A -- Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract for the Continuation of FORESTER/A160 Hummingbird Integration and Ground/Flight Test Research Activities

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Information Exploitation Office (IXO), intends to award a Sole Source contract to the Boeing Company - Advanced Systems, Huntington Beach, CA for flight test support for flying the FORESTER radar onboard A160 Hummingbird unmanned helicopter. Under DARPA Agreement No. MDA972-03-9-0004 Boeing is developing, maturing and demonstrating the A160 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) helicopter. In addition under Phase 2 and 3A (also performed on DARPA Agreement No. MDA972-03-9-0004) the Boeing Company developed plans for integration of the DARPA Foliage Penetration (FOPEN) Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Tracking and Engagement Radar (FORESTER). The Phase 2 and 3A activities included aerodynamic and mechanical analyses to ensure the FORESTER antenna will not degrade the A160 performance and handling, development of hardware and software interface control documents and integration plans for installing the FORESTER payload onto the A160 air vehicle and FORESTER ground components into the A160 ground control station, and development of A160 control laws that will enable the A160 to station-keep to the accuracy required for FORESTER operation. Under the Phase 3B effort a sole source contract HR0011-07-C-0048 was issued to the Boeing Company in March 2007 to install the FORESTER payload onto the A160, conduct ground vibration tests and electromagnetic compatibility tests, and perform a limited set of flights of the A160 with the FORESTER onboard to verify radar operation. The subject Phase 3C sole source contract will require the Boeing Company to fly the FORESTER on the A160 a series of demonstration campaigns at sites within the United States to quantify the FORESTER?s ability to detect targets under foliage and to demonstrate military utility under a variety of conditions. The Boeing Company will be responsible for operating the A160 air vehicle and ground station for these flights. The Phase 3C efforts will take place over a six to nine month period. The Phase 3C effort is a logical follow-on to the on-going research effort being conducted by the Boeing Company under Phase 3A (Agreement No. MDA976-03-9-0004) and Phase 3B (contract HR0011-07-C-0048). The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 6.302-1 ?Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.? As the developer of the A160 Hummingbird, the Boeing Company possesses unique knowledge, capabilities and proprietary intellectual property/data required to carry out the required research effort. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation is currently available. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. Responses/proposals received within forty-five (45) days after date of publication of this notice will be considered by the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open basis is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to meet the requirements by submitting a white paper and past performance data by no later than 25 June 2007 to Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Attn: Mr. Michael D. Blackstone, Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 or via email to [email protected]. Questions shall be submitted to the above email address. Please refer to Numbered Note 22.