A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR SEA CACHE OPERATIONAL CONCEPTS IN SUPPORT OF NAVAL ASSAULTS FROM A SEA BASE

Notice Date

November 30, 2000

Contracting Office

Commanding Officer, NAVFACCO, Bldg 41 Code 80, NAVFACENGCOMDET-SLC, 4111 San Pedro Street, Port Hueneme, CA 93043-4410

ZIP Code

93043-4410

Solicitation Number

N47408-01-R-2208

Response Due

November 30, 2001

Point of Contact

Paulette Peterson, Contract Specialist, (805) 982-5081

Description

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 addressed by SEA CACHE OPERATIONAL CONCEPTS IN SUPPORT OF NAVAL ASSAULTS FROM A SEA BASE. 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. NOTE: OFFERORS ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION (CCR) IN ORDER TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. NO CONTRACT AWARD SHALL BE MADE TO ANY OFFEROR THAT IS NOT REGISTERED OR IN THE PROCESS OF REGISTRATING WITH THE DOD CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION. THE DOD CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION MAY BE REACHED AT (888) 352-9333, OR FACSIMILE (616) 691-5305, OR EMAIL dlsc-cso@dlsc.dla.mil. Background: Historically, Joint-Logistics-Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) technology has been used during sealift exercises to move cargo to the beach from supply vessels anchored several miles offshore, in areas where fixed port facilities are inadequate or unavailable. With a growing emphasis placed on sea-based fleets that operate from over-the-horizon according to emerging postures such as those stated in Marine Corps 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 25 miles or more from shore where conventional JLOTS methods of supply using lighters and other small watercraft are not practical. Thus the problem of sustaining troops with adequate quantities of ammunition, materiel and fuels becomes 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 while hidden in waters up 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 pictured as a 20- or 40-foot long ISO-configured container structure that can be carried aboard Navy and commercial vessels of opportunity. Additional concepts for configuring, outfitting, delivering and deploying are sought. In the current vision, Sea Cache modules can be deployed alone for single use, or in groups connected together as an extended structure. Sea Cache structures are 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)automated shipboard warehousing methods and material handling equipment for stocking, fueling and unloading modules while onboard ship; (3)scenarios for deploying, including transporting aboard Navy and commercial ships, launching at the site, operating on and below the surface, and retrieving;(4) methods of loading, accessing, and unloading cargo from a Sea Cache module while it is on the surface or submerged;(5) system automation for adjusting assembly weight (i.e., ballasting)for float/sink control, and maintaining elevation during cargo removal (e.g., fuel discharge);(6) system automation for activating propellant anchor and operating fuel discharge line; (7)underwater propulsion systems for moving sea cache assemblies clandestinely while submerged; (8) connecting techniques for joining multiple modules together for transport and/or field assembly; (9)fuel bladders and underwater pumping technology for dispensing from submerged hose lines;(10) optimizing (compromising) Sea Cache shape in terms of maximizing load, stability and strength, and minimizing drag and manufacturing cost; (11) scale-model hydrodynamic testing to establish/verify drag and mooring forces, fluid coupling forces, relative and absolute platform motions, and vessel stability; and (12) 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 NOVEMBER 30, 2001 WHERE EVALUATION OF SUBMITTED PROPOSALS SHALL BE MADE ON A PERIODIC BASIS. 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. EVALUATIONS SHALL 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. Proposals will be evaluated by the above evaluation criteria and for potential funding by the Navy under the Exploratory Development (6.2) Program. It is anticipated that two or three awards in the range of $20,000 to $50,000 for each award may be the targeted. 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 in writing to Mr. Joe Barthelemy, e-mail address: barthelemyjl@nfesc.navy.mil, or Dr. Eric Huang, e-mail address: 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 FOR PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL. Interested parties shall submit their proposal to: NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND CONTRACTS OFFICE (NAVFACCO), CODE NF20, BLDG. 41, NAVFACENGCOMDET-NFI, 3502 GOODSPEED STREET SUITE 2, PORT HUENEME, CA 93043-4306.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001204/ASOL003.HTM (W-335 SN507802)