A -- BAA FOR UNMANNED AVIATION TECHNOLOGY & DEMONSTRATIONS

Notice Date

December 15, 2000

Contracting Office

Contracts Group, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Bldg 2272 Suite 353, 47123 Buse Road, Patuxent River, MD 20670-1547

ZIP Code

20670-1547

Solicitation Number

N00421-01-R-0110

Response Due

December 31, 2001

Point of Contact

David Tompkins (301) 757-9735

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the contract specialist via (tompkinsdm@navair.navy.mil)

Description

PART: SPECIAL NOTICES OFFADD: Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (Code 2.5.1), Building 588, Suite 2, Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, MD 20670-1463 Subject: UNMANNED AVIATION TECHNOLOGY & DEMONSTRATIONS DESC: SOL Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) N00421-01-R-0110 DUE Within one year of the date of CBD publication AGENCY NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIFCRAFT DIVISION (NAWCAD) (Code 2.5.1.4.1.3.), Bldg 588, Suite 2, 47253 Whalen Road, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, MD 20670-1463 POC: David Tompkins, Contract Specialist, (301) 757-9735, Vicki Fuhrmann, Contracting Officer, (301) 757-9707, TECHNICAL POC: Kerry Kelly (301) 757-5871 This notice constitutes a BAA as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). This BAA is also listed at http://www.navair.navy.mil/business/ecommerce/index.cfm (Business Opportunities/Open Solicitations). I. INTRODUCTION. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) is announcing this BAA competition as an unclassified solicitation to obtain science and technology proposals in the area of Advanced Unmanned Aviation Technology and Demonstrations (UATD). II. BACKGROUND. The Navy is working jointly with the Marine Corps, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and others, as appropriate, pertaining to research and development (R&D) concepts addressing areas relating to unmanned aviation, including platforms, payloads and operational concepts. The Navy plans to increase its level of sponsorship in the area of small, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). These vehicles will offer revolutionary capabilities to warfighters, particularly those in small teams. New tactical advantages centered around small UAVs, including increased situation awareness, surveillance capabilities, standoff weaponry, forward-pass targeting, and logistics support are all leading the way to a new age in warfighting. Along with these new capabilities come new operational concepts as well as unexplored issues revolving around the safety, utility, and supportability of these systems. NAWCAD, in conjunction with the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Patuxent River, MD, is seeking to investigate these operational concepts and associated issues, and to promote rapid system acquisition and transition to the fleet. NAWCAD is planning to make awards within the overall program objectives which are: (A) to explore new concepts through emerging small UAV technologies, (B) create adaptations to better suit the needs of the warfighting community, (C) certify the sustainability and safety of candidate systems, (D) and promote those systems through the procurement process. These awards are subject to the availability of appropriations. All awards will be based on merit competition. Consortiums of government, industry, and universities, teaming arrangements and partnership formations that enhance technology demonstration are encouraged. Partnership proposals should list one vendor as the principle point of contact and define the relationships among the partners. Proposals must have military applications. Commercial applications, as well as cost sharing, are strongly encouraged. III. AREAS OF INTEREST. Proposals are being solicited in three areas: A New Operational Concepts for Small UAVs including operations from sea-based platforms, operations in support of littoral warfare, and operations in urban environments. Of particular interest are those concepts that develop and demonstrate the utility of a Vertical/Short Take Off and Landing UAV (V/STOL). Any proposed system must be suitable, with respect to size, cost, and supportability as well as for access and control by forward deployed military or irregular light forces. Concepts should address logistic support, payloads, operating, safety and system performance parameters. Also of interest are concepts that address autonomous takeoff, flight, landing, auto routing, and enhanced urban area survivability features. Proposals should fully explain the connection between any novel proposed UAV capability and warfighting applications. Any proposed prototype hardware should be designed in a manner that makes it suitable for rapid development for field demonstrations. Examples of the types of concepts that could be proposed are: 1. Concepts that develop a perimeter security function and a moving target "chase" capability. 2. "Mothership" concepts that allow smaller micro UAVs to be deployed/controlled/monitored. 3. Lethal and non-lethal weapon delivery systems are of interest. This may address a variety of systems from integration of existing armament into the UAV platform to modified warheads and submunitions as well as methods to provide human-in-the-loop, mobility control. 4. Concepts that will lead to refinement of the sensor-to-shooter problem considering the weapons mix of the Littoral Battlespace. Solutions that increase placement accuracy and operator standoff range are of particular interest. 5. Re-supply of deployed forces utilizing the UAV as a beast of burden that is integrated into the logistics supply arm of the supported force. Semi-/fully automated ship-to-ship Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) or ship-to-shore capability is desired. 6. Simulation and study efforts that analyze proposed capabilities, techniques, tactics or procedures, when the procurement of experimental hardware for operational testing is either technically not yet possible or too expensive. 7. Small UAV systems which can be demonstrated as a system in a rapid, field deployment/experimentation manner. Candidate systems should be backpackable, low cost and inexpensive to manufacture. Autonomous operation with operational ranges from 3 to 10 Kilometers, day and night payloads, minimized training requirements are highly desired. The vendor's ability supply up to 40 flight vehicles with payloads (day or night or combination), 3 to 10 Ground Control Stations (backpackable) and field support spares for an extended experimentation period using various military units will be assessed as part of review of the vendor's offering. The target unit for this system is USMC small ground units. B Technologies that advance the state-of-the-art in flight safety, performance, and supportability of small UAV airframes are of interest. Examples are: 1. Technology that reduces the need for UAV dedicated equipment such as integrating functions with advanced team or squad-level communications equipment; use of open architecture hardware and software platforms; and, tactical display systems. Also included are systems normally carried by a small unit for use in controlling the UAV, displaying payload products and relaying functions to other network nodes. 2. Concepts which increase situational awareness, mission planning, execution monitoring, and operations visualization. 3. Manufacturing, maintenance (depot and field) and quality assurance technologies which lead to a greater degree of airworthiness and reduced life cycle costs, including expendable technology. 4. System safety and mechanisms to improve training to transition the capability to manage and control small UAVs at the squad or platoon level.. C. Systems Integration and Demonstration Testing proposals that result in significant performance enhancements or novel warfighting applications. The following classes of systems are of interest: 1. Networking and datalinks, including satellite links, and automated flight control technology that address a common systems approach to UAV operations are of particular interest. New approaches to networking, data dissemination and relay technology between small UAVs and small teams. Datalink proposals should address approaches for low probability of intercept/detection, anti-jam, and network management. 2. Test bed platforms that can act as a surrogate for Tactical Control Station, Modular Integrated Avionics Group, Collision Avoidance/IFF, Tactical Common Data Link integration or other open system architecture. 3. Payloads and concepts of employment in both the military and commercial environment. Payloads may be contained on the UAV or deployed as an expendable or recoverable. 4. Control interfaces, which address issues related to commonality between UAV and land robotics control, reduction of proficiency requirements, and increased systems safety. 5. Tools and manipulators that provide new capabilities for insertion of robotic elements, payload launching and retrieval mechanisms, and additional functionality to the small UAV. I. CONTRACT/AGREEMENT TYPE. NAWCAD is willing to consider various types of contract vehicles including traditional FAR/DFARS type contracts and/or non-procurement agreements (e.g., Cooperative Agreements, and "Other Transactions"). Other Transactions will be entered into under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2371 (Congressional direction requires that at least 50 percent of the cost of a project under this initiative be provided by industry) and "Section 845, Authority to Carry Out Certain Prototype Projects." Information concerning "Other Transactions" can be found at http://www.darpa.mil/cmo/pages/other_trans.html and http://www.acq.osd.mil/ddre/research, or by contacting David Tompkins, Contract Specialist, at (301) 757-9735, or by e-mail to tompkinsdm@navair.navy.mil. Final decision on acquisition type (contract/agreement) will be made by the government.. II. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS. No request for proposal (RFP), solicitation or other announcement of this opportunity will be made. Request for the same will be disregarded. Submit proposals in two (2) phases. A. Phase I -- Proposal Abstract. Submit Proposal Abstract, not to exceed fifteen (15) pages, in advance of full proposals, any time during the above stated open period. The proposals will be evaluated. All proprietary portions of the abstract shall be clearly identified and will be treated in the strictest confidence. Abstracts shall identify the following: (1)BAA Number: N00421-01-R-UADT. (2) Organization Name; (3) Other Team Members and type of business for each; (4) Technical points of contact (including phone, fax, and e-mail information); (5) Administrative Point of Contact; (6)Overview of the Proposed Work include: A summary of proposed concept (including commercial applications), an estimated timeframe for project completion, a brief description of the facilities involved, and a brief resume of the principle investigator(s); and, (7) A rough order of cost magnitude with type of acquisition vehicle (contract/agreement) being proposed, and, if applicable, the anticipated sharing agreement.. BRIEFING: The Government may request the contractor to present a technical briefing on the proposed effort(s) at NAWCAD. Although discussions with the government are permitted prior to submission of abstracts, these technical briefings are desired following the formal submission of an abstract. The Government is not liable for any costs associated with this brief. The abstract cover letter should discuss the contractor's willingness to provide a technical brief. The proposal abstract, an original with four (4) additional copies, must be submitted to the following address, or submitted by facsimile to (301) 342-1864: Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Code: AIR-2.5.1.4.1.3, Attn: David Tompkins -- N00421-01-R-0110 Bldg. 588, Suite 2, 47253 Whalen Road, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, MD 20670-1463. Contents of Proposal Abstracts may also be submitted electronically to tompkinsdm@navair.navy.mil. Confirmation of receipt is recommended for electronic submission. If a contractor's proposal abstract is selected to continue to Phase II, the date for submission of a full proposal will be provided. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE CONTRACTORS: Registration in the DoD's Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database will be a prerequisite for receiving an award resulting from this BAA. For more information please contact the CCR Assistance Center at 1-888-227-2423. B. Phase II -- Full Proposal. REQUEST FOR SUBMISSION OF A FULL PROPOSAL DOES NOT GUARANTEE AWARD SELECTION. See listing for (BAA) N00421-01-R-0110 at www.navair.navy.mil/business/ecommerce/index.cfm (Business/Doing Business With Us/Open Solicitations) for instruction on how to submit Phase II Full Proposal.

Web Link

NAVAIR HOME PAGE (Click Business/Doing Business With (http://www.navair.navy.mil/business/ecommerce/index.cfm )

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001219/ASOL005.HTM (W-350 SN5089R0)