Loren Data Corp.

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COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF DECEMBER 13,1996 PSA#1741

R&D Contracting, Bldg 7, 2530 C Street, WPAFB OH 45433-7607

A -- FIXED WING VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS IN TWO PARTS. THIS IS PART 1 OF 2. SOL PRDA 97-02-FIK POC Jarens D. Murray, 2Lt, USAF, Contract Negotiator, (937) 255-5901 Mr. Lawrence W. Kopa, Contracting Officer, (937) 255-5901. A -NOTICE: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS IN TWO PARTS. PART 1 OF 2. INTRODUCTION: Wright Laboratory (WL/FIIA) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and cost) on the research effort described below. Proposals in response to this PRDA shall be submitted by 28 February 1997, 1500 hours Eastern Time, addressed to Wright Laboratory, Directorate of R&D Contracting, Building 7, Area B, Attn: (Mr. Larry Kopa, WL/FIKA) Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7607. This is an unrestricted solicitation, small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. Proposals submitted shall be in accordance with this announcement. Proposal submission after the cutoff date specified herein shall be treated in accordance with restrictions of FAR 52.215-10, a copy of this provision may be obtained from the contracting point of contact. There will be no formal Request For Proposal (RFP) or other solicitation request in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments that may be published. Offerors who do not already have a copy of the current Wright Laboratory guide entitled "PRDA BAA Guide for Industry" may request a copy from the contracting point of contact cited in this announcement. This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the PRDA/BAA proposal process. This guide is also available for review on the WL/PK contracting home page: http://www.wl.wpafb.af.mil/contract/hp.htm. B- REQUIREMENTS: Technical Description: The Fixed Wing Vehicle Demonstration program (a.k.a. Future Aircraft Technology Enhancement, "FATE" I) is a subset of the national Fixed Wing Vehicle program. The overall objective of the Fixed Wing Vehicle Demonstration program is to 1) define a set of aircraft technologies that require flight test validation in a new air vehicle in order to meet the Fixed Wing Vehicle (FWV) Phase I program goals for a fighter attack class of aircraft. These goals are identified in the PAYOFF section of this PRDA and address goals for both inhabited and uninhabited aircraft, and 2) to develop, build and flight test a demonstrator vehicle to achieve those program goals. The demonstration program will strike a balance between the FWV goals achieved, the number and types of technologies flight tested and demonstrated, and the degree of "missionization" incorporated in the demonstrator platform(s). The Fixed Wing Vehicle Demonstration program will quantify the benefits of the chosen technology set both singly and in combination. The demonstrated technologies will be developed from the Fixed Wing Vehicle technology plan and roadmap. (This plan and roadmap, along with goal definitions, will be provided to the offerors upon request from the technical point of contact). The flight demonstrator shall be an uninhabited modular system consisting of the vehicle management system, vehicle platform, sensor packages, data recording devices, and other systems required to flight validate an identified subset of technologies from the Fixed Wing Vehicle program thrust areas: structure, flight control, aeromechanics, and subsystems. An additional goal of the Fixed Wing Vehicle Demonstration program will be the capability to demonstrate other technologies such as avionics, propulsion and weapons after the initial flight test by employing the vehicle modularity. The initial flight demonstration will specifically address vehicle performance and maneuverability. Design and analysis studies and ground test will address the issues of cost/affordability, reusability, modularity, and transitionability of identified technologies. 1. PROGRAM STRATEGY: The intent of the Fixed Wing Vehicle Demonstration program is to develop an uninhabited modular flight test vehicle(s) to flight demonstrate aircraft technologies. The program will be executed in two BLOCKS I and II. 1) This PRDA is the announcement for BLOCK I. The purpose of BLOCK I is to develop specific program requirements including vehicle specifications and technology needs in preparation for BLOCK II of the program. BLOCK I will investigate the interrelated issues of technology candidates, FWV goals, technology demonstration requirements, vehicle concepts, "mission" performance requirements, cost, schedule, and BLOCK II planning. The following information is requested in response to this PRDA announcement: A) Contractors are asked to submit technical, schedule, and cost proposals for an uninhabited modular flight test vehicle. This technical proposal should include a description or discussion of all systems necessary for the proposed test vehicle. B) Contractors are also asked to identify a technology set from the Fixed Wing Vehicle roadmaps to be integrated in the proposed vehicle for initial flight test. C) Contractors may also suggest studies needed to define vehicle requirements for the uninhabited modular flight test vehicle. Based on the proposals received, the Air Force will identify technical areas in the development and flight test of the vehicle which require further research. Studies will be awarded within BLOCK I to investigate these areas with the goal of developing specific vehicle requirements. At the end of BLOCK I the Air Force will use the results of the BLOCK I studies, coupled with responses from this BLOCK I PRDA to develop requirements for BLOCK II. BLOCK I is anticipated to last from JUN 97- SEP 98. Studies awarded during BLOCK I may have a shorter period of performance. 2) In order to provide an adequate response to this PRDA offerors must be cognizant of BLOCK II plans and requirements. The purpose of BLOCK II is to design, develop, construct, and flight test modular uninhabited flight demonstration vehicle(s). The Air Force currently plans to develop two configurations, with two builds for each configuration for the flight demonstration. A total of four uninhabited flight demonstration vehicles are envisioned to be developed. This total is predicated on funding and schedule constraints. BLOCK II will begin with another PRDA announcement, or Request for Proposal (RFP) including specific vehicle requirements from BLOCK I. Within BLOCK II contractor proposals will be evaluated solely on their response to the BLOCK II solicitation. Teaming arrangements will be encouraged for BLOCK II. BLOCK II will culminate with the successful flight demonstration of the uninhabited modular air vehicle(s). Solicitation for BLOCK II requirements is planned for OCT-DEC 98 time frame. 3) After successful flight testing, the vehicles are envisioned to be used to flight test and demonstrate other technologies for a ten year period. 2. TECHNICAL APPROACH: This section reiterates the program strategy mentioned above. It is intended to outline the technical flow of the Fixed Wing Vehicle Demonstration Program. The Fixed Wing Vehicle Demonstration platform program will integrate technologies from the Fixed Wing Vehicle Program thrust areas (structures, aeromechanics, flight control, subsystems), to validate future aircraft technologies with measured cost and performance data. The Air Force intends to accomplish this program in two separate parts. This PRDA announcement will address program objectives and requirements for BLOCK I. The objective of BLOCK I will be to accomplish development studies in various technical areas which define requirements for a modular uninhabited flight demonstration vehicle utilizing one or more short term Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) type contracts. Studies will be awarded based on proposals for the development of a modular demonstration vehicle and technology set to be initially flight tested on the vehicle. Upon completion of these developmental studies, the Air Force intends to solicit a subsequent PRDA announcement or RFP for BLOCK II of the program. The objectives of BLOCK II will include design development, construction and flight test of air vehicle platforms. Contractor(s) will be required to aid in flight test of the air vehicle platform during BLOCK II. BLOCK II program contractor/consortium team(s) will be tasked to develop the plans necessary to integrate the BLOCK I study results with the technology developmentsfrom various technology thrust areas including subsystems, flight control, aeromechanics, and structures. The Air Force intends to utilize some form of an assistance instrument (i.e. grant, cooperative agreement, or other transaction) for the BLOCK II effort in order that all participating parties may benefit from the potential military and commercial applications which are anticipated based on the successful demonstration of one or more of the planned air vehicle platform(s). It is envisioned that the BLOCK II team leader(s) will be responsible for the overall integration of the modular air vehicle(s) including defining required interfaces to subcontractors. The following vehicle requirements are not meant to be hard constraints, and therefore should be analyzed for their effects on vehicle cost, schedule, and flight test capability. These requirements are meant to communicate the Air Force desire for an air-vehicle platform capable of performing some type of notional fighter/attack mission. Preliminary vehicle requirements of the modular demonstration platform are: (1) maneuvering capability of at least 7g at a dynamic pressure of 500psf, (2) capable of carrying a payload of no less than 1000 lbs internally over a 500 mile radius. (3) to incorporate modularity to the highest degree possible. (4) The vehicle design should be compatible with signature requirements expected for next generation combat air vehicles. These signature requirements may be classified (reference: Security Classification Guide for Air Force Low/Counter Low Observables (LO/CLO) Programs dated 3 January 1994). (5) The system will be used to flight demonstrate various technologies over a 10 year period. (6) Target cost for the initial vehicle is estimated to be no more than $70M (Offerors are encouraged to show cost reduction options). (7) Government is willing to take moderate to high risk in the vehicles. (8) Government intends on providing a production engine and vehicle control station. Contractors should suggest a production version of these systems along with modifications necessary to support their proposed vehicle. (9) The vehicle(s) are intended to only be operated on test ranges. END OF PART 1 OF 2. (0346)

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