NASA/Ames Research Center, JA:M/S 241-1, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000

A -- ADVANCED ROTORCRAFT TECHNOLOGY SOL ARC-CAN-37119-RRK DUE 040700 POC Rachel R. Khattab, Contract Specialist, Phone (650) 604-5237, Fax (650) 604-3020, Email rkhattab@mail.arc.nasa.gov -- Ronnee R. Gonzalez, Contracting Officer, Phone (650) 604-4386, Fax (650) 604-4357, Email rgonzalez@mail.arc.nasa.gov WEB: Click here for the latest information about this notice, http://nais.msfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/EPS/bizops.cgi?gr=D&pin=21#ARC-CAN-3 7119-RRK. E-MAIL: Rachel R. Khattab, rkhattab@mail.arc.nasa.gov. NASA/ARC intends to issue a cooperative agreement to the Rotorcraft Industry Technology Association (RITA). RITA is a nonprofit organization -- a consortium of commercial firms, nonprofit organizations and academic institutions -- formed to carry out cooperative scientific research directed toward the practical use of knowledge, and to transfer and share such knowledge and technologies among its members. Membership in RITA is open to organizations that are U.S. Citizen controlled and involved in some principal, supporting or associated way with the U.S. rotorcraft industry. RITA's goals are to enhance the effectiveness and international competitiveness of the U.S. rotorcraft industry, ensure the superiority of U.S. military rotorcraft, promote commercial rotorcraft applications in the U.S. and foster dual military and commercial use of advanced rotorcraft technology. This procurement action is necessary to maintain essential engineering, research and development capabilities, to be provided by a nonprofit institution. More specifically, NASA requires that NASA-related essential capabilities be maintained for theoretical analysis, exploratory studies, and experiments in technology, as related to the development of technology, processes, and standards -- both to improve the international competitive capabilities of the U.S. rotorcraft industry and to ensure the superiority of U.S. military rotorcraft. Essential engineering, research and development capabilities that are related to NASA's needs consist of diverse technical and programmatic skills, extensive experience with NASA's programs, extensive corporate memory, RITA's access to an extensive pool of experts within academia and industry, substantial supporting facilities, and RITA's ability to draw on research and development resources to solve complex technical and system level problems. NASA/ARC plans to issue a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) to develop technology, processes, and standards both to improve the international competitive capabilities of the U.S. rotorcraft industry and to ensure the superiority of U.S. military rotorcraft. NASA joined with the U.S. Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Federal Aviation Administration to establish the National Rotorcraft Technology Center (NRTC) in 1995. Based at NASA Ames Research Center, NRTC acts for the government in providing program management and facilitates the combining of government, industry and academic resources to identify and expedite the development of dual-use rotorcraft technologies, processes and standards. The technological work that is to be accomplished through this agreement is problem-driven to reflect current and future needs in the rotorcraft industrial community. It is to be formulated to accomplish all of the following technology objectives: 1) Improve rotorcraft processes and products for affordability, quality & environmental compliance; 2) Enhance rotorcraft performance; 3) Increase passenger and community acceptance; 4) Augment aviation and ground infrastructure in ways that will expand rotorcraft operations; and 5) "Harmonize" the processes for civil & military certification and qualification. The scope of the anticipated work includes topics for rotorcraft research and technology development such as: exterior noise reduction; damage-tolerance methodologies for design certification; advanced-composites technologies supporting certification of rotorcraft parts; innovative, computer-based design tools tied to production capabilities; health and usage monitoring systems (HUMS) implementation and certification; rotorcraft icing protection; and flight validation of all-weather/noise-abatement operations. This is a follow-on effort to the cooperative agreement designated as NCCW-0076, which will expire on 8/14/00. There are currently three principal RITA members (Bell, Boeing and Sikorksy), five supporting members (smaller companies associated with the rotorcraft industry), two associate nonprofit organizations and twelve associate academic institution members. NRTC plans to fund one cooperative agreement with a period of performance of approximately five years. The recipient will have to meet all of the requirements in the statement of work. Funding is awarded competitively and annually on a project-by-project basis. RITA members submit proposals to NRTC with complete statements of work and budgets. Projects are competed within RITA and thoroughly evaluated by the government. Technical and business reviews are done for each project. Approval of individual projects is issued annually through a supplement to the cooperative agreement. Government reviewers monitor progress and achievement of project milestones. Continued funding is dependent on the availability of appropriated funds and satisfactory performance by the Recipient. The Recipient is required to contribute at least 50 percent of the total resources required to accomplish the cooperative agreement's objectives. The required matching contribution is estimated to be more than $50 million, overthe five-year period of performance. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing (hard copy or email only) to the identified point of contact not later than 1:00 pm PST on April 7, 2000. Such capabilities/ qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open basis, based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government does not intend to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. See Note 26. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by the agency. An Ombudsman has been appointed, See Internet Note "B". See Note 22. Any referenced notes can be viewed at the following URL: http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nnotes.htm. Posted 03/23/00 (D-SN437686). (0083)

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