BAA-RQKM-2014-0020.doc

2-Step Broad Agency Announcement

Overview Information

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NAICS Code: 541712

Federal Agency Name: Air Force Research Laboratory, AFRL/RX, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate Broad Agency Announcement Title: AFRL/RXM Manufacturing Technology Open/Open BAA Broad Agency Announcement Type: This is the initial announcement.

Broad Agency Announcement Number: BAA-RQKM-2014-0020 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): 12.800 AIR FORCE DEFENSE RESEARCH SCIENCES PROGRAM

THIS WILL BE A TWO-STEP SOLICITATION:

First Step: WHITE PAPER DUE DATE AND TIME: White papers may be submitted at any time upon issuance of this BAA until 24 June 2019.

Second Step: PROPOSAL DUE DATE AND TIME: To be provided in response to the Requests for Proposals sent to offerors that submit White Papers considered to meet the needs of the Air Force based upon the review criteria as set forth in Section V.

NOTE: White Paper/Proposal receipt after the due date and time shall be governed by the provisions of FAR 52.215-1(c)(3). It should be noted that this installation observes strict security procedures to enter the facility. These security procedures are NOT considered an interruption of normal Government processes, and proposals received after the above stated date and time as a result of security delays will be considered “late.” Furthermore, note that if offerors utilize commercial carriers in the delivery of proposals, they may not honor time-of-day delivery guarantees on military installations. Early white paper submission is encouraged.

Solicitation Request: Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate, Wright Research Site is soliciting white papers on the research effort described below. White Papers should be addressed to the Contracting Point of Contact (POC) stated in Section VII of the Full Text Announcement. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 541712, and the small business size standard is 500 employees. White Papers/Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any BAA amendments that may permit extensions to the white paper submission date.

Annual Updates: It is noted that for the ease of reference this BAA will be republished at yearly intervals.

System for Award Management (SAM) Registration: FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management (SAM) (JUL 2013), and DFARS 252.204-7004, Alternate A, System for Award Management (SAM) (MAY 2013) are included by reference. SAM is the primary Government repository for prospective federal awardee information and the centralized Government system for certain contracting, grants, and other assistance related processes. It replaces CCR/FedReg, On-line Representations and Certifications (ORCA) and the Excluded Parties Lists System (EPLS). By submission of an offer, the offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered in the SAM database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation. Contractors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via the SAM accessed through https://www.acquisition.gov or by calling 866-606-8220.

Type of Contract/Instrument: The Air Force reserves the right to award the instrument best suited to the nature of research proposed. Accordingly, the Government may award any appropriate contract type under the FAR or Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype, grant, cooperative agreement, or OT for Research. The Air Force may also consider award of an appropriate technology transfer mechanism if applicable. It is anticipated that awards under this BAA will generally be cost plus fixed fee. Cost reimbursement contracts require successful offerors to have an accounting system considered adequate for tracking costs applicable to the contract.

Estimated Program Cost: $46.5M

Anticipated Number of Awards: The Air Force anticipates awarding multiple awards for this announcement. Individual awards are anticipated to be in the range of $100K to $5M per contract, however awards valued up to $10M will be considered.

Brief Program Summary: Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate is soliciting white papers and potentially technical and cost proposals under this announcement that supports the needs of its Manufacturing and Technology mission. Manufacturing Technologies that focus on strengthening defense manufacturing capabilities through the discovery of new manufacturing capabilities and efficiencies and transitioning capability to the factory floor are of interest. Descriptors of Manufacturing Technology interests are presented in two contexts; that of manufacturing technology competencies and that of Air Force application area needs.

Address technical questions to: Mr. Mark A. DiPadua, AFRL/RXMS, 2977 Hobson Way, BLDG 653, Rm 206 WPAFB, OH. 45433-7746, mark.dipadua.1@us.af.mil, phone number 937-656-4271.

Address contracting questions to: Contracting Officer – Ms. Pam S. Strader, AFRL/RQKMT, 2130 8th Street, Area B, Bldg 45, WPAFB, OH. 45344-7541, phone number 937-713-9895, email address pamela.strader@us.af.mil.

Full Text Announcement

I. Program Description: Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate is seeking manufacturing technologies that focus on strengthening defense manufacturing capabilities through the discovery of new manufacturing capabilities and efficiencies and transitioning capability to the factory floor.

1. Statement of Objective/Needs: Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials & Manufacturing Directorate is soliciting white papers and potentially technical and cost proposals under this announcement that supports the needs of its manufacturing and technology mission.

Manufacturing technologies that focus on strengthening defense manufacturing capabilities through the discovery of new manufacturing capabilities and efficiencies and transitioning capability to the factory floor are of interest. Descriptors of manufacturing technology interests are presented in two contexts; that of manufacturing technology competencies and that of Air Force application area needs.

a. Manufacturing Technology Competency Needs:

Metals Processing & Fabrication: Metallic components comprise a significant proportion of the materiel procured by the Air Force. Goals are to reduce the cost and weight while increasing the availability and performance of systems utilized by the Air Force. Areas of interest are metals processing and fabrication technologies that meet these goals. Examples of fabrication processes may include: casting, forging, rolling, drawing, joining/welding, etc. Potential technologies of interest include:

· Process modeling and monitoring tools for metal forming processes

· Efficient material removal

· Techniques to produce complex castings

· Fabrication processes that control microstructures thereby improving mechanical or physical properties in specified locations

· Rapid Prototyping methods

· Hybrid fabrication processes and design methodologies

· Nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods supporting novel processing and complex geometries

· Integration of computational tools

· Mechanical joining of metals to other nonmetallic materials

· Reduced cost and cycle time of aerospace forgings

· Metal powder processing and densification

· Additive Manufacturing

Composite and Hybrid Processing & Fabrication: The Air Force is interested in organic matrix composites to help improve system performance from lighter-weight and higher-temperature structural components; more affordability from predictive, optimized, and agile components; and more sustainability from rapid insertion of robust materials with better as-manufactured performance baselines. The Air Force is interested in the processing of materials including but not limited to epoxies, cyanate esters, bismaleimides, and polyimides. Variability control of resin materials and various fibers and fabrics are also of importance. Innovations in processing including fiber placement, lay-up, advanced and affordable tooling, bonding, adhesives, coatings, machining, and cure kinetics will be considered. Areas of strategic interest for the Air Force are 1) Small composite parts manufacturing and affordable thermoplastics (with potential for focus on additive manufacturing), 2) Automation and variability reduction for bond preparation and bond inspection, 3) Scale-up and maturation of process models, 4) Automated Non-destructive inspection and data processing, and 5) Accelerated certification of composites and rapid manufacturing for surge and composites structural life extension.

Ceramic and Ceramic Matrix Composite Processing & Fabrication: The objective of manufacturing technology development in the area of Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) is the advancement in the manufacturing and optimization of high-temperature constituents and processing for fiber-reinforced CMCs. The primary focus involves manufacturing maturation of next-generation fiber-reinforced structural ceramic materials and processing including process models for a range of air and space applications. Focus areas include but are not limited to advanced constituents including manufacturing of stoichiometric silicon carbide fibers, advanced fiber coatings and matrices and processing that increase the temperature capability of CMCs beyond current limitations. Understanding CMC behavior in service environments begins with understanding the effects of environmental degradation at the constituent level. The focus in this area is currently on exploring constituent-level variability resulting from a lack of robustness in existing manufacturing capabilities and determining how that variability impacts the performance of CMC components. Incorporation of Integrated Computational Materials Science and Engineering (ICMSE) is encouraged in order to couple processing, microstructure and performance via validated computational methods that accelerate materials development, transform the engineering design optimization process, and unify design and manufacturing. The goal is to reduce insertion risks and cost, compared to other high-temperature material alternatives by decreasing development and manufacturing cycle time for CMCs, thus taking full advantage of performance gains offered by the material.

Systems Integration including Assembly, Joining (like and dissimilar materials): Manufacturing of components and systems must continuously adapt and rapidly respond to ever-changing warfighter demand characterized by accelerated requirement cycles and heightened system complexity. In order to respond to demands new manufacturing and integration technologies and techniques must be developed. Through the use of high fidelity modeling, intelligent data collection/usage, process control, and automation, both new and legacy systems can take advantage of advanced data rich processes. Systems integration is not limited to final assembly of a product, but includes the integration of process capability, collected metrology data, and as-manufactured key characteristics to intelligently design, manufacture, characterize, assemble, and maintain Air Force products. Future systems must take advantage of innovative integration of design, manufacturing capability, virtual assembly, and integration to meet cost, schedule, and performance requirements of future systems.

Advanced Manufacturing Enterprise including Automation, Virtual Manufacturing, Adaptive Machining, Modeling and Simulation, Verification and Validation and Additive Processes: The Advanced Manufacturing Enterprise (AME) area is a set of robust manufacturing strategies and integrated capabilities that enable productivity growth and a highly connected and collaborative enterprise. General principles include networked manufacturing to enable seamless interoperability of data and processes across organizational boundaries; model-based enterprise concepts which focus on a continuous flow of integrated design, analysis, and manufacturing information throughout the product life cycle; and, intelligent, adaptive manufacturing planning and execution which integrates factory floor resources for rapid response to the warfighter. Technical areas of interest in AME include: technologies supporting network interconnectivity for business operations (e.g., industrial information infrastructure, service-oriented manufacturing, supply chain modeling); supply chain management practices that cope with network complexities, including risk management; automated, intelligent capability matching to identify available sources and enhance industrial base readiness; virtual environments to facilitate innovation and collaboration during design and engineering development; advanced design, qualification, and cost tools; design for “x” capabilities; producibility assessment and should-cost modeling pushed into early systems engineering stages; computational modeling of process, assembly and test yields to inform/constrain design; smart or adaptive machining and assembly. Of particular importance in any AME technical topic is the generation of impact statements and business case data, especially focusing on hidden costs of designed-in producibility issues seen in high rework costs, low yield, and large numbers of engineering changes.

Agile Manufacturing: Agile manufacturing emphasizes the capability within the industrial base to quickly react to changing conditions or requirements. The Air Force ManTech vision of next generation agile manufacturing requires discovery of advanced technologies as well as innovative approaches to overcome defense-unique production challenges. This vision is predicated upon a set of strategic thrusts which are immutable with respect to industrial base transformation to agility. These thrusts include ‘Moving Manufacturing Left’, ‘Cradle to Cradle Digital Thread’, ‘Responsive Integrated Supply Base’, and ‘Factory of the Future’. Technologies of interest for ‘Moving Manufacturing Left’ include systems engineering trade-off studies and design methodologies that allow rapid “-ility” trade-offs (e.g. producibility, reliability, maintainability, testability, etc.) to be performed during early conceptual and preliminary design activities; system integration, assembly, and test modeling; electrical, mechanical, and assembly yield prediction; quantitative “design for X” analyses including complexity characterization that are non-rule based and characterize cost and yield impacts.

Technologies of interest supporting ‘Cradle to Cradle Digital Thread’ include capabilities for enriching as-built characterization of components and systems, including testing & inspection data fusion to update nominal product models; tools that enable data mining and analysis of trends in as-built data; advanced capabilities for capturing manufacture and maintenance data and relating summary observations to the next set of designs.

Technologies of interest supporting a Responsive, Integrated Supply Base’ include methods to represent and interrogate real-time capability, capacity, and availability data across candidate suppliers; utilities to improve supply chain asset visibility; enterprise (process and information) integration frameworks enabling rapid formation of supply chain partnerships; supply chain risk modeling and other business intelligence utilities.

Finally, technologies of interest supporting ‘Factory of the Future’ include advanced automation applications that create highly flexible and reconfigurable systems working in tandem with – or augmenting – the human workforce to perform complex high-precision aerospace fabrication, assembly, disassembly, integration, inspection and test tasks; factory command and control utilities for highly autonomous factory floor execution; fully instrumented “smart” processes and equipment integrated into an enterprise wide network for real time process monitoring, self-correction, dynamic re-scheduling of resources, and automated preventative maintenance scheduling; and flexible and reconfigurable factory infrastructure, including modular, reusable, semi-automated and reconfigurable tools, fixtures, jigs, and processes that can be quickly reconfigured to accommodate differing production requirements.

Technologies of interest support individual thrusts as well as pilot demonstrations of integrated capabilities against AF weapon system needs and industrial base opportunities.

Thermal Barrier and Environment Barrier Coating Application: Thermal barrier and environmental barrier coatings are applied to critical gas turbine engine components where environmental conditions exceed parent material capabilities. Application of these coatings allows for higher operating temperatures in the engine and extends component life. However, significant process shortfalls exist and new manufacturing technology is required. The objectives of manufacturing technology development in the area of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) and Environmental Barrier Coatings (EBCs) are to; 1) eliminate processing as a constraint in product performance, 2) reduce processing variability/improve process robustness, and 3) reduce cost/cycle time in coating processing. Specific technologies of interest would include in-process control, inspection/non-destructive evaluation, modeling and simulation, automation, masking, integration of data across the product lifecycle, and increasing maturing of novel processes for TBC and EBC application.

Non-Destructive Evaluation/Inspection, Data Analysis and Metrology: Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) and inspection (NDI) technologies are used by Air Force and contract personnel to ensure component quality specifications are met, structural and non-structural components and elements meet functional and operational requirements, and provide confidence to the user that fielded components will function as-designed. NDE and NDI tools and capabilities are desired for structural, engine and electronic system and sub-system evaluations. NDE and NDI technologies of interest include hand held/operated systems as well as automated inspection technologies. The Air Force is interested in the development, demonstration, and validation of these technologies using such tools as Probability of Detection (POD) methods and model assisted POD for structural and propulsion components and electronics. Metrology includes the theoretical and experimental measurement of system components including but not limited to: Dimensional measurements, geometric conformance characteristics of manufactured features, and fiber orientation for composite structures. Metrology includes the comparison and integration of component Computer Aided Design (CAD) with measured features and geometries for archival and subsequent analyses (e.g. as-manufactured assembly performance modeling, etc.). Additionally, the Air Force is interested in data processing and analysis capabilities that autonomously and rapidly evaluate metrology and/or NDE/NDI collected data for damage or defect detection without the need of trained NDE or NDI personnel.

Manufacturing Readiness: DoD weapon system acquisition programs often struggle with cost and schedule growth. According to the Government Accounting Office (GAO), immature manufacturing processes are one of the contributors to cost and schedule growth. Recent modifications to the Defense Acquisition System shift the manufacturing focus earlier in the acquisition process, and the ManTech program has a key responsibility to help the defense acquisition enterprise sharpen that focus by assessing manufacturing readiness and closing technology gaps. The ManTech program was instrumental in developing Manufacturing Readiness Levels to aid in assessing manufacturing readiness and identifying technology gaps and most recently adopted a strategic thrust called, moving manufacturing left (MML). MML captures a philosophical change in the way manufacturing implications are regarded during acquisition and support by getting the up-front system engineering correct, and only allow development to proceed when the design, technologies, and manufacturing have been sufficiently established and demonstrated. The objectives of manufacturing technology in the area of ‘Manufacturing Readiness’ are development of new and innovative tools and/or processes to assess manufacturing readiness, identify manufacturing risk, mitigate manufacturing risk, and ensure that advanced technologies are delivered to programs “ready for insertion.”

Electronics Manufacturing: Electronics technology advancements are sought to establish the capability for effective processes, materials, and procedures necessary for the fabrication of electronic devices, assemblies, and subsystems for utilization in Air Force weapon systems. Goals are to reduce the size, weight, power requirements, and cost while increasing the availability and performance of systems utilized by the Air Force. Of particular interest are technologies which address the interdisciplinary technology relationships of electronic design and engineering, materials and materials processing, fabrication, assembly, integration, test, and quality improvement. Specific examples include:

· Process modeling and monitoring tools

· Integration of computational tools

· NDE methods supporting novel processing

· Flexible electronics and hybrids

· Wafer-level packaging

· Additive manufacturing for electronics (Direct write, Roll to Roll manufacturing, etc.)

EO/IR Sensors & Materials: As surveillance and tactical missions become more vital, there is a need to improve the performance of Infrared (IR) sensor systems and materials to enhance mission effectiveness while reducing costs. This requires current and next generation IR sensors with improved resolution, capability, functionality, and performance. In addition, there is a need for large planar and conformal IR windows that will increase the sensor field of regard, ease aircraft integration, and provide adequate environmental protection while maintaining performance requirements.

AF ManTech’s objective is to increase the manufacturability and affordability for current and next generation IR sensors and materials. The focus should be on reducing cycle time, touch labor, and ultimately reducing the cost while increasing the size and/or capability of IR sensors and window materials. The IR sensors include but are not limited to Focal Plane Array’s (FPAs) and their components (integrated dewar cooler (IDC), IR detector, Read Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC)), and Infrared Search-and-Track (IRST) systems). IR Window materials can include but are not limited to single crystalline and polycrystalline materials.

RF Sensors & Materials: The Warfighter needs to be able to operate effectively in anti-access area-denial environments as well as be able to disseminate “real-time” intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data. This requires current and next generation ground, air, and space platforms to have Radio Frequency (RF) sensors with more bandwidth, capability, functionality, and higher performance. In addition, these sensors need to be thin and light weight which forces the design to be highly integrated. The higher level of integration is driving the manufacturing tolerances to be smaller as well as pushing the part-to-part variability to be tighter. The manufacturing tolerances and part variability are driving the system capability and performance. In addition, the size and performance specifications for these systems drive the array architecture to be very difficult to manufacture, test, and expensive to build.

The objectives of the Radio Frequency (RF) sensors and materials effort are to increase the manufacturability, producibility, and reliability for current and next generation RF sensors and materials. The focus should be on reducing cycle time, part count, touch labor, and ultimately reducing the cost of these RF sensors and materials. The emphasis should be to increase the manufacturing readiness level to six while decreasing the transition and implementation risk. The RF sensors include radar, electronic warfare, and communication systems. The materials can include but not limited to radomes, apertures, transmit/receive electronics, interconnects, time delay units, heat exchangers, power supplies, and receivers/exciters.

Industrial Base Planning: This area involves studies, analyses and assessments of the technology and industrial base in those defense aerospace sectors critical to the performance of the Air Force’s mission, including aircraft systems, structures, propulsion, avionics, materials and components. Identification and validation of innovative strategies to mitigate industrial capability shortfalls and constraints for Air Force weapon system acquisition and sustainment are of interest. The assessments will be conducted at the facility/manufacturer, commodity and sector levels that identify and characterize industrial capabilities associated with related Department of Defense (DoD) and Air Force aeronautical system technology development, design, testing, production, and sustainment requirements.

Industrial base assessments include analyses of market trends; evaluations of relevant technologies, workforce skills, facilities and equipment; assessments of critical supply chains with emphasis on identifying sole/limited/diminishing source risks and capacity bottlenecks; and identification of the associated costs and benefits, both quantitative and qualitative in assessing industrial base alternatives including materials, suppliers, facilities, and manufacturing processes. This information will drive recommendations to address identified shortfalls and constraints consistent with DoD industrial policy.

b. Air Force Application Needs:

Propulsion: Advanced manufacturing technologies and US industrial base capabilities are needed to support the development, production and sustainment of next generation turbine engines. Innovative manufacturing processes and optimized materials are sought that enable higher operating efficiencies, enhanced performance, increased range, reduced cost and cycle time, increased yield, reduced program risk and sustainability. In order to achieve improved efficiency and performance, materials and manufacturing technologies are required to enable higher operating temperatures and reduced weight. Activities are therefore sought to develop improved manufacturing capabilities for these materials technologies with higher temperature capability and/or reduced weight for turbine engine components and systems. Developmental technologies should target but are not limited to advancements in Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs), Organic Matrix Composites (OMC), Advanced Castings, Thermal and Environmental Barrier Coatings (TBCs/EBCs), Additive Manufacturing, Assembly and Integration, High Temperature Electronics and Next Generation Disk.

Structures (Including Hybrid Structures): The Air Force develops, operates and maintains aerospace systems that enable execution of the Air Force Mission. In many cases, these systems include structures that help transport personnel, equipment and materiel. The Air Force desires that these structures meet operational requirements at minimal weight and life cycle costs. AF structures of interest under this BAA include metals, composites (including metal matrix and ceramic matrix composites) and hybrid materials consisting of a combination of composite, ceramic and/or metallic materials. The Air Force is interested in projects that support raw materials availability and quality as well as: fabrication, machining, drilling, forming, joining, assembly, coatings, coatings application and inspection of metallic and composite structures and their coatings. Additionally, the Air Force is interested in modeling, data management and processing capabilities that capture, disseminate, analyze, and process data to enable more efficient manufacturing, assembly and maintenance methods for Air Force structural systems.

Armament: Current and future armaments will require advanced materials, new technologies, and new/improved manufacturing processes in order to reduce costs and enhance mission effectiveness. Improved component performance in the areas of penetrating capability, enhanced fragmentation, precision guidance/control, propulsion, and energetics will drive future armament capability. Innovative manufacturing solutions incorporating the following are of interest: advanced case materials, highly accurate guidance/control, seeker technologies, flexible warhead effects, advanced fusing technologies, insensitive/survivable energetics, high fidelity modeling, and advanced assembly techniques and architectures.

Sustainment: The Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) sustainment Science & Technology (S&T) vision is to lead, discover, develop and transition technology solutions to ensure current and future fleets are safe, available and affordable. To support this vision ManTech develops and integrates manufacturing and inspection technologies in the sustainment application area to reduce depot flow days, compress supply chain wait times, and manage supply chain risk. ManTech is well positioned to provide technology solutions to enhance the safety, availability and affordability of the legacy fleet. Success will depend on identifying specific cost effective sustainment application areas and following through with transition efforts.

C4ISR: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems are evolving due to changing user mission needs and requirements. The cost of developing, producing, fielding, and sustaining ISR systems has gone up dramatically in recent years due to a dependence on Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) programs. These QRC programs provide the warfighter with a focused capability using a condensed acquisition timeline. Unfortunately, there is little consideration given to the affordability and manufacturability of these systems. The result is very expensive ISR capabilities that are costly to produce and sustain over the product life cycle. One potential solution is to utilize an open systems architecture approach to developing these systems. Modular architectures are needed so that the user can swap out different sensors in a very short amount of time in order to meet new or changing mission needs. These modular, multi-sensor architectures could be housed in either a podded configuration or integrated within the skin of the aircraft.

The use of these architectures for ISR presents a host of new manufacturing challenges that must be addressed in order to ensure overall system affordability. Sensor size, weight, and power requirements must be considered to allow for integration into confined podded configurations. New lightweight and modular pod configurations must be factored into the trade space along with the potential for increased computing resources onboard the platform. New sensors, electronic components, connectors, and physical interfaces will also present many manufacturing challenges as well. State of the art agile manufacturing techniques and processes should be considered as early as possible in the development timeline for these new ISR systems in order to have the most impact on cost and producibility.

Power Systems (space solar cells, flexible solar cells, batteries): Shrinking budgets and increasing commercial competition have pushed military system designers to seek out smaller, low cost subsystems without sacrificing functional specifications. Energy generation and energy storage subsystems present opportunities for increased energy efficiencies. Activities are sought to improve the manufacturing capabilities of power systems for technologies that will increase performance and reduce the size, weight, and cost compared with current state-of-the-art solutions.

The Air Force is interested in battery solutions that provide higher energy densities, increased safety and reliability, longer life, higher discharge capacities, and low cost mass production. Exploration of light-weight, structurally integrated batteries is also encouraged. Military designers are seeking solar cells for space, air, and ground applications. Both flexible and structurally integrated arrays are of high interest. Reduced budgets are driving the military towards lower dollar/watt cell technologies, often at the expense of performance. Integration efforts such as battery harnessing and construction of solar blankets/panels are also candidates for manufacturing research efforts.

Space Systems: Space systems are a persistent, ubiquitous, and essential component of US military operations. Evolving threats require that the United States maintain, enhance, and extend space-based defense capabilities. Satellite payloads perform critical real-time tasks that enable and support military operations, including: Communications, for operations ranging from connecting personnel in remote locations to control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); ISR functions such as imaging, geospatial awareness, intelligence monitoring, and weather monitoring; and missile defense, for detection, tracking, and intercept of missile threats in all phases of flight. Space technologies, including associated launch vehicle, support systems, high precision position, navigation, and timing capabilities such as those associated with advanced global positioning system (GPS) technologies provide a strategic advantage to U.S. defense capabilities. Because of long life expectancy requirements, space consumers demand the best performance that cutting edge technology can offer. Due to the high costs and the inaccessibility for maintenance and repair, space consumers are risk averse and demand long system life. These conflicting expectations drive long system design, development, and qualification timelines (requiring large financial investments). The demands are unique to the space industry and place incredible strain on an increasingly fragile supply base that has limited market applications and poor compatibility with the consumer markets. This in turn drives the need to apply state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies to the production of space-related hardware.

Activities to mitigate a broad array of space manufacturing shortfalls ensures access to critical technologies and capabilities in the quality, quantity, and timeframe required to support U.S. Government space programs are sought. Efforts will improve the capability of the domestic industrial base to produce critical technology items, components and materials that are essential to multiple Government space agencies’ NSS (national security space) missions. Emphasis will be placed on establishing integrated, flexible production processes utilizing proven robust manufacturing techniques.

2. Deliverable items: Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs), Software, Hardware, or Other as determined for each award. A representative set of CDRLs for planning purposes are attached to the BAA. CDRLs may include but are not limited to Status Reports, Scientific and Technical Reports, Performance and Cost Reports, Funds and Man- Hour Expenditure Reports, Contractor Funds and Status Reports, and Presentation Material.

3. Schedule: Each award is anticipated to be between 12 to 60 months, however Period of Performance will be tailored to each award.

4. Other Requirements: Program Security Classification/DD FM 254, TEMPEST, OPSEC, International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) 22 CFR 120-131, Export Administration Regulations (EAR) 15 CFR 710-774), Government Furnished Property, and Base Support/Network Access/Voluntary Protection Program will be considered for each award.

a. Export Controlled Items: If effort is subject to export control, then

Certified DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, will be required to be submitted with the proposal.

b. Export Controlled Items: As prescribed by DFARS 225-7901-4, DFARS

252.225-7048, Export-Controlled Item (JUN 2013) is contained in this solicitation (as shown below). This clause shall be contained in ALL solicitations and resulting contracts.

EXPORT-CONTROLLED ITEMS (JUNE 2013)

(a) Definition. “Export-controlled items,” as used in this clause, means items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR Parts 730-774) or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR Parts 120-130). The term includes:

(1) “Defense items,” defined in the Arms Export Control Act, 22

U.S.C. 2778(j)(4)(A), as defense articles, defense services, and related technical data, and further defined in the ITAR, 22 CFR

Part 120.

(2) “Items,” defined in the EAR as “commodities”, “software”, and “technology,” terms that are also defined in the EAR, 15

CFR 772.1.

(b) The Contractor shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding export-controlled items, including, but not limited to, the requirement for contractors to register with the Department of State in accordance with the ITAR. The Contractor shall consult with the Department of State regarding any questions relating to compliance with the ITAR and shall consult with the Department of Commerce regarding any questions relating to compliance with the EAR.

(c) The Contractor's responsibility to comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding export-controlled items exists independent of, and is not established or limited by, the information provided by this clause.

(d) Nothing in the terms of this contract adds, changes, supersedes, or waives any of the requirements of applicable Federal laws, Executive orders, and regulations, including but not limited to—

(1) The Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (50

U.S.C. App.2401, et seq.);

(2) The Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751, et seq.);

(3) The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50

U.S.C. 1701, et seq.);

(4) The Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR Parts 730-

774);

(5) The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR Parts

120-130); and

(6) Executive Order 13222, as extended;

(e) The Contractor shall include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (e), in all subcontracts.

c. Additional Security Requirements: All contractors shall participate in all activities associated with the disciplines of the organization’s Industrial Security, Information Security, Personnel Security, Operations Security (OPSEC), Antiterrorism, and Program Protection programs, following appropriate measures in each program as required for this particular contract. These are required in an effort to reduce program vulnerability from successful adversary collection, exploitation of critical information, and violations of export control requirements. The prime contractor will ensure that all subcontractors, if required, conform to these requirements as required by the prime contractor.

Guidance can be provided by AFRL/RX Security as needed.

(End of clause)

5. Other Information:

a. Government Furnished Property (GFP) Availability: In accordance with FAR 45.201(b), the contractor is responsible for all costs related to making the property available for use, such as payment of all transportation, installation or rehabilitation costs.

If GFP is requested in the proposal the following clauses/provisions apply:

i. FAR 52.245-1 Government Property or FAR 52.245-1, Alt II if the resulting contract is with a nonprofit organization or applied research at nonprofit organizations (APR 2012),

ii. FAR 52.245-9 Use and Charges (APR 2012),

iii. DFARS 252.211.7007, Reporting of Government-Furnished Property (AUG 2012),

iv. DFARS 252.245-7001, Tagging, Labeling, and Marking of Government-Furnished Property (APR 2012),

v. DFARS 252.245-7002, Reporting Loss of Government Property (APR 2012),

vi. DFARS 252.245-7003, Contractor Property Management System Administration (APR 2012),

vii. DFARS 252.245-7004, Reporting, Reutilization, and Disposal (MAY 2013)

b. Data Rights Desired:

(1) Technical Data: Unlimited Rights

(2) Non-Commercial Software (NCS): Unlimited Rights

(3) NCS Documentation: Unlimited Rights

(4) Commercial Computer Software Rights: Customary License

The Air Force Research Laboratory is engaged in the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace forces. As such, rights in technical data and NCS developed or delivered under this contract are of significant concern to the government. The Government will therefore carefully consider any restrictions on the use of technical data, NCS, and NCS documentation which could result in transition difficulty or less-than full and open competition for subsequent development of this technology.

In exchange for paying for development of the data, the Government expects technical data, NCS, and NCS documentation developed entirely at Government expense to be delivered with Unlimited Rights.

Technical data, NCS, and NCS documentation developed with mixed funding are expected to be delivered with at least Government Purpose Rights. Offers that propose delivery of technical data, NCS, or NCS documentation subject to Government Purpose Rights should fully explain what technical data, NCS, or NCS documentation developed with costs charged to indirect cost pools and/or costs not allocated to a Government contract will be incorporated, how the incorporation will benefit the program, and address whether those portions or processes are segregable. The Government expects that delivery of technical data, NCS, and NCS documentation subject to Government Purpose Rights will fully meet program needs.

Offers that propose delivery of technical data, NCS, or NCS documentation subject to Limited Rights, Restricted Rights, or Specifically Negotiated License Rights will be considered. Proposals should fully explain what technical data, NCS, or NCS documentation developed with costs charged to indirect cost pools and/or costs not allocated to a government contract will be incorporated and how the incorporation will benefit the program.

Offerors are reminded that the Identification and Assertion of Restrictions on the Government’s Use, Release, or Disclosure of Technical Data or Computer Software (the assertions list), required under DFARS 252.227- 7013 and DFARS 252.227-7014, is included in Section K and due at time of proposals. Assertions must be completed with specificity with regard to each item, component, or process listed. Nonconforming assertions lists will be rejected.

Note that DFARS 252.227-7014(d) describes requirements for incorporation of third party computer software (commercial and noncommercial). Any commercial software to be incorporated into a deliverable must be clearly identified in the proposal. Because many commercial software licenses are not transferrable or may not be acceptable to the Government, commercial software licenses proposed for delivery to the Government must be approved by the contracting officer prior to award.

As used in this subparagraph, the terms Unlimited Rights, Government Purpose Rights, Specifically Negotiated License Rights, and Limited Rights in technical data are as defined in DFARS 252.227-7013. The terms Unlimited Rights, Government Purpose Rights, Specifically Negotiated License Rights, and Restricted Rights in noncommercial computer oftware and noncommercial software documentation are as defined in DFARS 252.227-7014. The term Commercial Computer Software is as defined in DFARS 252.227-7014.

II. Award Information

The anticipated award date of this BAA is 24 June 2014 and it is anticipated to remain effective through 24 June 2019. Total funding for this BAA is approximately $ 46.5M. The anticipated funding to be obligated under this BAA is broken out by fiscal year as follows: FY 14 approximately $ 0.5M; FY 15 approximately $ 8.5M; FY 16 approximately $ 11 M; FY 17 approximately $ 12.5M; FY 18 approximately $ 10.5M; FY19 approximately $3.5M. This funding profile is an estimate only and will not be a contractual obligation for funding as all funding is subject to change due to Government discretion and availability.

Potential offerors should be aware that due to unanticipated budget fluctuations funding in any or all areas may change with little or no notice. Individual awards may range from 12 to 60 months in duration and should normally range between $100K and $5M per contract or assistance instrument. Awards of efforts as a result of this announcement will be in the form of contracts, assistance instruments, or other transactions depending upon the nature of the work proposed. The Government reserves the right to make awards of a lower or higher dollar amount and will consider awards valued up to $10M.

I. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Offeror: This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost Sharing is not required.

3. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers: The following guidance is provided for Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) contemplating submitting a proposal, as either a prime or subcontractor, against this BAA. 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 FFRDC’s 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 FFRDC’s proposal. In addition, the non-sponsoring agency (in this case AFRL) must make a determination that the work proposed would not place the FFRDC in direct competition with domestic private industry. Only after these determinations are made would a determination be made concerning the FFRDC’s eligibility to receive an award.

4. Government Agencies: If a Government agency is interested in performing work, contact the Program Office identified in the BAA. If those discussions result in a mutual interest to pursue your agency's participation, the effort will be pursued independent of this announcement.

5. Other:

a. Foreign Participation: No

b. Export Control: This acquisition 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 this solicitation. Contact the

Defense Logistics Services Center, 74 Washington Avenue N., Battle Creek, Michigan 40917-3084 (1-800-352-3572) for further information on the certification process. You must submit a copy of your approved DD Form

2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, with your proposal.

c. There are no limits to the number of white papers/proposals an offeror may submit.

d. You may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this solicitation are not met on the white paper (and later proposal) due date as identified above.

IV. White Paper/Proposal Preparation Instructions:

1. Application Package: This Announcement consists of a Two-Step Process described in detail below. White Papers/Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. The Government intends to review white papers/proposals and award some, all, or none of the proposals received without negotiation/discussion; however, the Government reserves the right to negotiate with those offeror(s) whose proposal is selected for funding. ONLY WHITE PAPERS ARE BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME. Offerors should be alert for any BAA amendments that may permit extensions to the white paper submission date. For additional information, a copy of the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Guide for Industry is located at http://www.wpafb.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120614-075.pdf

2. First Step (White Paper) Instructions:

a. General: The FIRST STEP requests a white paper (to include a quad chart) and a rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost. The white paper shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the offeror’s proposed technical approach. The Government will review the white papers in accordance with the FIRST STEP review criteria, set forth in Section V.

Based on this review, the Government will determine which of them have the potential to best meet the Air Force’s needs. Offerors will be notified of the disposition of their white paper. It is anticipated that Government review of the white papers submitted will take 30 working days. Those offerors submitting white papers assessed as meeting Air Force needs will be asked to submit a technical and cost proposal. Those offerors not requested to submit a technical and cost proposal will be notified as such but may, however, still elect to submit a technical and cost proposal. An offeror submitting a proposal without first submitting a white paper will not be eligible for an award. The cost of preparing white papers in response to this Solicitation is not considered an allowable direct charge 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. Page Limitation: The White Paper shall be limited to 4 pages plus 1 for quad chart, prepared and…