DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS SPACE AND MISSILES CENTER (AFMC)
LOS ANGELES, CA

2 May 96

MEMORANDUM FOR All Offerors

FROM: SMC/TM
3550 Aberdeen Ave SE
Building 760
Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5776

SUBJECT: Airborne Laser (ABL) Program Definition and Risk Reduction Program
Request for Proposal F29601-96-R-0001

1. You are invited to submit a proposal that meets the requirements and objectives of the attached Request for Proposal (RFP) for the ABL Program Definition and Risk Reduction (PDRR) program. The ABL PDRR Period of Performance is 31 Jan 97 through 31 Mar 03.
The objectives of the ABL PDRR program are: (a) Design, develop, fabricate, integrate, test, and deliver an ABL PDRR aircraft for boost phase theater missile defense with residual operational capability that is scalable and traceable to full mission performance required by the Air Combat Command Operational Requirements Document. (b) Finalize planned Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) system design based on PDRR lessons-learned and results of adjunct mission studies. (c) Procure long lead hardware for EMD.

2. Your proposal will be evaluated using the procedures of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, FAR 15.6 and Air Force FAR Supplement Appendix AA, as supplemented. One contract award will be made to the offeror whose proposal conforms to the solicitation requirements, who is deemed responsible under FAR procedures; and who, based upon the Source Selection Authority's integrated assessment, demonstrates the technical, management, and financial capabilities necessary to meet the program objectives. This integrated assessment will examine the offeror's potential for successfully meeting the requirements contained in the Technical Requirements Document (TRD) and complying with the criteria identified in Section M of the RFP in a manner most advantageous to the Government. Please note: as stated in the Notice of Contract Action synopsis of 9 Apr 96, the Government anticipates that the contractors participating in the ABL Concept Design contracts will be the only responsible sources capable of successfully competing for the PDRR contract. However, any responsible proposal submitted in reply to this solicitation will be evaluated.

3. Performance based contracting and integrated product and process development techniques will be used for the acquisition and administration of the PDRR contract. A government generated Statement of Objectives articulates the Government's overarching program objectives and is included in the RFP. Top level performance requirements for the ABL weapon system are stated in the ABL Technical Requirements Document (TRD). No MIL SPECs or MIL STDs are included as requirements. Offerors will define the PDRR program, and will propose utilizing best relevant commercial or contractor practices. Each offeror will use the Statement of Objectives, Technical Requirements Document, and Contractor Work Breakdown Structure to develop an Integrated Task and Management Plan (ITAMP) which will include traditional Statement of Work taskings. The ITAMP will be used to manage the program contractually, and will include tasks, events, accomplishments, accomplishment criteria and narratives.

4. Your dialogue on the three draft RFPs and the draft evaluation standards were appreciated and contributed significantly to making the final RFP a much better product. The responses to the last series of offeror comments and questions are found on the ABL home page at the following world wide web address: http://www.plk.af.mil/PLhome/TM/tm.html. In addition, the full text of all required clauses/provisions is also included on the home page. To the maximum extent possible, offerors will structure the proposed PDRR program to minimize government funding exposure prior to the first Authority to Proceed (ATP) decision following the PDRR Preliminary Design Review (PDR). A second ATP decision will review the program's readiness to enter the final stages of PDRR and to procure advanced material for EMD. Both ATP decisions will be made by the Air Force Acquisition Executive with the advice and consent of the Overarching Integrated Product Team and the Defense Acquisition Executive.

5. Concurrent with the release of this RFP, HQ USAF, HQ AFMC, HQ ACC, SMC, and ASC are being advised that a source selection action is in progress, and that briefings by participating offerors on the content and structure of your response to this RFP are inappropriate during the period from RFP release to award of the PDRR contract. Recipients of this RFP are therefore advised not to attempt such briefings during this period.

6. The revised ABL Technical Requirements Document (TRD) is classified SECRET NOFORN and will be forwarded under separate cover along with the ABL Security Classification Guide, and the ABL Program Protection Plan. The TRD contains Militarily Critical Technology List (MCTL) data which is controlled under the Export Control Act. Only contractors on the Qualified Contractors Access List (QCAL) may receive this controlled data. To request a copy of these documents, please submit to the Contracting Officer, a written request which defines your need to obtain these documents. It must be signed by your Facility Security Officer verifying the level of storage capability and facility clearance. In addition, please provide your classified mailing address.

7. Offeror's proposals are due Noon (MDT), 9 Jul 96. They should be sent to Mrs Mary Jackson, Contracting Officer, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue SE, Hangar 760, Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5776. Volume VI, Past Performance, should arrive at the above address no later than Noon (MDT), 10 Jun 96.

8. You are encouraged to communicate any questions concerning this acquisition to the Procuring Contracting Officer, Mrs Mary Jackson at (505) 846-2928. An Ombudsman has been established for this acquisition (see Section L-1). The Ombudsman is Colonel James D. Ledbetter, Phillips Laboratory Vice Commander at (505) 846-4964, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5776. Please use the established channels to request information, pose questions, and voice concerns before resorting to the use of the Ombudsman.

9. On behalf of the United States Air Force, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to industry for superb responsiveness, honest and open dialogue, and conduct which consistently reflected the highest levels of integrity expected by our nation.

RICHARD D. TEBAY, Colonel, USAF
System Program Director
Airborne Laser Program

Attachment
RFP F29601-96-R-0001