A--Advance Turbine Engine Mechanical Systems Technology

NA DESC: The Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD) is soliciting technical and cost proposals for conduct of a 6.2 Research & Development Program as described below. Proposals are required to be submitted in accordance with the guidelines set forth herein. This Research Announcement (RA) constitutes the total solicitation. There will be no formal Request For Proposals (RFPs), other solicitation requests, or other information regarding these requirements. INTRODUCTION: The Army is anticipating the development of new centerline turboshaft engines for use in future manned and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) of the Objective Force (i.e., UCAR, Future Combat System). These engines will be developed under the DoD/NASA DOE Versatile Affordable Advanced Tu rbine Engine (VAATE) initiative. The Small Affordable Turbine Engine (SATE) program will be conducted under the VAATE initiative and will demonstrate progress towards the VAATE phase II turboshaft/turboprop goals beginning in the FY08 timeframe. The SATE program goals will be to demonstrate a 25% reduction in specific fuel consumption (SFC), a 80% increase in shaft horsepower to weight ratio, a 35% reduction in production and maintenance cost and a design life of 5000 hrs in a 1000 hp class (800-1200 hp) t urboshaft engine. In order to meet the aggressive goals of the SATE program, significant advancements in turbine engine mechanical systems technology will be required. The mechanical systems and associated accessory drives account for close to 15% of a mo dern turboshaft engine’s weight and are currently responsible for a significant percentage of unscheduled engine removals. The aggressive performance goals of the SATE engine dictates the need for increased rotational speeds, temperatures, and pressu res. These conditions create significant challenges for the mechanical components. Achieving mechanical component durability and damage tolerance is one of the major challenges created by the higher rotational speeds and the resulting centrifugal forces. T he increased cycle temperatures and pressures also create a severe thermal environment for the bearings, seals and lubrication system. Managing/tolerating this thermal environment with minimal weight and performance penalties to the total engine will be in creasingly difficult. Therefore, the objective of this announcement is to develop advanced turbine engine mechanical systems technologies that possess the combination of performance, durability, and affordability necessary to enable SATE technology level t urboshaft engines to achieve their performance and cost goals. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: It is the Government's desire to conduct a technology development effort focused on advanced mechanical systems technologies for SATE technology level turboshaft engine s. The program shall utilize a notional SATE turboshaft engine design to establish the operational requirements and potential payoffs of the proposed concepts relative to the SATE engine performance, durability and cost objectives. The desired end result o f the program is the validation testing of the technology in a laboratory environment (TRL = 4) under conditions representative of the environment of the notional SATE engine. The notional SATE engine should be designed to achieve the following characteris tics: less than or equal to 0.42 specific fuel consumption (based on 1000 SHP engine @ SLS, IRP): greater than or equal to 5.5 Horsepower to Weight ratio (without reduction gearbox): less than or equal to $235k per engine production cost (including bas ic HMU or FADEC control system): Design Life of 5000 hours. The Advanced Turbine Engine Mechanical Systems Technology program will be an integral part of the DoD/NASA/DOE VAATE initiative. Although a Government approved Advanced Turbo Propulsion Plan (A TPP) will eventually be required for any successful offerors, such a plan is not required in order to be eligible for an award under this announcement. ANTI CIPATED FUNDING LEVEL AND PERFORMANCE PERIOD: Anticipated period of performance is 40 months total with 37 months for the technical effort and an additional 3 months for completion of the final report. Government Estimate: Government Share = $675,000 (Dis tribution: FY04; 30%, FY05; 30%, FY06 30%, FY07 10%). Proposals must follow the guidelines described in this solicitation. TYPE OF CONTRACT: The Government anticipates an award of a Technology Investment Agreement (Cooperative Agreement (10 U.S.C. 235 8) or Other Transaction for Research (10 U.S.C. 2371) with up to 50% cost share. DELIVERABLES FOR THE AGREEMENT: All deliverables will be in contractor format. (1) Program Plan: Submit concurrent with the first Bi-Monthly Cost and Performance Report. T he Program Plan shall contain details relative to how the effort, discussed in the Statement of Work (SOW), will be accomplished-i.e., the technical approach or the methods the offeror will employ to accomplish tasks, projects and phases of the program, in cluding as applicable, details regarding design and hardware fabrication and testing. The Plan shall also contain a program schedule by phase/task and work element, identify project milestones and task completion dates and show dates for delivery of data. The Plan shall also include manhour estimates by labor category for each phase/task on a monthly and cumulative basis, in tabular format. (2) Bi-Monthly Progress, Cost, and Performance Reports: The first report shall be submitted 30 calendar days after the first full month of performance, with subsequent reports submitted bi-monthly thereafter. The report shall contain technical progress during the reporting period and identify any problems, technical issues or concerns that may have developed during th e reporting period. The report shall also contain cost incurred under the Agreement during the reporting period and cumulative cost to date. This cost shall identify both Recipient’s cost and Government cost. (3) Design Review Briefing Charts: The charts shall be submitted at least 15 calendar days prior to conduct of the Design Review. (4) Test Plan: The Recipient shall submit a test plan 30 calendar days prior to the initiation of the validation testing. This plan shall explain the philosophy , test logic, test sequence, test schedules and test procedures to be utilized to obtain a successful demonstration of the technology. The test plan shall include but not be limited to a discussion of schedules of performance, procedures for checkout, acc eptance limits for performance capabilities, requirements and characteristics, and a description of the test equipment and instrumentation (type and location) to be used. (5) Test Report: A Test Report shall be submitted within 45 calendar days of conduc t of testing. (6) Final Report: Three copies of the draft final report shall be submitted within 30 calendar days of completion of technical effort under this Agreement. Approval or recommended changes in one annotated copy will be returned within 30 ca lendar days to the Recipient. Recipient shall submit a regular and reproducible Final Report within 30 calendar days of receipt of annotated draft. The report shall contain a detailed description of all technical effort performed under this Agreement and results to include conclusions drawn and recommendations. EVALUATION CRITERIA/BASIS FOR AWARD: The selection for award will be based on a scientific and/or engineering evaluation of proposals (both technical and cost as it relates to technical effort) in accordance with the criteria set forth in this section. Proposals will be evaluated on their own merit without regard to other proposals submitted under this announcement. These evaluations will result in narrative ratings, which will be used to develop an order of merit listing for proposals submitted under this announcement. Proposed cost will be evaluated as appropriate, for realism and reasonableness. Th e evaluation criteria are: (1) The extent to which the proposed work satisfies the Army’s research need by use of innovative, creative, efficient, and affordable approaches to the technical objectives. (2) The merit of the offeror’s proposed approach to accomplish the scientific and technical objectives. (3) The experience and qualifications of the scientists, engineers, technicians, and other proposed personnel. (4) The suitability and availability of proposed facilities. (5) Realism of the proposed man-hours, materials and other costs to accomplish the proposed effort. Proposed costs must reflect a clear understanding of the requirements and be reasonable & consistent with the various elements of the offeror’s technical proposal. Any proposed cost share will be evaluated for its benefit in reducing program risk, achieving program objectives, and furthering the state-of-the-art. Proposed cost to the Government is a review criterion. The amount of cost sharing percentage could res ult in greater evaluation credit. Technical merit is the paramount evaluation criteria. Note: In applying the above criteria, the relative weighting of engine level goals is specific fuel consumption, horsepower to weight, and life being weighted signif icantly higher than, production, and maintenance cost. SECURITY REQUIREMENTS: All work performed under Agreement(s) resulting from this RA will be unclassified and will not require access to classified material. A determination has been made that perfor mance under the agreement(s) will require access to and/or generate technical data the export of which may be restricted by the Arms Export Control Act (Title 22, U. S. C., Sec. 2751 et. Seq.) or Executive Order 12470. Prior to award, the successful firm( s) will be required to provide an “Export-Controlled DoD Data Agreementâ€? certification number issued in accordance with DoD Directive 5230.25. This certification may be requested from the Defense Logistics Services Center, ATTN: DLSC-FBA Federa l Ctr., Battle Creek, MI 49017-3084, Telephone +1 (555) 000-0000. Participation in the programs announced in this RA is limited to U. S. firms as prime contractors. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY: No Government Furnished Property is anticipated under the A greement(s) resulting from this RA. If Government Furnished Property is necessary, it shall be identified and discussed in the proposal. GENERAL: The technical proposal should provide a clear justification for the selection of the proposed advanced turb ine engine mechanical systems technology. The justification/rational supporting the proposed technology should be based upon the potential contribution of the proposed technology to the overall achievement of the SATE engine level performance, durability, and maintenance and production cost goals. The justification should consider the potential of the proposed technology to achieve product engine characteristics such as attitude and altitude operating limits, zero and negative 'g' operating capabilities, wi ndmilling capability, externally applied forces, applied gyroscopic moments, water and sand ingestion, operation with loss of lubrication, electrical power, and/or cooling air, and interface with aircraft drive systems as appropriate for the proposed techn ology. Offeror's proposing notional SATE engines at other than 1000 SHP should substantiate the effects on the stated program goals. The technical proposal should also include a clear statement of the program objectives and the specific approach to be purs ued and supporting background experience. It should also contain a Statement of Work (SOW), program milestones, a brief biographical section describing key personnel, a brief description of the facilities to be employed in the effort, and a program manage ment section. A final briefing will at AATD, Fort Eustis, VA, will be required. The offeror will also identify how the proposed propulsion technology is integr al to its ongoing efforts to develop an ATPP for VAATE. The Cost Proposal should include a funding profile that shows program costs and man-hours by month, and clearly indicate whether the offeror operates on a calendar year or other basis. This informati on should be provided for both the total program and for individual program tasks. Identification of labor categories proposed, all pricing rates used, and equipment and materials required should be included. The individual tasks proposed must be priced as separate tasks in order to facilitate the selection of individual parts of the proposed effort should award of only portions of a proposal determined to be in the best interest of the Government. Subcontractor proposals, if applicable, including pricing rate details (if this information is not available to the offeror, it will be requested by the Government after receipt of proposals), must be provided concurrent with the prime contractor's submission. This RA will remain open until 4:00 p.m., Eastern Tim e 15 September 03. There will be one or more awards under this announcement, based on Government funding availability. Unless the offeror specifies a different expiration time, proposals will be considered valid for Government acceptance through 31 March 2004. The Government reserves the right to select for award any, all, part or none of the proposals received. Further, the Government reserves the right to select for award only a portion of an offeror’s proposal (i.e., certain tasks vs total progr am). Multiple proposals from the same offeror that address different solutions or that address only part of the problem under the announcement will be accepted and evaluated independently, but must be clearly identified in each proposal. Agreements with cost participation by the Recipient of up to 50% are anticipated for each award made because the technology has high dual-use potential and performers of the program will benefit from commercialization. Cost participation may be in the form of cash or in- kind contributions. Cost sharing and matching requirement are addressed in Sec 34.13 of the Defense Grant and Agreement regulatory System (DoD Directive 3210.6). This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to pa y any response preparation cost. This announcement is issued subject to the availability of funds. The Government’s obligation is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. The Gover nment is not liable for any payment under an Agreement resulting from this RA until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for this program. Due to the complexity and technical considerations of this program, this solicitation is not set-asid e for small businesses. Multiple awards may be possible depending upon cost share; however, the funding available is expected to fund no more than one full program and one partial program (i.e. certain tasks vs. total program). Anticipated award date is 1 January 2004. No pre-proposal conference is to be held. Proposals, technical and cost, must be submitted in original and five (5) copies. Proposals, excluding the cost section, shall not exceed 30 pages. Proposals should be marked with the above agr eement number and addressed to the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate, AMCOM, and ATTN: AMSAM-RD-AA-C (Jared Cariker), Building 401, Lee Boulevard, Fort Eustis, VA 23604-5577. Offerors desiring an explanation or interpretation of this announcement must request it in writing at the above address (Datafax +1 (555) 000-0000) or contact@example.gov. Grants/Agreements Officer Lauren Sebring, +1 (555) 000-0000, contact@example.gov. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of any agreement will not be binding. Any information given to a prospective offeror concerning this announcement, which is necessary in submitting offers or the lack of which would be prejudicial to any other prospective offeror(s), will be published as an amendment to this announcement. For purposes of this RA, late proposals will be treated in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. A copy of any cited reference/clause is available via link: http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vffara.htm.