A -- AIRCRAFT CORROSION PREVENTION AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGY

Notice Date

April 20, 2001

Contracting Office

Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22217-5660

ZIP Code

22217-5660

Solicitation Number

01-014

Response Due

May 31, 2001

Point of Contact

Dr. Airan J. Perez, Code 332, (703) 696-0845

Description

The Office of Naval Research is soliciting white papers for development and transition of aircraft corrosion prevention and control technologies designed to reduce operations and support cost without compromising fleet safety and readiness. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: (1) corrosion prevention technologies to provide coatings, adhesive films and corrosion preventive compounds (CPCs) that can protect structures and components from corrosion, or mitigate the initiation or propagation of corrosion; (2) corrosion sensor technologies to provide in-situ corrosion detection/monitoring devices that are installed in or attached to hard-to-access areas within airframe structures and components; (3) nondestructive inspection (NDI) technologies to provide for use in assessment/inspection of corrosion damage and cracks without removing paint during on-condition or scheduled periodic inspections; and (4) corrosion-assisted fatigue predictive technologies to provide life assessment methods that analyze the effects of corrosion and predict potential fatigue effects on structural integrity and service life of aircraft. The detrimental impact of corrosion on aircraft surfaces and structural components has been widely recognized for years. Corrosion may not be totally prevented, but it can be detected and controlled before it becomes a major problem. Accordingly, there is a need for practical and affordable methodologies to mitigate corrosion, to detect and monitor the onset of corrosion processes, to inspect corrosion damage, and to predict corrosion-assisted fatigue of aircraft. A typical proposal is anticipated to be $300K -- $500K/year and will run over three to four years, although lower and higher cost proposals will be evaluated. (1) Corrosion prevention technology Corrosion prevention and control technologies are needed to reduce the need for continual corrosion repairs due to coating system failures. Products and techniques are being sought in the areas of organic coating systems, adhesive-backed applique, and corrosion preventive compounds (CPCs) that can extend the service life of aircraft. Organic coating systems must be robust and durable under various environmental conditions and comply with environmental regulations, while featuring ease of application and maintenance. Major properties desired include longer-life (8+ years) coating systems with resistance to weathering and operational fluids (chemicals), good adhesion, good flexibility, low dirt retention and moisture and fungus resistance. Adhesive film must be removable after intended service by simple process such as low pressure steam. Corrosion prevention compounds with high performance and longer protective life are needed for internal application. CPCs must effectively penetrate crevices, prevent corrosion, and maintain long-term viability and effectiveness while remaining environmentally acceptable. These products and techniques must retain or enhance the structural integrity of treated areas and be compatible with all operating and maintenance environments throughout the life of the product. (2) Corrosion sensor technology In-situ sensors are needed to monitor corrosion of aircraft materials and/or corrosivity of local environments and to provide early warning of the onset of corrosion in hidden parts of aircraft. These sensors must provide early warning to avoid corrosion damage and premature failures. This is particularly important in the severe maritime environment where corrosion interacts with fatigue cracks forming under cyclic loads in aging aircraft. In many cases, corrosion accelerates both initiation and growth of fatigue cracks. The data collected by the sensors must be of an appropriate type to enable the operations and maintenance community to implement a condition-based maintenance strategy by directing maintenance actions at specific time intervals. At the same time, these sensors must be non-intrusive, adapted to the specific operating environments and be capable of wired or wireless transmittal of data. (3) Nondestructive inspection (NDI) technology Real time, wide area NDI technologies that can detect corrosion and cracks in metallic materials and delamination in composite materials are being sought. These technologies must accurately depict deteriorating conditions of materials (metals and composites) without disassembly or removal of components. NDI technologies offered must detect hidden corrosion damage and cracks under paint, around fasteners and at depth within structural materials. Application of these devices must be as non-intrusive as possible, provide wide area inspection capability, and result in a significant reduction in inspection and processing time over current inspection methods with a false alarm rate approaching zero. They should be easy to handle in normal field conditions. The data collected by these inspection devices must enable technicians to interpret information, characterize the problem, and recommend proper maintenance actions. (4) Corrosion-Assisted Fatigue Predictive Technology An enhanced ability to predict corrosion effects primarily focused on fatigue crack nucleation /initiation and including relevant early stage of fatigue crack propagation in aircraft structures will be crucial to more affordable condition-based maintenance strategies, as well as the determination of safe aircraft service life. Effective prediction modeling must be based on meaningful, quantifiable and measurable data. A robust, reliable life prediction model must feature validated predictive algorithms and computational forecasting techniques that can be linked to comprehensive historical databases and accurate current condition data. Moreover, it should incorporate validated, mechanistically based simulations to account quantitatively for the synergistic effects of corrosion and stress on the nucleation/initiation and pertinent propagation of fatigue cracks that develop under cyclic loading conditions. The model, which in combination with appropriate metrics (including those potentially derived from the latest cutting-edge NDI, corrosion sensor, and corrosion prevention technologies) must also be able to provide a reliable predictive methodology for quantifying the effects of corrosion-assisted fatigue in specific time intervals across the full spectrum of an aircraft's safe service life. Ultimately, the prediction model must provide high quality corrosion forecasts with sufficient detail to plan for realistic and timely, cost-effective maintenance of specific aircraft structural components. Note: White Papers are due by 1500 EST on 31 May 2001 White papers submitted in response to this announcement should address the technology requirements and issues covered in this announcement. Offerors must state in their White Paper that it is submitted in response to BAA 01-014. The government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the submissions. White Papers should respond to the following requirements: 1. Shall include a cover page, clearly labeled "WHITE PAPER", with the following information: BAA title and date, submitting offerors organization, administrative and technical points of contact, telephone number(s), fax number, and email address. 2. Limited to seven pages with font size no less than 12. 3. Shall consist of three primary sections: Technical, Management, and Cost. 4. Shall cover a performance period not to exceed four years. 5. The technical section shall provide a clear description of the products/technologies being proposed and shall discuss: a. The offeror's understanding of the need for the specific aircraft corrosion prevention and control technologies being addressed. b. Objectives of the proposed effort. c. Technical issues to be resolved to accomplish objectives. d. The technical approach to resolve technical issues, to develop the products/technologies, and to achieve performance metrics. e. Technology transition and commercialization plan f. An assessment of advantages of offeror's technical approach over existing capabilities. 6. The management section shall include key personnel, facilities, previous organizational experience and a plan of action with milestones. 7. The cost section shall include a cost breakdown of the effort being proposed (estimated cost of the proposed work; estimated costs of subcontractors, if appropriate; and details of cost sharing, if proposed). 8. Submit one-page curricula vitae for the principal technical investigator, project manager and other key personnel. The curricula vitae will not count in the seven-page limit. White papers will be evaluated using the following criteria listed in decreasing order of importance: 1. Overall scientific, technical and socioeconomic merit. 2. Understanding of the problem, including corrosion impact on aircraft, current technical/scientific practices, and risk associated with developing affordable successful solutions to requirements. 3. Potential for commercialization and transition to the fleet at the completion of project. 4. Qualifications, capabilities and experience of the proposed principal technical investigator and other key personnel. 5. Budgetary cost (and availability of funds, if cost sharing). If the offeror proposes development in more than one area, a separate and complete white paper should be submitted for each area. After evaluation and down-selection, selected offerors will be invited to submit a full technical and cost proposal on all or part of their white paper submission. However, any such invitation does not assure a subsequent award. Full proposals shall be limited to a maximum of twenty pages per project, and will address all of the following information within the twenty-page limit. Special emphasis should be given to the technical approach, commercialization and transition. 1. Relevant technical background including the proposed scope of effort and a statement of work (SOW) with specific requirements to be addressed and tasks to be performed. 2. Detailed technical approach and rationale for that approach. 3. Description of technologies, products, and performance metrics. 4. Description of transition plan and expected technology transfer path. 5. Principal investigator and other project personnel credentials. 6. Details of any formal teaming agreements required to execute the program. 7. Cost, schedule and milestones for the proposed work, including estimates of annual cost for each task, total cost and any company cost share. Proposals will be evaluated using the following selection criteria: 1. Overall scientific, technical and socioeconomic merit. 2. Technical approach. 3. Transition/commercialization plan. 4. Qualifications of the principal investigator, key personnel, and subcontractors. 5. Adequacy of equipment and facilities. 6. Realism of cost and schedule and any proposed cost sharing. White Papers and full proposal submissions will be protected from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with FAR 15.207, applicable law, and DoD/DoN regulations. Offerors are expected to appropriately mark each page of their submission that contains proprietary information. This BAA does not provide funding for White Paper or subsequent proposal development purposes. All White Papers will be acknowledged. White Papers and full proposals will not be returned after evaluation. This notice constitutes a BAA as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). Unless otherwise stated herein, no additional written information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation be issued regarding this announcement. Submit one electronic copy of your white paper along with three hard copies to Dr. Airan J. Perez, Office of Naval Research, Code 332, Materials S&T Division, 800 North Quincy Street, Ballston Center Tower #1, Arlington VA 22217-5660. Electronic copies may be submitted on a disk to the above address or via e-mail to pereza@onr.navy.mil. Only those offerors who submit white papers by 31 May 2001 and which are accepted by the Navy will be invited to submit proposals for awards. Those selected will be asked to submit full proposals for consideration and evaluation by the Materials Science and Technology Division at ONR. The proposals for award will be solicited on or about 20 June 2001. The Navy has established a target date of 20 July 2001 for receipt of proposals. Proposals received after the target date will not be eligible for award. Negotiations are expected to begin late August 2001, with awards in September and start dates in October 2001. For general guidance on how to submit a proposal to the Office of Naval Research, interested parties can access the ONR website at www.onr.navy.mil/scripts/02/howtosubmit.asp#proc . The Navy encourages the development of appropriate technical partnerships. Teaming between industry, universities, and naval laboratories are encouraged to help insure rapid transition of technology and products into the fleet. Government agencies will not be in direct competition with industry. Costs for white papers where a Government lab is included as part of the team should be predicated on separate awards to the Government lab and the team partners. White papers may include proposed sharing of costs with the government in cash or in-kind assets. Depending on the type of contract, grant or agreement, the Navy has considerable flexibility in the negotiation of cost sharing for the support of technology initiatives. Cost sharing with industries is encouraged. For awards made as contracts, the socio-economic merits of each proposal will be evaluated based on the extent of commitment in providing meaningful subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, woman-owned small business concerns, veteran-owned small businesses, historically black colleges and universities, and minority institutions. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this solicitation is 541710 (which corresponds with the standard industrial classification code of 3721) with the small business size standard of 1,500 employees. In accordance with FAR Part 52.219-9, contract proposals that exceed $500,000, submitted by other than small business concerns, must be accompanied by a subcontracting plan that separately addresses subcontracting with small business, veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business concerns, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions (MI) are encouraged to submit abstracts and/or join others in submitting white papers and proposals. For questions of a technical nature, interested parties should contact Dr. Airan Perez at (703) 696-0845 during the hours 8:00 AM through 3:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday; or write to the Office of Naval Research, Code 332, Materials S&T Division, 800 North Quincy Street, Ballston Centre Tower #1, Arlington VA 22217-5660; or send electronic mail requests to pereza@onr.navy.mil. Business questions regarding this BAA should be directed to Regina Williams at (703) 696-2583, email address: regina_williams@onr.navy.mil. For information on the DoN Science and Technology Programs Future Naval Capabilities, access the DoN S&T website at: https://donst.nrl.navy.mil/donst/open/open-fnc.html. This announcement constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement as interpreted under the Federal Acquisition Regulations FAR 6.102(cd)(2). The government reserves the right to select or award all, some or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered under these guidelines by the Office of Naval Research.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010424/ASOL005.HTM (W-110 SN50J896)