A -- Airborne Infrared Surveillance Capability

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) intends to award a sole source contract to Aeromet Corporation for the design, development and evaluation of an Airborne Infrared Surveillance (AIRS) capability in support of the MDA Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program. The Aeromet evaluation will include determining the potential military capabilities of the Heimdall sensor suite presently mounted on the High Altitude Observatory (HALO) II aircraft; the AIRS functions will be supported by the Heimdall sensor suite to emulate the collection of infrared surveillance data using U.S. test activities and through the downlink of simulated fire control solutions to interceptor platforms. The required support consists of detailed engineering evaluations, design, minor modifications, and experiments and demonstrations for the HALO II aircraft and its support equipment. There are no other known sources capable of providing this development and evaluation effort required by MDA. Aeromet, the present operator of the HALO II aircraft, was competitively awarded the contract to design, fabricate and integrate the Heimdall sensor suite and operate the HALO II aircraft. No other source has the current requisite unique technical expertise and demonstrated capabilities to operate the HALO II aircraft during MDA data collection missions nor the experience with the Heimdall sensor suite. Delays associated in obtaining this capability from another source would negatively impact MDA's ability to comply with the Congressional mandate for evaluating the AIRS system. The estimated cost for the evaluation of the AIRS system is $5.6M during the 12-month period of June 2002, through June 2003. See Note 22.***** Note 22. The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within forty-five days (thirty days if award is issued under an existing basic ordering agreement) after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.