Broad-Spectrum Engineered Materials (BSEM)

This is a Sources Sought Notice for the purpose of conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet Air Force needs in the identification, scientific research, exploratory development, testing, and implementation of a series of broad-spectrum engineered materials. Examples of the types of materials to be developed, studied and utilized include nanostructured materials, biological materials, composite materials, hybrid materials, thermal materials and thermal sciences. This notice is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for information solicited. The objective of the Broad-Spectrum Engineered Materials (BSEM) program is to perform research and development and technology transition (RD&T) in the areas of nanostructured materials, biological materials, composite materials, hybrid materials, thermal sciences, and thermal materials. Most of the work under the BSEM program will be conducted on-site in the Nonmetallic Materials Division, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The RD&T will also include the evaluation of new and/or modified broad-spectrum engineered materials and the development of new/improved laboratory test procedures, analytical and modeling techniques for materials performance determination and characterization. These unique advanced engineering materials are subsequent candidates for use in air and space, as well as existing Air Force assets and weapon system applications. Technical efforts under the program include, but not limited to: (1) research and development, (2) technical studies and analyses, (3) concept development and validation, (4) technical and test requirements development and analysis, (5) cost-benefit analysis, (6) systems design, fabrication, and assembly, and (7) engineering and integration. The following are representative of the issues and technologies that may be addressed in the program for critical Air Force applications: (a) Perform RD&T of nanostructured material systems to include modeling, research and exploratory development, fabrication, characterization, application and device integration and evaluation. (b) Perform RD&T of biomimetrics and biomaterials to include genetic manipulation, synthesis, characterization, application and device integration and evaluation. (c) Perform RD&T of metamaterials research and exploratory development for Air Force applications. (d) Perform RD&T of composite and hybrid materials for adaptive and active structural and multifunctional structural applications. (e) Perform RD&T of insertion tools and technologies for composite and hybrid materials used in structural and multifunctional structural applications. (f) Perform RD&T of hybrid materials for extreme environments for structural and multifunctional structural applications. (g) Perform RD&T of multifunctional composite and hybrid materials for Air Force applications. (h) Perform RD&T of advanced coolants for high performance heat exchangers through the use of analysis, modeling and experimentation. (i) Perform RD&T of materials for directionally tailored thermal management control of special interest for directed energy and satellite applications. (j) Perform RD&T of thermal interface engineering to provide material solutions for sliding contacts to control thermal stability, tribological adaptation, and heat flow of contact interfaces in high temperature applications. (k) Perform RD&T of novel high thermal conductivity materials for critical Air Force applications. (l) Perform RD&T of multiscale and experimentally validated high fidelity thermal transport modeling tools. (m) Perform RD&T of state-of-the-art surface science capabilities for thermal management and Air Force applications. Interested parties are invited to submit a Statement of Capabilities (SOCs) reflecting their interest and capability in meeting the above requirements. Information submitted should be pertinent and specific in the technical areas under consideration as outlined above, and on each of the following qualifications: (1) Experience - provide an outline of projects, specific work previously performed, or any-in house research and development effort or similar type work that is currently being performed. (2) Personnel - provide the names, professional qualifications and specific experience of scientists, engineers, and technical personnel (i.e. principal investigator, project officer) who may be assigned to perform in the technical areas under consideration. (3) Facilities - provide availability and description of special facilities required to perform in the technical areas under consideration. (4) Security - provide a statement regarding industry security clearance. (5) Other - provide any other specific and pertinent information as it pertains to this particular area of procurement that would enhance our consideration and evaluation of the information submitted. Please include the following information with your response: name and address of firm, point of contact and telephone number, business size (i.e. large, small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), women-owned, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone, HBCU/MI - historically black colleges and universities/minority institutions). Statements of Capabilities are due electronically to the Air Force no later than 18 Dec 2008, and shall be forwarded to the following e-mail address: michael.gromman@wpafb.af.mil. Address contractual questions to Michael G. Grommon, Contract Negotiator, (937) 255-2747, michael.grommon@wpafb.af.mil, and technical questions to Daniel S. Powers, Project Engineer, (937) 255-3068, daniel.powers@wpafb.af.mil.