Adaptive Resilient Engineered Structures - (ARES)

Amendment #2, Q&A: This amendment adds the questions posed to the Government and the Government answers to those questions. 1.0 Introduction Call number W911W6-20-R-0007, Adaptive Resilient Engineered Structures (ARES), solicits 6.3 Advanced Technology Demonstration to develop, integrate, and demonstrate structures advanced technologies to meet critical needs for Future Vertical Lift (FVL). Additional instruction and information can be found under the Master Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) W911W6-20-R-0009, which can be accessed at https://beta.sam.gov. 2.0 Background & Purpose Adaptive Resilient Engineered Structures (ARES) is a research and development program for 6.3 Advanced Technology Demonstration to develop, integrate, and demonstrate structures advanced technologies to meet critical needs for Future Vertical Lift (FVL). ARES will provide performance, efficiency, versatility, extreme environment reliability, and availability to enable mission success for manned/unmanned, multiple capability set FVL platforms in the contested environment of multi-domain operations (MDO). Specifically, ARES will develop and demonstrate adaptive, resilient structures technologies enabling MDO performance, efficiency, versatility, extreme environment reliability, and availability, culminating in a collaborative capstone demonstration. As the US Army pursues FVL initial operating capability and incremental upgrades for Future Advanced Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) and Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), the opportunity to leverage new aircraft platform designs and their incremental upgrades and to address developmental platform challenges (e.g. weight, performance, survivability, sustainment) have yielded a critical need for technology solutions that are not only revolutionary, but also critical for FVL mission success. ARES will develop, integrate, and demonstrate technology solutions, and will also develop the industry partnerships, functional technology transition paths, and support for or compatibility with airworthiness qualification required for FVL integration. During Government Fiscal Year (GFY) 21-22, ARES-selected Offerors will conduct trade studies for integrated FVL-focused platform structures technology solutions. Based upon the ARES trade study reports and a detailed cost proposal, the Government will fund one Offeror to continue development and demonstration of the technology solutions during GFY 23-26, using a modification to the selected Offeror's trade study funding instrument. 3.0 Scope of Research Effort The objective of the ARES tra4.0e study is to identify best-candidate, adaptive, resilient structures (and structures-associated) technologies and to define an ARES integrated technology demonstration. Identified technologies shall be assessed based on how well they enhance the performance, efficiency, versatility, extreme environment reliability, and availability of FVL MDO. The definition of the ARES integrated technology demonstration should be representative of FVL aircraft and should consider integration of the technologies with one another and with the system. Products expected to result from the execution of the ARES integrated technology demonstration include, but are not limited to, demonstration of developed technology solution to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, quantification of benefits, and plans for technology certification and FVL transition, with opportunities for enduring fleet upgrades. The Government will make a decision on continuation into the ARES integrated technology demonstration based upon the ARES trade study report and a detailed cost proposal, i.e., the ARES trade study report is both documenting the trade study and providing the proposal for development and demonstration. For ARES, - adaptive may refer to (but is not limited to) capability to intelligently alter or modify structural load paths, structural and aerodynamic load magnitudes, flight control laws, and/or, aircraft outer mold lines to achieve greater performance or system versatility than otherwise possible. Adaptive may also refer to capability in flight, or over the life of a system. - Resilient may refer to, but is not limited to, continued aircraft functionality while in damaged or degraded states due to environmental, operational, or hostile threats; resilience is a significant contributor to improved survivability and operational availability. - Structures encompass components that provide the strength, stiffness, and mechanical stability required for reacting, carrying, or transmitting loads or motions; greater structural capability (e.g., adaptivity and resilience) at lighter weight and lower cost (whether procurement, maintenance or life cycle costs) is desired. 4.0 Proposal Guidance Proposals must include: Appropriate FVL-representative baseline (specific and quantifiable, but quantitative values may be defined early in the ARES trade study effort) ARES metrics, e.g., weight, damage tolerance, operational availability, probability of kill given a hit, crashworthiness index, etc. Already-identified preliminary candidate technologies Approach to identify more/new technologies Approach to integrate technologies with one another and at the platform level Approach to define the ARES integrated technology demonstration to TRL 6 The proposed approach should consider many different factors. For example, MDO success attributes are critical, and these include performance, efficiency, versatility, extreme environment reliability, and availability for manned/unmanned, multiple capability set FVL platforms. An approach that increases FVL capability in the face of current and emerging MDO threats to aviation (environmental, operational, and hostile) is also important. Of course, weight is always a critical consideration, and multifunctionality is often a path to consider for greater capability at weight efficiency not otherwise obtainable. Approaches should also consider weight-neutral aircraft enhancements in terms of durability, resilience, adaptability, crashworthiness, maintainability, survivability, and affordability to increase capability and enable extended service life and minimize life cycle costs. FVL requirements and challenges are also important to both understand and consider. The approach should consider Rotorcraft Structural Integrity Program (RSIP) MIL-STD airworthiness qualification, as well as technology transition to FVL, with opportunities for enduring fleet upgrades. In addition, the starting TRL of technologies and their feasibility for maturation to TRL 6 within budget and schedule is important. Finally, it should be noted that relevant technologies or functionalities may be leveraged to benefit a system solution, via multifunctionality, even if not purely within the scope of structures development. Products expected to result from the ARES trade study, and to be documented in the ARES trade study report, include: ARES metrics ARES baseline, with substantiated values for all ARES metrics Documented process that details the identification and evaluation of technologies throughout the ARES trade study Documented process that developed the planned technology development, integration, and ARES integrated technology demonstration Plans for technology development, integration, and ARES integrated technology demonstration to TRL 6 Quantified, substantiated expected benefits in terms of the ARES metrics Planned approach to airworthiness qualification and FVL transition, with opportunities for enduring fleet upgrades Examples of technology enablers potentially contributing to ARES research and development include, but are not limited to: Lightweight, durable, and damage tolerant primary structure Novel structural concepts and methods consistent with the RSIP MIL-STD Morphing structures capable of improving aircraft structural and/or aerodynamic performance Modeling and simulation of aircraft structural loads, aerodynamic loads, and their interactions Damage-adaptive flight controls Crash energy attenuation / management to enhance air vehicle Full Spectrum Crashworthiness capability System vulnerability reduction to conventional threats Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) protection, to include low energy laser (LEL), high energy laser (HEL), high power microwave (HPM), and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons Crashworthy, ballistic tolerant fuel containment Detection and suppression of fuel and electrical fires Thermal management Vibration mitigation and other improvements to aircraft environmental systems Acoustic, radio frequency (RF), and infrared (IR) signature reduction Power and data distribution compliant with open architecture standards and objectives Innovative design and analysis methods that enable rapid iteration and implementation of structural concepts Active / adaptive responses to threats 5.0 Technical Objectives Technology Development Directorate - Aviation Technology research and development activities are guided by Aviation Science and Technology Strategic Plan Technical Objectives in various Technical Areas. The ARES technical requirement has been drafted such that proposed technology solutions will advance multiple Technical Objectives that are primarily or secondarily impacted by structures technology. Technical Objectives of interest are listed below. Primary Technical Objectives of Interest Durability and Damage Tolerance: Increasing the resistance to, and performance level in the presence of, structural damage; contributions achieved through tough, high strain capable structures; designing for repair and inspectibility; load and damage sensing; probabilistic integrity determination. Parasitic Weight: Reducing add-on, non-primary weight from mission enablers; contributions achieved through multifunctional structure, embedded components, application of composites, smart / adaptive structures, lightweight design, better understanding of variability effects on structural response. Structural Efficiency: Improving the specific load capability per pound of component structure; contributions achieved through structural concepts, loads prediction, static / dynamic stress analysis, prognostic, and embedded sensors. Stress / Load Prediction: Improving loads determination and stress prediction accuracy; contributions achieved through data mining, global to local stress prediction, non-linear analysis, control laws, embedded sensors, probabilistic methods, and improved understanding of failure initiation and progression. Secondary Technical Objectives of Interest Full-Spectrum Crashworthiness: Reduce occupant vulnerability to crash across a wide range of aircraft classes and terrains; measured by increased Crashworthiness Index (CI); contributions achieved through improved modeling, improved energy-absorbing fuselage design, full-scale drop tests, etc. Improved Conventional Threat Protection: Reduce aircraft and crew vulnerability to conventional threats at improved range (increased remaining velocity) and decreased weight penalty (lower areal density). Improved Energy Attenuating Devices: Reduce occupant fatalities and injuries and provide optimum aircraft/occupant protection through effective control and management of advanced energy attenuation subsystems, which are adaptive to full spectrum landing and crash impact conditions and a wide range of occupant sizes/weights and aircraft weights. Improved Self-sealing Fuel Systems: Improve self-sealing performance (with conventional and alternative aviation fuels) and weight reduction while maintaining crashworthiness. High Energy Threat Vulnerability: Reduce system-level vulnerability of aircraft and occupants to high-energy threats with no additional weight penalty; measured by reduced system-level probability of kill given a hit; contributions achieved through damage-adaptive flight controls, integration of laser protection, structural hardening, damage tolerant structural design, fire detection and suppression systems, MEP (avionics) hardening, etc. Multi-spectral Signature Reduction: Reduce system-level aircraft susceptibility through signature management in ultraviolet, visible, infrared and radio frequency spectral bands; measured by reduction in aircraft signature against a cluttered background; contributions achieved through thermal management, spectrally-tuned coatings, materials that absorb, scatter, or reflect energy in bands of interest, structural shaping, etc. Structural Component Development Time: Reduce the time required to design, fabricate, test, and evaluate a rotorcraft; contributions achieved through development of virtual prototype, virtual testing, IPPD, modeling and simulation, design of experiments, building block approach, probabilistic methods. Manufacturing Cost: Reduce the cost to fabricate a rotorcraft; contributions achieved through reduced labor and material cost, lean practices, virtual prototyping, quality, 6-sigma design for manufacturability. 5.0 Call Specific Instructions This call will use the Proposal Submission Process as described in W911W6-20-R-0009 Sections 5.2, as further supplemented below: 5.1 Proposal Instructions Specific instructions pertaining to the content and structure of proposals are provided in W911W6-20-R-0009 Sections 5.2.2 and 5.2.3. In addition to the content provided in W911W6-20-R-0009 Section 5.2.3, the Offeror shall provide the following: Volume 1 - Technical Proposal: Offerors shall define and substantiate the proposed ARES trade study and the technical approach to execute the ARES trade study, including its benefits relative to the ARES technical requirement and the Technical Objectives of interest. Technical proposals are limited to 35 pages total for this Call. Pages in excess of the page limitation will not be read or evaluated. The following are not subject to the page limitation: a. The official transmittal letter b. Cover page c. Table of contents and/or acronym table, if applicable d. Resumes of key personnel (include as a separate file) Volume 2 - Price/Cost Proposal: A variety of funding instruments, described in section 3.3 of the Master BAA, are available for award. The proposal must clearly state the desired funding instrument. Offeror's proposing use of a Technology Investment Agreement (TIA) shall include the draft TIA provided by the Government with the highlighted areas completed and any proposed changes clearly marked to facilitate Government evaluation. If a TIA or other cost share instrument is proposed, the total cost of the proposed effort (to include cost share) must be provided in the detail/format required by the Master BAA. 5.3 Period and Place of Performance Offerors should clearly depict their proposed schedule and place of performance for the trade study. The period of performance for the ARES trade study effort is anticipated to be 13 months total (including 3 months for data/ trade study report). The ARES trade study report must include a cost proposal for the ARES integrated technology demonstration. 5.4 Funding Funding is not presently available for this effort. Any award is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds for which payment for award purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are made available, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. Anticipated Government funding is approximately Government $10.75M total, with Government fiscal year distribution as follows: FY21 $3.0M, GFY22 $1.1M, GFY23 $0.7M, GFY24 $0.75M, GFY25 2.1$M, and GFY26 $3.1M. The Government anticipates three (3) awards beginning late in the 4th quarter of GFY21 (Sep 2021), with GFY21 $3.0M, GFY22 $0.2M to be divided among the anticipated three awards. Upon completion of the trade study effort, the Government plans to fund one Offeror to execute the ARES integrated technology demonstration, with GFY22 $0.9M, GFY23 $0.7M, GFY24 $0.75M, GFY25 2.1$M, and GFY26 $3.1M. TIAs, with a minimum of 50% cost share, are the desired funding instrument. 5.5 Government Facilities, Property, and Data It is the Offeror's responsibility to identify, coordinate, and furnish supporting documentation in the proposal for use of any Government furnished facilities, equipment, or property. Government furnished data cannot be guaranteed. Offerors must have access to or be capable of generating the data required to demonstrate and transition the proposed technology solution. 5.6 Security Performance will require access to and/or generation of technical data the export of which is restricted by the Arms Export Control Act (Title 22, U.S.C., Sec. 2751 e t. seq.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended, Title 50, U.S.C. App. 2401 et. seq. If classified data is expected to be generated in the course of an award, appropriate security clearances for key personnel and facilities should be substantiated. Prior to award, the successful Offeror will be required to provide an Export-Controlled DoD Data Agreement certification number issued in accordance with DoD Directive 5230.25. This certification number may be requested from the Defense Logistics Services Center, ATTN: DLSC-FBA Federal Center, Battle Creek, MI 49017-3084, Telephone 1-800-352-3572. Pre-award access to or submission of a classified proposal is not authorized. This Announcement is limited to US firms as Prime Participants / Contractors. Proposed efforts up to the collateral SECRET level will be considered for award. A Contract Security Classification Specification (DD Form 254) with appropriate classification guides will be applied to awards where applicable. 5.7 Data Rights The Government desires - Unlimited Rights in the technical data and software developed under any awarded funding instruments but at a minimum requires - Government Purpose Rights, as defined by DFARS Part 227, to all technical data, deliverables, and computer software developed under this program, and no limitations on the use of delivered and/or residual hardware, exempting background data assertions. It is the Offeror's responsibility to clearly define the proposed data rights for technical data, computer software, and each deliverable. Ambiguities will be negatively evaluated against the Offeror. 6.0 Required Reporting and Deliverables The award under this announcement will require a kickoff meeting and regular status meetings following award. The award will require delivery of the following data items / deliverables: (1) Management Plan; (2) Bi-Monthly Technical and Cost Reports; (3) Briefing Charts [e.g., for status and other meetings] and Special Technical Documents as appropriate; (4) ARES Trade Study Report; and (5) ARES Trade Study Final Briefing Charts. Each of these deliverables shall be delivered in the Offeror's format. All awards will include a requirement to present the results of the work in a final briefing at Ft. Eustis, VA or other Government specified location upon completion of all technical effort 7.0 Evaluation Criteria The criteria outlined in Section 6 of W911W6-20-R-0009 will be used to evaluate proposals submitted in response to this Call. 8.0 Government Furnished Information/Data 8.1 For the purposes of proposing to and executing a successful effort, the following Final Reports (Government Purpose Rights) are available to qualified Offerors upon request who have a current and valid Joint Certification Program (JCP) certification number. Your request for the supplemental package shall be emailed to the Government POCs and shall include your JCP certification number, CAGE code, a copy of your approved DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement and the provided Use and Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). If your organization does not have a JCP certification number, please refer to the following website for assistance: https://public.logisticsinformationservice.dla.mil/jcp/search.aspx Document Title / Distribution Statement / Controlling DoD Office / Technical Data Legend / Export Controlled (Y/N) Highly Durable Floor-Armor for Rotorcraft (HDFAR) / B / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR / Y Combat Tempered Aft Fuselage (CTAF) / B / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR / Y Integral Driveshaft Cover Antenna (IDCA) / B / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR / Y Nitrogen Inerted Sealing Structure (NISS) / B / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR / Y Blast Attenuating Aircraft Structure (BAAS) / B / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR / Y Hydrodynamic Ram Compliant Structure (HRCS) / B / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR / Y Shockwave Tolerant Rotorcraft Structures (STRS) / B / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR / Y Multifunctional Aircraft Technology for Survivability (MATS) / B / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR/Y Aircraft and Aircrew Protection - Phase 1 (A&AP-1) / B / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR/ Y Aircraft and Aircrew Protection - Phase 1 / C / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR /Y Integrally Armored Floor / B / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR* / Y Embedded Structural Aperture Technologies for Survivability (ESATS) Program / B / Technology Development Directorate - Aviation / GPR / Y *the Limited Rights addendum has been removed from the final report and the remaining report is GPR 8.2 The following are publicly available via internet search: MIL-STD-3063, Rotorcraft Structural Integrity Program (RSIP) RDECOM TR 12-D-12, Full Spectrum Crashworthiness Criteria for Rotorcraft 9.0 Additional Proposal Instructions Classified responses will not be accepted. Unclassified technical and cost proposals should be submitted electronically submitted through the DoD Safe Access File Exchange at https://safe.apps.mil/. Submissions through SAFE site require an email at least three business days prior to the due date with subject - Drop-off Request ARES to the Government POCs and a submission link will be provided. Responses should be provided in Microsoft Word or as a portable document format (*.pdf) file. In addition to other format, the cost proposal shall be provided in Excel format for cost verification purposes. Proposals shall be submitted to the following: thomas.j.verry.civ@mail.mil and kenneth.m.hood.civ@mail.mil. Questions shall be submitted in writing via email to thomas.j.verry.civ@mail.mil and kenneth.m.hood.civ@mail.mil. All questions must be submitted within 10 days prior to the Call closing date to ensure a response. All questions and responses received will be posted to beta.SAM.GOV as an amendment to the Call. Proposals received after the date and time specified for closing will be handled in accordance with FAR 52.215-1, Instructions to Offerors - Competitive Acquisition. Proposals shall be received not later than June 4, 2021; 2:00PM EST Request proposals include a validity date and request they be valid for a period of 7 months from the closing date of this Call. 10.0 Attachments 10.1 Technology Investment Agreement (TIA) Template 10.2 NDA Call W911W6-20-R-0007