A -- Mini-Compressors

Air Force Research Laboratory, Manufacturing Technology Division (AFRL/MLM) of the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate desires to issue a sources sought announcement to identify potential U.S. sources and gather information on current capabilities within the domestic market. This is not a request for competitive proposals; therefore, responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Companies that respond will not be paid for the information submitted except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in FAR 31.205-18, - Bid and Proposal Costs. Under the authority of Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA) (50 U.S.C. App. 2061 et seq.), the Title III Program Office, Air Force Research Laboratory, Manufacturing Technology Division (AFRL/MLM) is contemplating a procurement to establish a domestic manufacturing capability for the development and production of miniaturized refrigerant compressors for use in man-portable cooling, pilot cooling, and electronic equipment cooling systems. The envisioned miniaturized compressors will be manufactured for both military and commercial applications. Firms without domestic R&D and production capabilities are ineligible for any potential award. Title III of the Defense Production Act authorizes the Federal Government to provide appropriate incentives to develop, maintain, modernize, and expand the productive capacities of domestic sources for critical components, critical technology items, and industrial resources essential for the execution of the national security strategy of the United States. The principal role of Title III is to establish and maintain domestic production capacity for critical technology items and industrial resources essential to national defense. This is primarily achieved by providing incentives, which serve as a stimulus to domestic industry to create, expand, or preserve economically viable capabilities. This is accomplished in partnership with a supplier through the sharing of costs, risks, technical knowledge, decisions, information, and insight. Risk reduction is an important consideration in this partnership in that a Title III investment is only undertaken when it is determined that the private sector is either unwilling or unable to assume the risks associated with the creation of a targeted capacity. Under the authority of the DPA, any potential acquisition is restricted to sources with domestic R&D and production capabilities. The principal objective of this effort is to develop and qualify a miniature refrigerant compressor that can be integrated into military and commercial cooling systems. The successful awardee will seek to become a domestic market supplier of miniature compressors and achieve independent financial viability by addressing the needs of both government and commercial customers. The Title III Program Office is interested in developing a compressor that can generate a minimum of 300 watts of cooling capacity, weighs less than two (2) pounds, has a volume of less than 16 cubic inches, and can operate for a minimum of four (4) hours. Contractors unable to meet these minimum technical requirements should not respond to this announcement. The government contemplates this project will consist of multiple phases. In the initial phase, the contractor will document technical requirements and conduct a business case analysis. The Government anticipates awarding a follow-on multi-phase contract incorporating the results provided from the initial phase effort. Interested contractors should possess documented expertise and an existing capability in the development and production of miniature refrigerant compressor technologies. Contractors should identify their interest and capability to respond to any potential requirement by submitting the information required under Note 25. All submitted information should be limited to no more than 25 pages, one-sided, minimum font size 10 and should be sent to Michele Tritt, Contract Negotiator, Det 1 AFRL/PKMT, Area B, Bldg 167, 2310 8th Street, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7801 or via e-mail at michele.tritt@wpafb.af.mil by 14 December 2004 no later than 2:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Submittals via e-mail are preferred. A responder may request clarification in writing for any requirement that is unclear from Anita Bailey, Contracting Officer, Det 1 AFRL/PKMT at (937) 656-7197 or by sending an e-mail to anita.bailey@wpafb.af.mil. Technical questions regarding this sources sought announcement should be directed to Gene Himes, AFRL/MLMT at (937)-674-4356 or at gene.himes@wpafb.af.mil. Any requests for clarification must be received no later than seven (7) business days prior to the close of this sources sought announcement in order to receive a timely response. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. All routine communications regarding this announcement should be directed to the technical or contractual points of contact listed above. All responsible sources may submit information that shall be considered by the agency. See Note(s): 25.