A -- Metals Affordability Initiative II (MAI II)

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (TIA) WITHOUT FURTHER SOLICITATION for - Metals Affordability Initiative II to the Metals Affordability Initiative Consortium. The Consortium is currently made up of the following members: Alcoa - Howmet Corporation, Allegheny Technologies, Inc, The Boeing Corporation, Brush Wellman, Inc., Carpenter Technologies Incorporated, General Electric Company, Honeywell Corporation, Ladish Co., Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman, PCC, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, Special Metals, Inc., and Timet. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/MLLM) intends to initiate award discussions with the intent to make a TIA award to the above indicated Consortium, presently Pratt & Whitney is the fiduciary agent or lead company. Pratt and Whitney facilitates a Program Office to support the Consortium. It is noted that as a Technology Investment Agreement (TIA), this Award is not subject to the requirements of the Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR). This Initiative is a joint effort of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate and the MAI Consortium; made up of raw material producers, component suppliers, designers, assemblers, and original equipment manufacturers. The MAI II initiative (FA8650-06-2-5211) was preceded by the MAI Core TIA (F33615-99-2-5215) initiative. This initiative is structured to facilitate the conduct of projects based upon the submittal and selection of submissions against Agreement Orders that set forth projects that will further the goals stated herein. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and PL98-94 shall be applied relative to required export restrictions. It is emphasized that you must be a consortium member or participate under the auspices of a consortium member in order to be eligible for participation under this program. All interested parties with uniquely relevant capabilities are welcome and invited to either seek membership in the Consortium or discuss participation with a consortium member. Non-Consortium Member participants in MAI Core have been large and small businesses as well as Universities. We encourage such organizations with relevant technological interests and capabilities to contact any of the consortium members indicated above. Contact points can be provided through the contact points set forth herein. The Air Force will consider on an equitable basis any and all relevant and properly supported requests for the addition of new members to the MAI Consortium. The make-up of the consortium must be consistent with the goals and objectives of MAI II with potential new members demonstrating some core competency or technical capability impacting the affordability of metal components or the metals supplier base that is otherwise unavailable within the time scale of the scope of the program and/or compliments same and / or is beyond the present technical capability, competency and expertise of the present consortium membership. Potential Consortium members must accept conformance to all existing MAI Consortium operating and procedural requirements. Interested parties desiring further information on participation or membership should e-mail the Air Force Contract point of contact set forth herein with any specific queries or requests. The Metals Affordability Initiative II (MAI II) is aimed at applying a collaborative effort to develop and implement revolutionary aerospace metals technologies and strengthen the aerospace metals industrial base by: 1) Meeting military priorities and defense needs consistent with AFRL long term challenges. 2) Building a supplier base that can provide critical turbine engine, airframe, and space components. 3) Achieving significantly lower cost. 4) Facilitating lead times much more responsive to U.S. military and commercial aerospace industry requirements. 5) Collaborating with industry partners to reduce life cycle costs. Benefits are expected to accrue for both military and commercial aerospace systems through the research and development undertaken between the consortium and the USAF. Air Force Points of Contact: Technical Program Manager: Dr. Mary Kinsella, AFRL/MLLMP, (937) 255-5347, e-mail: mary.kinsella@wpafb.af.mil. Contract Specialist: Ms. Rebecca Powers, Det 1 AFRL/PKMM (937-656-9092), e-mail: rebecca.powers@wpafb.af.mil. Agreements / Grants Officer: Mr. Terry L. Rogers, Det 1 AFRL/PKMM,(937) 656-9001, and fax (937) 255-6277, e-mail: terry.rogers@wpafb.af.mil. Other business opportunities for the Air Force Research Laboratory are available at www.fedbizopps.gov. Direct questions to the Agreements Officer point of contact identified in the announcement above, e-mails preferred.