Sandpiper Program

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT TO DESIGN AND DEVELOP A DEPLOYABLE FULLY-INTEGRATED UAS CAPABILITY UNDER THE SANDPIPER PROGRAM. This is a pre-solicitation synopsis which is not a request for competitive proposals. The current Leonardo/Sandpiper payload enhances the state of the art on small Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) by providing fully-integrated small Unmanned Air System (UAS) capability consisting of Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV), SAR coherent change detection payload, C2, and a ground station for mission operations and data processing/exploitation. Efforts include mission operations and ground segment and development and testing, payload development and UAV integration and test, signal processing and data exploitation, end to end system flight testing and performance assessment, and risk reduction efforts to support OCONUS evaluation and future rapid deployment of Sandpiper capabilities. The specific Statement of Objectives (SOO) for the requested "add work" of the Sandpiper are listed below: 1. Design and develop a deployable fully-integrated UAS capability consisting of: UAV, CCD and EO/IR payload; C2 and data relay, and a ground station for mission operations and data processing/exploitation. The effort should include a suitable number of UAV/payloads to support required revisit rates and mission endurance as well as UAV attrition/repair. 2. Using CONUS flight test results and information from other OEF-deployed systems mature the Sandpiper Ku band SAR payload to achieve sponsor-provided requirements and high-production/low-cost objectives to support rapid, large-scale deployment. 3. The effort will assess and develop risk mitigation strategies to provide suitable CENTCOM/sponsor operational performance relative to current and evolving threats. 4. The effort will support the development and deployment of 5 Sandpiper systems, with 5 aircraft/system, for OCONUS operational utility assessment including system operations, training/logistics and sparing requirements over a 120 to 150-day evaluation period. 5. This SAR Payload should be less than 8 lb and integrated onto small Tier two UAV. 6. The system must be ready for deployment by April 2010 with a 12 month period of performance. The period of performance for the procurement is anticipated to be around 12 months. The estimated award amount is $30M (this includes options). Offerors who are capable of meeting the requirements stated above shall fully identify their interest and submit, in writing, information documenting their qualifications and capabilities to meet the requirements stated above by 08 Jan 2010 (23 days from publication of this synopsis. This documentation shall specify the offeror's area of expertise and experience. Responses received after 08 Jan 2010 or without the required information will be considered non-responsive to the synopsis, and will not be considered. Direct all questions pertaining to this acquisition to the contracting point of contact. Only one responsible source per capability of interest and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements as per the authority under 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). All responsible sources may submit information, which shall be considered by the agency. Any information received for this this Notice of Contract Action will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The technical POC (if unable to contact the Contracting POC) is Capt. Jose Gonzalez, AFRL/RYAR, phone (937) 255-5668 x4034, e-mail: Jose.Gonzalez@wpafb.af.mil, or Lt. Yohannes Aregawi, AFRL/RYAR, phone (937) 255-6427 x4216, e-mail: Yohannes.Aregawi@wpafb.af.mil.