A -- Low Cost Assessment Target (LCAT)

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is seeking to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification, (Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Institutions (MIs), HUBZone, 8(a), small, small disadvantaged, or service-disabled veteran-owned small business) relative to North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code 541710, Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (size standard of 1,000 employees) in support of the Targets and Countermeasures Directorate (MDA/DET) Low Cost Assessment Target (LCAT) Program. The original synopsis, DET-06-001, was issued with the understanding the Government would provide facilities for the effort. Because the Government has learned that they may not be able to provide those facilities, this synopsis is being reissued to broaden the market research to find possible sources that can provide those facilities until such time that the activities can be transitioned to Government provided facilities. The Government can not predict at this time when that transition might occur, but anticipates as long as two years may be possible. MDA/DET is conducting market research of those firms mentioned above that have prior experience demonstrating their capability to design, develop, fabricate, maintain, integrate and test target missile systems and instrumentation packages, and provide services for launching low fidelity ballistic missile targets to demonstrate Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) asset readiness for major tests, the cost of which typically ranges from $250,000 to $2 Million, dependent upon system complexity. It is envisioned that all activities associated with the manufacturing, major testing, and integration would be in the Huntsville, AL area, but the contractor may propose an alternate site if that alternative would be in the Government?s best interest. These systems will support multiple unique customers at different ranges with varying missile configurations. The target missile systems/test and launch requirements include: 1) Utilization of excess government furnished property (GFP) rocket motors, aft skirts and fin sets along with existing hardware such as interstage rings and use of existing mature technology to fabricate needed material, integrate and successfully launch the target missiles. Some target system configurations may require the fabrication of interstages, skirts and fin sets. If, after analysis of requirements and considering available GFP motors and other assets, it is determined that these assets can not meet requirements, the contractor would make a recommendation for commercial motor(s) as alternative solutions. 2) Requested missiles will normally be flown unguided and without a flight termination system (FTS) from rail launchers at a number of different launch sites such as WSMR, VAFB, PMRF, and Pt Mugu. For some missions, it is expected that a supplemental system will be required to minimize launch dispersions or to stay inside a very highly restricted launch corridor. 3) A number of separation planes on the mission/test article based on the number of rocket motors. 4) Separation systems to reduce tip off rates. 5) Requirements for the encryption of data. 6) Articles in the field of regard to include the nose cone, attitude control/payload section, items ejected as payload, and spent rocket motor(s). 7) Attitude control/payload section with or without a spent rocket motor attached could be required to hold attitude, tumble, roll, ordnance initiation devices, etc. at prescribed mission times or altitudes. 8) Selected sections such as the nose cone and attitude control/payload section would usually require an instrumentation and telemetry system to provide position, velocity, roll rate, and attitude data for collection 9) Additional instrumentation in the form of pressure transducers, thermocouples, accelerometers, etc. may be required based on specific mission needs. 10) Redstone Technical Test Center (RTTC), Redstone Arsenal, AL will be utilized for all major testing such as environmental, temperature cycling, etc. All efforts will be closely coordinated with the government and their selected support contractors to accomplish mission objectives. This Request for Information (RFI) seeks to identify those firms that have the ability to meet the above requirements. This RFI does not in any way constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), and as such, shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice, or otherwise pay for proposal preparation costs supporting submission of a response to this RFI. Sources possessing the capabilities to satisfy these requirements are invited to submit an unclassified capability paper. The paper should be at least five (5) pages and not more than ten (10) pages on 8.5 x 11 inch paper with font no smaller than 12 point, one inch margins in a Microsoft Word or Adobe file format. Each page of the submission shall contain the document identifier in the document header. Respondents should label any information contained in the paper that is considered proprietary. The paper should include/address the following: The name of the organization, point of contact, disclosure of type/size business status, and information in relation to the following review criteria: (1) The contractor must be a United States corporation, educational, or business entity. This acquisition will not be open to participation by foreign firms at either the prime or subcontract level. (2) Technical approach or concept to fabricating required material, manufacturing, testing and integrating low cost fidelity targets, supporting test range requirements and providing target launch services, (3) Capability to provide the necessary design, development and verification of equipment to help reduce the target system launch dispersion footprint for longer range missions or when the mission requires a tightly controlled corridor, (4) Relevant experience with low cost fidelity targets, and (5) Relevant personnel, equipment and facilities for target missile systems manufacturing, integration and testing. The preferred place of performance is the Huntsville, AL area, including equipment for this requirement and if the proposed facility is owned or leased, but the contractor may propose an alternate site with adequate justification. Any contractor providing proprietary responses must be either willing to authorize disclosure of these responses to the MDA/DET SETA contractor, Teledyne Solutions, Inc., or make other appropriate confidentiality agreements prior to responses being submitted. Personnel must possess a secret security clearance; MDA/DET anticipates secret facilities and secret safeguarding requirements. Responses to this notice must be received on or before 1530 hours, November 13, 2006. Provide one electronic copy to Missile Defense Agency, ATTN: MDA/DACT/Ms. Shirley Wilkes, PO Box 1500, Huntsville, AL 35807. One electronic copy should not be write protected. Contractors may provide two electronic copies if they would like to write protect one version. All requests for further information must be in writing via email; telephone requests for additional information will not be honored. Requests for additional information and/or responses shall be forwarded to Ms. Shirley Wilkes, Contract Specialist, at shirley.wilkes@mda.mil. Based on responses received, any future requirement may be considered for an HBCU/MI set-aside under DFARS Part 26 or Small Business set-aside under FAR Part 19.