Description
Introduction The mission of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is to develop an integrated ballistic missile defense system (BMDS) to defend the United States and its deployed forces, allies, and friends from ballistic missile attack. As part of that effort, MDA will develop and test new technologies to provide early capabilities or improve the effectiveness of deployed capabilities to counter new threats. To investigate these new technologies, the Deputy for Advanced Technology (MDA/DV) established the Advanced Technology Weapons Directorate (MDA/DVW) to pursue and assess weapons technologies and concepts to improve BMDS capability. MDA/DVW is pursuing an extensive air launched concepts initiative linking the Net-Centric Airborne Defense Element (NCADE) program, the Air Launched Hit-To-Kill (ALHTK) program, and the Agile Kill Vehicle (AKV) research and technology program. NCADE is a Raytheon Missile Systems near-term, limited capability effort to develop an air-launched system to defeat short and medium range ballistic missiles in boost and terminal phases. NCADE focuses on integrating low cost, existing components into a prototype missile system for existing manned and unmanned tactical aircraft. ALHTK is a Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control near-term, limited capability effort to integrate a current surface to air missile for launch from a tactical air launch platform. Early focus is on integrating the PAC-3 missile on the F-15 fighter aircraft using an external weapons bay with the same form factor as the F-15 external fuel tank. Current effort concentrates on the aircraft integration aspects of the project. AKV is a far-term research and technology development effort to provide a capability to defeat advanced, maneuvering ballistic missile threats in boost and terminal phase within the following topic areas: Agility. Launch Aircraft Target Acquisition and Track. Interceptor Target Acquisition and Track. The AKV focus to date has been on concept analyses and component development. MDA/DVW issued a request for information to industry in June 2007 for AKV technologies. In addition, an Industry Day was hosted in December 2007 to review applicable technology projects currently under development. Based on responses received from the contractor community, the design, build, and test of AKV technology demonstration vehicles appear to be feasible and should therefore be the next step in developing this far-term ballistic missile defense capability. This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is issued under the provisions of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d) (2), which provides for the competitive selection of research proposals. Contract(s) based on responses to this BAA are considered to be the result of full and open competition and in full compliance with the provisions of PL 98-369, "The Competition in Contracting Act of 1984." The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) contracts with private industry, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations for research in those areas covered in this BAA. Awards as a result of this announcement will take the form of a contract. MDA does not have a specified amount of funding available for BAA awards, however, if MDA decides to pursue a concept the appropriate level of funding will be identified, and a final proposal will be requested by a MDA Contracting Officer in writing. Funding of research within MDA areas of interest will be determined by funding constraints and priorities set during the budget cycle. Therefore, those contemplating submission of a proposal are encouraged to contact the MDA technical point of contact, identified below, to determine the likelihood of funding prior to committing resources to preparing a concept paper or proposal in response to this BAA. Coordination with the technical point of contact prior to proposal submission allows earliest determination of the potential for funding and avoids contractor and Government time spent on efforts that may have little chance of being supported. Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) type contracts are anticipated to be awarded for these efforts. Any awards are anticipated to occur in FY 2009 through FY 2010. Research Topics MDA/DVW is interested in Advanced Technology Development (ATD) research in technologies associated with defeating maneuvering ballistic missile threats in the boost and terminal phases of flight from airborne launch platforms. This Broad Agency Announcement will cover three (3) topic areas: (1) Agility. Axial and divert propulsion research products that can be demonstrated in such vehicles as the NASA Phoenix Missile Hypersonic Testbed for flight tests to demonstrate the concepts’ agility. The NASA testbed consists of an F-15 aircraft modified to launch a Phoenix missile that incorporates a test payload in place of the missile’s seeker, guidance, and warhead section. Propulsion research vehicles could be inserted as the payload in this testbed missile to demonstrate the required axial, divert and attitude control to defeat maneuvering ballistic missile threats in the boost and terminal phases. The goal is to demonstrate 20 g acceleration in all threes axes for 5 sec at an altitude of 50 km. (2) Launch Aircraft Target Acquisition and Track. Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) research that can demonstrate the capability for launch aircraft to acquire and track boosting and re-entering ballistic missile targets. Launch aircraft include both manned and unmanned aerial vehicles. The goal is to acquire and track a 1 m2, 300 degree K, black body target at 100 km altitude at a range of 500 km from an airborne platform at 15 km altitude. (3) Interceptor Target Acquisition and Track. Kill vehicle infra-red seeker technology research in components and subsystems that can be demonstrated in agile kill vehicles launched from tactical aircraft. The goal is to acquire and track a 1 m2, 300 degree K, black body target at a range of 100 km for an intercept between 50 and 100 km altitude. If you are interested in this opportunity, please respond to MDA with the following: (1) A summary concept white paper (no more than five pages) which succinctly illustrates the proposed technical approach, as well as its rationale and objectives, methodology, expected results, and potential contribution to the MDA program using the attached Proposal Instructions. This summary concept paper need only address the items in paragraphs (2) (a) and (2) (b) of the proposal instructions. (2) Rough Order of Cost Magnitude (ROCM), using the attached Cost Proposal Instructions paragraph (b) (3) A suggested period of performance using the attached Proposal Instructions paragraph (2)(c). (4) A description of the offerors capabilities, relevant experience, and facilities using the attached Proposal Instructions paragraph (2)(d) and (2)(e). Evaluations may take up to six months from receipt of White Paper to complete. If selected for award MDA will request a full technical volume and detailed cost proposal as requested in the attached proposal instructions. DO NOT SUBMIT THE TECHNICAL AND COST PROPOSALS UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A REQUEST FROM THE CONTRACTING OFFICER FOR THIS INFORMATION. The Government may use selected Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC), support contractor, and other non-governmental personnel to assist in the evaluation and administrative handling of proposals submitted in response to this announcement. These persons are bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements to protect proprietary and source selection information. Submission of white papers under this BAA constitutes the offerors acknowledgment and consent to the use of contractors during the evaluation process. The evaluation team will evaluate and make recommendations for award, based on a peer or scientific review process in accordance with FAR 35.016(d) and (e). The primary basis for selecting proposals will utilize the below listed evaluation factors by applying the delineated criteria as follows: EVALUATION FACTORS MDA will evaluate responses based upon the following factors (weighted equally): (1) The scientific excellence and innovative quality of the proposed technology or application; (2) The offerors’ capabilities, relevant experience, and facilities; and (3) The relevance of the technology or application to the MDA program, to include maturity and level of risk; (4) Demonstrated ability or clear plan to deliver results from research projects on schedule and under cost. EVALUATION CRITERIA The following criteria will be applied to each factor for evaluation of each offeror’s proposal: (1) Technical: to include technical quality, scientific merit of the proposed technical approach and program plan, and capabilities and related experience, facilities, techniques or unique combinations of these which are an integral factor for achieving proposal objectives; (2) Relevance and Importance to Missile Defense Agency Programs; and (3) Availability of Funds to include cost realism. No further evaluation criteria will be used. The Government reserves the right to select for award any, all, part, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement, subject to the availability of funds. Offerors are reminded that this BAA is for the acquisition of Advanced Technology Development (ATD) for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding rather than focusing on a specific system or hardware solution. .White papers related to the development of a specific system will be returned as non-responsive. This BAA will remain open until JULY 31, 2010 and will be reposted in 2009. Initial response date is 45 days after the publication of this BAA. Submittals will continue to be accepted after the initial response date through out the entire period of time the BAA is open. Issuance of this BAA does not obligate the Government to pay any proposal preparation costs (to include those proposals selected for award). The Government reserves the right to select all, some, or none of the proposals submitted, or to select only part of an effort described in a proposal for award. Ombudsman An Acquisition Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from the offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The Acquisition Ombudsman does not participate in proposal evaluation or contractor selection. The Acquisition Ombudsman can work with responsible acquisition officials to respond to concerns, but will not detract from the authorities of the Contracting Officer. When requested, the Acquisition Ombudsman will maintain the confidentiality of sources. Before contacting the Acquisition Ombudsman potential offerors should first refer contracting concerns to the Contracting Officer, Janice S. Olson at (256) 313-9497, The mission of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is to develop an integrated ballistic missile defense system (BMDS) to defend the United States and its deployed forces, allies, and friends from ballistic missile attack. As part of that effort, MDA will develop and test new technologies to provide early capabilities or improve the effectiveness of deployed capabilities to counter new threats.