FA9451-21-S-0001 Call 0009 (LSD Coherent Beam) FINAL 08AUG22.pdf

FA9451-21-S-0001 Call 0009

CALL 0009 entitled “FIBER LASER MODULE FOR AIRBORNE COHERENT BEAM

COMBINED LASER WITH ULTRA LIGHT THERMAL SYSTEM”

Issued Under

Directed Energy Technology Experimentation Research (DETER) Advanced Research

Announcement (ARA)

FA9451-21-S-0001

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

NAICS Code & Small Business Size: The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 541715 Research and

Technology in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology).

The small business size standard is 1,000 employees.

Federal Agency Name: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Directed Energy Directorate, Laser

Division (RDL)

ARA Title: Directed Energy Technology Experimentation Research (DETER)

ARA Number: FA9451-21-S-0001

Call Title: Fiber Laser Module for Airborne Coherent Beam Combined Laser with Ultra-Light Thermal

System

Call Announcement Number: FA9451-21-S-0001 Call 0009

Call Type: Closed Two-Step Call where white papers and proposal submittals shall be due within specified periods. However, the Government retains the right to collapse the white paper/Two- Step process into a One-Step process and to make an award directly from white paper(s) received if the situation warrants, and the white paper(s) contain sufficient technical detail to do a full technical proposal evaluation.

DETER Topic Areas: Directed Energy (DE) Sources

Purpose of Issuing Call: The Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate Laser

Division (AFRL/RDL) is seeking white papers which could potentially result in a single award to fulfill the requirements of the Fiber Laser Module for Airborne Coherent Beam Combined Laser with Ultra-

Light Thermal System program. It is anticipated that a single award will be issued and that the award will be made pursuant one of the following authorities:

10 U.S.C. § 4023 “Procurement for Experimental Purposes,”

10 U.S.C. § 4022 “Other Transaction for Prototype Projects,” or

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

CALL SPECIFIC INFORMATION: Unless otherwise stated in this call, all requirements listed within the basic ARA announcement are considered applicable. Offerors should monitor the SAM.gov website at https://sam.gov/content/home / for amendments to this call or the DETER ARA.

https://sam.gov/content/home/

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. Overview

The primary objective of this effort is to design, develop and test the next generation fiber laser module (FLM) and beam combiner compatible with an airborne, coherently beam combined high energy laser system with an ultra-compact thermal management system (TMS).

AFRL/RDL’s Laser Subsystem Development Program (LSD) is chartered to develop and build a 150kW class high energy laser subsystem for integration onto an airborne platform, in particular, within the form factor of the laser subsystem of the Self- Protect High Energy

Laser Demonstration (SHiELD) system and to consider how the scale High Energy Laser (HEL) power up to 300kW. As coherent beam combining and advanced thermal architectures are both higher risk and higher reward, the LSD program is seeking to advance the maturity of both approaches through the development of an ultra-low Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) FLM consisting of multiple fiber laser amplifiers, with integrated thermal management, along with a coherent beam combiner for use in an airborne, coherently combined HEL.

B. Statement of Objective/Needs

The Awardee will work with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop performance and packaging requirements for the devices. Specifically, the FLM should consist of multiple fiber laser amplifiers laid out in a modular package, of which multiple can be built and integrated, and the beams of which combined in the coherent beam combiner. The FLM and TMS designs should be traceable to a 150kW airborne laser subsystem. The coherent beam combiner should be capable of combining up to a total of

150kW output power, but also support combining the outputs from a single FLM in order to demonstrate beam combination. The FLM, TMS, and beam combiner should be designed in such a manner that their joint size and weight are approximately 3kg/kW and 3L/kW, for a

150kW laser capable of operating for 30 s (seconds). The Government understands there are inefficiencies with regards to the size and weight when only building a single module, and the contractor may derive the requirements for size and weight of a single FLM and associated TMS so long as they support the required metrics for the 150kW laser.

The Awardee will perform analysis and testing to demonstrate the item will meet performance requirements and will assist AFRL in developing an independent test procedure for an independent evaluation at a Government facility. The Awardee will deliver the integrated FLM and TMS, beam combiner, and any associated hardware required to run the device in a laboratory environment, to include any auxiliary equipment required to operate the laser and recharge the thermal management system. The Awardee will also deliver to AFRL final “as built” design documentation of the FLM, TMS, and beam combiner. This document must include operation, installation, and preventive maintenance instructions. Required data includes safety considerations, interconnection diagrams, logical diagrams, operating procedures, parts and components list, test print list, and normal operating parameters.

The technical goals of this effort are as follows:

a) The Awardee will develop and build a co-designed, integrated, flight qualifiable FLM and

TMS for a coherently combined HEL subsystem consisting of multiple fiber laser amplifiers. The design should support a 150kW class HEL using this FLM/TMS technology with size and weight metrics of 3kg/kW and 3L/kW, with a 30 second nominal thermal magazine.

b) The Awardee will develop and build a flight qualifiable coherent beam combiner capable of operating up to 150kW, which also supports the 3kg/kW and 3L/kW figures for a 150kW class laser. The beam combiner should also be able to combine the outputs of a single FLM.

c) The Awardee will perform analysis and testing to demonstrate the FLM meets performance requirements under environmental conditions relevant to a military aircraft.

d) The Awardee will perform systems engineering and requirements derivation in collaboration with the Government.

e) The contractor will provide the following CDRL items: See Attachment 2 – Contract Data

Requirements List (CDRL)

III. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Anticipated Arrangement(s) Award Date: October 2022

B. Funding

1. Anticipated Funding

This funding profile is only an estimate and is not an obligation for funding. All funding is subject to change at the Government’s discretion and/or by the availability of funds. LSD is expected to be funded mostly by core funding. As such, there is some uncertainty surrounding the amount of funding that will be obligated at award or throughout the duration of the program(s). The “Core Funds Anticipated” have been assured in accordance with AFFARS MP5332.7(b) whereas the “External

Customer Funds Anticipated (based on historicals)” have not been formally assured.

The “External Customer Funds Anticipated (based on historicals)” were formed through a historical analysis of customer funding received by AFRL/RDL to fulfill LSD requirements. Nonetheless, awards of Arrangements or under

Arrangements will not be made in the absence of appropriate available funding or assurances thereto. Additionally, Offerors will not be requested to work in the absence of funding. Offerors that submit white papers or proposals in response to this announcement do so at their own risk; please see item 2. “Availability of Funds” Notice below.

The estimated funding for this requirement is identified in the charts below. Anticipated funding for the entire program (not per arrangement or award) is estimated as follows:

Estimated Total Program Values and External Funding

Fiscal Year of

Funds

Core Funds

Anticipated

External Customer

Funds Anticipated

(Based on Historicals)

Total

2022 $1,625,000 N/A $1,625,000

2023 $2,100,000 N/A $2,100,000

2024 $2,100,000 N/A $2,100,000

2025 $2,100,000 N/A $2,100,000

TOTAL

FY22-25

$7,925,000 N/A $7,925,000

The above funding profiles are estimates only and will not be a contractual obligation for funding.

All funding is subject to change due to Government discretion and availability.

The Government reserves the right to cancel this solicitation, either before or after the closing date. In the event the Government cancels this solicitation, the Government has no obligation to reimburse an offeror for any costs, including bid preparation costs.

C. Anticipated Type of Contract/Instrument/Agreement/Arrangement

1. Arrangement/Ordering

The Government reserves the right to award any appropriate contract instrument; this includes, but is not limited to, any contract type under the FAR, grant, cooperative agreement, or Other Transaction (OT) for Prototype, or OT for Research, or

“Arrangement” or other instrument pursuant to 10 U.S.C § 4023.

2. Anticipated Order Period of Performance (PoP):

a) The anticipated and desired PoP is 39 months. The Government reserves the right to change the PoP after receiving submittals from offerors.

b) An example of the PoP would be comprised of the following:

1. The anticipated overall PoP is 39 months.

2. The anticipated Technical Period of Performance (TPoP) is 36 months, ending three months before the end of the overall PoP.

3. The remaining three months is for the Final Report.

D. Anticipated Number of Awards

Although the Government anticipates making one award under this Call, the Government reserves the right to award zero, one, or more agreements, arrangements, grants, other transactions, or contracts, etc. for all, some or none of the proposed effort based on the offeror’s ability to perform required work and funding availability.

IV. OTHER INFORMATION

A. Communication

1. During White Paper Process

The acquisition team intends to manage communications facilitating the submission of optimal proposals without creating unfair competitive advantages. Dialogue between prospective Offerors and Government representatives listed below, under Government

Points of Contact (POCs), is encouraged until the Request for Proposal is issued. No guidance related to technical approach will be given. However, questions related to the objectives of the effort or prior similar efforts may be answered. If there is any doubt as to whether a response provides a competitive advantage, the answer will be posted publicly via an amendment to this call on https://sam.gov/content/home for all Offerors to review.

2. During Proposal Process

After the Request for Proposals has been issued to Prospective Offerors, all exchanges shall be in writing and submitted via email to the Agreements Officer (AO).

3. Notice to Offerors Regarding Communications with the Government Only

Contracting/Agreement Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government.

Communications with any points of contact shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund and/or award any proposed effort.

4. Government Points of Contact – TECHNICAL Primary: Kevin B. Hewett, Program Manager, AFRL/RDL

(505) 263-2684, kevin.hewett@us.af.mil

5. Government Points of Contact – CONTRACTING Billy G. Sherrod, Agreements/Contracting Officer, AFRL/RDKL

(505) 980-6553, billy.sherrod@us.af.mil

b) Shaylyn Price, Contract Specialist, AFRL/RDKL

(505) 238-6988, shaylyn.price.1@us.af.mil

B. White Paper and Proposal Preparation Costs

The costs of preparing white papers and/or proposals in response to this Call is not considered an allowable direct cost to a resulting arrangement. The Government will not reimburse

Offerors/Awardees for direct costs relating to the submission of white papers and/or proposals submitted in response to this Call. However, the costs may be allowable as indirect expenses in resulting awards provided those costs are allocable and reasonable.

C. Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI):

No potential OCI issues have been identified prior to release the Call. All OCI issues will be resolved prior to award

D. Critical Program Information (CPI)/Program Protection Plan (PPP)

Awardees that require access to Critical Program Information (CPI) will receive training on the

Program Protection Plan (PPP). Copies of the PPP will be provided to the Awardee when deemed necessary by the AFRL Technical Directorate (TD). In the event the Awardee’s role does not require access to the complete PPP, a tailored version will be provided to ensure distribution restrictions are enforced.

All Offerors (including subcontractors/subawardees) shall supplement their current security practices by requiring any personnel involved in executing this arrangement where critical program information (CPI) has been identified to protect the CPI to the standards articulated in the Program Protection Plan and in accordance with DoDI 5200.39. Upon https://sam.gov/content/home mailto:kevin.hewett@us.af.mil mailto:billy.sherrod@us.af.mil mailto:shaylyn.price.1@us.af.mil award, all identified DoD Awardees (including subcontractors/subawardees) shall acknowledge and meet the requirements stated by the Program Manager for the protection of CPI. The DoD

Awardee must immediately notify the U.S. Government upon the discovery of any nonconformance with CPI protections.

E. Science & Technology Protection

Requirement for Standard Form 424 (SF 424), Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile

(Expanded) Form and Security Program Questionnaire

Offeror shall submit as a part of the White Paper response, a completed Standard Form (SF

424), Research and Related Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Form found at Attachment 5 for all Senior/Key Personnel proposed in support of the requirement. Additionally, the offeror shall submit a completed Security Program Questionnaire found at Attachment 6. Offeror may be asked to provide a mitigation plan for any identified S&T Protection risks. The Government reserves the right to determine an offeror unawardable on the ground of unacceptable S&T

Protection risk based on its review of the SF 424 and Security Program Questionnaire.

By submitting a proposal, the offeror certifies that it is in compliance with Section 223(a) of the

William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 which requires that: (a) the PI and other key personnel certify that the current and pending support provided on the proposal is current, accurate and complete; (B) agree to update such disclosure at the request of the agency prior to the award of support and at any subsequent time the agency determines appropriate during the term of the award; and (c) the PI and other key personnel have been made aware of the requirements under Section 223(a)(1) of this Act. I am aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or claims may subject me to criminal, civil, or administrative penalties. (U.S. code, Title 218, Section 1001).

F. Access to Government Installations, Base Support, Network

The Government will only provide the Awardee with access to facilities on an as-needed basis.

Any requests for regular access to installation facilities or for necessary equipment/base support

(office space, supplies, personal computers, etc.) must be separately identified in the Offeror’s response.

G. Government Furnished Property (GFP) Availability

GFP is not anticipated. Any requests for GFP items required to perform the proposed effort must be separately identified in the Offeror’s response. The terms and conditions regarding the GFP, if any, will be negotiated and otherwise established in accordance with all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and DoD/Air Force mandatory policies.

H. Government Furnished Information (GFI) Availability.

The Government will provide the Awardee with access to information as necessary. The Awardee shall treat technical data in its possession as Government sensitive information. Any arrangement that results in an award will have terms and conditions that will address restrictions on use, modification, reproduction, release, performance, display, or further disclosure of the GFI.

I. Data Rights

AFRL 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 Non-Commercial

Software (NCS) developed or delivered under award(s) resulting from this call 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.

At a minimum, the Government will likely require Government Purpose Rights. This is largely a result of the Government’s previous funding, in whole or in part; of many if not all of the items identified or otherwise implied in the attached SOOs and/or other attached documents.

Data rights will be negotiated before award.

Offerors that propose delivery of noncommercial technical data, NCS, NCS documentation, or otherwise and that seek to provide the Government anything less than unlimited data rights should fully explain how a portion of the data was developed at private expense. Specifically, Offerors must explain what noncommercial 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.

Offerors shall include data rights assertions in the Proposal’s Technical Content section.

Assertions must be completed with specificity. Each assertion must identify the technical data or computer software to be delivered and the associated item, component, or process developed exclusively or partially at private expense to which it pertains. Nonconforming data rights assertion lists may not be accepted until submitted in accordance with applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and policies.

1. Government Purpose Rights

The Government shall receive Government Purpose Rights in all noncommercial technical data, noncommercial computer software, and noncommercial computer software documentation developed with mixed funding. “Developed with mixed funding” means development was accomplished partially with costs charged to indirect cost pools and/or costs not allocated to a Government contract, and partially with costs charged directly to a

Government contract.

2. Unlimited Data Rights

The Government shall receive unlimited rights in all noncommercial technical data, noncommercial computer software, and noncommercial computer software documentation developed exclusively with Government funds.

The Government shall have unlimited data rights for the following:

a) Form, fit, and function data;

b) Corrections or changes to data furnished to the Awardee by the Government;

c) Data otherwise publicly available or that has been released or disclosed by the

Awardee or subcontractor without restrictions on further use, release or disclosure, other than a release or disclosure resulting from the sale, transfer, or other assignment of interest in the data to another party or the sale or transfer of some or all of a business entity or its assets to another party;

d) Studies, analyses, test data, or similar data produced for this Arrangement, when the study, analysis, test, or similar work was specified as an element of performance,

e) Data necessary for operation, maintenance, installation, or training;

f) Computer software documentation required to be delivered under this

Arrangement;

g) Data that will be delivered, furnished, or otherwise provided to the Government under this Arrangement, in which the Government has previously obtained rights, shall be delivered, furnished, or provided with the pre-existing rights, unless the parties have agreed otherwise, or any restrictions on the Governments rights to use, modify, reproduce, display, or disclose the data have expired or no longer apply.

J. Deliverables

The final deliverable items will be subject to negotiation; however, the Government considers the items below to be the primary deliverables for this effort. A more detailed description of all requested deliverables can be found under Attachment 1 – Statement of Objectives (SOO).

1 – Flight Qualifiable Fiber Laser Module (FLM) and Thermal Management System

(TMS) for coherent beam combination

1 – Flight qualifiable coherent beam combiner

Any hardware required to operate the FLM/TMS and beam combiner in a laboratory environment

K. Associate Contractor/Awardee Agreements

Currently, no Associate Contractor/Awardee Agreements are being requested; however there is a potential to include these as a future requirement under any pending award.

V. ELIGIBILITY

A. Overview

Failure to meet eligibility information and submit a complete package in response to the announcement may make an Offeror ineligible for award.

B. System for Award Management

Before the Government can issue an award, an Offeror must be registered in the System for

Award Management (SAM) https://sam.gov/content/home.

C. Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment

Before the Government can issue an award, an Offeror must be registered in the Procurement

Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) https://piee.eb.mil/.

D. Export Control

This announcement involves data that is subject to subject to Export Control and/or

International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) 22 CFR § 120 et. seq., and/or Export

Administration Regulations (EAR) 15 CFR § 730 et. seq. Only Offerors who are registered and certified in the Joint Certification Program (JCP) with the Defense Logistics Services Center

(DLSC) and have a legitimate business purpose may participate in this call. Contact the Defense

Logistics Services Center, 74 Washington Avenue N., Battle Creek, Michigan 49037-3084

(877-352-2255 or JCP-Admin@dla.mil) for further information on the certification process.

More current contact information for DLSC may be available at https://www.dla.mil/HQ/LogisticsOperations/Services/JCP/ContactUs.aspx. You must submit a copy of your approved DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data

Agreement, with your proposal or a statement that the organization has already been certified and register in the JCP with DLSC.

E. Offeror Foreign Participation

Foreign Participation is not anticipated due to the sensitive nature of the technology, its level of https://sam.gov/content/home https://piee.eb.mil/ http://www.dla.mil/HQ/LogisticsOperations/Services/JCP/ContactUs.aspx https://www.dla.mil/HQ/LogisticsOperations/Services/JCP/ContactUs.aspx classification, and location of performance, in part, at a US Government installation.

AFRL is authorized to exclude all foreign participation for the subject procurement at the prime contractor level. US-based offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country (ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work

(SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s). Offerors are advised FNs proposed to perform may be restricted under U.S. Export Control Laws due to the nature of the technical data.

RESTRICTION ON NON-U.S. CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is “Export-controlled.” The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the ITAR, 22 C.F.R. Parts 120 – 130 or the EAR, 15 C.F.R. Parts 710

– 774. Non-U.S. Citizens may perform work under an unclassified award resulting from this topic only if they are designated as a U.S. Person, as defined by 22 CFR § 120.15 or if bidder/awardee is able to obtain an export license through the Department of State or Department of Commerce.

Non-U.S. Citizens designated, as U.S. Persons are not permitted to perform work under a classified award. Non-U.S. citizens will at no time be allowed to work on Air Force installations. The technical information that will have to be provided to contractors could contain classified data and export controlled material. The loss of classified AF technical/military information would constitute an extreme danger to US National Security and would be very useful to an adversary and detrimental to the USAF development of next generation and legacy weapon systems.

F. Security Requirements

The anticipated security classification for this effort is up to and including Secret for facility and Secret for safeguarding with access to Non-Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).

Please review the draft DD Form 254 included as Attachment 3 for more information. If applicable, a final DD 254 and related statutory authority will be incorporated into awards resulting from this Call. The Government will provide the Awardee with system security classification guidance and instructions as required.

VI. WHITE PAPER

A. Due Date and Time

1. White Paper must be submitted in response to this Call no later than 5:00 PM, Mountain Standard Time (MST) 31 AUGUST 2022.

2. White Papers shall be submitted to the following link:

https://usg.valideval.com/teams/DETER/signup.

3. Under the Valid Eval submission website, Offerors shall enter/select the following:

• Begin the title of the “White Paper/Proposal Title” with (CALL 0009). For example: “(CALL 0009) Sample White Paper Title”.

• Select “LASERS” as the Relevant Technical Division

• Select “Directed Energy Sources” as the Topic Area

4. The Government exercises the right to not accept White Papers after the due date and time.

5. The Government retains the right to collapse the white paper/Two-Step process into a One-Step process and to make an award directly from white paper(s) received if the situation warrants, and the white paper(s) contain sufficient technical detail to do a full technical proposal evaluation.

6. White Paper Submissions shall include all of the following documents:

• Draft copy of SOW

• Cost Estimate/Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM)

• Completed SF424 for all Senior/Key Personnel

• Completed Security Program Questionnaire

7. NOTE: Offerors may be ineligible for award if all requirements of this announcement are not met by the due date and time.

B. Intent to Respond

Potential Offerors are requested to advise the Contracting POCs identified in the Submission

Instructions if they intend to submit a White Paper in response to this call. Such notification is merely a courtesy and is not a commitment by the Offeror to submit a White Paper. Although failure to give notice of intent to respond with a White Paper will not make an Offeror ineligible for award, it is respectfully requested for Government planning purposes.

C. Amendments

Offerors should monitor https://sam.gov/content/home for any additional notices and/or amendments to this Call.

D. Submission Process and Format Requirements

Below are specifics regarding the white paper submission, format, and content. White Paper submissions must follow the format and content criteria in this Call.

1. Submission Instructions

a) DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.

b) White Papers shall be submitted to: https://usg.valideval.com/teams/DETER/signup

(See instructions above under Section VI. A. 3)

c) There are no limits to the number of white papers an Offeror may submit. Multiple white papers may be submitted by each Offeror; however, the white papers must be stand-alone.

d) White papers that include data restricted from public disclosure or used by the

Government for any purpose should be marked with the proper disclosure and use of data restrictions. It is the Offerors responsibility to mark the relevant portions of https://usg.valideval.com/teams/DETER/signup https://sam.gov/content/home https://usg.valideval.com/teams/DETER/signup their paper appropriately if they elect to submit proprietary information. Please be advised that documentation with the proper markings likely fall under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Exemption 4. White papers and documentation without the proper markings are subject to Freedom of Information Act Requests and potential disclosure to the public.

2. White Paper Format

a) Page Size: 8 ½ inches x 11 inches

b) Single Portable Document Format (PDF) with no internal links. Files shall be free of virus and must be unlocked and not password protected.

c) Margins: 1 inch on each side

d) Font: Arial 11+ point

e) Spacing: Single

f) Page Limit: Seven (7) pages maximum (one-side only), excluding draft SOW and

Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) page, SF 424 and Security Program

Questionnaire. The ROM is limited to one page maximum. There are no page limitation for the draft SOW, completed SF424 or the Security Program

Questionnaire.

g) Page Numbers: Include page numbers on each page in the following format: Page

of. For example, Page 1 of 9, Page 2 of 9, etc.

h) All text, including text in tables, diagrams, and charts, must adhere to all font size and line spacing requirements listed herein. No hard copies of the white papers are requested.

3. Required White Paper Content

a) Task Objectives & Period of Performance

This portion of the white paper shall include a brief overview of the objectives sought to be accomplished. It shall also include discussion of the period of performance and/or ordering period, which should be consistent with that specified within this announcement.

b) Technical Content and Proposed Deliverables

The technical portion of the white paper should include the following information:

• Discussion of the nature and scope of the research; the problem statement; the

Offerors proposed objectives and technical approach/solution; all relevant assumptions; an overview of tasks and methods to achieve each objective; and expected results

• Description of state-of-the-art knowledge or methods to be employed, along with a clear strategy, resources and schedule for maturing the technology.

• Description of final product(s) to be delivered (demos, reports, software, etc.)

• Mapping of effort to specific need(s) outlined in the topic area(s) description, with a strategy for transition of deliverables to a Government acquisition program.

Transitions can be specific to an existing/future system or have broad application to several existing/future systems.

• Explanation of how the proposed effort provides benefits to the national defense and a strategy for verifying those intended benefits.

• Any restrictions on Government use, release of disclosure of technical data.

• Key personnel, consultants or subcontractors to support the effort and evidence of expertise and experience to accomplish the proposed task.

c) Draft Statement of Work (SOW)

The content in the Draft SOW shall be consistent with the objectives, task descriptions and approaches as identified in the white paper. This is considered a draft only for evaluation purposes and may be revised prior to award, if selected.

The Draft SOW shall contain a sufficient level of detail for the Government to evaluate the technical merit and soundness of the approach.

d) Completed Standard Form 424 (for all senior/key personnel identified)

e) Completed Security Program Questionnaire

4. Cost Estimate/Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM)

The cost portion of the white paper shall include a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate. No detailed price or cost support information should be included/forwarded. This should include top-level details on major cost items such as labor, special equipment that must be purchased, materials, and any subcontracts or other organizational costs (to include Government furnished facilities, equipment, or personnel) for the proposed effort. The ROM cost consists of the total cost plus any profit or fee, if any. It is a best guess of the anticipated cost of the effort. The ROM should be consistent with any dollar value or ranges, if any, specified in the announcement, as well as the level of work being proposal. The ROM cost section shall not exceed one page.

E. White Paper Review

1. After the review of white papers, the Government will determine whether a formal proposal will be requested based on the evaluation criteria provided in this call.

2. The Government will provide written notification to offerors who have submitted white papers.

3. The notification will state one of the following:

a. Highly recommended

b. Selectable

c. Not selectable

4. Offerors of those white papers evaluated as satisfying the technical merit factor and relevance factor for which sufficient funding is determined available, will be sent a Request for Proposal (RFP) letter to submit a formal technical and cost/business proposal and a draft SOW to the contracting point of contact. Also, there is an option to award off of white paper and if chosen, Offeror will be required to provide a full cost proposal.

5. A RFP does not assure an Offeror of a subsequent award.

6. White papers not selected for full proposal submission or proposals not selected for immediate funding will be timely disposed of/destroyed.

F. White Paper Evaluation Criteria

Evaluations for white papers submitted will be conducted by a peer or scientific review process. The following criteria will be used to determine if a formal proposal will later be requested. The Offerors white paper must satisfactorily address the Technical Merit factor and

Relevance factor identified below in order for the ROM to be evaluated for affordability. Only white papers satisfying Technical Merit, Relevance, and Affordability factors will result in a Request for Proposal.

1. Technical Merit: Technical Merit is first in order of priority (more important than

Relevance to AFRL Programs or Value/Cost) and shall be evaluated based on the following criteria, which are of equal importance.

(a) Overall scientific or technical merit

• Problem statement, objectives and deliverables are clearly defined

• Objectives and expected results are anchored by theory, analysis or data

• Assumptions are logical, reasonable and appropriate

• Offeror demonstrates knowledge of and applies state-of-the-art methods

(b) Soundness of the Offeror’s technical approach

• Approach is defined, logical and feasible

• Schedule, speed of delivery (tech readiness date), and required resources are reasonable and appropriate

• Proposed results are measurable and testable

• Key staff have appropriate qualifications to perform proposed effort

2. Relevance to AFRL Programs: Outlined in topic area description

• Proposed effort is logically mapped to one or more topic area need(s)

• Proposed effort provides valuable contribution to meeting one or more topic area need(s)

• Benefits appropriately off-set identified risks

3. Value/Cost: Value/Cost is subject to funds availability.

The ROM cost estimate will be evaluated on whether it is appropriate for the expected benefit and if sufficient funding is available. While papers that satisfy the technical merit factor, demonstrate benefits that are commensurate with the cost, and for which sufficient funding is determined to be available will be evaluated as best value to the Government.

VII. PROPOSAL

The details regarding proposal format, content, submission, evaluation, review and selection, and award notices will be provided under the individual RFP letters.

VIII. WITHIN SCOPE MODIFICATIONS

Potential Offerors are advised that due to the inherent uncertainty of research and development efforts, awards resulting from this announcement may be modified during performance to make within scope changes, such as immaterial modifications that may increase the estimated cost of awards, increases to the period or performance, or changes to the quantity or frequency of deliverables.

IX. Attachments:

Attachment 1 – LSD Statement of Objectives Attachment 2 – Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL)

Attachment 3 – Draft DD 254, Continuation Sheet, and Non-SCI Addendum Attachment 4 – Cost

Proposal Instructions (Non-FAR)

Attachment 5 – Standard Form 424 (SF424)

Attachment 6 – Security Program Questionnaire