SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Laser-protected optics for combat vehicles
- Notice Date
- 9/29/2004
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- TACOM - Warren, ATTN: AMSTA-AQ-AMB, E Eleven Mile Road, Warren, MI 48397-5000
- ZIP Code
- 48397-5000
- Solicitation Number
- W56HZV04R0476
- Response Due
- 11/29/2004
- Archive Date
- 1/28/2005
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The United States Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command intends to solicit a proposal for research and development services in the area of laser-protected combat vision systems. The current generation of weapon systems is vulnerable to lasers th at may be used to blind both human operators and electronic imaging systems. Lasers are now extensively used on the battlefield. Today, they are chiefly employed as range-finding and targeting devices. However, as they have grown in power, ruggedness and portability, the possibility of using them as weapons in themselves is emergin g. A laser of sufficient power, directed at the periscopes or vision blocks of a combat vehicle, may temporarily or permanently impair the vision of the operator. It may have similar effects on electronic imaging systems. Ordinarily, lasers produce light a t a single wavelength or color. Such lasers can potentially be thwarted by using filters created to block that specific wavelength. However, if the attacking wavelength is not known in advance, this approach is not useful. Also, if multiple wavelengths are used, it becomes increasingly difficult to block them all, especially in a way that will not impair the performance of the vision device. There is now an emerging threat from agile lasers. They are called agile because of their ability to produce many wavelengths, and they will defeat a single wavelength defense. The Army wants a solution to this problem that will work against the whole spectrum of laser threats. This contract will provide for the development of energy-dependent laser protection materials and devices. An energy-dependent device protects operators and systems by limiting the amount of energy they transmit, not by blocking specific wavelengths. S uch devices are described as non-linear. A normal optical device transmits energy in a linear way: under low-light conditions, it transmits low light, and under bright light it transmits bright light. A non-linear device transmits nearly all of the light it receives under normal conditions, but stops transmitting light if it is dangerously intense. One of the key requirements is that the device needs an extremely short reaction time. Beyond that, there are all of the usual constraints for combat vehicles, including ruggedness, compactness, weight, survivability, and cost. This effort requires technic al specialists in the areas of nonlinear optical materials development and testing, laser weapons device technologies, human vision and human factors, optical vision system design, fabrication and testing, laser laboratory measurement techniques, electrica l engineering and assembly, mechanical engineering, drawing and fabrication, and laser/material interaction effects and measurements. It is anticipated that a contract will be awarded without competition to the Boeing Company of St. Louis, MO. The contract may extend up to five years. A cost reimbursement contract is anticipated. The estimated release date of the request for proposals is 15 October 2004, closing 29 November 2004. Notes 22 and 26 apply.
- Place of Performance
- Address: TACOM - Warren ATTN: AMSTA-AQ-AMB, E Eleven Mile Road Warren MI
- Zip Code: 48397-5000
- Country: US
- Zip Code: 48397-5000
- Record
- SN00684402-W 20041001/040929212233 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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