Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- ADVANCED FIRE SUPPORT SYSTEM (AFSS) SOL BAA 98-09 DUE 011298 POC Dr. David Fields, DARPA/TTO, FAX (703) 696-2204 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil, http://www.darpa.mil. E-MAIL: baa98-09@darpa.mil, baa98-09@darpa.mil. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office is soliciting proposals for the Advanced Fire Support System (AFSS) and supporting technologies and demonstrations. The objective of the AFSS program is the design, development, and demonstration of affordable, containerized, platform independent indirect-fire weapon systems capable of performing a variety of missions such as ground attack, air defense, and surveillance, and which can be remotely fired and robotically deployed in a variety of military scenarios. The program goal is to develop a container-launcher system and one or more members of a family of compatible munitions with precision guidance and terminal seekers and will develop subsystem technologies (seekers, propulsion, guidance) which result in lower production cost or capability enhancement. This BAA covers 2 topics: Topic A -- baseline AFSS design and demonstration, and Topic B -- high payoff component development. Proposers may bid any or all topics. Responses for topic A will be proposals for the base effort (with definitized costs) and all options (with rough order of magnitude costs). Responses for Topic B will be 10 page white papers describing the concept and estimated cost. Proposals for each topic must be submitted separately. This BAA will remain open for 1 year after publication of this announcement, although proposals submitted by 12 January 1998 will be given first consideration. Topic A: AFSS baseline design and demonstration (FY 98-02) -- this topic consists of a basic concept definition effort and two options. Costing shall be proposed for the basic effort. Rough order of magnitude costs shall be provided for the options. The basic effort of approximately 6 months duration will require the contractor to fully define the system approach and design methodology. This includes clarification of operational requirements and translation to technical requirements, quantification of military benefits, definition of top-level trades and key issues, determination of alternative approaches and definition of an evaluation methodology, a top-level system design for the family of munitions, and definition of a low-cost approach to production of the family of munitions. The contractor shall recommend one or more of the concepts for further design effort. In-progress reviews will be held approximately quarterly at a DARPA-designated facility. Option 1. System detailed design. If exercised, this option is for approximately 12 months and shall include detailed system design, risk reduction, and demonstration of all key components. During this phase, the contractor shall define the system concept in detail and perform system trades and assessments. DARPA intends that assessments of components may include state-of-the art components from other Government programs as well as those being developed under Topic B of this solicitation. All resulting contract awards for Topic A will contain provisions setting forth this requirement. The Option 1 effort may also include execution of interface control documents as required; provide a Preliminary Design Review (PDR); define the technical risk and a risk reduction plan; develop and demonstrate critical components such as seekers, guidance/navigation units, and other key components; perform detailed system simulations progressing to hardware in the loop testing; define system cost breakouts for all elements; further define cost reduction strategies for production; and support quarterly technical reviews. Option 2. System fabrication and test. If exercised, this option is for approximately 30 months and shall include development and demonstration of the complete AFSS system. During this phase, a Critical Design Review (CDR) shall be provided and all components will be demonstrated in a series of increasingly integrated tests culminating in in-house testing of 6 AFSS munitions and full system flight demonstration of 16 AFSS munitions in the January-June 2002 timeframe. The contractor shall provide all required test support, andshall host a series of cost and technical performance review meetings approximately quarterly. A final technical report and briefing shall be delivered covering all aspects of system design, analysis, experimental results, and cost projections. Topic B: AFSS component development (FY 98/99,~20 months) -- this topic is for development and demonstration of novel, high payoff components supporting either cost reduction or performance enhancement of the AFSS concept such as low cost seekers, navigation systems, light-weight, frequency-agile laser designator and seeker systems, or other performance-enhancing or cost-reducing components. The contractor shall develop, test, and demonstrate the component(s). Integration of component technologies into one or more AFSS systems being developed in Topic A is a critical DARPA program priority. Therefore, Topic B offerors shall be expected to develop teaming relationships with Topic A performers. Any follow-on funding for component integration shall be provided only aspart of a selected Topic A system. Pending Congressional approval, DARPA has budgeted approximately $2 M of FY 98 funds for AFSS contracts and anticipates approximately $7 M for contracts in FY 99. Total program funds through outyears may approach $50 M. Funding for Option 2 is subject to adjustments in the Tactical Technology Office program priorities. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TOPIC A: Proposals submitted under this BAA shall contain technical, budget and other supporting information. Proposals shall be formatted in two (2) volumes. Offerors may be either individual organizations or teamed efforts. In the event the effort is a teamed one, the organizational structure of the team shall be clearly defined in the proposal. Volume I shall be the technical portion and shall include an Executive Summary, a Technical Approach, a Description of Relevant Prior Work, a Program Plan including a Statement of Work (SOW), Milestone Charts and Program Schedules, a Facilities and Equipment Description and a Management Plan. Volume I shall be limited to 50 pages including all figures, tables, foldouts and charts. Resumes shall also be submitted with the Technical Proposal for all principal personnel. Resumes will not be included in the 50 page limitation. All paragraphs containing proprietary information must be clearly marked. Volume II shall contain all the cost/price information with supporting information. The cost breakdown shall include materials, direct labor, indirect costs and other costs such as special test equipment or travel. Offerors shall provide exhibits as necessary to substantiate the cost elements. Detailed costs must be provided with the exception of Topic A options, which must provide rough order of magnitude costs. Cost sharing is encouraged and any cost share must be separately identified in the proposal. Proposals must: (1) Define the envisioned hardware and accompanying software design specifying: overall system architecture; hardware components (processors, busing/switching, memory, power management, battery, antenna, input/output and sensor interfaces, software methodology and tools, etc.) to be used or developed; packaging and configuration; weight, size, and power; and expected performance and operating characteristics. (2) Provide definition and description of the proposed approach to definition of tradeoffs, evaluation methodology, and system development. (3) Provide a statement of work, schedule, list of deliverables and costs for all options of the proposed program. (4) Provide discussion of production cost reduction measures including justified estimates of the capabilities, performance, and projected unit cost at full production of the proposed system. Base the projected unit production cost on a quantity of 5,000 AFSS munitions and commensurate associated equipment produced during FY2002-2005 in FY1998 dollars. (5) Specify tasks that will be used to benchmark overall performance of the components and system. Hardware in the loop testing is strongly encouraged. (6) Identify offeror s facilities and equipment that will support the effort. (7) Identify any government furnished facilities, equipment and/or information that is needed to support the effort. (8) Describe the team members and their qualifications for the proposed effort. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR TOPIC B: White papers, consisting of not more than 10 pages, shall describe the component technology to be developed, advantages to be derived from this technology, and risks involved in the technology development and integration. The white paper will also contain a cost estimate. SUBMISSION PROCESS FOR TOPIC A: Offerors are invited to submit proposals (original plus 6 copies) to Dr. David Fields (Attn: BAA 98-09), DARPA/TTO, 3701 N Fairfax Dr., Arlington VA 22203. Initial submission of proposals is due 12 January 1998, 4:00 p.m. EST at DARPA. POC for all technical inquiries is Dr. David Fields, e-mail dfields@darpa.mil. Proposals not selected for funding will be disposed of in a manner that protects proprietary data. All proprietary material should be clearly marked and will be held in the strictest confidence. Initial awards are anticipated to occur within 120 days of receipt of the formal proposals, pending availability of funds. All correspondence must reference BAA 98-09 and identify the title of the proposed effort. The title page for the proposal must reference BAA 98-09 and contain the following information: the title; the date; the name and address of the offering institution(s); the principal investigator's name, phone number, fax number, e-mail address (if available), and mailing address (if different from the offering institution); the duration of the proposed effort; and the signature of an authorized official from the submitting institution(s). The title page must also include total funds requested for the base effort and all options and describe any cost share proposed. The document page limits are as follows: proposals may not exceed 50 pages. The proposals must be single-sided with double-spaced text, page size no larger than 8 1/2 X 11 inches, font size no smaller than 12 point, and with one-inch left/right margins, 1.25 inch top margins, and 1.0 inch bottom margins on all pages. SUBMISSION PROCESS FOR TOPIC B: Offerors are invited to submit white papers (original plus 6 copies) to Dr. David Fields (Attn: BAA 98-09), DARPA/TTO, 3701 N Fairfax Dr., Arlington VA 22203. Initial submission of white papers is due 12 January 1998, 4:00 p.m. EST at DARPA. White papers will be evaluated for technical merit as soon as they are received. Acknowledgement of receipt of white papers will not be made, and white papers will not be returned. The initial screening will minimize unnecessary effort and expense in proposal preparation and review. DARPA will ask only those offerors with promising white papers to submit full technical and cost proposals. DARPA will notify offerors within six (6) months of white paper receipt if a full proposal is requested. Additional information will be provided at that time. POC for all technical inquiries is Dr. David Fields, e-mail dfields@darpa.mil. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Proposals will be evaluated by the Government with respect to the following evaluation criteria. Criteria are of approximately equal importance. (1) Technical Soundness and Operational Merit of Proposed Concept; (2) Adequacy of System Design Process. This includes risk mitigation and unit cost minimization; (3) Realism of Schedule and Soundness of Management Plan as demonstrated by Quantifiable Milestones; and (4) Proposed Cost and Cost Realism. Note: Cost Realism will be used only as an evaluation criterion in proposals which have significantly under or over estimated the cost to complete the effort. All awards made in response to this BAA will be subject to availability of Government funds. Evaluation and selection of proposals for award will be made on the basis of criteria listed and overall balance considered most advantageous to the DARPA AFSS Program. OTHER INFORMATION: Non-government technical advisors from Science and Technology Associates (STA) willparticipate as technical advisors in the proposal review process. Any technical advisor used in this fashion is prohibited from competition in the AFSS Program and is bound by appropriate nondisclosure requirements. The provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 9.5 (Organizational Conflict of Interest) apply in an award under this BAA. Accordingly, a potential offeror is cautioned to review its contract and subcontract history, and before incurring substantial proposal preparation expense, to determine whether or not in its judgment a real or potential conflict of interest does or might exist that will prevent the contracting officer from considering its proposal, or making an award under this BAA. Questionable circumstances or situations should be addressed to the contracting officer for BAA 98-09 at the DARPA address for resolution and decision as soon as possible. Offerors are also cautioned that (1) the absence of any communication between offerors and the contracting officer on these matters (real or potential conflict of interest) shall not preclude the contracting officer from conducting his or her own research and analysis, and arriving at his or her own determination relative to the existence of real or potential conflicts of interest, and (2) in the event of a determination of a conflict of interest, the government shall not be liable for the cost of proposal preparation and submission. The Government anticipates making multiple awards. Proposals may be considered for funding for a period of up to one year. Issuance of this BAA does not obligate the government to pay any proposal preparation costs. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal that shall be considered by DARPA. Teaming is encouraged, e.g., industry and US Universities. Participation by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions (MI) is strongly encouraged as either a contractor or subcontractor although, due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable tasks, no portion of this BAA will be set aside. This notice constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement as authorized by 6.102(d)(2) of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) which provides for competitive selection of basic research proposals. There will be no further solicitations regarding this announcement, however potential offerors should monitor the CBD for potential changes to this announcement. The Government reserves the right to select for award any, all, part, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. Participation in this procurement by foreign vendors is allowed and encouraged, however prime contractors must be U.S. based and have a current SECRET clearance due to the potential requirement for analysis involving classified NOFORN data. Classification guidance for these efforts is contained in the AFSS Classification Guide (draft) which is contained in the proposal information package (PIP). The PIP also contains a copy of the charts used for the briefing to industry and may be viewed on the internet at www.darpa.mil/tto/afs.html. Additional information such as answers to frequently asked questions may also be found at this web site. (0317)

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