A -- TEAMING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR REVCON NRA NASA has issued, through NASA's Langley Research Center, a NASA Research Announcement (NRA) 99-LaRC-3, dated July 28, 1999 for Flight Research for Revolutionary Aeronautical Concepts (REVCON). NASA Dryden Flight Research Center leads this project with participation from the other 3 NASA Aeronautical centers: Ames, Langley, and Glenn Research Centers. The NRA solicits proposals for the flight research of advanced vehicle concepts that accelerate the exploration of high-risk, breakthrough technologies in order to enable revolutionary departures from traditional approaches to air vehicle design. Through this NRA process, it is NASA's intent to enhance U.S. aerospace competitiveness by supporting a continuous series of advanced vehicle concept developments and flight research activities that achieve the following objectives; 1) Revolutionize traditional approaches to aerospace technology evolution and maturation, 2) Develop methods to reduce time to develop and certify new flight vehicles and flight vehicle systems, 3) Develop new methods for enhancing scale accuracy and the fidelity of simulation techniques, 4) Expand the current portfolio of technology investigations into non-traditional arenas, and 5) Provide early validation of the concepts in a relevant environment, specifically flight, to demonstrate breakthrough technology. Awards will be initiated in FY 2000 as the first in a continuous series of advanced vehicle development and flight demonstration activities. The focus of the Revolutionary Concepts Project (REVCON) is to develop a robust project with multiple, consecutive flight-test elements that are responsive to civil, commercial and Department of Defense (DoD) needs. Mission areas that may be targeted by REVCON studies and research vehicles include advanced general aviation and personal air transportation vehicles, supersonic and subsonic transports, rotorcraft, and advanced military air vehicles. In close coordination with the Flight Research, Airframe Systems, and Propulsion System Base Programs and other NASA programs, the REVCON Program will maintain national policy direction in the development of future capabilities. REVCON studies and demonstrators are expected to leverage from and be synergistic with the Flight Research, Airframe Systems, Propulsion Systems, and Information Technology Base Program technology development activities, as well as any appropriate focused programs, to the fullest extent possible. The REVCON Program consists of flight research of advanced vehicle concepts preceded by systems analysis studies to select the best concepts. The technology-driven REVCON research may consist of government-led or industry-led efforts to assure a broad coverage of technologies and applications. Flight research will be focused on technology demonstrations with short development times and must demonstrate high-payoff technologies that significantly advance the state-of-the-art. REVCON projects may include new research vehicles, such as the X-36, or the advanced technology experiments on new orexisting test platforms, such as actuated nose strakes on the F-18 forebody. Specific performance goals for each project will be established prior to the initiation of each project. Demonstrators must use representative hardware in a relevant environment to significantly advance the Technology Readiness Level and to validate the technologies through flight-testing. Innovative research partnerships with NASA are highly encouraged. REVCON Project efforts will include system analyses, vehicle/hardware design, fabrication, instrumentation, assembly, ground test, flight test, and documentation. The activities under this NRA consist of two phases. Phase 1, or the candidate screening phase, will be focused on developing the system benefits of the technology through system studies, establishing the feasibility of the flight vehicle experiment, and a detailed definition of the proposed flight research project. Limited maturation activities are also possible in this phase. Multiple selections for Phase 1 are expected.Phase 2, or the implementation phase, will be focused on the development and flight test of vehicles and/or technology demonstrations, and an assessment of the viability of the technology. Phase 2 flight technology demonstrators are expected to be down selected from Phase 1 proposals. One or more awards for flight tests or technology demonstrators are anticipated. Proposals should include technical and cost information for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 activities at initial submittal. The Phase 1 information will be considered a firm proposal, while the Phase 2 information, which will be considered preliminary, will be used to understand the overall scope of the proposed effort and will be a factor in the Phase 1 selection. Using the information generated in Phase 1, the Phase 2 proposals may be updated prior to Phase 2 final selection. The following budget information, while tentative, is for planning purposes only. Any award will be subject to the availability of funds and appropriate technical evaluation. The approximate near term funding for Phase 1 (system analysis, feasibility, and project development) is a total of $1.8 million for fiscal years 2000 and 2001. It is anticipated that awards for Phase 1 activities will result in about six studies of approximately $300K each, to be shared among the partners. The Government reserves the right to defer funds to Phase 2. The total anticipated multiple-project funding for Phase 2 is $45M from fiscal years 2001 through 2003, to be distributed over one to three awards. NASA Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC) is seeking partners from any interested parties, including but not limited to, industry, academia, non-profit organizations, NASA Centers, national labs, other Government agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC's) to participate with NASA DFRC Principal Investigators to develop proposals and execute development and performance of REVCON systems in accordance with the REVCON philosophy expressed above and in NRA 99-LaRC-3, in all areasof vehicle, propulsion, and systems concepts. It is anticipated that selection of the proposal(s) and the availability of funds would result in system study or subsystem contract(s) for the selected partner(s). This synopsis partnership opportunity document does not represent a guarantee of selection for award of any contract, nor is it to be construed as a commitment by NASA to pay for information solicited. It is expected that the partners(s) selected would provide, at no cost to NASA, conceptual designs, technical data, proposal input (e.g., management approach), project schedules, and cost estimates consistent with the requirements of the NRA for such instruments and/or subsystems during the proposal process. Potential REVCON partners will have to demonstrate the capabilities and experience to provide systems analysis and/or develop systems associated with the REVCON proposals. Responsive submissions shall include a one page synopsis of proposed project objectives and method of approach. The submission should also include cost and schedule estimates and a proposed division of partnering responsibilities. Any questions about these requirements should be directed to David McBride at the phone number shown below. Submissions are due at the address indicated below no later than 4:00 p.m. PDT on September 13, 1999. Transmittal of the submission by FAX is allowed providing a signed original of the submission is also placed in the U.S. Mail and postmarked no later 4:00 p.m. PDT on September 13, 1999. All submissions shall be signed by an authorized individual, and addressed to: David McBride, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, PO Box 273, MS D2004, Edwards CA 93523-0273. WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.nasa.gov/EPS/DFRC/date.html#NRA1-RAG. E-MAIL: David McBride, david.mcbride@dfrc.nasa.gov. Posted 08/27/99 (D-SN373785).

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