Description: This Industry Day is being held to provide and obtain technical information to and from the radome industry and to obtain feedback for Air Force consideration prior to issuing future solicitations. The current inventory of Department of Defense radomes relies on hand lay-up, manufacturing processes and is extremely susceptible to impact damage and weather related deterioration. The primary reason for field and depot level repairs of Air Force radomes is impact damage and weather related deterioration. Radomes and their components require extensive preservation/protection to extend service life and prevent operational failures. Current maintenance practices consist of abrasive cleaning, primers, and topcoats for preservation/protection of radome panels and structural members. These coatings are a health hazard and require significant resources for repeated applications and waste stream disposal processes. The Air force must achieve a reduction of these chemicals. Compliance burdens and human health concerns due to exposures are well documented. Unique and innovative composite materials have recently been developed with the ability to meet or exceed existing Air Force structural integrity requirements for radomes. These technologies offer superior material properties that may significantly reduce environmental burdens associated with corrosion protection and repair, if implemented. Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC/LHH) has established an advanced composite technology insertion program to enhance the operational performance of Air Force radome systems for current and future missions. Successful application of advanced composite materials technology and composite processing modifications must meet the demands of short production cycles, insensitivity to processing conditions, low delivered part cost and specific mechanical and electrical property requirements of radome panels. SCOPE: This Industry Day will cover a variety of current radome systems, including WSR-88D (NEXRAD), AN/FPS-124, and GNDCP CW-1214/F (MILSTAR) in detail and VOR, TACAN, and Vortac in general. For each of these radome systems, the Air Force is specifically interested in reducing delamination, eliminating painting and minimizing the cost of each radome, while generally being interested in decreasing waste streams, increasing life cycles, and reducing maintenance costs while maintaining all electrical and structural requirements. The Air Force will be open to suggestions from industry for various design, and manufacturing improvements, but would like to gain information specifically on the uses of thermoplastics in such radome systems. PURPOSE: The Government shall use this Industry Day to allow prospective industry bidders to receive briefings regarding upcoming procurements, and provide input to the Air Force for consideration prior to issuance of solicitations. Foreign sources are not permitted to respond due to ITAR/PL 98-94 requirements and/or security requirements. The Foreign Disclosure Branch has determined that because the effort will contain information on the Military Critical Technology List, foreign participation as a prime contractor is excluded. This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not obligate the government in any way. This is not a formal request for proposal. Response to this request and attendance is on a voluntary basis and failure to respond will not affect any future acquisitions. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of attendance at Industry Day, nor otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under the contracts provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and Proposal Costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. LOGISTICS: The Industry Day will be held at the POE Conference Center, Hill AFB, UT 84056; 8:00 AM on 18 October 2004. The exact venue will be determined by industry attendance and will be given to interested parties who have contacted the Technical POC below prior to the meeting. Due to limited space, a maximum of three persons per company will be allowed. Industry attendees must be US citizens. In addition to an open venue, each company will be able to meet privately with government representatives for 40 minutes on the 18th or 19th of October 2004. Visit requests shall be faxed to the Technical POC listed below to enable entry to the installation. POINT OF CONTACT: For general information and visitor request, please contact: Ms. Angela Murray Voice: (801)779-1800 x 34 Fax: (801)779-1883 Email:
[email protected] Technical Point of Contact: Mr. Chuc Nguyen Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC/LHH) Bldg 1228, Hill AFB, UT 84056 Voice: (801)586-3737 Fax: (801)779-1883 Email:
[email protected] Contracting Point of Contact: Ms. Eileen Wahlstrom Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC/LHCK) Bldg 1228, Hill AFB, UT 84056 Voice: (801) 586-3364 Email:
[email protected]