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

A -- COMPOSITIONAL AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF AIR FORCE MATERIALS SOL MLK-99-01 POC Project Engineer: Eddie White, AFRL/MLSA, (937) 656-9162, Contract Negotiator: Mike Grommon, AFRL/MLKN (937) 255-5051 WEB: click here to view the R&D Contracting home page, http://www.wrs.afrl.af.mil/contract/. Notice of Contract Action for Compositional and Structural Analysis of Air Force Materials. The Air Force Research Lab, Materials Directorate, Systems Support Division is contemplating the award of a 70 month program commencing July 1999 for the compositional and structural analyses of Air Force materials using instrumental and chemical techniques. The research efforts of the AFRL Materials Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio produce a wide range of new and/or improved or experimental materials requiring chemical analyses and structural characterization before further research can be performed and before these materials can be used in operating systems. A wide range of chemical analyses is also required in the investigation of aircraft accidents, failure analysis, and systems problems. The materials to be analyzed include, but are not limited to, newly synthesized organic compounds, polymers, new metal alloys, hydraulic fluids, lubricants, and failed parts from Air Force systems requiring a chemical analysis to determine their nature and conformance to specifications. An offeror is sought who can provide innovative solutions, detailed knowledge and capabilities for: performing state of the art chemical analysis/characterization, quickly identifying methods or combination of methods required for specific types of analysis and sample extraction, accurately interpreting results and making recommendations on further tests/research with minimum turnaround time. There are approximately 3000 analytical samples in a typical year. As a minimum, personnel need to have U.S. citizenship and be eligible for secret clearance. This is due in part to the analysis which may be required on classified materials. The intent of this effort is to provide a wide range of analytical chemistry disciplines to (1) quickly perform chemical analyses of materials and (2) to a lesser extent, develop new instrumental and chemical techniques when standard analytical procedures are not adequate. The capabilities being soughtrequire analytical chemistry expertise and experience in a wide range of analytical techniques including, as a minimum, (1) infrared, visible, and ultraviolet spectroscopy, (2) gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, (3) atomic absorption spectroscopy, (4) X-ray diffraction, (5) vacuum fusion, (6) gas and liquid chromatography, (7) polarography, (8) microchemical analyses, (9) classical inorganic analysis, (10) X-ray fluorescence, (11) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), (12) X-ray fluorescence (XRF), (13) vapor phase osmometry, and (14) inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. Expertise must be demonstrated by education in chemistry (advanced degrees in analytical chemistry preferred) and experience in performing chemical analyses in all of the analytical chemistry disciplines listed above. The contractor shall be required to perform approximately 90 percent of the analyses in the analytical laboratory of the Materials Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio using government furnished analytical equipment and laboratory facilities. Approximately seven person-years of technical effort, per year, are required. Up to ten percent of the analyses may be subcontracted or performed off-site due to lack of suitable analytical equipment in the Materials Directorate. Required offsite techniques would include as a minimum, (1) inert gas fusion for hydrogen in metals, (2) spark source mass spectrometry, (3) ESCA and Auger spectroscopy, (4) residual gas analysis of microcircuits, (5) X-ray photoelectron spectrometry, (6) neutron activation analysis, (7) Raman spectroscopy, (8) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and (9) fluorine ion analysis. It is expected that only those firms who can provide full-time personnel with the education, competence and experience in the handling and analyzing of materials recovered from accident sites (which may include burned materials and materials recovered from the ocean) and experience necessary to expertly perform analyses in the analytical chemistry disciplines listed above will respond. This announcement is not a request for proposal and will be a 100 percent small business set aside. Firms responding should indicate whether they are a small business, a socially and economically disadvantaged business, a woman-owned business, or minority institution. For this item, the general definition to be used to determine whether your firm is small is as follows: "a small business concern is independently owned and operated, is not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on government contracts and with its affiliates, the number of employees does not exceed 500 persons." Sic code 8731 applies. Concern means any business entity organization for profit with a place of business in the United States, its possessions, Puerto Rico, or the trust territory of the pacific islands, including but not limited to an individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture association or corporation. Small business respondents should provide a statement of capabilities. Responses should be sent to: Attn: Michael G. Grommon, AFRL/MLKN Bldg 7, 2530 C St. Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607. Non-technical assistance may be secured by calling the above individual at (937)255-5051. An Ombudsman has been established for this acquisition. The only purpose of the Ombudsman is to receive and communicate serious concerns from the potential offerors when and offeror prefers not to use established channels to communicate his concern during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. Potential offerors should use established channels to request information, pose questions, and voice concerns before resorting to use of the Ombudsman. Potential offerors are invited to contact ASC's Ombudsman, AFRL/PK, LTC James P. Bixler at (937) 255-4813 with serious concerns only. Direct all requests for solicitations and routine communication concerning this acquisition to the contracting office point of contact with name, title, address, and phone. Closing date for submission of responses is thirty (30) calendar days from the publication of this notice. Firms should reference ML-99-3.02 in their responses. RFP release for this program is projected in 19 February 1999. This program will not be republicized prior to solicitation. See Numbered Note(s): 1, 25 (W-120 SN067601) Email: whiteel@ml.wpafb.af.mil. For assistance in interpreting the CBD announcements, please see the CDB Reader's Guide. Posted 12/02/98 (W-SN276319). (0336)

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