A -- INNOVATIVE SPACE-BASED RADAR ANTENNA TECHNOLOGY (ISAT)

Notice Date

July 30, 2001

Contracting Office

AFMC, Air Force Research Laboratory/IFK, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY 13441-4514

ZIP Code

13441-4514

Solicitation Number

PRDA-01-13-IFKPA

Response Due

December 30, 2001

Point of Contact

James P. Ryan, LPM, 315/330-4851 and Joetta Bernhard, Contracting Officer, 315/330-2308

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the Contracting Officer. (Joetta.Bernhard@rl.af.mil)

Description

POC: James P. Ryan , Laboratory Program Manager, 315-330-4851 (james.ryan@rl.af.mil) and Joetta A. Bernhard, Contracting Officer, 315-330-2308; (Joetta.Bernhard@rl.af.mil). The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Special Projects Office (DARPA/SPO) is conducting the Innovative Space-Based Radar Technology (ISAT) Program investigating innovative concepts for lightweight, space-based, deployable radar antennas designed to address tactical tracking of ground moving targets. The AFRL Sensors Directorate at the Rome Research Site, as DARPA/SPO's technical and program execution agent, is soliciting proposals addressing the fundamental antenna goals: frequency -- x-band; weight -- 5Kg/m2; stowed launch volume <500m3; major deployed dimension of 300m and meeting the stressing requirements associated with tactical GMTI space-based radar performance. More details to be provided in a classified informational brief scheduled for 8 AM, August 9, 2001 at SAIC, 8301 Greensboro Drive, P.O. Box 50132, Mclean, Virginia 22102-3600. No more than 3 representatives from each company may attend this briefing. Please send your SECRET clearances to SAIC, 4001 Fairfax Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203, attn: G. Reed, or faxed to (703) 527-9462 NLT August 3, 2001. Also, contact James P. Ryan, Laboratory Program Manager, 315-330-4851 (james.ryan@rl.af.mil) and pass your company name, the individual names, phone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses for those planning to attend NLT August 3, 2001. Firms unable to attend this briefing and desiring to obtain further information should contract Mr. James Ryan at the above phone number with their cleared address. This one year effort is seeking an antenna design and an antenna risk reduction effort to prove out most stressing aspects of the design and technology. Deliverables include: 3 interim status briefings and one final presentation briefing. Final briefing shall identify the technical challenges required to demonstrate a full-scale space demonstration and include detailed cost and reliability analysis. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ENTIRE SOLICITATION. Offerors are required to submit a cover letter with their proposals, indicating whether the offeror is a large, small, woman-owned, small disadvantaged business, Historically Black College or University, or Minority Institution. All responses to this announcement must be addressed to ATTN: James P. Ryan. Reference PRDA-01-13-IFKPA, AFRL/SNRD, 26 Electronic Pkwy, Rome, NY 13441-4514 and should be received not later than 1600 hours EDT on 7 September 2001. Also, small business only should send one (1) copy of the cover letter only (1st Class Mail, Unclassified Only) to ATTN: Ms Janis Norelli, Director of Small Business, AFRL/IFB, 26 Electronic Pkwy, Rome, NY 13441-4514. Proposal instructions may be found in the PIP (Proposer Information Pamphlet) at: www.if.afrl.af.mil/div/IFK/prda/prda-main.html. Individual proposal evaluations will be based on acceptability or non-acceptability without regard to other proposals submitted under the announcement. Evaluation of proposals will be performed using the following criteria: 1. Soundness of Approach: (a) Does the offeror 's approach achieve the program objectives and goals using well-understood engineering principles and tools? (b) Organization, clarity, and thoroughness of the Technical Proposal and Statement-of-Work. (c) Does the offeror propose a subscale demonstration that will sufficiently address the technical issues enabling the concept? (d) Does the offeror address the critical issues in their proposed risk reduction effort? 2. Understanding of the Problem: The offerors understanding of High Power-Aperture Radar Systems, Antenna Subsystems, and the performance/cost tradeoffs involved in developing such systems for spaced based deployment. (a) Does the offeror understand the technical issues associated with deploying a very large SBR antenna in space while meeting size (stowed), weight and power constraints of space systems? (b) Does the offeror understand the operational requirements, issues, and constraints of achieving tactical GMTI performance for a space based radar? (c) Does the offeror understand the state-of-the-art in deployable and/or rigidized inflatable structures for space? 3. Special Technical Factors: Available personnel, experience, expertise, capabilities and facilities. 4. Ability to Achieve Goals: (a) The offerors conceptual designs potential for filling the goals as described. (b) Does the proposal convey how the antenna subsystem will work with respect to deployment and radar operation? 5. Proposal Risk Assessment: Proposal risk will be individually assessed for the technical, cost and schedule areas. Proposal risk relates to identification and assessment of the risks associated with an offerors proposed research as it relates to accomplishing the proposed effort. Tradeoffs of the assessed risk will be weighed against the potential payoff. Cost evaluation includes the reasonableness and realism of the proposed cost and fee and consideration of proposed budgets and funding profiles. In addition, the Government will consider other factors, such as past and present performance on recent Government contracts. Options will not be considered for award. The Government intends to use employees from a non-Government source (Solers Corporation, SAIC, Emergent IT, Aerospace Corporation, MITRE Corporation, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and MIT Lincoln Laboratories) to assist as technical experts, and in administering the evaluation of the proposals. Should anyone not wish to have his/her proposal viewed by individuals from one of these organizations, they must include a statement to that effect in the cover letter. Otherwise, by submission of the proposal, you agree that your proposal information may be disclosed to those employees of the organizations identified above for the limited purpose stated above. Only Government evaluators, however, will make award recommendations under this PRDA. Offerors must mark their proposals with the restrictive language stated in FAR 15.609(a). Principal funding of this PRDA and the anticipated award of contracts will start in FY02. Individual awards will not normally exceed 12 months with dollar amounts ranging $2M to $2.5M. Total funding for this PRDA is approximately $7.5M. We anticipate awarding 2-3 contracts under this PRDA. Awards of efforts as a result of this PRDA will be in the form of contracts. Responders are requested to provide their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number with their submission as well as a fax number, and an e-mail address. Foreign or foreign-owned offerors are advised that their participation is subject to foreign disclosure review procedures. Foreign or foreign-owned offerors should immediately contact the contracting focal point, Joetta A. Bernhard, for information if they contemplate responding. Export-controlled technical data may be involved, only firms on the Certified Contractor Access List (CCAL) will be allowed to access such data. For further information on CCAL, contact the Defense Logistic Service Center at 1-800-352-3572. Selected offerors may be required to review classified material up to the Secret level, therefore personnel identified for assignment to the proposed effort must be cleared for access to Secret information. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or any other contract, but may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost in accordance with FAR 31.205-18. An ombudsman has been appointed to hear significant concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. Routine questions are not considered to be "significant concerns" and should be communicated directly to the contracting officer, Joetta A. Bernhard, 315-330-2308. The purpose of the ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the contracting officer or program manager, but to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel. The Ombudsman for this acquisition is Reid S. Lerum, LtCol., Chief, Contracting Division, at 315-330-7746. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the selection process. This PRDA is open and effective until 30 Dec 2001. A copy of the Rome "BAA & PRDA: A Guide for Industry", Sep 96 (Rev),may be accessed at: www.if.afrl.af.mil/div/IFK/bp-guide.html. All responsible organizations may submit a proposal which shall be considered. Proposers are warned that only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.

Web Link

Click here for any additional information. (http://www.fedbizopps.gov)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010801/ASOL010.HTM (W-211 SN50T3T0)