Defense Special Weapons Agency, 6801 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria, VA 22310-3398

R -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SOURCES SOUGHT POC Michael Richman, Negotiator, (703) 325-6671, Scott G. Morton, Contracting Officer, (703) 325-5028. The Defense Special Weapons Agency (DSWA) is seeking sources interested in competing for the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of advanced in-core and out-of-core thermionic technologies to support long duration space missions. OBJECTIVES - The objectives of DSWA's Advanced Thermionics Program are to advance the state of the art of thermionic power conversion in the United States, to develop high specific power and highly reliable thermionic components, and to demonstrate the capabilities of these thermionic components. SCOPE - The program will be limited to identification and RDT&E of in-core and out-of-core thermionic technologies, components, and subsystems to support high power (40-100KW), long duration (5+ years) space missions. Approved technologies must support electrical thermal testing of the thermionic power conversion system under prototypic temperature conditions. APPROACH - DSWA intends to accomplish the objectives of this program through a two-phase acquisition approach (Note that this acquisition strategy is subject to change). Phase I will consist of two solicitations: one for in-core (thermionic fuel element or TFE) and one for out-of-core (thermionic converter) development. Though it is anticipated that one award will be made under each solicitation, multiple awards may be considered. This phase will be a demonstration of the TFE or thermionic converter, including components and subsystems, required to support an approved system level design concept that supports the power requirements stated above. Phase I will last approximately 15 months, culminating in manufacture of a TFE or thermionic converter of the approved design and electrical testing of that TFE or thermionic converter to demonstrate its performance. Additionally, the contractor will be required to demonstrate, through validated models, that the system level design concept supports the power requirements stated above using demonstrated TFE or thermionic converter performance. A down-select process will take place at the end of phase I. Phase II will consist of further development and testing of at least one of these technology areas, and will consist of lifetime modeling and testing to demonstrate the 5+ year lifetime requirement. All sources interested in receiving future solicitations under the DSWA Thermionics Program should submit a request in writing along with a brief summary of your company's capabilities as they relate to this program. Any comments regarding the proposed acquisition strategy are also welcome. A pre-proposal conference to be held in the Washington, DC area is anticipated in late October. Contractors responding to this Sources Sought Announcement will receive detailed information on the conference when it becomes available. Faxed requests are acceptable and shall be faxed to the attention of Michael Richman at (703) 325-9295. If the request is faxed, no original copy is required. Information on DNA solicitations already released can be obtained by calling the DSWA Hotline at (703) 325-1173. As of 31 May 96, Acquisition Management has added ''Procurement Opportunities'' to the DSWA Home Page available on the World Wide Web. Information will include this synopsis and more. Please check us out at www.dswa.mil.Reference Synopsis No. 96-84 . **** See Numbered Note(s): 1. (0236)

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