A -- Airbase Technologies Division R&D

The 325th Contracting Squadron Tenant Support Flight (LGCB) is seeking sources capable of performing scientific, engineering and manpower assistance in the area of airbase science support and technology development for Airbase Technologies Division (AFRL/RXQ), Tyndall AFB, FL. The 325th CONS/LGCB is interested in sources that have the capability to effectively and efficiently maintain and operate the research and development capabilities to support all aspects of the RXQ enterprise. No solicitation is being issued at this time and this notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Background: RXQ provides science, technology, and engineering to advanced fixed and deployed airbase capabilities in Force Protection, Infrastructure, and Homeland Security. World-class research scientists and engineers apply fundamental principles and state-of-the-art analytical techniques to develop technologies that enable: nonstop Air Force readiness, peacetime training, and rapid deployment missions and operations. Advanced airbase infrastructure technologies are designed to enhance Air Expeditionary Force deployment capabilities. Experts are pioneering ways to provide deployable power; environmental control and shelters; rapid restoration of operating surfaces; fire protection and crash rescue, integrated base defense, countering asymmetric threats, and advances in force protection and biotechnology areas. AFRL/RXQ is soliciting contractors that can provide PhD and advanced degreed research scientists and engineers. Personnel with considerable experience in Firefighting, Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Security Forces Operations and Civil Engineering are also required. In addition, the contractor must provide qualified program managers, computer programming and network support personnel, technicians (lab, instrumentation and engineering), other R&D support and administrative support personnel. Other R&D support activities include fabricating test items (e.g. structures for blast testing) and prototypes for demonstrations. The Airbase Technologies Division covers a wide spectrum of activities that require research and development as well as mission support expertise and experience in the following research areas: 1. Reactive Materials: Develop chemical processes and passive or self-decontaminating materials that reduce recovery time and/or provide a significant improvement in removing, neutralizing or rejecting chemical, biological or industrial contaminants and/or in decontamination capabilities. Develop sensing, active and passive protection, and decontamination technologies for improved force protection at fixed and forward airbases. Develop systems for detecting and quantifying toxic materials or hazards (chemical, biological, radiological, and energetic). Provide technology for automated hazard warning/avoidance, neutralization or decontamination, and decontamination validation in operational areas and industrial sites. Develop technologies that are simple for airmen to maintain and operate, affordable, deployable, modular, and allow for rapid mobilization/demobilization, assurance of effective equipment and operational area decontamination and ability to continue shirtsleeve-environment operations. 2. Protection of Forces and Assets: Threat detection methods and technology for explosives, and radioactive/nuclear materials used in Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) including those deployed in vehicles, packages, cargo, and personnel. Develop new and adapt existing tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) utilizing threat detection methods and technology. Evaluate and characterize methods and models for materials, facilities, construction methods, and AF assets for explosives and explosive effects. Develop, evaluate, modify, and integrate new and commercial protective materials and technologies to mitigate blast, ballistic, and fragmentation effects from conventional and improvised explosive devices and munitions. Develop lightweight rapidly deployable personnel and aircraft shelters and protection systems for facilities and aircraft parking areas. 3. Airbase and Perimeter Defense: Develop methods, procedures, and tools for conducting airbase threat assessments and defining effective mitigation strategies. Develop, adapt, and integrate new/emerging technologies for use in force multiplication of airbase security operations. Develop and/or evaluate innovative advances in personnel, perimeter and area monitoring/surveillance technologies. Develop and/or evaluate novel intelligence/information/data fusion technologies to allow attack anticipation against airbase personnel/facilities. 4. Security Technologies: Identify and develop domestic and deployed base enhanced physical security capabilities. Develop and/or evaluate technologies to detect, analyze, and respond to radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats. Develop and/or evaluate technologies leading to innovative, low energy trace sample collection techniques/technologies for aerosol, vapor or residues in DOD shipped cargo. Develop and/or evaluate innovative advances in personnel, perimeter and area monitoring/surveillance technologies. 5. Airbase Operating Surfaces: Develop lightweight portable airfield evaluation technologies for surface and subsurface material characterization; expedient repair materials, equipment, and techniques for concrete and asphalt pavements; geopolymer concrete-like materials; heat resistant pavement materials, coatings, and processes; measurement and prediction in response to aircraft traffic and environmental loads; equipment or processes for conducting thermal shock testing on pavement materials; and autonomous systems for remotely assessing airfield pavement condition. 6. Energy & Reactor Systems: Develop innovative deployed energy and chemical reactor systems technologies to maximize mobility, reliability, and operating efficiency. Energy systems specific areas of interest include items such as: fuel reforming to produce hydrogen for fuel cell use, liquid fuel desulfurization, sulfur tolerant anode fuel cell, active and passive power generation, flexible solar cells, renewable energy, waste into liquid fuel conversion, waste to energy conversion, bio-energy and bio fuels suitable for deployed ground power, lightweight energy storage systems, power conditioning and distribution systems, and environmental control units. 7. Fire Fighting: Develop agents, systems, equipment and hardware for use in aircraft firefighting and rescue operations, airbase structural firefighting, weapons systems firefighting, hazardous materials incidents, and improved firefighter training. Develop DoD firefighting systems such as munitions protection and explosion mitigation. Specific areas of interest include development of environmentally compatible, operational and cost effective fire extinguishing agents, aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles/systems, fire detection/suppression systems, specialized rescue and personnel protective equipment, and training technologies. The objective is to enhance airbase and other DoD firefighting safety programs and training capabilities that significantly reduce fire extinguishing times, extract victims, and minimize damage/casualties. 8. Biofunctionalized Materials: Design, construct and understand materials that integrate biological molecules with inorganic support materials. Fundamental research should address molecular characterization of the bio/nano interface and understanding behavior of biomolecules fixed in solid state materials. Engineering research should address integration of biofunctionalized nanomaterials and composites with devices and practical supports, e.g. transducers, electrodes, fabrics. Research personnel must have experience managing and operating BSL 2 and BSL3 laboratories. 9. Operations Support: Provide mission support personnel with the experience and expertise to facilitate efficient and effective research operations. Operations support personnel will have experience and expertise in: information management and network support; technical media/information center management and operations; facilities management, operations and construction (electricians, carpenters, plumbers, and laborers); plans and programs; quality assurance and safety (hazardous material, ground and lab); logistics; financial management; graphics; vehicle maintenance and fleet management; metal fabrication and machining, large and small scale modeling, and tool making; instrumentation design and fabrication; heavy equipment operations; and administrative assistance. 10. Robotic Systems: Develop automation and intelligent system technologies for use in high threat areas, expeditionary and fixed airbase support, and homeland security. General areas of research include novel unmanned force protection technologies including civil engineering, explosive ordnance disposal, security forces, and airbase support operations. The Airbase Technologies Division also performs Systems Support through field evaluations, maintenance and repair, and training for airbase infrastructure and protection systems. For example, we anticipate establishing a Robotic Repair and Training Center that synergistically links robotic systems R&D with fielded prototypes. We intend to award a single contract for both R&D and Systems Support efforts; however separate awards will be considered if advantageous to the government. Responses Responses to this Sources Sought should describe in detail the vendor?s experience and expertise in operating and supporting Airbase Technologies? research and development activities. Firms responding to this notice should provide a capabilities package which indicates their business size in accordance with the size standard, company name, address, a point of contact and Federal CAGE Code. The capabilities package should be brief and concise, yet clearly demonstrate an ability to meet the stated requirements. Do not provide a standard company brochure, but a package which indicates experience and capabilities specific to the requirements identified in this notice. Potential teaming and/or subcontracting arrangements should be identified and responsibilities delineated. Responses are limited to 15 pages in length and must be received within 20 days of the posting of this announcement. The successful offeror to the Request for Proposal solicitation will be required to establish a Direct Support Group (DSG) at Tyndall AFB, FL. Additionally, the contractor will need to have the capability via a Supplemental Support Group (SSG) to subcontract work outside of the organization on a case by case basis. The successful offeror must show the capability to perform classified work, up to the Top Secret (TS/SCI) Level. It is anticipated the contract will be a Cost Plus Award Fee and is expected to have a base year with 5 one-year option periods. It is anticipated that this solicitation will be a total Small Business Set-Aside under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541712 and the corresponding size standard is 1,500 employees. The date for receipt of proposals is expected to be 45 days from the issuance of the solicitation. The release date for the solicitation is expected to be on or about 31 MAR 08. Points of Contact Contractual questions should be addressed in writing to Ms. Melissa Mullinax, Contracting Specialist, Phone (850) 283-8644, Fax (850) 283-8491, Email melissa.mullinax@tyndall.af.mil or Mr. Brian Stricker, Contract Specialist, Phone 850 283-8668, Fax 850 283-8491, Email brian.stricker@tyndall.af.mil. Technical questions should be addressed in writing to Ms Debra Richlin, Phone 850-283-6016, Email debra.richlin@tyndall.af.mil or to Capt John Mascelli, Phone 850-283-6234, Email john.mascelli@tyndall.af.mil.