A -- ROTORCRAFT SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND SIMULATION CENTER (RSESC)

Notice Date

October 25, 2001

Contracting Office

US Army Aviation and Missile Command DAAH01, ATTN: AMSAM-AC, Building 5303, Martin Road, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280

ZIP Code

35898-5280

Solicitation Number

DAAH01-02-R-RB02

Response Due

November 26, 2001

Point of Contact

Marcia Tully, 256-876-1351, FAX 256-876-8343

E-Mail Address

US Army Aviation and Missile Command DAAH01 (marcia.tully@redstone.army.mil)

Description

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) DAAH01-02-R-RB02; The U. S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) intends to issue a Cooperative Agreement (CA) for the development of a university-sponsored advanced engineering environment that will consist of advance d educational, computational, communication, and networking facilities, processes, and business relationships applicable to aerospace and aviation industry but specifically rotorcraft applications. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this CA is to establish a Ro torcraft Systems Engineering and Simulation Center (RSESC) in Huntsville, Alabama or the immediate vicinity under the direction of an Eminent Scholar. The RSESC is a cooperative team of academic, industry, and Government researchers having a common goal o f rapidly advancing rotorcraft technology and jointly resolving critical, time-sensitive, rotorcraft issues. The parties to the CA will collaborate in programs; exchange technology and technical information; and share facilities, equipment, and technical e xpertise. Within 36 months after CA award, the Recipient Academic Institution (RAI) shall establish an accredited degreed academic curriculum. The primary goal is for the RAI to become recognized as a scholastic center of rotorcraft engineering excellenc e within 60 months after CA award. An Eminent Scholar, with a national reputation in aerospace systems engineering and simulation, will be the director of the RSESC. The Eminent Scholar will serve as the focal point for developing a Huntsville-centric eng ineering environment that will consist of scholastic and academic research; modern educational, computational, communication and networking facilities; advanced simulation techniques/processes; and professional relationships applicable to aerospace applica tions. The establishment of the RSESC, the Eminent Scholar, and this CA are essential steps toward developing viable local resources for superlative Government research, development, and engineering and eminent education opportunities. The RSESC is expec ted to become a center of excellence within the Rotorcraft community. DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND: There is increased realization in Government and industry that a modern treatment of systems engineering is needed in today's research and development environmen ts, particularly where the impact of affordability constraints and information technologies are prevalent. The thrust to place more emphasis on innovative approaches to systems engineering and to create an advanced engineering environment for its implemen tation is evident in Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition reform efforts and DoD priority for reducing Total Ownership Cost. AMCOM has initiated a Simulation and Modeling Acquisition Requirements and Training Program to create an advanced engineering e nvironment and has partnered with NASA. NASA has placed increased emphasis on systems engineering and analysis as evidenced by its initiation of a new research initiative for advanced engineering environments. These initiatives, along with the establishme nt of a RSESC in Huntsville, Alabama, or the immediate vicinity, would be synergistic with and beneficial to the AMCOM mission. There are few, if any, universities today which provide a graduate level program in engineering and research that is structured around a modern approach to rotorcraft systems engineering coupled with the creation of an advanced engineering environment. Benefits from the availability of a RSESC include increased prototyping through modeling and simulation while applying commercial and military technology to virtual rotorcraft models saving significant cost in hard model development, testing and engineering. Such a center would advance the development of medium and high-risk solutions that otherwise would not be attempted. Addition ally, commercialization of this new system engineering process would greatly increase the capabilities of US rotorcraft industry capabilities in developing prot otype aircraft more economically and quickly. The RSESC appears to be a potential low-risk, near-term solution to the previously stated challenges for military system engineering. REQUIREMENTS: The tasks required for this effort include, but are not lim ited to the following. Establish an accredited academic degreed curriculum supporting student scholastic development that will lead to the recognition of recipient as a rotorcraft-engineering center of scholastic excellence. The establishment of this cur riculum will require the contractor to complete four subtasks as follows. 1. Select an Eminent Scholar as the Director of the RSESC. 2. Provide educational and research opportunities in virtual testing and certification/ qualification techniques, reduc ing development cycle times, and addressing fielded safety of flight problems. The DOD Virtual Proving Ground concept will be closely tied in with these educational opportunities. 3. Provide educational opportunities in probabilistic systems analysis to ols that are emerging using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) tools. 4. Provide educational opportunities in the use of a robust design simulation environment so that modern systems engineering can be practiced when making cost-performance trade-offs. The second task required for this effort is to assist AMCOM and PEO Aviation in resolution of current and future engineering issues applicable to development, acquisition, fielding, sustainment and retirement of aviation systems. This assistance will require the contractor to develop high-fidelity, object-oriented, physically-based models of all AMCOM weapon systems for use in simulation (non real-time, real-time, and human-in-the-loop) to address system upgrades, safety and reliability considerations, and to tal cost of ownership reduction; work with other universities and colleges located in the Army Aviation Corridor of Excellence (AACE) to form the Advanced Engineering Environment (emphasis will be placed on partnering with minority and HBCU colleges and un iversities); work with NASA, other government laboratories, and commercial industry to advance systems engineering and analysis to the local community by developing the structure and support for a RSESC and; conduct periodic workshops with Government and I ndustry on status of this effort. In addressing the above efforts, candidate proposals must also identify and outline how these additional requirements will be satisfied. The proposal shall detail the facilities, laboratories, models, teaming arrangement, and other similar resources tools necessary to implement the educational and scientific endeavor in establishing a rotorcraft-engineering center of scholastic excellence. The proposal shall include an implementation plan detailing how the results of this effort will be demonstrated and implemented within the academic and laboratory environments, and demonstrate specific application to weapon system hardware. The proposal shall include a plan for developing a business case and reasoning for the rotorcraft community to adopt new approached to systems engineering for military, industrial, and commercial systems. Cost Sharing is mandatory for this effort. The proposal shall contain sufficient detail to determine amount of cost sharing. Information on allowab le in-kind cost sharing can be found in OMB circular A-110 and DoD 3210.6-R, DoD) Grant and Agreement Regulations. Although not admissible as cost sharing, leveraging of existing related federal programs is encouraged. CRITERIA: The following is the eval uation criteria which will be used to review the proposals: (NOTE -- Items, 1 through 3, are in descending order of importance, with Item 1 being the most important. Technical is slightly more important than Management, and Management is significantly more important than cost. The sub-criteria under items 1 through 3 are shown in descending order of importance.) 1. Technical a. Evidence of developing or existi ng local campus facilities (availability, quantity and quality) i.e., classroom, laboratories, supporting resources, field locations, etc, dedicated to aviation or related engineering academic endeavors (within a local commuting time of one hour and no mor e than 50 miles driving distance to AMRDEC). b. Demonstrated understanding of the technical issues outlined in the BAA via a thorough discussion of the issues, proposed methodology, and solutions. [Aviation program structured approach (interdisciplinary & systems approach)]. c. Previous experiences and understanding of curriculum establishment and accreditation through Accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (A BET). d. Previous successful developments and implementations related to work to be performed in this effort. Involvement of other university departments in the aviation curriculum (mechanical, materials, computer, electrical, chemical, financial, envir onmental, logistics, manufacturing,). e. Availability of current or potential educational opportunities (degreed and non-degreed) for AMRDEC government personnel; i.e. classroom hours, professor contact hours, educational diversity, laboratories experien ces, hands on work experiences, collaborative project with industry, academia and Government laboratories, teaching experiences, etc. f. Auditable evidence of a core curriculum supporting aviation sciences and engineering. g. Background and experience in the areas of software and hardware models supporting aviation research as reflected in availability, previous activities, product line and personnel background, including relevant qualifications and time commitment of essential technical and managerial personnel. h. Demonstrated core competency through awards of academic excellence (national, regional, state, or professional association) in the field of engineering, and/or academic program development recognizing scholastic achievement of individuals ( student and/or professor), departmental/college, or university at large. 2. Management. a. Qualification/Prerequisite value added by the academic/program lead (Dept Chairperson or Endowed Chairperson position) for this program effort; i.e., depth of ex perience in the field, management of academic development, leadership of a diverse organization, and business acumen. b. Adequacy of key leadership position(s) that will direct this effort. c. Demonstrated willingness by partner to vest full responsibi lity and authority in the Endowed Chair across academic environment (single dept or across multiple dept). d. Quality and realism of long range planning that incorporates personnel, facilities and curriculum in support of advanced rotorcraft center of ex cellence. e. Current relationships (business, national or Government laboratories, or State agencies) supporting aviation educational opportunities; i.e., how committed is the university to aviation academic excellence and it ability to mass political an d economic resources at all levels to make this effort happen. 3. Cost. a. Reasonable cost to the Government, including cost sharing by industry, other Government, and other participants in the form of matching funding, equipment, facilities, or other in-kind resources. Costs will be evaluated on the basis of cost realism. This pertains to the offeror's ability to project costs that are realistic and reasonable and that indicates whether the offeror understands the nature and scope of the work to be per formed. Costs to the Government will not exceed the amount available for this program. b. Amount of cost sharing; cost sharing equal or greater than to 1: 1 is strongly desired. Cost sharing will be evaluated using the guidelines found in OMB Circular A-110 and DoD 3210.6-R, DoD Grant and Agreement Regulations. (Continued in subsequent amendment)

Web Link

Army Single Face to Industry (http://acquisition.army.mil)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011029/ASOL001.HTM (D-298 SN5115R8)