The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Information Exploitation Office (IXO), intends to award a Sole Source contract to the Boeing Company - Advanced Systems, Huntington Beach, CA for continuation of Forester/A160 Hummingbird integration and ground/flight test research activities. Current Forester/A160 research activities (through Phase 3A) are being performed by the Boeing Company under DARPA Agreement No. MDA972-03-9-0004. Under Agreement MDA972-03-9-0004, Boeing is supporting DARPA in development of the A160 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) helicopter and in developing approaches for integration of complex payloads including the DARPA Foliage Penetration (FOPEN) Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Tracking and Engagement Radar (FORESTER). Boeing?s activities under the current DARPA Agreement include aerodynamic and mechanical analyses to ensure the FORESTER antenna will not degrade the A160 performance and handling, development of hardware and software interface control documents and integration plans for installing the FORESTER payload onto the A160 air vehicle and FORESTER ground components into the A160 ground control station, and development of A160 control laws that will enable the A160 to station-keep to the accuracy required for FORESTER operation. The subject Phase 3B sole source contract will require Boeing, over a one year period, to install the FORESTER payload onto the A160, conduct ground vibration tests and electromagnetic compatibility tests, and fly the A160 with the FORESTER onboard to verify radar operation. The Phase 3B effort is a logical follow-on to the on-going research effort being conducted by Boeing under Agreement No. MDA976-03-9-0004. The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 6.302-1 ?Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.? As the developer of the A160 Hummingbird, Boeing possesses unique knowledge, capabilities and proprietary intellectual property/data required to carry out the required research effort. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation is currently available. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. Responses/proposals received within forty-five (45) days after date of publication of this notice will be considered by the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open basis is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to meet the requirements by submitting a white paper and past performance data by no later than 15 January 2007 to Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Attn: Mr. Michael D. Blackstone, Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 or via email to [email protected]. Questions shall be submitted to the above email address. Please refer to Numbered Note 22.

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