CBD<A> UNINHABITED COMBAT AIR VEHICLE (UCAV) -- INTEGRATED TACTICAL AIRCRAFT CONTROL (ITAC) RESEARCH PROGRAM

[Commerce Business Daily]

From Commerce Business Daily, January 9, 1998 PSA-2008

UNINHABITED COMBAT AIR VEHICLE (UCAV) -- INTEGRATED TACTICAL AIRCRAFT CONTROL
(ITAC) RESEARCH PROGRAM

Category : <A> (Research and Development)
Address : R&D Contracting Directorate, Bldg 7, 2530 C Street, WPAFB, OH
45433-7607
Sol. no. : PRDA
Contact : Engineering POC: James McDowell, Project Engineer, WL/FIGS-3,
937-255-8464; Contracts POC: Janet Cahill, Contract Negotiator,
WL/FIK, 937-255-5901, or Mary Jones, Contracting Officer, WL/FIK,
937-255-4427 E-MAIL: click here to contact the contract
negotiator, cahi...@wl.wpafb.af.mil. .
Due : 24 Feb, 1998

SOL PRDA No. 97-03-FIK DUE 022498 POC Engineering POC: James McDowell,
Project Engineer, WL/FIGS-3, 937-255-8464; Contracts POC: Janet Cahill,
Contract Negotiator, WL/FIK, 937-255-5901, or Mary Jones, Contracting
Officer, WL/FIK, 937-255-4427 E-MAIL: click here to contact the contract
negotiator, cahi...@wl.wpafb.af.mil. . A -- INTRODUCTION: Wright
Laboratory (WL/FIK) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and
cost) on the research effort described below. Proposals in response to
this PRDA shall be submitted by 24 Feb 98, 1500 hours Eastern Time to
Wright Laboratory, Directorate of R&D Contracting, Building 7, 2530 C
Street, Area B, Attn: Ms Janet Cahill, WL/FIK, 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
receipt after the cutoff date and time specified herein shall be treated
in accordance with restrictions of FAR 52.215-10; copy of this provision
may be obtained from the contracting point of contact. There will be no
other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should
be alert for any PRDA amendments that may permit subsequent dates for a
submission of proposals. Offerors should refer to JanetCahill for
additional background information. A copy of this package may be obtained
by contacting Janet Cahill, WL/FIK, 937-255-5901. Offerors should request
a copy of the WL guide entitled "PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry", dated
November 1992. This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors
in understanding the PRDA/BAA proposal process. Copies may be requested
from the contracting point of contact stated herein. The guide is also
available on the internet, at: www.wl.wpafb.af.mil.contract. B --
REQUIREMENTS: As part of the Wright Laboratory Flight Dynamics
Directorate thrust area in Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs), this
PRDA is aimed at the development and evaluation of core flight control
and flight management technologies which will enable the full military
potential of UCAVs. The ITAC program is an international, cooperative
program with the French Ministry of Defense (MOD). Respondents to this
solicitation will be required to demonstrate their ability to work
cooperatively with theFrench MOD and their contractors. It is the intent
of the overall thrust to fully integrate the program development;
exchanging interface control documentation data, software, algorithms,
development tools, and any other components or subsystems necessary to
the success of the ITAC thrust. Project Officers at the USAF Wright
Laboratory and the French Ministry of Defense/Delegation Generale pour
l'Armament (DGA) organizations will oversee the collaborative ITAC
technology development effort. Respective Project Officers will direct
and coordinate national efforts, as necessary, to assure adequate
planning and timely execution of collaborative activities and
commitments. Each nation will manage, and fund their respective ITAC
development efforts. The core development program will be executed as a
basic contract with four options. Phase IA (Basic) is the Program Plan
and Approval phase; Phase IB (Option I) is the System Design and
Technology Base Development phase; Phase II (Option II) is System
Mechanization and Verification phase; Phase III (Option III) is the
Integrated System Assessment and Piloted Simulation phase; and, Phase IV
(Option IV) is the Flight Demonstration phase. Phase IA will develop the
appropriate documentation, and programmatic and technical definition, in
order for participating allied contractors to achieve a common
understanding of system level requirements, program tasks and associated
major program deliverables. The functional task areas are essential to
the accomplishment of the system development. The contractor will
accomplish development of the system functions designated U.S. lead.
Additionally, the contractor will integrate functional elements provided
by French lead development organizations. Baseline technology
development areas have been identified. Functional development lead
responsibility has been assigned for consideration. The research areas
and responsibilities are: Package Configuration/Reconfiguration (France);
Task Allocation (France); Signature Management (France); Formation
Management (France); Communication Management (France); Flight Management
(U.S.); Health Monitoring (U.S.); Information Fusion and Tactical
Situation Assessment (U.S.); Autonomous Vehicle Control (U.S.); Collision
Avoidance (U.S.). The contractor will define the initial integrated
system design concept, including a System Level Specification, Contractor
Work Breakdown Structure, and appropriate Interface Control Documentation
(ICD) associated with the U.S. lead functions. Participating French
organizations will provide the initial integrated system test plan during
Phase IA, along with appropriate ICDs associated with French lead
functions. Participating U.S. and French industry lead organizations will
function as associate contractors with respect to ITAC development
efforts. Accordingly, participating U.S./French industry development
organizations are expected to reach a common agreement and understanding
of the global system architecture, system mechanization elements and
system algorithm specifications as part of the Phase IA effort. The
approval to pursue future program phasing is contingent upon allied
contractors reaching an equitable Associate Contractor Agreement (ACA)
mutually agreeable to by all parties. Primary Phase IA products will be
a mutually agreed upon System Development Plan, and associated System
Specification and Design Documents, Contractor Work Breakdown Structure
(CWBS), and a Test & Evaluation Program Plan (TEPP). (1) TECHNICAL
DESCRIPTION. The purpose of the cooperative technology program is to
develop, integrate and demonstrate critical flight control and flight
management technologies that enable cooperative flight operations of a
package comprised of manned and uninhabited combat air vehicles (UCAVs).
The contractor is responsible for the complete system development,
integration (including elements provided by participating French
organizations), ground and flight test efforts necessary to demonstrate
program objectives. Two concepts of employment, and their associated
concepts of management and supervision, will be formulated. The initial
concept of employment emphasizes management and control of an integrated
strike package, comprised of UCAVs and manned combat aircraft, by the
aircrews in the combat aircraft. A secondary concept of employment is a
strike package consisting solely of UCAVs with management and direction
provided by aircrew/operators located in airborne mission control
aircraft, such as an AWACS, JSTARS or ABCCC. The first major phase (Phase
IB), System Design and Technology Base Development, will develop core
flight control algorithms, situation assessment methods, optimized flight
management and health monitoring system architectures, to permit safe and
flexible UCAV operation (variable autonomy) in a mixed, multi-ship force
package environment. In this phase, the crew systems interface and the
flight management system architectures necessary to provide for the
optimal blending of automated vehicle and tactical management will be
developed. Supervision and management will be provided by on-the-scene
pilots and/or from a stand-off Airborne Mission Control Aircraft (AMCA).
Phase IB is expected to last approximately 25 months. Phase II, System
Mechanization and Verification, will develop interface specifications and
an integrated test capability. If Phase IV is exercised, selected
subsystems critical to flight and operational safety will be integrated,
tested, refined as needed, verified and validated for overall
performance. Phase II is expected to take approximately 18 months. Phase
III, Integrated System Assessment and Piloted Simulation, will develop
a man-in-the-loop simulation to assess, verify and evaluate the products
of Phases I and II. Phase III is expected to last 15 months, including
flight test demonstration support. The Phase III simulation may be hosted
in the simulation facilities located in Bldg-145, WL/FIG,
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, subject to availability. Phase IV, Flight
Demonstration and Evaluation, will provide flight demonstration and
evaluation of the core technologies. Two aircraft, emulating fighter
class unmanned vehicles, will be used. The core experiments will address
the key operator issues of safety, authority, workload and control.
Phase IV, Flight Demonstration, is expected to last 9 months. The flight
demonstration will implement the multi-ship control algorithms in two
flight vehicles. The implementation will be two manned vehicles; one
command lead vehicle and one flown as an emulated UCAV with a safety
pilot aboard. Flight test objectives will focus on verification of the US
designated lead functional areas outlined above. Test flights will
demonstrate core functions relating to control, safety and assured
compliance with authority, operator/vehicle interactions, interactive
flight management and health monitoring. The ITAC functional systems will
be designed to provide a rapid role change-over capability for both test
aircraft configurations, with respect to strike fighter lead and
emulated UCAV functions. Offerors shall consider thefollowing test
configurations and test sites, or propose alternatives. Availability of
these facilities is not assured at this time. The proposed test vehicles
may be the USAF VISTA test aircraft internetted with a TBD French
fighter, VISTA internetted with a QF-4, or two internetted QF-4s, or
other suitable candidates. The QF-4 aircraft is man rated and can be
flown with a safety pilot. The test sites may be Tyndall or Eglin AFBs,
the Niagara Falls ANG test range, the National Flight Test Range, Ft
Irwin CA, Pt. Mugu NAS, or a TBD French range, subject to availability.
(2) DOCUMENTATION. 1. Reviews, technical interchanges, collaborative
program reporting and development of deliverables will be accomplished.
Sufficient program documentation will be developed and available for
publication and dissemination to facilitate technology transition. Major
documentation areas include: a) Phase IA: System Development Plan, to
include; Task Definition, System Specification and Design Document,
Contractor Work BreakdownStructure, Test & Evaluation Program Plan;
Associate Contractor Agreements; Final Report, Vol I; b) Phase IB:
Control System Architecture; Algorithm Specifications; Interface
Documentation; Final Report, Vol II; c) Phase II: System Interface
Documentation; Facility Specifications; Experiment Designs; Software
Configuration/Design Documentation; Interface Control Documentation;
Final Report, Vol III; d) Phase III: System Evaluation Results; System
Validation/Test Results; Strike Package Management Criteria; Videotapes
and Photos; Flight Demonstration Definition/Test Plans; Final Report, Vol
IV; e) Phase IV: Validated Design and Application Criteria; Videotapes
and Photos; Final Report, Vol V. 2. The contractor shall develop
sufficient technical documentation to support overall program technology
development, demonstration objectives and programmatic key decision
points. Documentation emphasis areas include flight safety/readiness,
technology transition, technical performance verification, and system
maturity assessments. 3. Technical reports are intended to serve as
comprehensive summaries of the activities of each phase and shall be
delivered at the end of each phase. 4. Baseline documentation developed
in Phase IA shall be maintained throughout the life of the contract. 5.
Program Reviews: The kick-off meeting will be held at WPAFB. Subsequent
meetings will alternate between WPAFB, French Ministry of Defense, US and
French test and evaluation centers and contractor facilities. Each major
phase will culminate with a program management/technical review, in
association with the appropriate key decision point. Technical
interchange meetings will be held quarterly. Informal project engineer
visits will be as appropriate to monitor progress. 6. Deliverable Items:
Data and Reports: Offeror's shall submit the following data items,
submitted in hard copy and electronic format, utilizing Microsoft Office
(Word, Power Point, Excel) for Windows for Work Groups or Windows 95:
(1) Scientific and Technical Reports, Final Report, DI-MISC-80711/T,
One/R; (2) Scientific and Technical Reports, Contractor's Billing
Voucher, DI-MISC-80711/T; (3) Contract Funds Status Report (CFSR),
DI-FNCL-81468/T; (4) Funds and Man-Hour Expenditure Report,
DI-FNCL-80331/T; (5) Program Plan, DI-MGMT-80909; (6) Conference Agenda,
DI-ADMN-81249A; (7) Conference Minutes, DI-ADMN-81250A; (8) Status
Report, DI-MGMT-80368/T; (9) Presentation Material, DI-ADMN-81373/T; (10)
Data Accession List (DAL), DI-MGMT-81453/T; (11) Still Photo Coverage,
DI-MISC-80169; (12) Technical Videotape, DI-MISC-81275/T, (13) Project
Planning Chart, DI-MGMT-80507A; (14) System/Subsystem Specification
(SSS), DI-IPSC-81431; (15) System/Subsystem Design Description (SSDD),
DI-IPSC-81432/T; (16) Test and Evaluation Program Plan (TEPP),
DI-NDTI-81284; (17) Software User Manual (SUM), DI-IPSC-81443. Offeror's
should provide rational and make recommendations as to which of the
following can be eliminated: (1) Software Requirements Specification
(SRS), DI-IPSC-81433/T; (2) Software Design Description (SDD),
DI-IPSC-81435/T; (3) Software Test Plan (STP), DI-IPSC-81438. 7. Security
Requirements: TEMPEST requirements will apply. The contractor(s) may
require access to classified information at the secret level. Generation
of classified material for this solicitation effort is authorized only
on equipment approved for classified processing by Air Force TEMPEST
authorities. A Contract Security Classification Specification, DD Form
254, will be required in any contract award. 8. Consistent with the ITAC
objectives and collaborative development arrangement delineated in
Section B of the PRDA, the contractor shall obtain the necessary
authorization to provide technical data, including, design documentation,
configuration definition, and other interfacing system
development/planning information to participating French organizations.
Additionally, the contractor will integrate documentation/data provided
by French organizations. The contractor will inform the cognizant Air
Force technical POC/US Project Officer in advance with respect to
planned/pending direct technical data releases. 9. The contractor shall
provide periodic visibility into cost, schedule, and technical status
relative to all major WBS elements. 10. Other Special Requirements:
International Traffic in Arms Regulation and PL 98-94 applies. C --
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (1) Anticipated Period of Performance: The total
length of the technical effort is estimated to be 48 months, including
time for report processing. The phases overlap and are not sequential.
(2) Expected Award Date: July 1998. (3) Government Estimate: The
government funding profile is estimated to be as follows: FY98 --
$0.824M, FY99 -- $1.357M, FY00 -- $1.815M, FY01 -- $1.227M, FY02 --
$1.136M. Phase IA: $0.74M; Phase IB: $2.50M; Phase II: $1.12M; Phase III:
$.999M; Phase IV: $1.00M. This funding profile is an estimate only and is
not a promise for funding as all funding is subject to change due to
government discretion and availability. (4) Type of Contract: Cost Plus
Fixed Fee (CPFF), or other cost type contract. (5) Government Furnished
Property/Base Support: No GFP; However, WL/FIG Simulation Facility,
Bldg-145, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, may be available at the contractor's
request. Contractors will be responsible for facility use costs. (6)
Notice to Foreign-Owned Firms: All foreign participation at the prime
contractor level is excluded from this procurement. (7) Supplemental Data
Package: ITAC Master Plan, CATA AMCA Report, Operator-Vehicle Interface
Technology Integration (OVITI) Program descriptive information, SCT
Report, Simulation Brochures. Contact Theresa Bailey, WL/FIGS,
973-255-8434 for a data package, bail...@b045mail.wpafb.af.mil. (8) Size
status: For the purpose of this acquisition, the size standard is 500
employees (SIC 8731). D -- PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS: (1)
General: Offerors should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the
provision at FAR 52.215-12, Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data, to
trade secrets or privileged commercial and financial information
contained in their proposals. Proposal questions should be directed to
one of the points of contact listed elsewhere herein. Offerors should
consider instructions contained in the WL PRDA and BAA Guide for Industry
referenced in section A of this announcement. Technical and cost
proposals, submitted in separate volumes, are required and must be valid
for 180 days. Proposals must reference the above PRDA number. Proposals
shall be submitted in an original and five copies or submitted in
electronic format, utilizing Microsoft Office (Word, Power Point, Excel)
for Windows for Work Groups or Windows 95. All responsible sources may
submit a proposal which shall be considered against the criteria set
forth herein. Offerors are advised that only contracting officers are
legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the
government. (2) Cost Proposal: Adequate price competition (APC) is
anticipated; therefore offerors are not required to submit certified cost
or pricing data. Notwithstanding, if after receipt of proposals it is
determined that APC does not exist, certified cost or pricing data will
be required. The accompanying cost proposal and price breakdown shall be
supplied together with supporting schedules, and shall contain a
person-hour breakdown per phase. Phase IA is the basic contract. Phases
IA, and IB through IV shall be proposed as separately priced options. (3)
Technical Proposal: The technical proposal shall include a discussion of
the nature and scope of the research, the technical approach, program
management, information on prior work in this area, descriptions of
available equipment, data and facilities, and resumes of personnel who
will be participating in this effort. Discussion shall include a
time-line schedule. The technical proposal shall include a Statement of
Work (SOW) detailing the technical tasks proposed to be accomplished
under the proposed effort and suitable for contract incorporation.
Offerors should refer to the WL Guide referenced in Section A to assist
in SOW preparation. Any questions concerning the technical proposal or
SOW preparation shall be referred to the Technical POC cited in this
announcement. (4) Page Limitations: The technical proposal shall be
limited to 50 pages (12 pitch or larger type), double spaced,
single-sided, 8.5 by 11 inches. The page limitation includes all
information, e.g., indices, photographs, fold-outs, appendices,
attachments, etc. Pages in excess of this limitation will not be
considered by the government. Cost proposals have no limitations,
however, offerors are requested to keep cost proposals to 20-30 pages as
a goal. (5) Preparation Cost: This announcement is an expression of
interest only and does not commit the Government to pay for any response
preparation cost. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this
PRDA is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting or any
other contract. However, it may be an allowable expense to the normal bid
and proposal indirect cost as specified in FAR 31.205-18. If selected for
negotiations, qualifying offerors will be required to submit a
subcontracting plan. -BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection of a source for
award will be based on an evaluation of an offer's response (both
technical and cost) to determine the overall merit of the proposal in
response to this announcement. The technical aspect, whi (0007)