White Papers may be submitted anytime during the solicitation period. The solicitation period is approximately one year (Date issued-30 Sep 2008).Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL/RXQ, Airbase Technologies Division is soliciting white papers, which are due initially. White Papers should be addressed to the Contracting Point of Contact (POC). To be eligible for an award potential offerors must submit annual Reps and Certs, (ORCA) via at http://www.bpn.gov/orca. Contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Database. Anticipate awarding Cost-Reimbursement, Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee, Cost/No Fee, etc.) which requires awardees to have an approved accounting system. Cost to be determined at time of RFP issuance. The Air Force (AF) anticipates multiple awards. The AF requires advanced technologies that facilitate contingency base operations, combat support functions, and force protection in homeland security and Air Expeditionary Forces operations. In addition, the AF looks for opportunities to reduce weight, volume, and costs of base emergency response, infrastructure support, and combat support systems. I. AFRL/RXQ is soliciting white papers (technical and cost proposals if accepted) in the following research areas (in whole or part): Protection of Forces and Assets. Develop threat detection methods and technology for explosives, and radioactive/nuclear materials used in Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) including those deployed in vehicles, packages, cargo, and personnel. Develop new and adapt existing tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) utilizing threat detection methods and technology. Develop evaluation and characterization methods and models for materials, facilities, construction methods, and AF assets for explosives and explosive effects. Develop, evaluate, modify, and integrate new and commercial protective materials and technologies that mitigate blast, ballistic, and fragmentation effects from conventional and improvised explosive devices and munitions. Develop lightweight rapidly deployable personnel and aircraft shelters and protection systems for facilities and aircraft parking areas. Specific areas of interest include ultra-lightweight, high-strength materials, exploitation of in situ materials, and facility post-construction reinforcement, air-blast and fragmentation effects simulation and modeling, and chemical/biological protection systems. Develop chemical processes and passive or self-decontaminating materials that reduce recovery time and/or provide a significant improvement in removing, neutralizing or rejecting chemical, biological or industrial contaminants and/or in decontamination capabilities. Develop sensing, active and passive protection, and decontamination technologies for improved force protection at fixed and forward airbases. Develop systems for detecting and quantifying toxic materials or hazards (chemical, biological, radiological, and energetic). Provide technology for automated hazard warning/avoidance, neutralization or decontamination, and decontamination validation in operational areas and industrial sites. Develop technologies that are simple for airmen to maintain and operate, affordable, deployable, modular, and allow for rapid mobilization/demobilization, assurance of effective equipment and operational area decontamination and ability to continue shirtsleeve-environment operations. Airbase and Perimeter Defense. Develop methods, procedures, and tools for conducting airbase threat assessments and defining effective mitigation strategies. Develop, adapt, and integrate new/emerging technologies for use in force multiplication of airbase security operations. Develop and/or evaluate innovative advances in personnel, perimeter and area monitoring/surveillance technologies. Develop and/or evaluate novel intelligence/information/data fusion technologies to allow attack anticipation against airbase personnel/facilities. Develop and/or evaluate the integration of these technologies into AF/DoD operations. Security Technologies - Identify and develop domestic and deployed base enhanced physical security capabilities. Develop and/or evaluate technologies to detect, analyze, and respond to radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats. Develop and/or evaluate technologies leading to innovative, low energy trace sample collection techniques/technologies for aerosol, vapor or residues in DOD shipped cargo. Develop and/or evaluate innovative advances in personnel, perimeter and area monitoring/surveillance technologies. Airbase Operating Surfaces - Develop lightweight portable airfield evaluation technologies for surface and subsurface material characterization; expedient repair materials, equipment, and techniques for concrete and asphalt pavements; geopolymer concrete-like materials; heat resistant pavement materials, coatings, and processes; measurement and prediction in response to aircraft traffic and environmental loads; equipment or processes for conducting thermal shock testing on pavement materials; and autonomous systems for remotely assessing airfield pavement condition. Energy & Reactor Systems - Develop innovative deployed energy and chemical reactor systems technologies to maximize mobility, reliability, and operating efficiency. Energy systems specific areas of interest include: fuel reforming to produce hydrogen for fuel cell use, liquid fuel desulfurization, sulfur tolerant anode fuel cell, active and passive power generation, flexible solar cells, renewable energy, waste into liquid fuel conversion, bio-energy and bio fuels suitable for deployed ground power, lightweight energy storage systems, power conditioning and distribution systems, and environmental control units. Reactor systems specific areas of interest are: (1) produce and deliver, weapon system specific chemicals in combat quantities, under deployed force conditions, (2) efficiently produce thermal, mechanical or electrical energy on demand using innovative chemistry and reactor systems, and (3) convert or dissipate energy produced from military operations. In addition, desired reactor systems and unit operations (1) utilize compact and light weight designs (2) are compatible with force deployment constraints, and/or (3) utilize new materials or innovative approaches using conventional materials. Systems developed should integrate with existing deployed base energy and utility systems to meet AEF operational doctrine requirements. Robotic Systems - Develop automation and intelligent system technologies for use in high threat areas, expeditionary and fixed airbase support, and homeland security. The general areas of interest include novel unmanned force protection technologies including civil engineering, explosive ordnance disposal, security forces, and airbase support operations. Specific areas include: Automated fueling technologies; Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) detection, characterization, handling, and disposal; advanced ground vehicle navigation and guidance; obstacle detection systems; non-line of sight, high bandwidth, wireless communication systems; and innovative robotic vehicle systems including: perception, power, weapons, computing, manipulation, and mobility systems. Fire Fighting - Develop agents, systems, equipment and hardware for use in aircraft firefighting and rescue operations, airbase structural firefighting, weapons systems firefighting, hazardous materials incidents, and improved firefighter training. Develop DoD firefighting systems such as munitions protection and explosion mitigation. Specific areas of interest include development of environmentally compatible, operational and cost effective fire extinguishing agents, aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles/systems, fire detection/suppression systems, specialized rescue and personnel protective equipment, and training technologies. The objective is to enhance airbase and other DoD firefighting safety programs and training capabilities that significantly reduce fire extinguishing times, extract victims, and minimize damage/casualties. Biofunctionalized Materials - Design, construct and understand materials that integrate biological molecules with inorganic support materials. Fundamental research should address molecular characterization of the bio/nano interface and understanding behavior of biomolecules fixed in solid state materials. Engineering research should address integration of biofunctionalized nanomaterials and composites with devices and practical supports, e.g. transducers, electrodes, fabrics. Specific areas of interest include: sensor component development to detect chemical and biological threats, materials used for decontamination/threat neutralization processes, chemical and microbiological barrier materials, and fuel cell biomaterials. 1. Deliverables & Period of Performance: to be determined 2. Other Requirements a. If classified material is involved, it will be stated in the RFP and a DD Form 254 will be issued with the solicitation. b. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR): ITAR may apply to equipment/technical data generated under research efforts. c. Research efforts may involve data that are subject to export control laws and regulations. Only contractors who are registered and certified with the Defense Logistics Services Center (DLSC) and have a legitimate business purpose may participate in the solicitation. Contact the Defense Logistics Services Center, 74 Washington Avenue N., Battle Creek, Michigan 40917-3084 (1-800-352-3572) for further information on certification process. Submit a copy of your approved DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, with your proposal. 3. Other Information: a. Government Furnished Property to Be Determined (if any) b. Base Support/Network Access to Be Determined (if any) II. Award Information 1. Award Date: Estimated at time of RFP. 2. Funding: Profiles will be identified at time of RFP. A funding profile is an estimate only and is not a contractual obligation for funding as all funding is subject to change due to Government discretion/availability. III. Eligibility 1. Unrestricted solicitation. 2. Cost Sharing not required. 3. The following guidance is provided for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) FAR 35.017-1(c)(4) prohibits an FFRDC from competing with any non-FFRDC concern in response to a Federal agency request for proposal for other than the operation of an FFRDC (with exceptions stated in DFARS 235.017-1(c)(4)). There is no regulation prohibiting an FFRDC from responding to a solicitation. However, the FFRDCs sponsoring agency must first make a determination that the effort being proposed falls within the purpose, mission, general scope of effort, or special competency of the FFRDC, and that determination must be included in the FFRDCs proposal. In addition, the non-sponsoring agency (AFRL) must determine that the work proposed would not place the FFRDC in direct competition with domestic private industry. After these determinations are made a determination can be made concerning the FFRDCs award eligibility. 4. Other: a. Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: Such firms are asked to immediately notify the Contracting POC cited in Section VII before responding to this announcement. b. No limits to the number of white papers/proposals an offeror may submit. c. You may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this solicitation are not met on the white paper (and if requested, on the proposal). IV. White Paper/Proposal Preparation: 1. This Announcement consists of a Two-Step Process described in detail below. ONLY WHITE PAPERS ARE SOLICITED AT THIS TIME. Offerors should be alert for BAA amendments that may affect this announcement. 2. White Paper Instructions: a. General: The FIRST STEP requests a white paper and a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate which must reference the announcement number. White papers shall discuss the research nature, scope and technical approach. The Government will evaluate white papers in accordance with the FIRST STEP evaluation criteria, set forth in Section V. below. Based on this evaluation, the Government determines which of the white papers have the potential to best meet the AF's needs. Offerors will be notified of their white paper's disposition. Government review of the white papers submitted should take 30 calendar days. White papers assessed as meeting AF needs will be asked (subject to funding availability) to submit a technical and cost proposal. Those offerors not requested to submit a technical and cost proposal will be notified but may still elect to submit a technical and cost proposal. An offeror submitting a technical and cost proposal without submitting a white paper will be eligible for an award (The Second Step Proposal Instructions, Proposal Evaluation Criteria, and Proposal Review and Selection Process as specified in this BAA will apply as though the offeror had submitted a white paper and was solicited for a proposal). Offerors must submit 1 electronic copy of the White Paper via email to the Contracting POC identified in Section VII. White paper preparation costs in response to this Solicitation is not an allowable direct charge to any resulting or any other contract; it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18. b. White papers shall be limited to 10 pages, submitted in Word. Font shall be standard 10-point, Arial. Character spacing is normal, not condensed. Pages shall be double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5x11, with one-inch margins, side, top and bottom. All text, including text in tables and charts, must adhere to font size and line spacing requirements. Font/line spacing does not have to be followed for illustrations/flowcharts/ drawings/diagrams. Pages shall be numbered starting with the cover as Page 1, and ending being Page 10 (or less). The page limitation covers all information. The Government will not consider excess pages. c. Format the white paper as: Section A: Program Title, Company Name, Company's Commercial and Government Entity, Tax Identification Number, Dun & Bradstreet number, Contracting POC and AFRL Business Advisor with telephone/fax numbers/email addresses; Section B: Period of Performance and Task Objectives; Section C: Technical Summary; and Section D: Cost of Task (ROM). d. The white paper's technical portion shall include a research nature and scope discussion and the offeror's proposed technical approach/solution. It may include proposed deliverables. Resumes, facility/equipment descriptions, and proposed Statements of Work (SOW) are not required. e. The white paper's cost portion shall include a ROM. Forward no detailed price or cost support information; only provide a time-phased bottom line figure. f. Other Information: Multiple white papers within the purview of this announcement may be submitted. If the offeror wishes to restrict its white papers, they must be marked with the restrictive language stated in FAR 15.609(a) and (b). g. White Paper/Proposal Content Summary: You may be ineligible for award if all solicitation requirements are not met. h. White Paper Due Date and Time: See Overview. 3. Proposal Instructions: a. General: The SECOND STEP consists of technical and cost proposal submission within 30 calendar days of the proposal request. After receipt, proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the award criteria. Proposals will be categorized and selected for negotiations. Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the provision of FAR 52.215-1(e). Submit technical/management and cost volumes in separate volumes and must be valid for 180 days. Offerors must submit 1 electronic copy of their proposals to Contracting POC. The cost of preparing proposals in response to the RFP is not considered allowable direct charges to any resulting or any other contract; however, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18. b. The Technical/Management Proposal is limited to 40 pages, prepared and submitted in Word. Font is standard 10-point business, Arial. Character spacing must be normal. Pages are double-spaced, single-sided, 8.5x11 inches, with at least one-inch margins-sides, top and bottom. Font/line spacing requirements do not have to be followed for illustrations, flowcharts/drawings/diagrams. Pages are numbered starting with the cover page as Page 1, and last page as Page 40 (or less). Page limitation covers all information including indices, photographs, foldouts (counted as 1 page for each 8.5 by 11 inch portion), tables, charts, appendices, attachments, etc. The proposal page limit does not include a proposed SOW; however, the same formatting rules apply to the SOW, which is limited to 10 pages or less. The Government will check proposal and SOW conformance to the stated requirements. Any excess pages will not be considered. If the proposal or SOW does not conform, a nonconformance notification will be sent to the offeror. c. Technical/Management Proposal: The technical/management volume shall discuss the research nature, scope and technical approach. Additional information on prior work in this area, available equipment descriptions, data and facilities and personnel resumes of those participating in this effort should be attachments. This volume shall include a SOW detailing the proposed technical tasks under the proposed effort and suitable for contract incorporation. Do not include proprietary information. d. Cost/Business Proposal: i. Separate the proposal into a business section and a cost section. The business section should contain all business aspects to the proposed contract, such as type of contractual instrument, any exceptions to terms and conditions of the sample model contract (http://www.afrl.af.mil/contract/select-model-documents.htm) any information not technically related, etc. Provide exception rationale. If selected for negotiations, qualifying offerors may be required to submit a subcontracting plan. Cost proposals have no page limitations; however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 100 pages. Furnish the proposal with supporting schedules and with a person-hour breakdown per task. ii. Submit subcontracting plans, for efforts exceeding $550,000, with the technical and cost proposals. Small business may be exempt from this requirement. 4. Intergovernmental Review, Funding Restriction, Other Submission Requirement: None V. White Paper/Proposal Review Information 1. The Government evaluates white papers to determine those that potentially best meet AF needs (subject to funding availability) based on the following criteria, which are listed in equal order of importance: a. Unique/innovative approach to accomplish technical objectives. New and creative solutions and/or advances in knowledge, understanding, technology, and state of the art. b. The offeror's understanding of the technical effort and scope. c. Soundness of the offeror's technical approach. d. Affordability (Proposed ROM). 2. Proposal Evaluation Criteria: Selection of one or more award sources is based on evaluating each offeror's proposal (both technical and cost/price) to determine the overall merit of the proposal. The technical aspect, ranked as the first priority, is evaluated based on the following criteria that are listed in equal order of importance as well as on Agency need and funding availability: a. Technical: i. Unique/innovative approach to accomplish technical objectives. New and creative solutions and/or advances in knowledge, understanding, technology, and the state of the art. ii. The offeror's understanding of the technical effort and scope. iii. Soundness of the offeror's technical approach. iv. Availability of qualified technical personnel and their experience with the applicable technologies. v. Availability, from any source, of necessary research, test, laboratory, or shop facilities. b. Cost/Price: Cost/Price includes the reasonableness and realism of the proposed cost and fee and consideration of proposed budgets and funding profiles. Cost/Price is a substantial factor, but ranked as the second order of priority. c. Proposal Risk Assessment: Proposal risk for technical, cost, and schedule will be assessed as part of the evaluation of the above evaluation criteria. Proposal risk relates to risk identification and assessment associated with an offeror's proposed approach as it relates to accomplishing the proposed effort. Tradeoffs of the assessed risk will be weighed against the potential payoff. 3. Proposal Review and Selection Process a. Categories: The technical and cost proposals are evaluated at the same time and categorized as follows: i. Category I: Well conceived scientifically and technically sound proposals pertinent to program goals and objectives, and offered by a responsible contractor with the competent scientific and technical staff and supporting resources needed to ensure satisfactory results. Proposals in Category I are recommended for acceptance subject to funding constraints. ii. Category II: Proposals not technically sound or do not meet agency needs. b. No other evaluation criteria will be used. The AF reserves the right to select for award any, all, part or none of the proposal received. VI. Award Administration Information 1. Offerors will be notified whether their proposal is recommended for award either by letter or e-mail. The notification is not to be construed that the award of a contract is assured, as availability of funds and successful negotiations are prerequisites to any award. VII. Agency Contacts 1. Business advisor: Capt John S. Mascelli, AFRL/RXQO, 139 Barnes Drive, Tyndall AFB, FL 32403-5323, And (850) 283-6234, E-mail:
[email protected]. 2. Contracting POCs: Melissa Mullinax, Contract Specialist, (850) 283-8644, Fax (850) 283-8491, E-mail
[email protected]. Ginny Garner, Contracting Officer (CO), (850) 283-2974, Fax (850) 283-8491, Email
[email protected]. Other Information 1. Acquisition of Commercial Items: The Government is not using the policies contained in Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items. 2. Any contract award resulting from this solicitation will contain the clause at DFARS 252.232-7003, requiring electronic submission of all payment requests. 3. Any contract award to this solicitation may contain the clause at DFARS 252.211-7003, Item Identification and Valuation (JUN 2005), which requires unique item identification and valuation of any deliverable item for which the Government's unit acquisition cost is $5,000 or more. 4. As prescribed in DFARS 215.408(3), provision 252.215-7003, Excessive Pass-Through Charges Identification of Subcontract Effort, is contained in this solicitation. Any contract resulting from this solicitation shall contain the Clause at DFARS 252.215-7004 5.Ombudsman Clause, 5352.201-9101 (Aug 2005). The AETC Ombudsman is the Acting Chief, Business Operations Branch, Maj Manuel Saenz, Randolph AFB TX 78150-4304, (210) 652-6900, fax (210) 652-4652,
[email protected].