81 -- Microwave Pyrmidal Flame-Retardant Foam Absorbers

Sources Sought Notice: The AFFTC, 412 Test Wing (412TW/EWBC), Edwards Air Force Base, CA is seeking potential sources capable of providing and testing Microwave Pyrmidal Flame-Retardant Foam Absorbers in accordance with the following Statement of Work: STATEMENT OF WORK FOR MICROWAVE PYRMIDAL FLAME-RETARDANT ABSORBERS. 1.0 SCOPE: The Electronic Warfare Directorate has a requirement to provide low frequency test capability in the Benefield Anechoic Facility (BAF). This low frequency capability requires the installation of foam absorbers in order to eliminate multi-path reflections back to the System Under Test (SUT). The purchase of 1,680 EACH 72 foam absorbers and 36 EACH 24 foam absorbers is needed to provide the necessary attenuation at these frequencies. 2.0 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS IEEE STANDARD 1128 Recommended Practice for RF Absorber Performance Evaluation in the Range 30 MHz to 5Ghz. NRL Report 8093 - - Modified Smoldering Test of Urethane Foams Used in Anechoic Chambers. 3.0 REQUIREMENTS: 3.1 Testing. Each piece of absorber shall be uniquely numbered and tested. Low frequency testing can be performed done using a coaxial reflectometer according to IEEE Standard 1128. The IEEE low frequency method requires absorber to be tested eight pieces at a time, which is acceptable to verify the low frequency performance. The absorber must be tested from 80Mhz to 500Mhz and meet or exceed (more negative) the reflection values in the chart below: (See break points on tale below.) The break points are listed in the table below: Frequency (MHz) Reflections at Normal Incidence (dB) 80 -20, 120 - 30, 200 - 40, 300 - 40, 500 - 45. 3.2 Manufacturing and Delivery Constraints. Each 2-ft by 2-ft absorber piece must be made out of a single piece of polyurethane foam. Due to the multiuse test nature of the BAF, glue lines would interfere with high frequency testing. To ensure size and performance uniformity the polyurethane foam blocks must be carbon loaded prior to cutting. Separately dipping the carbon loading from the fire retardant loading must be done to ensure more precise control of the carbon loading and hence the absorber's final performance. The manufacturing and shipping of the absorber must be coordinated with the BAF test schedule. At this point in time, delivery must be scheduled to begin during the week of 28 Nov - 2 Dec 2005. The BAF does not have storage resources to store the large volume of absorber and would like to install the absorber over an approximate 1 to 2-week delivery schedule. The manufacturer must have a sufficiently large production capacity and indoor storage to be able to deliver the entire order in as short as a 1 week window for timely deployment in the BAF. The last delivery of the entire order cannot exceed 2 weeks from the first delivery. 3.3 Fire Retardant. Independently test the flammability of the absorber's manufacturing method to meet the NRL Report 8093 (Tests 1, 2, and 3). 3.4 Physical Characteristics for RAM: - A low frequency test area design requires larger Radar Absorbing Material (RAM) in order to eliminate multi-path reflections from the floor to the test zone. a. Implementation of the 72 RAM on the BAF chamber floor requires it to be tilted at various angles in order to obtain an attenuation of at least 20 dB at 100MHz. In order to accurately tilt the 72 RAM and provide the greatest layout flexibility, three separate RAM wedge angles are needed, 45, 30, and 15. Each wedge type should be color coded to provide easy identification. Velcro with suitable strength will be attached to each wedge and single piece of 72 pyramidal RAM. The wedges will be loaded with the same carbon solution density as the 72 pyramidal RAM. In addition, special RAM pieces needed for the specular region of the RAM layout will be required. These pieces are made by using a special 2'x2'x2 cube with the same carbon solution density as the 72 pyramidal RAM. They will fit in the area where the 72 pyramidal RAM is titled at 45 and pointing in opposite directions. The cubes will be made with Velcro on two adjoining surfaces so that two 24 pyramidal RAM pieces can be attached to them. The total number of cubes needed for the specular region is 36 each. The total number of 24 pyramidal RAM is 36 each. b. Each piece of absorber shall be uniquely numbered and tested. Low frequency testing can be performed using a coaxial reflectometer according to IEEE Standard 1128. The IEEE low frequency method requires absorber to be tested eight pieces at a time, which is acceptable to verify the low frequency performance. The absorber must be tested from 80 MHz to 500 MHz and meet or exceed (more negative) the reflection values table cited above: High frequency reflectivity measurements are required on 10% of the full lot of 72 pyramidal RAM. The frequency band for this measurement is from 6 to 18 GHz at near normal incident angle. Test samples will be taken from sub-lots throughout the manufacture run and are deliverable (A001). c. Each 2-ft by 2-ft absorber piece must be made out of a single piece of polyurethane foam. Due to the multiuse test nature of the BAF, glue lines would interfere with high frequency testing. To ensure size and performance uniformity the polyurethane foam blocks must be carbon loaded prior to cutting. Separately dipping the carbon loading from the fire retardant loading must be done to ensure more precise control of the carbon loading and hence the absorber's final performance. d. Independently test the flammability of the absorber's manufacturing method to meet the NRL Report 8093 (Tests 1, 2, and 3). e. Note: The physical characteristics of the 72 RAM: * Standard carbon loading is 1.1 lbs/ft3, further modeling by the manufacturer may show that a lighter loading will give better performance in the BAF setup. The manufacturer must be equipped to vary the loading of the absorber at the time of manufacturing with no additional cost. Various carbon loadings may be specified by the government for different lots. No more then 3 lots are anticipated for the total order. 3.5 Past Performance Requirements. Provide evidence of previous contract success in meeting identical or similar requirements: a. RAM manufactured to specification (SOW Para 3.2, 3.3 & 3.4) b. Meeting flammability testing requirements IAW NRL Report 8093 (Tests 1, 2, and 3) as spelled out in the BAF safety document (SOW Para 3.3) c. Delivery similar quantity of RAM within the narrow time frame (SOW Para 3.2). 3.6 Program Management. The contractor shall notify the AFFTC Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) in a timely manner concerning any issues that would adversely impact the contractor's ability to meet and satisfy the performance and schedule requirements of this SOW. Please note that this synopsis is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for competitive bids/proposals and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. However, all interested parties who believe they can meet the requirements for providing and testing Microwave Pyrmidal Flame-Retardant Foam Absorbers are invited to submit in writing complete information describing their ability to provide listed above. Firms responding to this synopsis must identify their company's capabilities to perform the requirements described herein, reference the synopsis number and indicate whether or not that they are a small business concern as defined in FAR 52.219-1. The NAICS code is 326150. The Small Business size standard is 500 employees. The information received as a result of this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Air Force not to open the requirement to open competition, based on response to this sources sought synopsis, is solely within the discretion of the Air Force. The Government does not intend to pay for any information provided under this sources sought synopsis. It is anticipated that a Firm Fixed Price contract will be awarded in September 2005. All responses may be sent via e-mail to contact@example.gov or mail to 5 South Wolfe Ave, Edwards AFB, CA 93524-1185, Attention: Mary Uptergrove, 412TW/PKDD. Fax Number: +1 (555) 000-0000. Responses to this sources sought synopsis are due in the office by Close of Business (COB), 07 September 2005.