FISC Norfolk Detachment Philadelphia, 700 Robbins Ave., Bldg. 2B., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5084

A -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SOL N00140-96RC30004 POC John Olewnik, Office of Naval Research Manufacturing Technology Detachment, 700 Robbins Avenue, Bldg. #10-2, Philadelphia, PA 19111- 5078. The U.S. Navy's Manufacturing Technology (MANTECH) Program, in conjunction with the Joint Directors of Laboratories (JDL) MANTECH panel, is requesting interested parties to submit white papers for evaluation of potential sources with capabilities to implement process improvement of advanced bulk manufacturing of Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) for low cost sensors. The objectives of this manufacturing process enhancement effort for MCT are in the areas of: (A) uniformity, (B) wafer size, (C) process repeatability, (D) affordability, (E) process yield, and (F) throughput. Critical emerging technologies associated with the program must be relevant and applicable to Navy sensors suitable for mid and long wavelength range IR applications (for operation at liquid nitrogen temperatures in the long wavelength band and/or for operation at thermoelectrically cooled temperatures in the mid-wave band), and should have the ability to stimulate and to enable new commercial products, processes, markets, and industries to insure technology viability. White papers received in response to this announcement should describe each offeror's approach to: (A) material/process development or enhancement focus, (B) transition/demonstration, (C) milestones, and (D) metrics. The white paper should include (A) technical summary supporting the approach including the technical ideas for the proposed work, (B) a list of anticipated key personnel with their qualifications, (C) a brief management plan, (D) the approach on leveraging results into a sensor demonstration to insure technology transfer and deployment and (E) a rough order of magnitude estimate of total cost. Interested participants should submit an original and ten copies of a white paper with a cover page, clearly labeled WHITE PAPER with the announcement title, submission date, proposal title, administrative and technical points of contact with their telephone and FAX numbers and mailing and e-mail addresses. Submittals should be limited to one document of 10 pages or less (8.5 by 11 inches, single-sided). The purpose of the white paper is to preclude unwarranted effort on the part of an offeror in preparing a full proposal. White papers selected will be those judged as having the most likelihood of achieving the objective of implementing process improvement of advanced bulk manufacturing of mercury Cadmium Telluride for low cost sensors in the areas of uniformity, wafer size, process repeatability, affordability, process yield, and throughput. Those offerors submitting the most promising white papers consistent with the intent of this announcement may be invited, through official Office of Naval Research Manufacturing Technology Detachment (ONRMTD) notification, to submit a full technical, management, and cost proposal in accordance with the criteria listed below. It should be noted that such invitation does not assure a subsequent award. The evaluation criteria for ultimate selection of full proposals for funding are: (1) TECHNICAL: the merit and soundness of the overall scientific, technical, engineering and manufacturing approach, adequacy of analysis, test and degree of technology advancement. The potential for its military application and commercialization and expected outcome, potential relevance and applicability of the work to Navy and DOD programs. (2) MANAGEMENT: the merits of the proposed management plan including the allocation of resources, experience, and management including the qualifications, credentials and experience of the principal investigator, key project members, proposed partners, subcontractors and consultants, and the quality of the offeror's facilities, techniques, processing, and manufacturing technology and their unique combination. (3) COST: Costs will be evaluated on the basis of cost realism. This pertains to the offeror's ability to project costs which are realistic and reasonable and which indicates whether the offeror understands the nature and scope of the work to be performed. The total cost and reasonableness of this cost should be summarized and broken out by year with subcontractors, partners, and collaborators. THIS SHALL INCLUDE A STRONG EMPHASIS ON COST SHARING AND LEVERAGING. AT A MINIMUM, COST SHARING SHALL BE AT LEAST A RATIO OF TWO TO ONE, INDUSTRY FUNDS VERSUS GOVERNMENT FUNDS. The criteria are ranked in descending order of importance. No further criteria will be used in the evaluation. The technical, management, and cost information will be evaluated at the same time. The Navy encourages partnerships or consortia between industry, universities, and government technical performers, i.e. DOD and other federal laboratories. The government reserves the right to select for further development all, some or none of the white papers submitted in response to this announcement. This announcement will be open for a period of 45 days from date of publication for submission of white papers. ONRMTD, through official notification, will select those offerors submitting the most promising white papers and establish a due date for the submission of full technical, management and cost proposals. There will be no formal request for proposal or other solicitation regarding this announcement. It is estimated that the Navy shall have funds in the amount of $1.7 million lasting no more than two years. The Navy anticipates making this award through a Cooperative Agreement. Offerors should have security clearances up to and including the secret level for awards contemplated under this announcement. This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to pay any proposal preparation costs for responding to this announcement. Responses shall be forwarded at no cost to the Government. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting cooperative agreement or other contract. Only the contracting officer is authorized to make Government awards pursuant to this announcement. Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions, as determined by the Secretary of Education to meet the requirements of 34 CFR Section 608.2 and 10 U.S.C. Paragraph 2323(a)(1)(C), are encouraged to participate. Foreign contractors should be aware that restrictions may apply which could preclude their participation in this announcement. All correspondence, proposals and questions on technical matters are to be submitted to the Office of Naval Research Manufacturing Technology Detachment, 700 Robbins Ave, Bldg # 10-2, Philadelphia, PA 19111-5078. Attention: Code 202 - John Olewnik. Phone: (215) 697-9526, Fax: (215) 697-9534, e-mail address: john_olewnik@mtdet.icpphil.navy.mil. SYN 019. (0303)

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