses interested in this effort must respond with a complete capability/qualification package describing the company_s technical expertise and experience, personnel, and facilities to accomplish the work described above. Responses submitted should be in one copy only. Each response shall reference Sources Sought #00-06-MLK. Responses should be sent to WILLIAM T. UNDERWOOD, Contract Negotiator, AFRL/MLKN, BLDG 167, 2310 8TH ST., WPAFB OH 45433-7801. Responses shall not be submitted via facsimile or email. Closing date for submission of responses is within Fifteen (15) calendar days from the publication of this notice. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from potential offerors during this sources sought phase. 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 the appropriate government personnel. When requested, the Ombudsman shall maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. Interested parties are invited to contact Lt Col Sam A. Lopez, Det 1 AFRL/PK, telephone (937) 255-4813, e-mail Sam.Lopez@ws.wpafb.af.mil. All routine communication concerning this announcement, that is non-technical, should be directed to WILLIAM T. UNDERWOOD, Contract Negotiator, AFRL/MLKN, BLDG 167, 2310 8TH ST., WPAFB OH 45433-7801, telephone 937-255-5369. All technical related issues should be directed to DR. SHASHI SHARMA at 937-255-9029. Request for Proposal (RFP) release for this program is projected in AUGUST 2000 timeframe. A notice will be issued in the Commerce Business Daily advising that the Request for Proposal is available on the Electronic Posting System (EPS), web site, http://www.eps.gov/. This is the official notice of this acquisition and no other notice will be issued prior to issuance of the solicitation. See numbered Note(s): 26. Posted 07/20/00 (D-SN476897). (0202)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0005 20000724\A-0005.SOL)

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