Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- ADVANCED MATERIALS PARTNERSHIPS SOL RA95-14 DUE 050595 POC Ben Wilcox, POC, ARPA/DSO/MSD, FAX: (703)696-2201. The manufacturing and non-destructive inspection of advanced materials and subsequent components is a crucial enabling factor for developing and maintaining virtually all military systems. The Defense Sciences Office of the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA/DSO) plans to initiate at least three advanced materials manufacturing ''partnerships'' with the private sector, institutions of higher education and state and local governments. See 10 U.S.C. and 2371. Approximately fifteen million dollars ($15 million) of FY95 funds are available for this activity. Research areas of interest are: (a) affordable manufacturing of polymer matrix composite structures, and (b) advanced nondestructive inspection (NDI), especially in the areas of (1) sensors and techniques applicable to monitoring and characterizing material properties during manufacture and (2) affordable and efficient NDI systems and techniques for the detection of defects and monitoring the condition of aging systems and structures. For the establishment of these partnerships, ARPA is seeking innovative and creative technical ideas and concepts which involve the active participation of large and small U.S. industrial firms, U.S. academic institutions of higher education, federal laboratories, and state and local governments. In most situations, a U.S. industrial firm should serve as the lead organization. All efforts must be cost shared. Federal government funding will not exceed 50 percent of the total required resources. Non-federal contributions can include the fair market value for the program utilization of equipment, services, materials, technology transfer activities, and other assets. However, cash contributions are preferred. A small business participant in an Advanced Materials Partnership may count as non-federal cost share any unexpended funds received under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract, whether awarded by ARPA or any other agency. In order to qualify, a funded SBIR or STTR effort must be clearly identified in the proposal as integral to the proposal effort or as clearly related to the work being performed under the ARPA agreement and capable of being integrated into that effort. Unexpended SBIR or STTR funds available at the proposal due date (5 May 1995) will be eligible for use as non-federal cost share in the event that the proposal is selected. Where expended SBIR/STTR funds have resulted in a product which will defray the cost of a project, the value of that product to the project may be counted as ''in-kind'' cost share. A merit-based process will be used to select partnerships in this program. Evaluation criteria, listed in order of decreasing value, to be used in that process include: (1) technical excellence and innovativeness of proposed ideas and approach, and the impact on cost-effective manufacturing and non-destructive inspection of defense critical materials and components, (2) extent to which the program advances and enhances the national security interests of the United States, and the potential effectiveness of the partnership to further develop widespread application of the products to be developed (pervasive impact), (3)commitment and ability of the partnership to productize the results of the proposed effort, (4) qualifications of the personnel proposed to participate and adequacy of facilities, and (5)financial commitments of the eligible institutions to the proposed partnership. It is anticipated that projects of up to two years in duration will be supported. Longer term options may be proposed. Goals of the partnership must include demonstration of a component or NDI device of interest to the military. Partnerships having the management and technical capabilities, facilities and experience necessary to conduct this program are invited but not required to submit brief preproposals to describe their technical approach, management concepts, participants, relevant experience and estimates of the overall cost and timing of the project. Preproposals are due no later than 4PM EST, 17 February 1995. This procedure is intended to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review. Preproposals should not exceed 10 pages of text plus a one page work breakdown structure for the program and a proposed task schedule chart. Ten single sided hard copies, each 8.5 by 11 inches, should be submitted. They should have 1.25-inch maximum margins, and a font size not smaller than 12 pitch. Within approximately seven (7) business days of receipt, ARPA will acknowledge receipt of the submission and assign a control number that should be used in all further correspondence regarding the preproposal. ARPA intends to respond to preproposals within 30 days of receipt with a recommendation of whether or not to submit a full proposal. Regardless of the recommendation, the decision to propose is the responsibility of the proposer. All submitted proposals will be fully reviewed regardless of the disposition of any preproposal. All those who submit full proposals are required to supply eight copies of the proposal no later than 4PM EST, 5 May 1995. All proposals must be in the following ''page'' format: double-spaced, not greater than 8.5 by 11 inches, typed single-side with 1.25 inch minimum margins, with a font size not smaller than 12 pitch. Volume 1 of submitted proposals shall include an Abstract, Executive Summary, Technical Approach, Program Plan, Statement of Work, Milestone Chart, Facilities and Equipment Description, Relevant Prior Work, Management Plan, Cost Model, Business Plan for Productization, and Resumes of Key Individuals. The page count of Volume 1 should be limited to a maximum of 50 pages, which includes all figures, tables, and charts. Volume 2 of submitted proposals shall contain a complete cost breakdown. Details of any cost sharing to be undertaken by the offerer should be included in the proposal. The merit of submitted proposals will be evaluated in relation to the proposed cost and availability of funds. The Government plans to make award decisions within approximately 30 days after receipt of full proposals. It is anticipated that in most cases the award instrument will be an ARPA ''agreement'' (10 U.S.C.2371) rather than a procurement contract or grant. These ''agreements'' will allow Independent Research and Development (IR&D) cost sharing. All proprietary material submitted should be clearly marked as such and will be held in strict confidence. All preproposals and proposals must reference ARPA RA #95-14. No additional information is available nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for same will be disregarded. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement and to negotiate for less than the entire effort proposed. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit proposals which will be evaluated as received. No portion of this announcement will be set aside for Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and Minority Institutions (MI) participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research for exclusive competition among these entities. HBCU's and MI's are encouraged to team with other proposers. ARPA expects the response to this announcement to be large. Therefore, telephone inquiries are strongly discouraged. All questions regarding this RA must be submitted in writing or via FAX: ((703) 696-2201) to the technical contact indicated. Bidders should submit preproposals and full proposals to: Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Sciences Office, REF: RA #95-14, ATTN: Dr. Ben A. Wilcox, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. All preproposals are due no later than 4PM EST, 17 February 1995. Full proposals must be received by 4PM EST, 5 May 1995. (0013)

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