R&D Contracting Directorate, Bldg 7, 2530 C Street, WPAFB OH 45433- 7607

A -- HIGH RESOLUTION REAL-TIME RADIOSCOPIC EVALUTATION AND CHARACTERIZATION. PART 1 OF 2 SOL PRDA NO. 96-30-MLK DUE 100296 POC Jeanette Snyder, Contract Negotiator, (513) 255-5830 or Terry L. Rogers, Contracting Officer, (513) 255-5830. NOTICE: THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS IN TWO PARTS. PART 1 OF 2 PARTS: A--INTRODUCTION: Wright Laboratory (WL/MLKM) is interested in receiving proposals (technical and cost) on the research and development effort described below. Proposals in response to this Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA) shall be submitted by October 02, 1996, 1500 hours, local time, addressed to Wright Laboratory, Directorate of R&D Contracting, Area B, Building 7, 2530 C Street, ATTN: Jeanette Snyder, WL/MLKM, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7607. This is an unrestricted solicitation. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation. Proposals shall be submitted in accordance with this announcement. Proposal submission after the cutoff date and time specified herein shall be treated in accordance with restrictions of FAR 52.215-10, a copy of this provision may be obtained from the contracting point of contact. There will be no other solicitation issued in regard to this requirement. Offerors should be alert for any PRDA amendments which may be published. The announcement may be amended to provide for subsequent dates for submission of proposals. Offerors should request a copy of the WL Guide entitled ''PRDA & BAA Guide for Industry.'' This guide was specifically designed to assist offerors in understanding the PRDA/BAA process. Copies may be requested by telefax from the contracting office cited in this announcement, telefax (513) 255-9217. B--REQUIREMENTS: (1) Technical Description: Film-based radiography for nondestructive inspection is a proven technique. However, film is expensive to purchase, process, and store. In addition, film processing involves the use of hazardous chemicals which must be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner. In recent years, a number of filmless, digital radioscopic concepts have been successfully demonstrated. At the same time, the state-of-the-art (SOA) of various areas of supporting technology, such as image analysis, database management, and networking have advanced to the point that data manipulation, image transmission and remote access have changed from esoteric to routine, thus providing more potential avenues for capability improvements. The primary objective of this effort is to provide the Air Force with an efficient and cost effective real time, digital radioscopic alternative to x-ray film-based systems with equivalent or better performance characteristics (i.e., spatial resolution, dynamic range, contrast sensitivity, defect sensitivity, reliability), while at the same time allowing for direct digital data acquisition, analysis, storage and retrieval. This effort shall build on the successful development and demonstration of digital radioscopic prototype equipment developed by industry and/or through Air Force sponsored efforts, that have already achieved the level of product demonstration. For example, under USAF Contract # F33615-91-C-5623 (Lockheed Martin Palo Alto Advanced Technology Center), a High Resolution Real Time Radioscopic (HRRTR) prototype system has been constructed that possesses similar image quality to radiographic film: spatial resolution (10 line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm) for a 4x4 in. field-of-view (FOV), i.e., 5.6 in. diagonal, and 6.7 lp/mm for a 6x6 in. FOV, i.e., 9 in. diagonal), similar contrast sensitivity (1% density discrimination), and an enhanced dynamic range (4000:1). However, the HRRTR system produces digital pictures over a period of approximately 10-20 seconds, substantially faster (and less expensively) than film techniques and the subsequent film development process. On the other hand, the HRRTR approach is somewhat slower than the video frame rates of the x-ray image intensifier camera systems currently in use at the Air Logistics Centers (ALCs). At the ALCs there are some applications that require high inspection throughput (preferably video rates) such as full coverage inspections of honeycomb structures for anomalous conditions (i.e., damaged honeycomb, moisture in honeycomb cells, corrosion, core/skin disbonds). Currently there is no ''real time'' system at the ALCs that can provide the high quality of radiographic film for detection of these types of anomalies. Frequently extended exposures (i.e., a frame in 4-8 seconds through averaging or accumulation of many video frames) of the x-ray image intensifier are required to improve anomaly detectability. A higher spatial resolution system that limits the need for these extended exposures yet further enhances anomaly detectability is required to assure reliable rapid inspections of these structures. The system must also maintain a similar FOV to the image intensifiers currently used (i.e., 6x6 in., 9 in. diagonal). Additionally, there is a need to have better density and thickness discrimination as well as higher spatial resolution when inspecting aircrafts for potential anomalies in internal, tight assemblies, especially corrosion and cracking at lap joints, door frames, rainbow fittings, air inlet ramps, ramp tubes and many others. Due to the current size of the sensors, the HRRTR system is best used outside of the aircraft (i.e., in a mode where the sensor is used to scan over large horizontal or vertical structures such as stabilizers). Therefore, the sensor technology needs to be modified to meet these requirements for a wide range of geometries. It is critical that these sensors have the quality of radiographic film and yet still can fit into small spaces (i.e., thin sensors that can be easily moved and positioned into discrete locations). The solution to all these problems is not necessarily a single sensor. A wide range of configurations with different optics and/or different detection devices is anticipated. Also, one common need is to be able to work with existing x-ray sources at the ALCs. An enhanced real time digital radioscopic imaging system will overcome many of these deficiencies, while providing faster, more accurate, lower cost, and safer methods for acquiring and analyzing radioscopic information. The overall program shall be directed at the further enhancement of an already demonstrated radioscopic imaging system that incorporates advanced x-ray source(s) and/or detector technology, and integrates advanced SOA computer equipment and data processing methods to digitally capture, analyze, display and manage radioscopic images and associated records. The proposed system shall be portable, and shall be designed in a manner which allows maximum flexibility in terms of component modularity, upgrade capability, and ease of use. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system, the offeror shall present side by side quantified comparisons showing the results obtained from the proposed system and other SOA technologies, including conventional film radiography. To demonstrate the cost savings associated with the elimination of film-based systems requirements/by products such as film processing chemicals, waste and storage requirements, the offeror shall compare total inspection costs (including setup time and exposure-to-viewing cycle times) of the proposed system and other SOA technologies, including conventional film radiography.This program shall consist of three successive tasks. It is recognized that it is highly unlikely that any single system will be able to meet all Air Force requirements, thus multiple contract awards are possible. Based on the evaluation criteria, as well as the particular technical requirements for the functional areas being addressed by the offerers, some awards will consist of all three tasks, whereas some will only be for selected task(s). Proposals shall be separated into individual tasks and each task shall be priced separately, so portions of the proposal can be bought. Offerors proposing multiple approaches shall price separately each task in each approach. The three tasks are: (1) Prototype Enhancement/Optimization, (2) Enhanced Prototype Evaluation/Validation, (3) Depot NDE System Integration Strategy/Functional Tests. TASK 1. PROTOTYPE ENHANCEMENT/OPTIMIZATION: In this task, an enhanced prototype(s) shall be fabricated with the capability to perform the target inspections. The prototype technology configuration(s) are to be optimized to function as an integral part of an existing overall NDE System for evaluation. Emphasis shall be on the use of already demonstrated technology for which pre-prototypes are now available. Further development, modification, and/or adaptation of already demonstrated x-ray source(s), detector technology, data processing methods and archiving, and computer equipment shall only be necessary if shown to be needed to produce an enhanced system that will meet/exceed the program's objectives. Methodologies that allow panning or real time scanning capabilities, as well as the ability for the Air Force to incorporate the system with existing x-ray source(s) and gantry movement systems installed in the ALCs and in the field shall be evaluated. Detector size (dimensions, FOV) shall be evaluated to assess the ability to use the enhanced system on a variety of structures (agreed to prior to evaluation and based upon input from a variety of Air Force users), both on and off of the aircraft. Test articles necessary for contractor demonstration of prototype technology performance enhancements shall be provided by the contractor. These test articles shall be consistent with full-scale airframe structures and aircraft components in terms of materials, configurations, and locations and types of anomalous conditions so that a preliminary assessment of the mechanical configuration(s) and the types of manipulations required of the full-scale prototype handling system(s) can be made. Prior to the end of Task 1, the contractor shall provide a written discussion justifying the readiness, affordability and supportability of the proposed prototype system(s) for the Task 2 effort and a descriptive plan for Task 2. At the end of Task 1, if required by limited available resources, a down-selection shall be made to reduce the number of prototypical systems that enter the Enhanced Prototype Evaluation/Validation effort in Task 2. The evaluation criteria for the down selection is as follows: demonstrated system performance and associated image processing and data manipulation capabilities, projected reliability and potential for eventual cost savings to the Air Force. END OF PART 1. (0234)

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