SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Smart Coatings (TM)
- Notice Date
- 3/8/2004
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- US Army ARDEC, AMSTA-AR-PC, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806-5000
- ZIP Code
- 07806-5000
- Solicitation Number
- W15QKN-04-X-0809
- Response Due
- 3/25/2004
- Point of Contact
- WILLIAM TENZ, Contract Specialist, (973)724-2885
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to WILLIAM TENZ
(wtenz@pica.army.mil)
- Description
- Description: The U.S. Research, Development and Engineering Command, (RDECOM)- Armament, Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), Picatinny, New Jersey, 07806-5000, is currently seeking qualified sources with the capability to conduct research on the development of the next generation of smart coatings for Army materiel through the use of nanotechnology as well as other novel technologies. The U.S. Army Materiel Command directed ARDEC to develop a Corrosion Prevention and Control Program to address the serious concern over weapon system corrosion. The tasks within this program will be classified to the secret level and as such all respondents must have safeguarding capabilities, personnel security clearances and secured lab facilities in accordance with the following Security guidance documents: Security Classification Guide for DOD Low/Counter Low Observable Program (1 October 2002), NationalIndustrial Security Program (Operating Manual- DOD 5220.22-M, January 1995), Operating Manual (DOD 5220.22M- Sup 1, February 1995), and COMSEC Supplement (DOD 5220.22-S, March 1988). Background: The coatings applied to weapon systems today are "dumb" in the sense that once applied they perform their function without the ability to self-correct because of changing circumstances or without the ability to tell the user of potential anomalies such as corrosion or adhesion problems. Their application and removal is also labor intensive and potentially hazardous to the people working with them. Most of these coatings need to be "touched-up" by hand and hide substrate damage from the user of the product. Program Objectives In order to reduce the levels of corrosion on various Army weapon systems, a coating prototype will be developed. This prototype coating will incorporate nanomachines (i.e. powders in the coatings, gears, motors as well as electronic switches) that allow the coating to have characteristics such as self-healing, self repairing, signature management reduction, selective removal, corrosion resistance, contain sensors, be able to alert the sustainment community of potential problems with the coating, be able to modify physical characteristics on command, be cost effective and environmentally sound. Power supply sources will also be investigated such as 1 KW fuel cells, lasers, carbon nanotubes, etc. The Program will have a three phase to achieve a modular approach to develop a smart coatings? system: Phase I R&D of Modular Nodes: This phase will consist of the following general tasks: Sensing Package Signature Management Corrosion/Material Degradation Coating Applications/Removal/Methods Self-Repair Self-Management/Artificial Intelligence Power Supply/Methods Development, Production, & Scale-Up of Novel Materials Phase II Integration: This phase will incorporate the results from Phase I modify, enhance, and integrate the individual nodes into a functional smart coatings? system. Phase III Testing & Evaluation: This phase will include coating application and performance evaluation to: define formal testing requirements perform development and laboratory testing of corrosion inhibiting and self-repairing coatings performing mechanical properties testing perform material performance testing test to ensure attributes of existing coatings are not degraded prepare test report based on findings determine final coating composition determine onto what materiel coating system(s) can be applied develop & scale-up production of novel materials/technologies scale-up of process to produce enough coating system material for limited field testing. An applicant will be required to submit information on the following: A. Personnel - What is required for the contract recipient is to have knowledge and expertise on nanotechnology including nanomachines, coating development, along with a demonstrated track record on previous DOD efforts in this area. The applicant shall possess sufficient personnel to manage, operate and support a research facility; conduct research & development activities, process modeling, collect and analyze data mentioned above, maintain instrumentation, and effect technology transfer of generated data in accordance with non-disclosure and proprietary data agreements with the government, industry and academia. All Personnel are required to have a security clearance to the secret level to work on this effort. B. Dedicated Research & Development Facilities? Class-10 Cleanroom, Microelectronics Research Center, laboratory facilities and capabilities for the development of smart coatings from Army and DOD sources. All facilities shall have safe guarding capabilities and meet all requirements in accordance with the following Security guidance documents: Security Classification Guide for DOD Low/Counter Low Observable Program (1 October 2002), National Industrial Security Program (Operating Manual- DOD 5220.22-M, January 1995), Operating Manual (DOD 5220.22M- Sup 1, February 1995), and COMSEC Supplement (DOD 5220.22-S, March 1988). C. Technology Transfer ? The applicant shall possess the ability to create and maintain a reporting system to report test results and effect the widest dissemination of test data. The applicant shall demonstrate that their personnel have expertise in technical report writing, internet website technology management and dissemination, formal technical presentations, and the presentation of program technologies and accomplishments at technical exhibitions and trade shows. Accomplish technology transfer and outreach to the DOD and its contractors, the Army user community, and the defense industry to share the results of the research efforts. D. Experience ? Applicants can submit any other information that describes their organization?s primary mission; how you are organized to accomplish smart coating development using nanotechnology; your organizations? strengths and weaknesses in accomplishing Smart Coatings ? Materiel Program?s objectives; information, which briefly describes any nanotechnology or coating development research projects; a list of any recommended military installations, universities, other Government agencies, or industry contacts you would suggest to be contacted to support your application; and what experience your organization possess in terms of handling classified work or programs in the area of nanotechnology / coating development. Interested sources should provide the information on the above by 25 March 2004 to U.S. Army REDCOM-ARDEC, ATTN: AMSTA-AQ-APH, Mr. Nelson Colon, Bldg. 172 F2nd, Picatinny, NJ 07806-5000 or Electronic submissions shall be sent to: ncolon@pica.army.mil. Responses shall be limited to ten (10) pages or less. This is a market survey, not a pre-solicitation notice. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, a solicitation notice will be published. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part any private sector input as a result of this market survey.
- Web Link
-
US ARMY TACOM-Picatinny Procurement Network
(http://procnet.pica.army.mil/dbi/Download/GoGetSourcesSought.cfm?SolNum=W15QKN-04-X-0809)
- Record
- SN00539820-W 20040310/040308222919 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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