Directed Energy Technology Experimentation Research Deter Advanced Research Announcement Ara Open Announcement

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Advanced Research Announcement Ara Fa9451 21 S 0001 Directed Energy Technology Experimentation Research Deter Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate Initial 8 February 2021 Naics Code The Naics Code For This Acquisition Is 541715 For Research And Development In The Physical Engineering And Life Sciences Except Nanotechnology And Biotechnology And The Small Business Size Standard Is 1 000 Employees Federal Agency Name Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Phillips Research Site Kirtland Afb Nm Afrl Rd Ara Title Directed Energy Technology Experimentation Research Announcement Deter Ara Type This Is An Open Ara With Calls Initial Announcement Ara Number Fa9451 21 S 0001 Program Summary This Is An Open Ara Announcement Pursuant To The Authority Of 10 U S C 2373 Afrl Rd Is Interested In Receiving White Papers And Proposals Through A Two Step Process To Perform Research And Development R Amp D Modeling And Simulation M Amp S Design Component Subsystem Prototype Risk Reduction Fabrication Purchase Assembly Integration And Testing Of Directed Energy Source Components To Include Spares And Alternate Component Technologies And Or Systems And Any Required Accessories Materials And Supplies For Laboratory Research And Experimentation And Field Trials In A Relevant Environment To Demonstrate System Capabilities Dialogue Between Prospective Offerors And Government Representatives Is Strongly Encouraged Note Afrl Rd Reserves The Right To Collapse A White Paper Two Step Into A One Step If The Situation Warrants The White Paper Contains Sufficient Technical Detail To Do Full Technical Proposal Evaluation Instead Of White Paper Evaluation Please See The Attached Deter Industry User Guide For Guidance On Definitions Processes Submission Requirements And Evaluation Criteria Background Afrl Rd Equips The Joint Warfighter With Next Generation Technologies Advanced Concepts And Weapon System Options Across All Operational Domains To Become More Agile And Increase The Commercialization Potential Of Directed Energy Investments To Ensure The National Defense This Solicitation Intends To Use Acquisition Authorities Provided By 10 U S C 2373 This Authority Applies To Acquisition Of Items Related To Ordnance Signal Chemical Activity Transportation Energy Medical Space Flight And Aeronautical Supplies Including Parts And Accessories And Designs Thereof That Are Necessary For Experimental Or Test Purposes In The Development Of The Best Supplies That Are Needed For The National Defense Consequently White Papers And Proposals Should Address How The Proposed Effort Provides Benefits To The National Defense And A Strategy For Verifying Those Intended Benefits The Proposed Solutions Should Be Innovative And Substantially Improve National Defense Capabilities Across The Domains Of Directed Energy While The Government Describes Discrete Topic Areas Below It Also Anticipates That Certain Comprehensive Technology Solutions And Prototypes May Require Multidiscipline Approaches That Address Two Or More Topic Areas The Topic Areas Are Covered Under This Announcement Which May Be Used In Any Combination The Government Reserves The Right To Add Delete Or Modify The Topic Areas As Necessary Communication Between Prospective Offerors And Government Representatives Dialogue Between Prospective Offerors And Government Representatives Is Strongly Encouraged Throughout The Life Of This Ara However Communication Will Be Limited Once Full Proposals Are Submitted For Evaluation Review Prospective Offerors Are Welcome To Request Sit Downs And Provide Demonstrations Of Their Capabilities Discussions Shall Not Constitute A Commitment By The Government To Subsequently Fund Or Award Any Proposed Effort No Guidance Related To Technical Approach Will Be Given However Questions Related To The Objectives Of The Effort Or Prior Similar Efforts May Be Answered Offerors Are Advised That Only Contracting Officers Are Legally Authorized To Contractually Bind Or Otherwise Commit The Government This Will Be A Hybrid Announcement This Announcement Has An Open Request For White Papers As Described Below Calls May Be Issued Under This Announcement For Discrete Requirements Call Types Can Vary And May Include But Are Not Limited To One Step Two Step Open Closed Staggered Limited Calls Or Any Combination Therein Afrl Rd Reserves The Right To Collapse A White Paper Two Step Into A One Step If The Situation Warrants The White Paper Contains Sufficient Technical Detail To Do Full Technical Proposal Evaluation Instead Of White Paper Evaluation Open Announcement Request Afrl Rd Kirtland Air Force Base Is Soliciting White Papers On The Research Effort Described In The Below Topic Areas Pursuant To The Authority Of 10 U S C 2373 Procurement For Experimental Purposes Open Announcement Submission White Papers Must Be Submitted To The Deter Org Mailbox Afrl Deter Ara Us Af Mil If It Is Determined That A Classified White Paper Is Required Please Do Not Deliver Any Classified Portion Of The White Paper But Rather Contact The Deter Org Mailbox For Specific Delivery Instructions Further Instructions For White Paper Submission Can Be Found In The Deter Industry User Guide Attached To This Announcement Call Request Calls Other Than Limited Calls Will Be Issued Under This Announcement Via The Government Point Of Entry Gpe At Https Beta Sam Gov Notification Of Calls May Be Announced On Other Platforms I E Www Grants Gov And Will Direct Offerors To The Gpe For Full Solicitation Details Call Submission Submission Requirements For Calls Will Be Specified In The Solicitation Documentation Of Each Call Call Variations Variations Of The Ara Call Process Are Available For Use The Following Types Are Commonly Used But Are Not Considered All Inclusive One Step The One Step Process Is Used To Request Full Technical And Cost Proposals From Each Offeror The Proposals Are Reviewed In Accordance With The Solicitation Criteria And Typically All Of A Selected Proposal Part Of A Selected Proposal Or None Of The Proposals May Be Selected For Award Two Step The Two Step Process Is Sometimes Used When A Large Number Of Proposals Are Anticipated Potential Offerors Are Invited To Submit Brief Descriptive White Papers In Lieu Of Full Proposals The Call Must State Whether An Unfavorable White Paper Review Will Bar The Offeror From Further Consideration The Government May Retain Unselected White Papers For A Specific Period Of Time Which Will Be Identified In The Solicitation Full Proposals Are Requested From Those Offerors Selected In The White Paper Review Process After Proposals Are Received They Are Reviewed Consistent With The Process For One Step Aras Open Call This Approach Allows For White Paper And Or Proposal Submittals At Any Time Within A Specified Period Open Calls Will Be Updated No Less Frequently Than Annually White Papers Proposals Are Reviewed When Received During The Period That The Ara Is Open Closed Call This Approach Allows For White Paper And Or Proposal Submittals At A Specified Date And Time As Set Forth In The Ara Staggered Closed Call The Staggered Closed Call States A Specified Date And Time For Receipt Of Proposals Or White Papers But Also Allows For Proposals White Papers After The Date And Time Set For Proposal Receipt All Offerors Should Be Cautioned However That The Likelihood Of Funding Proposals Received After The Specified Date And Time Is Substantially Reduced Limited Call This Approach Allows For Solicitation To A Limited Group Of Potential Offerors Request For Proposals Rfp Or Requests For White Papers Will Be Issued Directly To Potential Offerors Without A Requirement To Publish To The Gpe The Government May Issue Solicitations That Combine One Or More Of The Above Approaches Open Announcement Modifications Due To The Dynamically Evolving Nature Of Us Warfighter Directed Energy Needs This Announcement Is Subject To Updates Revisions Or Additional Topic Areas Therefore Offerors Are Highly Encouraged To Continually Monitor Https Beta Sam Gov To Ensure They Receive The Latest Guidance For This Announcement The Government Shall Provide Updates To This Announcement No Less Than Annually Updates May Include Changes To Topic Areas Submission Requirements Administrative Changes Evaluation Criteria Solicitation Methods Etc Not An Inclusive List Type Of Contract Instrument The Air Force Reserves The Right To Award The Instrument Best Suited To The Nature Of The Research Proposed Accordingly The Government May Award Any Appropriate Contract Instrument Type Under The Authorities Below Federal Acquisition Regulation Far 10 U S C 2371 Other Transaction For Research 10 U S C 2371B Other Transaction For Prototype 10 U S C 2373 Procurement For Experimental Purposes 10 U S C 2374A Prize Competitions Dod Grant And Agreement Regulation Dodgars The Government Anticipates That A Mix Of Contract Instrument Types Will Be Used Throughout The Life Of This Ara Generally Awards Under This Announcement Or Any Calls May Be Cost Plus Fixed Fee Completion And Term Cost Contract Firm Fixed Price Other Transaction Authority Etc Note If Proposing A Federal Acquisition Regulation Far Type Contract The Far Clauses Will Be Referenced At The Call Level Or Within The Request For Proposal The Far And Supplement Provisions And Clauses Are Incorporated By Reference The Full Text Of These Provisions And Clauses Can Be Found At Https Www Acquisition Gov If Proposing An Assistance Instrument Grants Or Cooperative Agreements Then Articles And Guidance Found Under Dodgars Code Of Federal Regulations Cfr And Omb Dod Policy Shall Be Used And Followed As Appropriate If Proposing An Other Transaction Ot These Far References And Clauses Would Not Apply The Terms And Conditions Of An Ot Agreement Should Be Developed And Negotiated On A Case By Case Basis Estimated Program Cost The Overarching Announcement Has An Unrestricted Ceiling However Individual Calls May Elect To Provide An Estimated Program Value Or Funding Profile For Planning Purposes Anticipated Number Of Awards The Air Force Anticipates Awarding Multiple Awards For This Announcement However The Air Force Reserves The Right To Award Zero One Or More Agreements Other Transactions Or Contracts For All Some Or None Of The Solicited Effort Based On The Offeror S Ability To Perform Desired Work And Funding Availability There Is No Limit On The Number Of Awards That May Be Made To An Individual Offeror Schedule The Anticipated Period Of Performance Will Be Determined Through Dialogue Between Prospective Offerors And Government Representatives For Each Topic Area And Specified In Each Individual Award Deliverables Hardware And Software Deliverables Will Be Specified Within A Separately Priced Line Items And Data Deliverables Will Be Specified On Individual Cdrl S In Any Resultant Contract Or An Ot Article Within Scope Award Modifications Offerors Are Advised That Due To The Inherent Uncertainty Of Research And Development Efforts Awards Resulting From This Announcement May Be Modified During Performance To Make Within Scope Changes To Include But Not Limited To Modifications Which Increase Overall Contract Award Ceiling Amount System For Award Management Sam Registration Before The Government Can Issue An Award An Offeror Must Be Registered In The System For Award Management Sam If An Offeror Was Previously Registered In Central Contractor Registration Ccr The Information Has Been Transferred To Sam However It Is In The Offeror S Interest To Visit Sam And Ensure That All Of Their Data Is Up To Date From Sam And Other Databases To Avoid Delay In Award Sam Replaced Ccr Online Representations And Certifications Application Orca And The Excluded Parties List System Epls Sam Allows Firms Interested In Conducting Business With The Federal Government To Provide Basic Information On Business Capabilities And Financial Information To Register Visit Https Www Sam Gov Announcement Period The Overarching Announcement Has No End Date And Is Considered To Be In Effect Until Further Closed Or Rescinded Open Announcement Points Of Contact Address Technical Questions To The Deter Org Mailbox Afrl Deter Ara Us Af Mil Address Announcement Questions To The Deter Org Mailbox Afrl Deter Ara Us Af Mil Attention Of Primary Ms Lisa Pendragon Afrl Rdk Alternate Ms Shannon Hochmuth Afrl Rdk Note Call Points Of Contact Will Be Specified At The Call Level Topic Areas 1 Directed Energy De Sources This Category Of Supplies Covers Research Development And Testing For All Directed Energy Sources In The Near Term And Far Term In Support Of National Defense This Area Covers The Design Component Subsystem Prototype Risk Reduction Fabrication Purchase Assembly Integration And Testing Of Directed Energy Source Components To Include Spares And Alternate Component Technologies And Or Systems And Any Required Accessories Materials And Supplies For Laboratory Research And Experimentation And Field Trials In A Relevant Environment To Demonstrate System Capabilities Systems May Also Be Hardened To Meet Specific Requirements Imposed For Operations In Any Domain To Include Ground Sea Airborne And Or Space This Area Also Covers The Redesign Refurbishment Modification And Or Upgrade Of Existing Sources If Required To Support Laboratory Experimentation Field Or Flight Trials And Or Demonstrations Examples Of Directed Energy Sources Include But Are Not Limited To A Laser Sources B High Power Electromagnetic Hpem Sources 2 Acquisition Tracking Pointing Atp Beam Control Bc And Atmospheric Compensation Ac Systems This Area Covers The Design Component Subsystem Prototype Risk Reduction Fabrication Purchase Assembly Integration And Testing Of Any Hardware Sensors Control Electronics And Software Firmware Required To Develop Atp Bc And Ac Systems To Control The Propagation Of Directed Energy So As To Maximize Energy Irradiance On Target This Area Also Includes Any Required Accessories Materials Supplies And Or Services Necessary To Conduct Laboratory Experimentation And Field Trials In A Relevant Environment To Demonstrate System Capabilities Systems May Also Be Hardened To Meet Specific Requirements Imposed For Operations In Any Domain To Include Ground Sea Airborne And Or Space 3 De Weapon Systems This Area Covers The Design Component Subsystem Prototype Risk Reduction Fabrication Purchase Assembly Integration And Testing Of De Weapon Components And Systems Diagnostics Accessories Materials Supplies And Services Necessary To Build Integrate Complete Weapon Systems For Laboratory Research Experimentation And Field Trials In A Relevant Environment To Demonstrate System Capabilities Systems May Also Be Hardened To Meet Specific Requirements Imposed For Operations In Any Domain To Include Ground Sea Airborne And Or Space Systems Engineering Design Analysis And Or Trade Studies Are Relevant In Regards To Size Weight And Power Swap Specific Topics Of Interest Include The Following Areas A Feasibility Studies Of Innovative Hpem Applications B Integration Of Disparate Technologies For The Fielding Of New Hpem Systems And Weapons C Identification And Quantification Of Useful Hpem Effects D Development Of Hpem Sources That Have A Role In Future Applications E System Integration And Demonstration Of Future Hpem Capabilities F Power Subsystems G Thermal Management Subsystems H Command And Control Subsystems I Platform Integration J Detection Targeting And Tracking Subsystems K Dotmlpf P Studies And Experimentation L Conops Conemps Ttp Development And Experimentation M Performance Enhancement Technologies For Existing Systems 4 De Effects Testing Provide Testing Of Materials Components Subsystems And Systems To Determine The Vulnerability Susceptibility And Accessibility Of Potential De Targets To De Exposure This Includes The Design Component Subsystem Prototype Risk Reduction Fabrication Purchase Assembly Integration And Testing Of Unique De Components Sources And Systems And Any Required Diagnostic And Or Special Test Equipment Tooling And Materials Necessary To Conduct De Material Interaction Physics Experimentation To Establish The Efficacy Of De Waveforms To Support The Development Of De Weapons System Requirements And Or Assessment Of Proposed De Weapon Systems Develop Survivability Requirements And Recommendations For Space Systems And Support Vulnerability Predictions 5 Modeling Simulation And Analysis Ms Amp A This Area Covers The Development Procurement Testing Maintenance Modification Upgrade Reuse And Execution Of Scientific Modeling Simulation And Analysis Software And Requisite It Hardware Systems Necessary To Efficiently Execute Software To Support De Weapon System Design Development Testing And Data Analysis Of Test Results This Includes Campaign Level Engagement Level System And Component Level Ms Amp A Codes To Create Test Scenarios Assess Design Reference Mission Compliance Provide Pre Test Predictions And Conduct Post Test Assessment Of System Performance In Addition Sound Principles For Software Engineering And Development Must Be Employed For All Developed Software And Documentation Robust Software Testing Validation And Verification Are Critical To Software Development Efforts As Appropriate Software Must Scale To Large Simulation Sizes And Be Portable To Massively Parallel Computer Architecture Ms Amp A Software May Include Fast Running Engineering Codes And Detailed Physics Modeling Codes Examples Of Ms Amp A Sub Topic Areas Include But Are Not Limited To A De System Performance Ms Amp A B De System Effects Ms Amp A C De System Target Assessment D De System Biosafety And Biological Effects E De Source And Component Virtual Design F Satellite Signatures And Radiometric Photometric Assessments Of Space Objects G Assess Electro Optical Space Domain Awareness Sda Systems And Architectures H Space System Functional Modeling And Response I Conduct Space Domain Awareness In Non Traditional Orbits J Quantify Safe Operating Conditions For Lasers Operating Through The Atmosphere And Space 6 Wargaming This Area Covers The Development Procurement Testing Maintenance Modification Upgrade Reuse And Execution Of Wargaming And Scientific Modeling Simulation And Analysis Software And Their Requisite It Hardware Systems Necessary To Efficiently Execute This Software To Support De Weapon System Design Development Testing And Data Analysis Of Wargaming Results This Includes Campaign Level Engagement Level System And Component Level Wargaming Ms Amp A Codes To Create Test Scenarios Assess Design Reference Mission Compliance Provide Pre Test Predictions And Conduct Post Test Assessment Of System Performance In Addition Sound Principles For Software Engineering And Development Must Be Employed For All Developed Software And Documentation Robust Software Testing Validation And Verification Are Critical To Software Development Efforts As Appropriate Software Must Scale To Large Wargaming And Simulation Sizes And Be Portable To Massively Parallel Computer Architecture Wargaming Ms Amp A Software May Include Fast Running Engineering Codes And Detailed Physics Modeling Codes Additionally The Wargaming Area Should Provide General Wargaming Support To Include De Wargame Planning Table Top Ms Amp A And Field Execution And Wargame Reporting In Addition Provide Required Hardware Software Firmware Accessories Materials Supplies Infrastructure Diagnostics Targets Safety Equipment And Services Necessary To Conduct Wargame Research Experiments Field And Or Range Testing Of De Components Subsystems Systems And Demonstrations Under Operationally Relevant Conditions 7 Innovative Space Domain Awareness Provide Basic Amp Applied Research Algorithms Software Firmware Materials Supplies And Services Necessary To Conduct Technology Maturation For Ground Based Surveillance Of Space Objects Examples Include But Are Not Limited To A Closely Spaced Object Detection And Characterization B Daytime Detection And Custody Of Satellites C Orbit Determination Techniques And Algorithms For Satellites Significantly Affected By Lunar And Solar Gravity D Rapid On Demand Orbit Determination E Extremely Wide Field Of View Image Exploitation For Satellite Discovery And Custody F Multi Phenomenology Sensor Integration E G Optical Radar Passive Radiofrequency G Active Optical Techniques For Satellite Ranging And Characterization E G Lidar Ladar H Sharp Imaging Of Satellites Through The Atmosphere At Low Elevation Angles I Characterization Of Atmospheric Deep Turbulence For Image Restoration J Techniques Algorithms Architecture Designs Etc For Collaborative Autonomous Telescope Networks K Multispectral Hyperspectral And Polarimetric Characterization Of Space Objects L Techniques To Improve And Exploit Short And Long Wave Infrared Characterization Of Space Objects M Machine Learning Algorithms To Advance The State Of The Art In Areas Such As Point Spread Function Correction Space Object Image Classification Using Resolved Or Non Resolved Sensor Imagery Uncorrelated Track Association Space Object Feature Identification Model Inference And Attitude Regression Space Object Detection In Noisy Image Backgrounds Generation Of Realistic Space Scene Imagery Discernment Of Real Vs Synthetic Detection Of Subtle Unique Image Artefacts Of Interest In A Large Dataset 8 Experiments Testing And Demonstrations Provide General And Specialized Test Support To Include De Test Planning Laboratory And Field Demonstration And Reporting Provide Required Hardware Software Firmware Accessories Materials Supplies Infrastructure Diagnostics Targets Safety Equipment And Services Necessary To Conduct Testing Of De Components Subsystems Systems And Demonstrations Under Operationally Relevant Conditions 9 Laboratory Materials Supplies And Services In Support Of Experimentation Provide Required Ancillary Support Systems Equipment Materials Supplies Infrastructure And Services Necessary To Support The Development Operation Maintenance And Testing Required To Evaluate De Through Experimentation In The Laboratory And Field During Trials Or Flight Range Testing Examples Include But Are Not Limited To A Clean Rooms Anechoic Chambers And Necessary Equipment Materials Supplies And Or Services To Support All Aspects Of De Source Development Laboratory Experimentation And Field Trials B Diagnostic And Or Special Test Equipment Tooling Required For Quality Assurance Of Components Used In The Fabrication Of De Sources Damage Assessments And Root Cause Analysis Of Component Subsystem And System Failures Characterization Of Target Physical Chemical And Electromagnetic Properties Fabrication Assembly Integration Testing Operation And Maintenance Of De Sources Direct Indirect Measurements Of De Source Performance C Power Systems Required To Operate The Source And Any Required Ancillary Equipment Or Services Necessary To Install Operate And Or Maintain These Systems D Unique Chemicals To Operate Clean And Or Maintain Direct Energy Systems And Or Laboratory Facilities Used For Directed Energy Experimentation As Well As Any Required Materials Accessories Or Services Required For Safe Storage Use Operations And Proper Disposal Of Any Hazardous Materials E Thermal Management Components And Systems To Include System Level And Facility Level Systems Necessary To Support Safe Operations Of De Sources This Includes Materials Supplies Accessories Services And Or Any Support Required For Safe Operations And Maintenance Of The System As Well As Proper Disposal Of Hazardous Materials Waste F Any Required Safety Related Items Necessary To Fabricate Assemble Integrate Test Operate And Maintain Directed Energy Sources G Transportation This Area Covers All Transportation To And From Various Research Facilities And Sites To Conduct Field And Or Flight Experimentation Testing And Or Trials Of Directed Energy Components Sub Systems And Systems And Demonstrations This Includes Such Items As Associated Support Handling Equipment Special Test Equipment Tooling Spares And Diagnostic Testing Equipment Specialized Transportation Requirements May Include Design Fabrication And Or Purchase Of Specialized Packaging Crating Enclosures Trailers And Or Vehicles From Which The Transported Item S Will Be Operated Maintained To Conduct Experimentation Testing And Or Trials Outside Of Traditional Laboratory Spaces Additionally This Area Covers Aspects Of Safe Transportation To And From Remote Field Locations Department Of Defense Test Ranges And Installations In Support Of Field And Or Flight Experimentation Testing And Or Trials

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