BAA-RQKPD-2015-0001-Call1.pdf

As of April 2015

1-Step Broad Agency Announcement

Overview Information

To access hyperlinks from this electronic solicitation – Hit CTRL and click on the link.

NAICS Code: 541712 (Aircraft Exception)

Federal Agency Name: Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Aerospace Vehicles Division (AFRL/RQV)

Broad Agency Announcement Title: Data Requirements for Progressive Damage

Analysis (PDA) of Composite Structures

Broad Agency Announcement Type: This is the first Call for BAA-RQKPD-2015-

Broad Agency Announcement Number: BAA-RQKPD-2015-0001 – Call #1

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): 12.800 AIR

FORCE DEFENSE RESEARCH SCIENCES PROGRAM

Proposal Due Date and Time: July 16, 2015 – 04:00 P.M. Eastern time

NOTE: 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. Be advised, if the U.S. Postal Service is used, this building only receives U.S. Postal Mail twice a week and delivery by that means may not meet the proposal due date and time established herein. Early proposal submission is encouraged.

Solicitation Request: Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Aerospace Vehicles Division (AFRL/RQV), Wright Research Site is soliciting technical and cost proposals on the research effort described below.

Proposals 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 (Aircraft Exception) and the small business size standard is 1,500 employees. 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 proposal submission date.

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) (Feb 2014) 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: $900,000.00 to be incrementally funded over FY15 and FY16.

Anticipated Number of Awards: The Air Force anticipates awarding one (1) awards for this announcement.

Brief Program Summary: The “next generation” of DoD tactical and mobility aircraft will have to meet very challenging goals for performance, affordability and economy of operation. The airframe weight reductions sought to achieve these goals will require revolutionary airframes implementing composite materials applied to structural concepts not in use in Air Force aircraft today. There are significant technical issues related to verifying the initial and continuing airworthiness of such structures are sufficient to meet the lifetime structural integrity requirements of the

United States Air Force. Similar issues exist with respect to certification of composite structure for civilian aircraft.

The Air Force Research Laboratory intends to execute a technology development and demonstration initiative to reduce the scope of the technical effort required to establish the initial and the continuing airworthiness of airframe structure manufactured from advanced composite materials. The long term objective of this effort is to reduce the risk of implementing large scale, unitized composite structures in future airframes. The program will identify and select, develop, and demonstrate technology which will improve our ability to assess and predict, control and increase the structural integrity of composite structure as a function of its constituent materials, configuration, features, and manufactured state, and as influenced by its known history and expected future service environment and loads.

Technologies of interest will reduce reliance on empirical methods for demonstrating design requirements have been exceeded, and will increase reliance on analytical methods to assess the airworthiness of composite structure with respect to future, and perhaps unanticipated, usage requirements. Technologies of interest will provide Air Force airframe structural integrity experts with the capability to safely extend the service lives of existing composite airframes.

Technologies of interest will allow airframe designers and airframe airworthiness experts to extend the principles of damage tolerant design to composite airframe structures, but without absolute reliance on mechanical fastening techniques.

The overall intent of the program is to equip all those involved in the design, development, manufacture, maintenance, and management of composite airframe structure with better decision making information regarding the actual or likely airworthiness of such structure, at any time. The program will not attempt to make or promote changes in air vehicle structural integrity requirements, nor will it attempt or promote changes in certification standards. It may, however, produce technical data that would substantiate appropriate changes. Such technical data will be provided to appropriate airworthiness authorities for their review, and if appropriate, action.

Communication Between Prospective Offerors and Government

Representatives: Dialogue between prospective offerors and Government representatives is encouraged until submission of proposals. Discussions with any of the points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.

Address technical questions to: Captain Richard Lanser, AFRL/RQVS, Bldg. 65, Room 300W, 2790 D. St., WPAFB, OH 45433, (937) 656-8837, richard.lanser.1@us.af.mil

Address contracting questions to: Ryan Huffman, Bldg. 45, 2130 Eighth St., WPAFB, OH 45433-7541, (937) 713-9927, Ryan.Huffman@us.af.mil mailto:Richard.Holzwarth.1@us.af.mil mailto:Ryan.Huffman@us.af.mil

Full Text Announcement

I. Program Description: Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Structures Advanced Technology Branch is soliciting technical and cost proposals on the following research effort:

1. Statement of Objective/Needs:

The objective of this effort is to determine an appropriate set of experiments to provide the necessary model inputs to calibrate the parameters for the various classes of progressive damage analysis tools for predicting damage initiation and progression in laminated composite structures.

The Air Force Research Laboratory intends to develop computational tools capable of predicting the damage progression and structural response of advanced composite aircraft structures subjected to realistic operating loads, including static tension, static compression, compression after impact, and spectrum fatigue. As a first step, AFRL recently completed a composite Progressive Damage Analysis (PDA) benchmarking effort entitled “Assess and Quantify the Benefits of Applying Damage Tolerant Design Principles (DTDP) to Advanced Composite Aircraft Structures.”

(AQDTA, Contract FA8650-08-D-3858 TO 0037) During this effort, it was found that the standard experimental lamina level tests were not sufficient to calibrate all of the parameters in the various PDA methods. Potential contractors are encouraged to review the contract final report from this effort as part of proposal preparation. The report is AFRL-WP-TR-RQ-2015-0068, “Air Vehicle Integration and

Technology Research (AVIATR) Task Order 0037: Assessment, Quantification, and Benefits of Applying Damage Tolerant Design Principles to Advanced Composite

Aircraft Structure." This report is available through the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC).

Technical work performed under the AQDTA contract demonstrated that state-of-the-art PDA methods can predict failure initiation, and subsequent progression of damage, under static load. For the limited range of laminates investigated in the contract effort, prediction of static tension failure is, in general, significantly more accurate than static compression failure. The same models, as a group, can also predict the onset and progression of fatigue damage under repeated cyclic tension loads, but with less accuracy than for static loads.

The benchmarking effort also revealed several common shortfalls. The initial calibration properties supplied by the Air Force were not sufficient. All of the compared models required some calibration test data and subsequent correlation to actual test results. Due to difficulties in conducting the calibration property testing, some of the data values the Air Force provided were inaccurate. An inability to accurately measure compression strength in the fiber direction, Xc, caused significant problems with respect to predicting static compression failure in an open-hole laminate. Similarly, performing tension and fatigue tests in ninety degree laminae proved to be challenging. It was also found that some of the modeling approaches require non-standard experiments to properly calibrate the parameters.

A problem faced by the Air Force in attempting to provide initial material properties and calibration datasets was that the various models used in the benchmarking exercise rely on differing methods of calculating stress, strain, and determining when failure has occurred. These differing methods require different initial properties and respond differently to calibration efforts. However, there is also some commonality between the models, some data needs are similar, some methods of determining failure are similar, etc.

The Air Force would like to determine if “efficient sets” of both initial property and calibration tests can be performed to satisfy the needs of various classes, or collections, of PDA model approaches. In this usage, efficient should be interpreted from the perspective of data needs vs output accuracy and with respect to the time and cost of collecting the data set. The offeror is free to collect the models into classes as they judge most effective to produce common data needs.

The Air Force would then like to determine the feasibility of collecting these input and calibration datasets.

As part of their proposal, the offeror shall identify the classes of PDA methods that will be investigated within this program. The offeror shall describe the basis for identifying and selecting these classes, and shall nominate at least one modeling approach per class that will be exercised as part of completing the statement of work for the proposed technical effort.

Statement of Objectives:

The contractor shall determine the appropriate set of experiments to provide the necessary model inputs by completing the following tasks:

Task 1 – For each class of progressive damage analysis method, the contractor shall identify the parameters requiring calibration for the prediction of damage initiation, damage progression, and failure for static tension, static compression, and spectrum fatigue.

Task 2 – For each parameter identified in Task 1, the contractor shall recommend, to AFRL, the appropriate set of mechanical tests required to calibrate the parameter. In the performance of this task, the Air Force envisions, but does not require, a period of iterative “brainstorming” involving subject matter experts to identify and resolve issues arriving from data requirements, model requirements and limitations, and test requirements and limitations. Innovative, non-standard test approaches may be required. After approval from AFRL, the contractor shall execute a sufficient set of experiments to determine the feasibility of executing the tests, the likelihood of the test producing the correct failure mode to calibrate the parameter of interest, and the repeatability of the test results. AFRL may elect to conduct a portion of these tests. As such, the contractor may, but is not required to, recommend a set of tests to be conducted by AFRL/RQV.

Task 3 – The contractor shall conduct an experimental validation for each class of

PDA method. The experimental validation shall assess the ability of each representative model to predict static failure, fatigue damage initiation, and fatigue damage progression. The contractor shall provide failure predictions to the Air

Force, along with a recommended test plan prior to conducting mechanical testing.

The data produced during task 2 shall be used to calibrate the models used for these predictions. After receiving approval from the Air Force program manager, the contractor shall complete the failure testing and assess the accuracy of the failure predictions by comparing the predicted failures to the results of the tests.

Such testing must be completed specifically for this purpose. (Comparison to pre-existing test results is valuable, comparing to pre-existing test results alone is not appropriate.) Using the results of the experimental validation, the contractor shall determine the sensitivity of the selected models to the recommended parameters and the associated calibration tests and data.

All potential offerors are encouraged to review the contract final report from contract FA8650-08-D-3858 TO 0037. “Assess and Quantify the Benefits of

Applying Damage Tolerant Design Principles (DTDP) to Advanced Composite Aircraft

Structures.” This final report is available from the Defense Technical Information

Center (DTIC).

Report Number: AFRL-WP-TR-RQ-2015-0068 "Air Vehicle Integration and Technology Research (AVIATR) Task Order 0037: Assessment, Quantification, and

Benefits of Applying Damage Tolerant Design Principles to Advanced Composite Aircraft Structure."

2. Deliverable Items:

a. Data Items (Contract Data Requirement List) CDRL’s (Attachment 1):

- A001 - Scientific and Technical Reports

- A002 - Funds and Man-Hour Expenditure Report

- A003 - Status Report

- A004 - Presentation Material

b. Software: N/A

c. Hardware: N/A

d. Other: N/A

3. Schedule:

a. Overall effort: 12 month effort (9 months technical and 3 months for final report.)

b. Data Items: Specified on individual CDRL(s) (Attachment 1).

c. Software: N/A

d. Hardware: N/A

4. Other Requirements:

a. Program security classification: Unclassified

b. OPSEC: The Contractor shall train personnel in, and follow appropriate Operations Security (OPSEC) measures during the performance of this contract.

c. Export Control: Information involved in this research effort will be subject to Export Control (International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) 22 CFR 120-131, or Export Administration Regulations (EAR) 15 CFR 710- 774). If effort is subject to export control then a Certified DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, will be required to be submitted with proposal.

d. 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.

(End of clause)

5. Other Information:

a. Government Furnished Property (GFP) availability: GFP is not anticipated to be made available under any resulting contract.

b. Base Support/ Network Access: N/A

c. Multiple awards subject to Fair Opportunity are not anticipated.

d. 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 (Attachment 2) 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 software 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

1. Anticipated Award Date: 15 September 2015

2. Anticipated funding for the program: FY 15 - $450,000 and FY 16 - $450,000

This funding profile is an estimate only and not a contractual obligation for funding. 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.

3. Number of awards anticipated: One (1).

III. 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. This acquisition involves 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 proposals an offeror may submit.

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

IV. Proposal and Submission Information

1. Overview: 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 evaluate 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.

Offerors should be alert for any BAA Call#1 amendments that may permit extensions to the proposal submission date.

For additional information, a copy of the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

Guide for Industry is located at https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/contracting/AFRL/BAA%20Guidance/BAAIndG uide_Mar_2015.pdf

Please Note: If you intend to submit a grant or assistance instrument, go on to Section 2 below which discusses how to find the grant opportunity, prepare the cover page, and complete the certification. This section also provides the process for electronic submission of proposals for grants and cooperative agreements. If, however, you intend to propose a contract, proceed directly to Section 3 below—“Content and Form for Proposal

Submission.”

2. Proposals for Grants and Cooperative Agreements

a. Grant Opportunity: Go to http://Grants.Gov to find the grant opportunity. The initial screen will provide the synopsis for that specific grant opportunity. To view the entire opportunity open the “Full

Announcement” box in the upper center of the synopsis page and select from the documents available under “Announcement Group.” NOTE:

http://Grants.Gov has tools and guiding documents in the left margin under “Applicant Resources” to help you find and apply for grant opportunities. Grants.gov requires Adobe Reader version 8.13 to open, download, save, and submit an application electronically. Adobe Reader version 8.13 is available for free from Grants.gov under “Applicant Resources,” “Download Software.”

b. Proposal Cover Page – SF 424 (R&R) Form: All proposals for grants or assistance, whether submitted electronically or in hard copy must include an SF 424 (R&R) as the cover page. The SF 424 (R&R) should be downloaded from the “Application” box in the upper right hand corner of the synopsis page. Click on “download” under the column “Instructions and Application.” Select “Download Application Package” and complete the SF 424 (R & R).

c. Certifications: To access the requisite Certifications, select the

“Application” box in upper right hand corner of the synopsis page. Click on “Instructions and Application” and select “Download Application

Instructions” to view the Certifications. To complete the Certifications you must check Block 18 of the SF 424 (R&R), and by signing it (either by pressing the “submit” button for Grants.gov or by hand if submitting it in hard copy), you are certifying that you have read and agree to abide by the terms in the Certifications. You do not need to submit any additional https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/contracting/AFRL/BAA%20Guidance/BAAIndGuide_Mar_2015.pdf https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/contracting/AFRL/BAA%20Guidance/BAAIndGuide_Mar_2015.pdf http://grants.gov/ http://grants.gov/ documentation unless you have lobbying activities to disclose on an SF –

LLL.

d. Proposals for Grants or Assistance Instruments: Proposals for grants or assistance instruments may be submitted either (1) directly with a hard copy to the contracting POC listed in this announcement or (2) electronically through the Grants.gov government-wide electronic portal.

You must notify your contracting POC before the stated proposal due date and time of this notice if you decide to submit your proposal electronically or your proposal will not be considered.

e. For Hard Copy Submission: The original proposal and the number of copies specified in this announcement must be delivered directly to the contracting POC at the time and date specified in this announcement.

f. For Electronic Submission:

i. Advance Preparation – Electronic proposals must be submitted through Grants.gov. There are several one-time actions your organization must have completed. Long before the proposal submission deadline, you should verify that the persons authorized to submit proposals for your organization have completed these actions. If not, it may take them up to 21 days to complete the actions before they will be able to submit proposals.

ii. Electronic Submission Process: The process your organization must complete includes obtaining a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, registering with SAM, registering with the credential provider, and registering with Grants.gov.

Designating an E-Business Point of Contact (EBiz POC) and obtaining a special password called MPIN are important steps in the registration process. Go to http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.

iii. Your organization’s E-Business POC, identified during CCR

Registration, must authorize someone to become an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). This safeguards your organization from individuals who may attempt to submit proposals without permission. Note: In some organizations, a person may serve as both an E-Business POC and an AOR.

iv. The Grants.gov Organization Registration Checklist is located at http://www.grants.gov/assets/OrganizationRegCheck.pdf to guide you through the process.

v. If a proposal is submitted through Grants.gov, Adobe Reader version

8.13 or later will need to be downloaded. This small, free program will allow you to access, complete, and submit applications electronically http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp http://www.grants.gov/assets/OrganizationRegCheck.pdf and securely. Reference IV. 2.a. above for instructions on how to obtain a free version of the software.

vi. Should you have questions relating to the registration process, system requirements, how an application form works or the submittal process, call Grants.gov at 1-800-518-4726 or support@Grants.gov.

g. Submitting the Electronic Proposal

i. Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to http://grants.gov. Select “Apply for Grant”, and then select “Download Application Package”. Enter the

CFDA number (typically 12.800). You should also enter the BAA number, and then follow the prompts to download the application package.

ii. The applicant will receive a confirmation page upon completing the submission to Grants.gov. This confirmation page is a record of the time and date stamp that is used to determine whether the proposal was submitted by the deadline. A proposal received after the deadline is “late” and will not be considered for an award.

i. Section 3 below “Content and Form of Proposal Submission” applies to grants and cooperative agreement (in hard copy or electronic) and contract proposals.”

3. Content and Form of Proposal Submission: The paragraphs below identify proposal format and content. Proposals should be addressed via mail to the Contracting Point of Contact (POC) identified in Section VII.

a. General Instructions:

i. Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the provision of FAR 52.215-1(e) Instructions to Offerors—Competitive Acquisition. Offerors should consider proposal instructions contained in the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Guide for Industry, which can be accessed on line at https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/contracting/AFRL/BAA%20Guidance /BAAIndGuide_Mar_2015.pdfhttp://www.wpafb.af.mil/shared/media/docu ment/AFD-120614-075.pdf. This guide is specifically designed to assist the offeror in understanding the BAA proposal process.

ii. Technical/management and cost volumes should be submitted in separate volumes, and must be valid for 180 days.

iii. Proposals must reference the announcement number BAA-RQKPD-

2015-0001 – Call #1.

iv. Offerors must submit one-original and 5 hard copies of their proposals via mail to the Contracting POC, identified in Section VII.

mailto:support@Grants.gov http://grants.gov/ https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/contracting/AFRL/BAA%20Guidance/BAAIndGuide_Mar_2015.pdf https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/contracting/AFRL/BAA%20Guidance/BAAIndGuide_Mar_2015.pdf http://www.wpafb.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120614-075.pdf http://www.wpafb.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120614-075.pdf

v. Offerors must include 6 CDs in Microsoft WORD Format containing all electronic versions of required submittals (Technical/Management

Proposal/SOW/Cost/Business Proposal). All electronic versions must match the hard copies.

a) Technical/Management proposals, Statements of Work and Subcontracting Plan (if Applicable in accordance with FAR 19.7) must be provided in Microsoft WORD.

b) The cost file(s) spreadsheets must include the formulas for calculating cost element bases (i.e., G&A, O/H, etc.)

c) The CDs should be labeled with the company name and proposal title.

vi. Offerors are advised that only contracting officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the government.

vii. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this BAA 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.

viii. No classified technical proposals or cost volumes are expected.

Offerors are encouraged to keep all elements of the proposal package unclassified. In the rare case where an offeror has a need to submit a classified appendix, please contact the technical POC listed in Section

VII for delivery instructions.

b. Technical/Management Proposal:

i. Page Limitations: The following describes the page limitations on the proposal submittal:

a) The Technical/Management Proposal shall be limited to 20 pages, prepared and submitted in Microsoft Word format.

b) Font shall be standard 10-point business font Arial.

c) Character spacing must be “normal,” not condensed in any manner.

d) Pages shall be double-spaced (must use standard double-space function in Microsoft Word), double sided (each side counts as one page), 8.5 by 11 inches, with at least one-inch margins on both sides, top and bottom.

e) All text, including text in tables and charts, must adhere to all font size and line spacing requirements listed herein. Font and line spacing requirements do not have to be followed for illustrations, flowcharts, drawings, and diagrams. These exceptions shall not be used to circumvent formatting requirements and page count limitations by including lengthy narratives in such items.

f) Pages shall be numbered starting with the cover page being Page

1, and the last page being no greater than Page 20. The page limitation covers all information including indices, photographs, foldouts (counted as 1 page for each 8.5 by 11 portion) tables, charts, appendices, attachments, resumes, etc.

g) The proposal page limit does not include the offeror’s proposed Statement of Work (SOW); however, the same formatting rules apply to the SOW, which is limited to ten pages (10).

h) Please note: the Government will check the proposal and

SOW for conformance to the stated requirements. Any pages in excess of the stated page limitation after the format check will not be considered.

ii. The Technical/Management proposal(s) shall include a discussion of the nature and scope of the research and the technical approach.

Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, use of base support (if desired), data and facilities and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included as attachments to the technical proposal. (This/These) volume(s) shall/ include a SOW(s) detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished under the proposed effort and suitable for contract incorporation. Do not include any proprietary information in the SOW. Refer to the BAA Guide for

Industry referenced above to assist in SOW preparation. If Government Furnished Property is requested you are required to submit the following information with your offer—

a) A list or description of all Government property that the offeror or its subcontractors propose to use on a rent-free basis. The list shall identify the accountable contract under which the property is held and the authorization for its use (from the contracting officer having cognizance of the property);

b) The dates during which the property will be available for use

(including the first, last, and all intervening months) and, for any property that will be used concurrently in performing two or more contracts, the amounts of the respective uses in sufficient detail to support prorating the rent;

c) The amount of rent that would otherwise be charged in accordance with FAR 52.245-9, Use and Charges; and

d) The voluntary consensus standard or industry leading practices and standards to be used in the management of Government property, or existing property management plans, methods, practices, or procedures for accounting for property.

iii. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or SOW preparation shall be referred to the Contracting POC cited in the Overview Information.

c. Cost/Business Proposal:

i. Separate the proposal into a business section and cost section.

Adequate price competition is anticipated.

http://www.afrl.af.mil/contract/default.htm http://www.afrl.af.mil/contract/default.htm http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/far2afmcfars/fardfars/far/52_237.htm#P814_129251

a) 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 announcement model contract, any information not technically related, etc. Provide rationale for exceptions.

b) Identify any technical data that will be delivered with less than unlimited rights.

c) Cost/Business proposals have no page limitations; however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 100 pages as a goal.

d) The Cost proposal shall be furnished with supporting schedules and shall contain a person hour breakdown per task. Refer to the BAA

Guide for Industry for detailed proposal instructions.

ii. Subcontracting plans, for efforts anticipated to exceed $650,000, shall be submitted along with the technical and cost proposals. Reference FAR 19.704, DFARS 219.704, and AFFARS 5319.704(a)(1) for subcontracting plan requirements. Small business concerns are exempt from this requirement. If an IDIQ contract arrangement is anticipated, the basis for the subcontracting plan should reflect the entire ceiling amount.

d. Proposal Content Summary: You may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this solicitation are not met on the proposal due date.

Reference Section VIII for a Checklist of the requirements.

4. Proposal Due Date and Time: July 16, 2015 – 4:00 P.M. Eastern time

NOTE: Proposal receipt after the due date and time shall be governed by the provisions of FAR 52.215-1(c)(3).

NOTE: Intent to Propose: Offerors that anticipate submitting a proposal are requested to submit an e-mail to Ryan Huffman at ryan.huffman@us.af.mil containing the name of the contractor, the POC, and the contractor’s intent to submit a proposal. This “Intent to Propose” is requested by 22 June 2015, 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time.

5. Intergovernmental Review: None

6. Funding Restrictions: None

7. Other Submission Requirements: Proposals must be submitted to:

Ryan Huffman, AFRL/RQKPD; Bldg 45, 2130 8th St., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

45433-7541.

V. Proposal Review Information

1. Evaluation Criteria: The selection of one or more sources for award will be based on an evaluation of each offeror’s proposal (both technical and cost/price aspects) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in response to the announcement, as well as on Agency need and funding availability.

The technical aspect, which is ranked as the first order of priority, shall be evaluated based on the following criteria that are of descending order of importance:

a. Technical:

i. Unique and innovative approach proposed to accomplish the technical objectives. New and creative solutions and/or advances in knowledge, understanding, technology, and the state of the art.

iii. The offeror’s understanding of the scope of the technical effort.

iv. Soundness of the offeror’s technical approach.

v. The potential for AFRL to transition the research and development deliverables to future Government needs. Any proposed restriction on technical data or computer software will be considered.

ix. Availability of qualified technical personnel and their experience with the applicable technologies.

vi. 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. (If an offeror proposes the use of GFP other than any GFP identified in this BAA, and that proposed GFP provides the offeror an unfair competitive advantage, then FAR 45.202 requires rental equivalent be applied to the Cost Factor for evaluation purposes only).

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 the identification and assessment of the risks 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.

2. Review and Selection Process

a. Categories: The technical and cost proposals will be evaluated at the same time and categorized as follows:

i. Category I: Demonstrates technical merit. Is important to agency programs. The offeror presents relevant experience and access to adequate resources. Risk is acceptable. The cost/price is reasonable and realistic. Proposals in Category I are recommended for acceptance (subject to availability of funds) and normally are displaced only by other Category I proposals.

ii. Category II: Demonstrates technical merit; is important to agency programs; and presents relevant experience and access to adequate resources; but requires further development. Risk is acceptable. The cost/price is reasonable and realistic. Category II proposals are recommended for acceptance, but at a lower priority than Category I.

iii. Category III: Does not demonstrate technical merit; does not meet agency needs; does not present adequate experience or resources; the risk level is unacceptable; or the cost/price is not reasonable or realistic .

b. No other evaluation criteria will be used. The Air Force reserves the right to select for award any, all, part or none of each proposal received.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: Offerors will be notified whether their proposal is recommended for award, by letter or e-mail, on or about 31 July 2015. The notification is not to be construed to mean the award of a contract is assured, as availability of funds and successful negotiations are prerequisites to any award.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: See Section I.

3. Reporting: Please refer back to paragraph I.2.a.,CDRLs (Attachment 1).

VII. Agency Contacts

1. Address technical questions to: Captain Richard Lanser, AFRL/RQVS, Bldg. 65, Room 300W, 2790 D. St., WPAFB, OH 45433, (937) 656-8837, Richard.Lanser.1@us.af.mil

2. Address contracting questions to: Ryan Huffman, Bldg. 45, 2130 Eighth

St., WPAFB, OH 45433, (937) 713-9927, Ryan.Huffman@us.af.mil or to mailto:Richard.Lanser.1@us.af.mil mailto:Ryan.Huffman@us.af.mil

Jennifer Kleiv, Bldg. 45, 2130 Eighth St., WPAFB, OH 45433, (937) 713- 9975, Jennifer.Kleiv.1@us.af.mil

VIII. Other Information

1. Acquisition of Commercial Items: Based upon market research, the

Government is not using the policies contained in Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items, in its solicitation for the described supplies or services.

However, interested persons may identify to the contracting officer their interest and capability to satisfy the Government’s requirement with a commercial item within 15 days of this notice.

2. Support contractors: Only Government employees will evaluate proposals for selection. Offerors are advised that employees of commercial firms under contract to the Government may be used to administratively process proposals, monitor contract performance, or perform other administrative duties requiring access to other contractors' proprietary information. These support contracts include nondisclosure agreements prohibiting their contractor employees from disclosing any information submitted by other contractors or using such information for any purpose other than that for which it was furnished.

3. Debriefings: If a debriefing is requested in accordance with the time guidelines set out in FAR 15.505 and 15.506, a debriefing will be provided, but the debriefing content may vary to be consistent with the procedures that govern BAAs (FAR 35.016).

4. Wide Area Work Flow: NOTICE: Any contract award resulting from this solicitation will contain the clause at DFARS 252.232-7003, Electronic Submission of Payment Requests and Receiving Reports (JUN 2012) which requires electronic submission of all payment requests. Any contract resulting from this solicitation will establish a requirement to use WAWF-RA for invoicing and receipt/acceptance, and provide coding instructions applicable to this contract via the clause at DFARS 252.232-7006, Wide Area Workflow Payment Instructions (MAY 2013). Contractors are encouraged to take advantage of available training (both web-based and through your local DCMA office), and to register in the WAWF-RA system. Information regarding WAWF-RA, including the web-based training and registration, can be found at https://wawf.eb.mil. Note: This WAWF-RA requirement does not apply to Universities that are audited by an agency other than DCAA.

5. Item Unique Identification and Valuation. Any contract award resulting from this solicitation may contain the clause at DFARS 252.211-7003, Item

Unique Identification and Valuation, (DEC 2013) which requires unique item identification and valuation of any deliverable item for which the

Government’s unit acquisition cost is $5,000 or more; subassemblies, mailto:Jennifer.Kleiv.1@us.af.mil https://wawf.eb.mil/ components, and parts embedded within an item valued at $5,000 or more;

or items for which the Government’s unit acquisition cost is less than $5,000 when determined necessary by the requiring activity for serially managed, mission essential, or controlled inventory. Also included are any DoD serially managed subassembly, component, or part embedded within a delivered item and the parent item that contains the embedded subassembly, component, or part. Per DFARS 211.274-3 Policy for Valuation, it is DoD policy that contractors shall be required to identify the Government’s unit acquisition cost for all deliverable end items for which Item Unique

Identification applies. Therefore, your proposal must clearly break out the unit acquisition cost for any deliverable items. See DFARS 211.274-3, Policy for Valuation, for policy. (Per DoD, “fully burdened unit costs” to the

Government would include all direct, indirect, G&A costs, and an appropriate portion of fee). If you have questions regarding the Unique Item

Identification requirements, please contact the Contracting Point of Contact listed above. For more information, see the following website:

http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/pdi/uid/index.html. The contract will also include DFARS 252.211-7007, Reporting of Government-Furnished Property

(AUG 2012).

6. Forward Pricing Rate Agreements: Offerors who have forward pricing rate agreements (FPRA’s) and forward pricing rate recommendations (FPRR’s) should submit them with their proposal.

7. Pre-Award Clearance: Pursuant to FAR 22.805, a preaward clearance must be obtained from the U.S. Department Of Labor, Employment Standards

Administration, Office Of Federal Contract Compliance Program’s (OFCCP) prior to award of a contract (or subcontract) of $10,000,000 or more unless the contractor is listed in OFCCP’s National Preaward Registry http://www.dol-esa.gov/preaward.