R&D Contracting Directorate, WPAFB, OH 45433-7607

A -- MULRI-SPECTRAL LOW OBSERVABLE (LO) NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION (NDE) TECHNOLOGY.THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS IN TWO PARTS.THIS IS PART 1 SOL PRDA 97-26-MLK DUE 121796 POC Jeanette Snyder, Contract Negotiator, (937) 255-5830 or Philip R. Nelson, Contracting Officer, (937) 255-5830. NOTICE: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS IN TWO PARTS. PART 1 OF 2 PARTS: A--INTRODUCTION: Wright Laboratory (WL/MLKM) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and cost) on the research and development effort described below. Proposals in response to this Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA) shall be submitted by 17 December 1996, 1500 hours, local time, addressed to Wright Laboratory, Directorate of R&D Contracting, Area B, Building 7, 2530 C Street, ATTN: Jeanette Snyder, WL/MLKM, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7607. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. Teaming arrangements between universities and private industry will also be considered and are encouraged. Proposals shall be submitted in accordance with this announcement. Proposals received after the cutoff date specified herein shall be treated in accordance with restrictions of FAR 52.215-10, a copy of this provision may be obtained from the contracting point of contact. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments which may be published. The announcement may be amended to provide for subsequent dates for submission of proposals. Offerors should request a copy of the WL Guide entitled ''PRDA & BAA Guide for Industry'' dated July 1996. This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the PRDA/BAA process. The ''PRDA & BAA Guide for Industry'' is available through either of the following methods: (1) Download from the Internet. Go to the Wright Laboratory R&D Contracting Home Page and look under ''A Contracting Toolbox'' for ''PRDA/BAA Indexed Guide'' at http://www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/hp.htm, or 2) Written request to Jeanette Snyder, WL/MLKM, Bldg 7, Area B, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607, telephone (937) 255-5830, telefax (513)255-9217. Please provide written requests to Ms. Snyder only if you are unable to access or download the information from the Home Page. B--REQUIREMENTS: (1) Technical Description: Maintenance of low observable (LO) aircraft structures and materials presents the challenges of detecting and characterizing mechanical and electromagnetic features which potentially have a negative impact on signature budgets, and of verifying restoration of properties after maintenance action or repair. Technology to rapidly perform nondestructive evaluation (NDE) has the potential to enhance the maintainability and affordability of LO systems. The purpose of this research and development effort is to develop and demonstrate, at the laboratory level, NDE methods to rapidly assess properties relevant to the signature performance of LO systems. The electrical properties of interest are the localized dielectric constant, permeability, and conductivity (or resistivity) of an inspection area. The frequency band of interest spans from 150 Mhz to 100 Ghz with the 2-18 Ghz range having the most interest. The electro-optical and infrared properties of interest are the directional spectral reflectance and the bi-directional scatter. The wavelengths of interest span from 0.25 mm to 14 mm. The localized inspection surfaces may not be specially prepared for NDE. In addition, the NDE Methods(s) should quantify coating/LO treatment thicknesses. The proposed Methods are not required to measure all properties of interest over the entire frequency range or wavelengths, at the same time or with a single device. The contractor shall identify and recommend generic materials (dielectric, magnetic, resistive, etc.) as known baselines to be used in demonstrating their Multi-Spectral LO NDE Methods. Proposals shall consist of an eight (8) month basic technical effort (Concept Development/Design Demonstration), and a twelve (12) month ''option'' for further development and demonstration of a laboratory-level prototype (Laboratory-level Prototype Development/Demonstration). An additional five (5) months are required for the generation/completion of the final report. A final report shall be required whether or not the option is exercised. It has been determined by the Contracting Officer that inclusion of an option for this effort is in the Government's best interest. The Contractor shall provide separate breakouts of the cost elements for the basic and for the option effort. The basis of the proposal evaluation is inclusive of the option effort. Both the basic and the option technical efforts will be evaluated at the same time as part of the initial competition, in accordance with FAR Part 6. It is anticipated that the Government may exercise the option on, or prior to, forty-five (45) days after the demonstration provided to the Government in the basic contract. A written notice of the intent to exercise the option will be provided to the contractor thirty (30) days prior to the actual exercise of the option. The option shall be exercisable at the amount and within the terms specified in the basic contract (to be determined by negotiations prior to award of the basic contract, along with the basic contract amount and terms). The exercise of the option is dependent upon a) the Government's subjective evaluation of the results of the basic contract effort (from written reports and evaluation of the Concept Development/Design Demonstration) and that the option fulfills an existing Government need, b) the availability of funds, c) the determination by the Contracting Officer that the exercise of the option is the most advantageous method of fulfilling the Government's need, price and other factors considered. A pre-proposal information briefing and discussion will be conducted for potential offerers at Wright Laboratory Materials Directorate (WL/ML), Bldg 653, Cafetorium, Wright-Patterson AFB OH on 7 November 1996 at 0900-1100. This will provide an opportunity to obtain additional program information and to participate in a question and answer session. This opportunity will provide access to information that may be required in order to prepare competitive proposals. Pre-registration will be required to attend this meeting and must be processed by contacting Jeanette Snyder, WL/MLKM at telefax (513)255-9217 in writing no later than one week prior to the meeting. Attendance will be limited to no more than three (3) individuals per proposal. The written registration should include the name(s) and title(s) of the offeror's anticipated pre-proposal information briefing attendee(s). Offerors must submit written questions one week prior to the meeting to Jeanette Snyder. Pre-proposal information briefing attendees should arrive at least forty-five (45) minutes prior to the 0900 starting time to allow for time to register as a visitor to Wright-Patterson AFB through the Welcome Center located in Area B, Springfield Street, Gate 1B. (2) Deliverable Items: The following deliverable data items shall be required: (a) Status Report, DI-MGMT-80368/T, monthly, (b) Funds and Man-Hour Expenditure Report, DI-FNCL-80331/T, monthly, (c) Contract Funds Status Report (CFSR), DI-MGMT-81468/T, quarterly, (d) Presentation Material, DI-ADMN-81373/T, as required, (e) Scientific and Technical Reports, Contractor's Billing Voucher, DI-MISC-80711/T, monthly, (f) Scientific and Technical Reports, Final Report, DI-MISC-80711/T, end of contract (Draft and Reproducible Final Version). In addition, the offeror shall identify technical data or computer software to be delivered with other than unlimited rights. (3) Security Requirements: It is anticipated that work performed under this contract will be unclassified. An offeror may have relevant approaches to signature technology that cannot be addressed in their proposal because of security limitations. If an offeror wishes to more fully indicate their company's experience, they should request additional directions from the Contracting Officer. (4) Other Special Requirements: International Traffic in Arms Regulations apply. (0295)

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