R&D Contracting Directorate, Bldg 7, 2530 C Street, WPAFB, OH 45433-7607

A -- ADVANCED AGILE DEVICES SOL PRDA No. 97-35-MLK DUE 032797 POC Contact Contract Negotiator, Felix Turner, (937) 255-5830 Fax (937) 255-9217 A -- INTRODUCTION: This is a Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA). The Wright Laboratory Materials Directorate (WL/MLPJ) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and cost) on the research and development effort described below. Proposals in response to this PRDA shall be submitted by 27 March 97, 1500 hours local time, addressed to the Contract Negotiator, Felix Turner, WL/MLKM Building 7, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-7607. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. Proposals shall be submitted in accordance with this announcement. Proposal receipt after the cutoff date and time 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 formal request for proposal (RFP) or other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments which may bepublished. This announcement may be amended to provide for subsequent dates for submission of proposals. Proposals shall be valid for Government acceptance for a period of not less than 180 days after submission cutoff. Offerors should request a copy of the WL Guide entitled "PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry" dated November 1992. This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the PRDA proposal process. Copies of this guide may be requested from the contract negotiator cited in this announcement. The Guide is also available on the internet at: www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract. B -- REQUIREMENTS: (1) TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this research and development effort is to advance the current state-of-the-art in agile device technologies. This effort will focus on improving the performance of previously demonstrated agile devices in the following areas: optical density; switching speed; insertion loss; field of view; uniformity across the field of view; and spectral range of operation. Device improvement through the innovative application or improvement of existing materials and/or technologies is anticipated, with novel solutions or approaches considered. Devices incorporating the improvements will be fabricated and evaluated for performance. The specific technical requirements, optical performance parameters, and other areas of primary concern will be specified at the pre-proposal conference (see Additional Information). THOSE CONTRACTORS CONSIDERING PROPOSING ON THIS EFFORT ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE. (2) DELIVERABLE ITEMS: The following deliverable data items shall be proposed: (a) Funds and Man-Hour Expenditure Report, DI-FNCL-80331/T, monthly; (b) Contract Funds Status Report (CFSR), DI-MGMT-81468/T, quarterly (proposals under $500K will not be required to include the CFSR in their proposal); (c) Status Report, DI-MGMT-80368/T, bimonthly; (d) Scientific and Technical Reports, DI-MISC-80711/T, (Draft and Reproducible Final); (e) Presentation Material, DI-ADMN-81373/T, as required; (f) Scientific and Technical Reports, Contractor's Billing Voucher, DI-MISC-80711/T, monthly; (g) Test Plan, DI-NDTI-80566/T; (h) Conference Agenda, DI-ADMN-81249A/T; (i) Conference Minutes, DI-ADMN-81250A/T; (j) Still Photo Coverage, DI-MISC-80169; (k) Project Planning Chart, DI-MGMT-80507A/T; (l) Technical Videotape Presentation, DI-MGMT-81275; (m) The delivery requirements for the deliverable devices will be addressed at the pre-proposal conference. (3) SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: SECRET facility and storage clearance requirements apply. TEMPEST requirements will apply. Generation of classified materials for this solicitation effort is authorized only on equipment approved for classified processing by Air Force TEMPEST authorities. (4) OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions apply to areas covered by this announcement. C -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The total length of technicaleffort is estimated to be thirty-two (32) months. The contractor shall also provide for an additional four (4) months for processing/completion of the final report. (2) EXPECTED AWARD DATE: August 1997. (3) ESTIMATED TOTAL LEVEL OF EFFORT: Ten (10) person-years of total technical effort. Multiple awards are anticipated. (4) TYPE OF CONTRACT: Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) or Cost (no fee). Any grants awarded will be cost (no fee). (5) GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY: None contemplated. (6) SIZE STATUS: For purposes of this acquisition, a small business is defined as one with 1000 or fewer employees (SIC 8731). Firms responding should indicate whether they are or are not a socially or economically disadvantaged business, a women-owned business, a Historically Black College, or a University/Minority Institution, and should also indicate their business size status. (7) NOTICE TO FOREIGN AND FOREIGN-OWNED FIRMS: Such firms are asked to immediately notify the Air Force point of contact cited below upon deciding to respond to this announcement. This action is necessary to begin review and clearance procedures. Foreign contractors should be aware that restrictions may apply which could preclude their participation in this acquisition. Such firms may elect to await determination before incurring costs in proposal preparation. (8) PRE-PROPOSAL CONFERENCE: A pre-proposal conference will be held at 0930 hours local time on 20 February 1997 to describe the detailed/classified technical aspects of this program. This conference will be held in the Materials Directorate, Building 653, Room 223, Area B, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433. This conference will be classified SECRET and a clearance for each attendee must be received prior to the meeting. Clearances should be sent to WL/MLPJ Building 651 (Attn: Marc Martin), 3005 P St Ste 1, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-7702 (FAX # (937) 255-1128). All faxed visit notices must be followed by mailed originals. Do not assume that a security clearance is on file. Deadline for submission is 1500 local time on 18 February 1997. Persons whose clearances are not on file as of that date will not be admitted to the conference. If necessary, to accommodate a larger than expected number of attendees, a second conference will be held at 1330 hours local time on 20 February 1997 in the same location. The interested firms that are unable to attend the pre-proposal conference may obtain a copy of the unclassified briefing charts from the PRDA contact point listed below by submitting a written request prior to 28 February 1997. D -- PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: (1) GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS: Offerors should apply the restriction notice prescribed in the provision of FAR 52.215-12, 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 one of the points of contact listed elsewhere herein. Offerors should consider instructions contained in the WL PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry referenced in Section A of this announcement. Technical and cost proposals, submitted in separate volumes, are required. Proposals must reference the above PRDA number. Proposal shall be submitted in an original plus six (6) copies. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which 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. (2) COST PROPOSAL: Adequeste price competition is anticipated. The accompanying cost proposal/price breakdown shall be furnished with supporting schedules, and shall contain a cost and person-hour breakdown per task. (3) TECHNICAL PROPOSAL: The technical proposal shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the development and the technical approach. Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, data and facilities and resumes of personnel who will be participating in thiseffort should also be included as attachments to the technical proposal. The technical proposal shall include a Statement of Work (SOW) detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the proposed effort and be suitable for contract incorporation. Offerors should refer to the WL Guide referenced in Section A to assist in SOW preparation. PL 98-94 applies. Offerors must submit approved DD Form 2345, Export-Controlled DoD Technical Data Agreement with their proposal. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or the SOW preparation shall be referred to the Technical Point of Contact cited in this announcement. (4) PAGE LIMITATIONS: The technical proposal shall be limited to seventy five (75) pages (12 pitch or larger type), double spaced, single sided, 8.5 by 11 inches. The page limitation includes all information, i.e. indexes, photographs, foldouts, appendices, attachments, etc. Pages in excess of this limitation will not be considered by the Government. Cost proposals have no limitation; however, offerors are requested to keep the cost proposal to one hundred (100) pages as a goal. (5) PREPARATION COST: If selected for negotiations, qualifying offerors will be required to submit a subcontracting plan. This announcement is an expression of interest only and 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. E -- BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection of one (1) or more sources for contract award(s), as well as the extent of those efforts, will be based on scientific and/or engineering evaluation of the responses (both technical and cost) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to this announcement. The technical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be evaluated based upon the following criteria which are of equal importance: a) new and creative solutions; b) the offeror's understanding of the scope of the technical effort; c) soundness of offeror's technical approach (including the organization, clarity, and thoroughness of the proposed SOW); d) background and/or demonstrated experience and capability with the technology proposed for development; e) availability and commitment of qualified technical personnel and their experience with applicable technologies; f) availability and commitment of facilities; and g) effectiveness and appropriateness of subcontracting/teaming. Cost, which includes consideration of proposed budgets and funding profiles, is a substantial factor but is ranked as the second order of priority. No further evaluation criteria will be used in this source selection. The technical and cost information will be evaluated at the same time. The Air Force reserves the right to select for award of a contract, grant or cooperative agreement any, all, part, or none of the proposals received. Award of a grant in lieu of a contract to universities and non-profit institutions will be considered and will be subject to the mutual agreement of the parties. The offeror's proposal (or any part thereof) may be incorporated by reference and used as the statement of work or to supplement the Air Force Statement of Work. F -- POINTS OF CONTACT: Offerors may, at any time, contact the individuals listed for clarification of technical/contractual issues and cost response format. (1) TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Questions on technical issues may be referred to the Project Engineer, Marc Martin, WL/MLPJ Building 651, 3005 P Street Suite 1, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-7702, E-Mail martinmc@ml.wpafb.af.mil, telephone (937) 255-3808, extension 3166 (2) An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concern from offerors and potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The purpose of the Ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of theContracting Officer, but to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel. All potential offerors should use established channels to voice concerns before resorting to use of the Ombudsman. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the selection decision. Interested parties should direct all routine communication concerning this acquisition to Felix Turner, Contract Negotiator, WL/MLKM Building 7, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-7607, (937) 255-5830, turnerfe@b045mail.wpafb.af.mil. The Ombudsman should only be contacted with issues or problems that have been previously brought to the attention of the contracting officer and could not be satisfactory resolved at that level. These serious concerns only may be directed to the Ombudsman, Mr. Daniel L. Kugel, ASC/SY Bldg 52, 2475 K Street, Suite 1, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433-7642, E-Mail kugeldl@sy.wpafb.af.mil, phone (937) 255-3855. SEE Note 26. (0041)

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