A -- SENSOR COMPONENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGIES=20

Notice Date

November 26, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL -- PL "Space Vehicles Directorate", 2251 Maxwell Ave, Kirtland AFB, NM, 87117

ZIP Code

87117

Solicitation Number

Reference-Number-PKV-02-03

Response Due

January 14, 2002

Point of Contact

Nancy Brunson, Contracting Officer, Phone 505 846 6188, Fax 505 846 6022, Email Nancy.Brunson@Kirtland.af.mil -- Nancy Brunson, Contracting Officer, Phone 505 846 6188, Fax 505 846 6022, Email Nancy.Brunson@Kirtland.af.mil

Description

The Space Vehicle Directorate (VS) is one of the 10 AFRL directorates and is headquartered at Kirtland AFB NM. The Government is interested in receiving proposals in sensor component research and development technologies that range across the electro-magnetic spectrum. The total program budget for these efforts is approximately $20M over five years. Award to a single offeror is anticipated. This PRDA (PKV-02-03) will remain open 45 days after date of publication. B. This technical effort may include the following areas: (1) Basic Mechanisms, (2) Device Development, and (3) Related Technology. The contractor should consider innovative techniques for advancing the state-of-the-art in sensor technology speed, sensitivity, thermal cycle reliability, power consumption, size and packing densities through new detector materials and structures and through development of both on and off-array signal processing methods, to include cryogenic possibilities. These may include the effects of damaging radiation including x-rays, gamma rays, electrons, protons, neutrons, ionized particles, lasers, and microwaves that simulate nuclear radiation and the natural radiation of space and include transient, single event upset, and long-term effects. Devices for use in test programs stated in individual task orders may originate in prototype fabrication efforts by the contractor, purchase from suppliers, or as Government Furnished Property, depending on the intended use and availability of suitable items. Research and development (R&D) efforts resulting from an award made may interface with existing Air Force systems that are based on the English measurement system; therefore, all measurement units presented to the Air Force should use the English measurement system and the metric system. AFRL is interested in pursuing novel concepts and ideas in the following three areas. Area 1 -- Basic Mechanisms. The contractor should address analysis and modeling of the basic mechanisms involved in the operation of sensors to increase the understanding of the physics of interaction and desired electromagnetic radiation stimuli and disruption due to unfavorable environments. Notionally, the contractor should propose to investigate models to describe the physical mechanisms that account for the response of materials, devices, components, and arrays in space environments. The contractor should propose to evaluate materials, devices, single components, and arrays to determine physical mechanisms and to support developed models. Area 2 -- Device Development. The contractor may consider providing advanced devices for Test and Evaluation by developing designs incorporating state-of-the-art features, including materials, circuit designs, structures, semiconductor-doping plans, layouts, focal plane arrays, and readout integrated circuits. The contractor may propose to provide parts incorporating the above designs to demonstrate the efficacy of the designs. The contractor may also propose to test the parts to prove the effectiveness of the designs. The contractor may provide an evaluation and characterization of all parts or components. The contractor may propose to provide parts to the Air Force for independent testing. The contractor should provide technical reports delineating the designs studied, their application, and their effectiveness. The technical reports should include lessons learned and suggested areas for future study. Area 3 -- Related Technology. Notionally, the contractor should investigate techniques that can be used during design, fabrication, and testing which improve the operation of sensors or the component elements. Techniques to be considered may include the selection of materials, treatment procedures (to include doping, etching, annealing), and selection and control of device fabrication processes to include producibility and reliability considerations. The contractor should provide components incorporating the above techniques to demonstrate the efficacy of the techniques. The contractor should propose to test the components to prove the effectiveness of the techniques. Offerors must propose effort in each of the task areas to be acceptable for award. Work performed under any resulting contract may be classified up to the Top Secret Level. The DD254 is available at the FedBizOpps website: http://www.eps.gov. The contractor who is selected for an award under this PRDA may be required, and then must be eligible to obtain, a Secret facility clearance. Technical point of contact: AFRL/VSSS, Mr. Frank Roush, 505-853-3246, fax 505-846-5804, email: franklin.roush@kirtland.af.mil. Open communication with the technical POC is encouraged until proposals are received. AFRL Evaluators may contact an offeror to clarify a point of information before completing the evaluation. C. PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: Proposals shall be due 45 days from the date of publication. (1) TECHNICAL PROPOSAL: shall address the following sections: (a) Executive Summary, (b) Program Description, (c) Program Plan, (d) Contractor Statement of Work (CSOW) and Milestone Chart, (e) Facilities and Equipment description, (f) Description of Relevant Prior Work, (g) Management Plan, and (h) Resumes of Key Individuals. The following information describes items that should be addressed in the technical proposal. Section (a) Executive Summary: Describe the proposed program, objectives, and approach. The information should be innovative, fielding new ideas that advance the state-of-the-art. Section (b) Program Description: Describe the ideas which are going to be addressed in this proposal, how these ideas are innovative and to what degree they advance the state-of-the-art, and how this will be beneficial to the Air Force in terms of new and innovative technologies. Also describe any potential for commercial application and the benefits expected to accrue from commercialization. Section (c) Program Plan: Describe in detail the approach planned and how the plan will be executed. This section should include all technical aspects and how the approach will be executed to come to a solution of the task areas. Section (d) Contractor Statement of Work and Milestone Chart Description: Include a Contractor Statement of Work detailing the technical tasks to be accomplished under the proposed effort and to be suitable for contract incorporation (no proprietary legends). Milestones for each sample Task Order should indicate when specific objectives are expected to be met in the overall schedule of the task and should identify the specific accomplishments necessary to proceed to the next task and the final report. Section (e) Facilities and Equipment Description: Describe the facilities which can be used in terms of security classification levels, computational systems, testing facilities, and any specialized equipment. Section (f) Description of Relevant Prior Work: Include a list of both in-house efforts funded by internal research funds and contracts funded by others. Include a list of the principal investigator, title of effort, contract number, brief summary of results, and a technical and contracting point-of-contact, including phone numbers, with the funding organization. Section (g) Resumes of Key Individuals: Include brief summaries of resumes of relevant key individuals including any consultants or subcontractors that might be proposed. The technical proposal shall be limited to 50 pages, each Task Order technical proposal shall be limited to 10 pages, (12 pitch or larger type), double-spaced, 8.5 by 11 inch pages. The page limitation includes all information i.e., indices, photographs, foldouts, appendices, attachments, resumes etc. Use at least 1-inch margins on top and bottom and 1 inch side margins. The binding shall not impair legibility. Both sides of paper may be used. Each printed side of an 8? x 11 sheet counts as a page. Foldouts printed on one side only will be counted as 2 pages. Blank pages, title pages, table of contents, lists of figures, lists of tables, tabs, cover sheets, or blank dividers are not included in the page count. The Government will only read and evaluate proposals up to the page limitation. Pages over the page limitation will be removed prior to evaluation. Use elite type size or equivalent (not smaller than 10 point vertical character height and not more than 12 characters per inch). A ten-point proportional serif font is acceptable, in which case characters per inch measurement does not apply. Typesetting or other techniques to reduce character size or spacing are not permitted. The PRDA Guide is available at http://www.afmc.wpafb.af.mil. (2) COST PROPOSAL: There is no page limitation for cost portions of each technical proposal. Cost proposals should be prepared in accordance with instructions located at the FedBizOpps website: http://www.eps.gov under this PRDA. The cost information, other than cost or pricing data, requested therein for the three sample Task Orders is necessary for the government to perform a cost realism analysis prior to award. (3) GENERAL: Data deliverables, including status reports and a final report, shall be proposed that will adequately provide the government with sufficient information to ascertain the effectiveness of the offeror?s performance. Proposals shall be submitted in original and three copies with the original being clearly marked in such a manner as to distinguish it from the copies. Proposals submitted by fax or e-mail will not be considered for award. Do not send proposals to any other address or they may not be considered for award. Submit Technical, Cost, and sample Task Order proposals in separate volumes. Proposals shall be valid for a period of not less than 180 days after the due date. Proposals must reference the above PRDA number and include a contractor unique proposal identification number. Unnecessarily elaborate brochures or presentations beyond that sufficient to present a complete and effective proposal are not desired. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this PRDA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or to any other contract. However, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect costs as specified in FAR 31.205-18. The Government reserves the right to award a procurement instrument best suited to the nature of research proposed. A CPFF Completion-IDIQ contract is, however expected. The offeror shall include their recommendation and rationale for the type of instrument proposed in the proposal. Category I offerors will be sent actual Task Order(s) to propose to for price reasonableness. In the event the Government is unable to conclude negotiations with the apparent successful offeror, it reserves the right to conduct negotiations with another Category I offeror. If the offeror is a large business, any resultant contract will include a subcontracting plan, which will be submitted prior to award. In addition, AFMC 5352.209-9002, Organizational Conflict of Interest Clause, will be applicable. Proposals are to be submitted within 45 days after the publication of this synopsis. Foreign owned firms are advised to contact the Contracting Officer or Project Manager before submitting a proposal to determine whether there are restrictions on receiving an award. It is anticipated that contractors may have access to or may generate data that is unclassified with limited distribution and/or subject to U.S. Export Control laws. Therefore, in these cases, offerors will need to be certified by the Defense Logistics Information Services (DLIS) prior to submitting offers. Contact US/Canada Joint Certification Office, DLIS, Federal Center, 74 Washington Ave, North, Battle Creek, Michigan 49017-3084 (1 (800) 352-3572) http://www.dlis.dla.mil/CCAL/ for further information on certification and the approval process. The offeror is required to either submit a copy of the DLIS approved DD Form 2345 with its proposal or to the Contracting Officer if access to unclassified, limited distribution data is required to prepare the proposal. The Government does not intend that Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) use privileged information or access to facilities to compete with the private sector. If a contractor proposes using an FFRDC as a subcontractor, other than DOD-sponsored FFRDCs, in the capacities discussed in DFARS 235.017, it must provide rationale in its proposal that supports the unique capability of the FFRDC. The contractor's proposal must also demonstrate that the FFRDC can accept work from other than the sponsor. Discussions with any of the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the government. Offerors must mark their proposals with the restrictive language stated in FAR 15.609(a). The contract award is anticipated to be unclassified. For the purposes of this PRDA the business size standard is 1000 employees, NAICS 541710. All firms submitting responses must reference this announcement and indicate whether they are, or are not, a small business, a socially and economically disadvantaged business, an 8(a) firm, a woman-owned business, a hub-zone certified small business, a historically black college or university, or a minority institution. The evaluation will be based upon the technical proposals, including Contractor SOWs, and the sample TO's, including the affordability and availability of funds. D. BASIS FOR AWARD: Evaluation will be in accordance with the categorization process in AFMC FARS 5335.016-90. Technical proposals for both the overall contract and each sample Task Order will be evaluated using the following factors in descending order of importance based on scientific peer review: (a) overall technical approach and/or scientific merit of the proposed effort and its relevancy to current and future DOD needs, (b) capabilities and related experience, facilities, techniques or unique combinations of these which are an integral factor for achieving proposal objectives and (c) availability of funds. No further evaluation criteria will be used in selecting the successful proposal. When requested, a debriefing will be provided IAW FAR 15.505 and 15.506. A copy of each final report of any resultant contract will be available, subject to national disclosure policy and regulations. E. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This PRDA, along with cost proposal instructions and a DD254, will be posted at www.eps.gov, Solicitation No. PKV-02-03. A Hard Copy Read File will be available for potential offerors effective the date of this announcement for 20 days. Each contractor will be limited to two (2) personnel allowed to access the Read File. Copying of the documents will not be permitted. Contractors are not allowed to bring in portable computers, cameras, etc. Surveillance of each visit will be conducted by the Contracting Officer. Contractors must fax signed DD Form 2345 and a Visit Request with clearance information for each employee to the Contracting Officer: Det 8 AFRL/PKVS (Nancy Brunson), FAX: 505-846-6022. An Ombudsman has been appointed to mediate concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the pre-proposal phase of competitive, negotiated acquisitions. The Ombudsman does not participate in proposal evaluation or contractor selection. The Ombudsman can work with responsible acquisition officials to respond to concerns, but will not detract from the authorities of the Project Manager or Contracting Officer. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain the confidentiality of sources. The Ombudsman at Phillips Research Site is Mr. Eugene C. DeWall, Director of Contracting, Det 8 AFRL/PK, 2251 Maxwell St SE, Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5773; (505) 846-4979. Please direct any questions about this synopsis to the Contracting Officer, Nancy Brunson at (505) 846-6188 (nancy.brunson@kirtland.af.mil), or refer technical concerns to the Project Manager, Frank Roush at (505) 853-3246 (franklin.roush@kirtland.af.mil).=20 CBD Note 26: No commercial products anticipated.=20

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Record

Loren Data Corp. 20011128/ASOL006.HTM (D-330 SN5137C3)