A -- ENVIRONMENT SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT, ANALYSIS & REPORTING NETWORK

Notice Date

April 5, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL -- Eglin Research Site, 101 West Eglin Blvd, Suite 337, Eglin AFB, FL, 32542-6810

ZIP Code

32542-6810

Solicitation Number

MNK-PRDA-01-0003

Response Due

May 18, 2001

Point of Contact

Brenda Soler, Contracting Officer, Phone (850)882-3399, Fax (850)882-9599, Email solerb@eglin.af.mil -- Brenda Soler, Contracting Officer, Phone (850)882-3399, Fax (850)882-9599, Email solerb@eglin.af.mil

E-Mail Address

Brenda Soler (solerb@eglin.af.mil)

Description

The Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Expeditionary Forces (AEF) Technologies Division (AFRL/MLQ), Tyndall AFB, FL, is interested in receiving technical and cost proposals for the research effort described below. Proposals in response to this PRDA shall be submitted by 18 May 2001, 1500 hours Central Standard Time, to AFRL/MNK, Attn: Martin Kradlak, Bldg 13, 101 W. Eglin Blvd, Suite 337, Eglin AFB FL 32542-6810. Responses must reference solicitation number MNK-PRDA-01-0003. Proposals submitted must be in accordance with this announcement. Since this is a PRDA, there will be no formal request for proposal or other solicitation regarding this announcement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments that may be published. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on this solicitation. Proposal receipt after the cutoff date and time specified herein shall be treated in accordance with restrictions of FAR 52.215-1(c)(3); a copy of this provision may be viewed at http://farsite.hill.af.mil/. Offerors may request a copy of the July 2000 AFRL publication entitled, _Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and Program Research & Development Announcement (PRDA) Industry Guide._ This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the BAA/PRDA proposal process. The document may also be viewed and downloaded at http://www.wrs.afrl.af.mil/contract/Ind-gde.rtf. BACKGROUND: The Environmental Systems Management, Analysis and Reporting neTwork (E-SMART) was initially developed as an automated network of sensors to sample, analyze and report on environmental contamination on an airbase. The prototype system was installed and demonstrated at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. Subsequent research has been conducted to provide a common sensor interface capable of allowing the E-SMART network to receive information from off-the-shelf commercial environmental sensors and new innovative sensors. Most recently, research has begun to adapt the E-SMART network to the task of sampling and analyzing the battlefield environment to detect hazardous chemical or biological agents. This capability could be employed at fixed Department of Defense sites, or deployed to contingency areas. A variation of the system could be provided for training civil first response teams to pending terrorist activity in urban areas. Research currently being conducted will identify fielded and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) sensor systems, assess their capability to be integrated with E-SMART, integrate the sensors and demonstrate the capability on the installed network. The effort will also survey emerging technologies and technologies of the former Soviet Union and determine which are the most favorable technologies to integrate with E-SMART. REQUIREMENTS: The purpose of this solicitation is to obtain proposals to integrate emerging and former Soviet Union chem/bio sensor technologies with the E-SMART system at Tinker AFB and demonstrate the resulting system capabilities. The system should be applicable to fixed site as well as be deployable for contingency operations. The resulting capability should have the propensity for technology transition to the commercial and civil community for combating toxic industrial material (TIM) releases and terrorist activity against urban populations with toxic industrial compounds (TIC). The objective of this procurement is to offer a potential solution to the Defense need for Chemical/Biological detection and warning as expressed in the Defense Technology Objectives, Defense Technology Area Plans for Chemical/Biological Defense and Nuclear (www.fas.org/spp/military/docops/defense/dtap_dto/index.html#CB). TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: This program is expected to last 24 months during which time the offeror shall assemble system requirements associated with the prospective customers (Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, US Air Forces Europe, Pacific Air Forces, Special Operations Command and the Air Expeditionary Forces, integrate emerging and former Soviet Union sensor technologies to satisfy customer requirements, and conduct laboratory testing of system components and the assembled system. Laboratory testing shall affirm that system performance will meet requirements. The successful technologies shall be integrated into the deployed E-SMART system at Tinker AFB, and the range of capability of the fielded system shall be demonstrated. System design, testing and demonstration information shall be documented in a final technical report. DELIVERABLE ITEMS: All hardware purchased, developed, assembled or installed in the E-SMART system; Scientific and Technical Reports, Final Report, DI-MISC-80711; Scientific and Technical Reports, System Requirements Analysis, DI-MISC-80711; Contractor_s Progress, Status and Management Report, Monthly Report, DI-MGMT-80227; Master Integrated Program Schedule, DI-MISC-81183A; Test Plan, Laboratory Validation Test Plan, DI-NDTI-80566; Test Plan, Field Demonstration, DI-NDTI-80566; Presentation Material, DI-ADMN-81373 (charts, etc. presented at program reviews, etc.). Electronic submission of deliverable data items is preferred but not mandatory. REVIEWS: A kickoff meeting will be conducted at the contractor_s facility within 30 days of contract award. The contractor shall plan, prepare for, and conduct quarterly program reviews by teleconference during the life of the program. The final program review shall be at Tyndall AFB, Florida. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: Performing this research will require the contractor to have access to US Government classified information at the SECRET level. Contact Martin Kradlak, AFRL/MNK, for copy of DD Form 254. REFERENCES: In addition to the AFRL guide for preparation of BAA and PRDA proposals identified elsewhere in this solicitation, potential offerors are provided the following references for information about the E-SMART system. Technical reports AL/EQ-TR-1993-0027, Environmental Systems Management, Analysis and Reporting Network (E-SMART), ADA279766; AL/EQ-TR-1996-0010, Environmental Systems Management, Analysis and Reporting Network (E-SMART), Phase II _ Vol. I, ADB216955; AL/EQ-TR-1996-0010 v2, Environmental Systems Management, Analysis and Reporting Network (E-SMART), Phase II _ Vol. II, ADB216954; AFRL-ML-TY-TR-1999-4510, E-SMART Enabled Sensor Development, ADB243436; and AFRL-ML-TY-TR-1999-4518, Integration of YSI-600R Multi-Parameter Groundwater Probe with E-SMART, ADB243438; all available through the Defense Technical Information Center, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 0944, Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060-6218, Toll Free: 1-800-225-3842. The E-SMART node specification is available from AFRL/MLQL, Mike Calidonna, 139 Barnes Drive, Suite 2, Tyndall AFB, FL, 32403-5323, (850) 283-6227. OTHER SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: After contract award, the contractor is encouraged to establish an Associate Contractor Agreement (ACA) with General Atomics, 3550 General Atomics Court, San Diego, CA, 92121-1194, (858) 455-2070, for obtaining information about concurrent development of the E-SMART system. If proposed approach does not include an ACA, provide an explanation for exclusion of an ACA. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Anticipated period of performance: The total length of the technical effort is estimated to be 24 months. The contractor shall plan for an additional 30 days for completion of the final report. (2) The expected contract award date is 1 July 2001. The government anticipates a single award of a cost plus fixed fee (CPFF) type contract, but reserves the right to make no awards. The government estimate for this effort is $2,400,000. (3) The government will make available the existing E-SMART system currently installed at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, on a non-exclusive coordinated basis for installation of new sensors resulting from this effort, and for demonstration of the resulting capability. The contractor will function autonomously during integration and demonstration of the installed system at Tinker AFB, which is being developed, operated and maintained by General Atomics under separate contract. At the conclusion of the on-going effort by General Atomics in May 2002, the successful contractor will assume responsibility for continued operation and maintenance of the prototype E-SMART system from May 2002 through 24 months after contract award. It is the offerors responsibility to identify any other equipment to be used whether contractor-owned and furnished or government-owned and furnished. If available, the government will assist in providing Government-owned property as appropriate. (4) For the purpose of this acquisition, the size standard is 500 employees (NAICS 541710). (5) Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Such firms are asked to immediately notify the Air Force technical point of contact cited below upon deciding to respond to this announcement. Foreign offerors should be aware that restrictions may apply which could preclude their participation in this acquisition. (6) Successful offeror will be required to provide an approved DD Form 2345, Export-Controlled DOD Technical Data Agreement, prior to award. PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: (1) General Instructions: Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the provision at FAR 52.215-1 (e), Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data, to trade secrets or privileged commercial and financial information contained in their proposals. Proposal questions should be directed to the appropriate points of contact listed below. Offerors should consider instructions contained in the AFRL BAA and PRDA Industry Guide referenced elsewhere in this announcement. Technical and cost proposals, submitted in separate volumes, are required and must be valid for 180 days. Proposals shall be submitted in an original and two copies, or one electronic copy to AFRL/MNK and one electronic copy to AFRL/MLQ (e-mail addresses listed below in Points of Contact section). All responsible sources may submit a proposal that shall be considered against the criteria set forth herein. Offerors are advised that only contracting officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the government. Proposals shall not contain any classified data. (2) Cost Proposal: Adequate price competition is anticipated. The Volume 2 cost proposal must include as a minimum a man-hour breakdown by task; a cost element summary including labor, overhead, travel, G&A, etc.; an SF Form 1448 for the contract and a payment schedule for the entire program. (3) Technical Proposal: The technical proposal shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the technical approach. The technical proposal shall also include a description of the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the proposed effort and be suitable for contract incorporation. Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of personnel who will be participating in this effort shall also be included as attachments to the technical proposal and are not included in the page limit. The proposal shall contain a clearly delineated statement of work as a distinct section. Offerors should refer to the AFRL PRDA & BAA Industry Guide referenced elsewhere herein. Any questions concerning the technical proposal shall be referred to the Technical Point of Contact cited in this announcement. (4) Page Limitations: The technical proposal shall be limited to 25 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches. The page limitation is applicable to all information except indices and the attachments described above. The government will not consider pages in excess of this limitation. Cost proposals have no limitations; however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 30 pages as a goal. (5) Preparation Cost: This announcement does not commit the government to pay for any response preparation cost. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this PRDA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or any other contract. However, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18. PROPOSAL EVALUATION: The selection of none or one source for contract award shall be based on scientific and engineering evaluation of the proposals in response to the PRDA to determine best-value potential for the entire program. Proposals will be evaluated as received using the following factors. No other evaluation criteria will be used in selecting the proposals. Technical and cost information will be evaluated at the same time. The factors in descending order of importance are as follows: (1) Technical _ The soundness of the approach, including the proper definition and arrangement of tasks, concept verification techniques, and the probability of meeting the government_s technical goals. The technical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be evaluated based on the following criteria, which are of equal importance: Understanding the problem: Does the offeror demonstrate an understanding of the E-SMART system concept, the data acquisition technique, the data analysis methodology, the sensor node interface, and the open system architecture? Does the offeror demonstrate a current working knowledge of these areas and push the leading edge of the chem/bio sensor technology via published works? Does the offeror demonstrate innovative solutions to detecting and reporting trace levels of hazardous substances in near real time via patents, copyrights, etc? Does the offeror demonstrate an approach for investigating and integrating foreign sources of sensors; Soundness of Management Approach _ Does the offeror demonstrate a clear, logical, and efficient approach to conduct all aspects of the program? Are responsibilities and required communication between the offeror and consultants and sub-contractors clearly presented? Are responsibilities for consultant and subcontractor tasks clearly assigned? Statement of Work (SOW) -- Does the offeror present a clearly delineated stand-alone SOW that clearly implements the technical and managerial approach to be used? (2) Past Performance: The offeror demonstrates their capabilities, related experience, record of research accomplishments in networked data systems, sensor technology, and chemical/biological detection, facilities, techniques, key personnel, subcontractor management or unique combinations of these factors which are integral for achieving the government_s technical goals. Does the offeror identify and demonstrate the qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed principal investigator, team leader, and other key personnel who are critical to achieving the proposed effort, and all required equipment and facilities? (3) Cost _ The reasonableness, realism, and completeness of proposed cost for the total program. It is the policy of AFRL/MN to treat all proposals as privileged information prior to award, and to disclose the contents only for the purposes of evaluation. The offeror must indicate on the appropriate form any limitations to be placed on disclosure of information contained in the proposal. OMBUDSMAN: An ombudsman has been appointed to hear serious concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. Routine or administrative questions should be directed to the Contracting Officer or Program Manager. The Ombudsman does not diminish the authority of the program director or Contracting Officer, but communicates 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. Potential offerors are invited to contact AFRL/MN_s Ombudsman, LtCol Mary Quinn, (850) 882-4294 ext. 3420, with serious concerns only. POINTS OF CONTACT: Technical Point of Contact: AFRL/MLQ, Mr. Mike Calidonna, 139 Barnes Drive, Suite 2, Tyndall AFB, Florida, 32403-5323; (850) 283-6303, FAX (850) 283-6064; e-mail: michael.calidonna@tyndall.af.mil. Contracting Point of Contact: AFRL/MNK, Mr. Martin Kradlak, Contract Specialist, 101 West Eglin Blvd, Suite 337, Eglin AFB, FL 32542-6810; (850) 882-4294 ext 3411, Fax (850) 882-9599; e-mail: martin.kradlak@eglin.af.mil

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS.woa/wa/SPF?A=P&P=MNK-PRDA-01-0003&L=1362)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010409/ASOL002.HTM (D-095 SN50I3S4)