A -- Special Notice - Request for Information (RFI), FY05 DUS&T Program Opportunity Areas

THIS IS A SPECIAL NOTICE TO ANNOUNCE PLANS AND PROVIDE AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UPCOMING FY05 DUAL USE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM (DUS&T) -- THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS. The Air Force does not intend to award a contract or assistance instrument on the basis of response(s) to this notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited. Response(s) will be treated as information only. The DUS&T Program is intended to provide industry with an opportunity to partner with the Air Force in the development of new dual use technologies that have military relevance; potential benefit (e.g., cost, performance or sustainability to defense systems); and sufficient commercial applications to support a viable production base. This is a cost share program wherein industry is generally required to provide at least 50% of the cost. Specific details pertaining to the cost share requirement will be provided in the forthcoming Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). Funding is contingent upon receipt of the FY05 appropriation from Congress. The Air Force has developed broad opportunity areas of technology to further develop. Industry is requested to recommend specific topics that would fall within the scope of the broad opportunity areas and meet the dual use objectives. Industry input may consist of meetings, abstracts, telephonic discussions, or any other forum or medium mutually agreeable to opportunity area members and industry. This process is designed to aid the Air Force in determining the best topics with dual use potential. The currently identified broad FY05 opportunity areas can be accessed at the web site www.afrl.af.mil/dualuse/. Input should be submitted directly to the point(s) of contact identified in each opportunity area. The due date for industry inputs is 1 Feb 2004. An Air Force BAA listing the resultant specific topic areas for the FY05 DUS&T Program is anticipated to be issued on or about 29 March 2004 and will be open to all. Offerors do not have to participate in the topic development process to submit a proposal. Offerors who participate in the topic development process will not be given preference during the evaluation of proposals submitted under the BAA. Technical questions shall be directed to the point of contact (POC) identified for each broad opportunity area. Additionally, assistance may be requested from the DUS&T Program Office by calling +1 (555) 000-0000, AFRL/XPTT, Mr. Richard Flake (contact@example.gov). PLANNED FY05 DUS&T SOLICITATION - The following schedule is anticipated: BAA release on or about 29 March 2004, with proposals due on or about 17 June 2004. Letters of notification will be mailed on or about 30 August 2004 to those offerors whose proposals are selected for negotiation and funding. Watch the website www.afrl.af.mil/dualuse for the BAA announcement and further details.