SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Beam Control Research, Engineering & Analysis
- Notice Date
- 9/15/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Directed Energy Directorate, 2251 Maxwell Ave, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, 87117
- ZIP Code
- 87117
- Solicitation Number
- RFP11-R-0314
- Point of Contact
- Susan Thorpe, Phone: 505-846-3404
- E-Mail Address
-
susan.thorpe@kirtland.af.mil
(susan.thorpe@kirtland.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- A - BEAM CONTROL RESEARCH, ENGINEERING & ANALYSIS (BREA) ________________________________________ ________________________________________ General Information Document Type: Sources Sought Notice Solicitation Number: RFP 11-R-0314 Posted Date: Archive Date: Original Response Date: Current Response Date: Classification Code: A -- Research & Development Contracting Office Address Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Directed Energy Directorate, 2251 Maxwell Ave, Kirtland AFB, NM, 87117 Description The Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, Optics Division (RDS), Kirtland AFB, NM is seeking sources capable of supporting the Division's research and development (R&D) mission, through BREA. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. The Optics Division operates the Air Force's two premier optical sites located at Kirtland AFB, NM and Maui, HI. The two sites were consolidated under a single Division to advance the transition of Directed Energy technologies into operational units of the DOD by more efficient utilization of these world-class resources. The Optics Division is responsible for the development of adaptive optics, active and passive tracking, space surveillance, space situational awareness, and propagation technologies for laser beam control and imaging applications. The sites operate small to medium-sized telescopes (0.3-3.7 m) with a variety of visible, near, mid, and far infrared sensors and imagers, laser beam directors projecting low to medium power laser beams to ground, air, and space, 1,000 channel class adaptive optical systems (including laser beacons), and instruments to characterize atmospheric transmittance and strength of turbulence. OVERVIEW OF THIS ACQUISITION: A consolidated R&D effort is a logical and highly beneficial approach for efficient operations across both sites and to enhance collaboration and commonality between the sites. However, the Optics Division also realizes R&D is enhanced by collaborating with other contractors as well. Therefore, this effort expands on the "consolidated" philosophy to include other R&D technical areas. Expected technical areas are described below. Technical Areas 1-3 cover work done on-site using Optics Division R&D facilities (Kirtland AFB, NM and Maui, HI activities) and includes enhancing collaboration and commonality between the sites. Therefore, interested parties will need the capability to perform across all three Technical Areas. Technical Areas 4-5 are individual in nature and may be performed off-site. Respondents may provide a Statement of Capabilities (SOC) to one or more of the Technical Areas. 1. Advanced Beam Control Research (at Kirtland): Provides R&D engineering and experiment/test support for the Optics Division (RDS) programs at Kirtland AFB, NM. Engineering involves transforming technological concepts and experimental designs into hardware and software through application of systems engineering (SE) principals. Experimental/test support involves preparing and operating the experimental equipment (telescopes, adaptive optic systems, sensors, etc), data collection, and experiment scheduling. Current programs involve R&D focused on space object detection, tracking and imaging, advanced optical beam control, advanced laser communication technology, laser propagation for tactical missions, relay mirrors, and similar applications. Research includes, but is not limited to: active illumination from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geostationary Orbit (GEO) for high resolution imaging, dim object detection, and active tracking/imaging during terminator, in the dark, and in daytime; high-resolution imaging software and hardware; laser guide stars; tactical beam control applications and innovative concepts in the areas of phased arrays, monolithic lasers, and free-space quantum key distribution; improved control systems for advanced adaptive optics (AO) systems, the design of high-availability systems for laser communications; optical propagation theory; measuring, characterizing, and creating models of free-space atmospheric turbulence; and atmospheric compensation. 2. Space Situational Awareness (SSA) R&D (on Maui): Provides R&D engineering for the Optics Division (RDS) programs located on Maui, HI. Engineering involves transforming technological concepts and experimental designs into hardware and software through application of systems engineering principals. Current programs involve R&D focused on SSA. Research includes, but is not limited to: advanced imaging research; attitude and shape recovery; 24 / 7 faint object search and track; materials analysis and space aging; surveillance; and dynamic characterization, 3.6m telescope daytime capability development; inverse synthetic aperture ladar demonstrations; compensated Fourier telescopy; thermal SSA knowledge products; non-adaptive optics imaging; debris characterization; and small telescope development, sensor integration and testing; laser integration and testing; science sensor and System of System / Family of System upgrades 3. R&D Mission Services (at Kirtland and Maui): Includes those activities that are not directly R&D but which are required to execute the R&D, testing, operations, data collection, and subsequent data dissemination. This includes, but is not limited to: maintaining, repairing, upgrading, or modernizing the equipment, labs, facilities, and systems required to execute the R&D mission; site specific and cross-site systems engineering support (focused on reducing overall operating costs while increasing operability of both sites), coating of large optics; information technology support for stand-alone R&D networks (unclassified and classified); configuration management, COMSEC, EMSEC, spectrum management, tool control, and lab management functions; logistics support; and safety and environmental management support. Maui Specific: Provide and maintain office space, including IT systems and services, for approximately 50 Government personnel and Government support personnel; classified conference room availability; and classified storage capability. Also, collect imaging, signatures, and metrics for a number of space community customers. This includes, but is not limited to: 24/7 collection capability in LEO to GEO regimes, day and night imagery, responding to customer taskings, scheduling and configuring sensors based on the tasking, performing mission planning, calibrating, collecting, processing, analyzing, and disseminating mission data. 4. Tactical Beam Control (TBC) Modeling and Simulation: Provides design and advancement of physics-level wave optics M&S software and use for TBC research. Research includes, but is not limited to: target acquisition, tracking, aim-point maintenance, line-of-sight stabilization, aero-optical and aero-mechanical disturbances, damage assessment, and innovative concepts in the areas of phased arrays, monolithic lasers, and free-space quantum key distribution. Structural dynamics modeling, finite element modeling, and computational fluid dynamics modeling will all be required skills. Hardware development may be required to validate models. 5. R&D Concept Development and Analysis: This area is comprised of a variety of simulation and analysis tasks, as well as new experiments for understanding the disturbance environment, so that new concepts can be properly articulated with requirements and be prepared for laboratory implementation. In addition, certain "operational" activities require these sorts of analyses in order to optimize operations. Areas of research include, but are not limited to: developing new measurement techniques; accomplishing novel (non-routine) data analysis; analyzing R&D applicability to (and for) other systems; predicting radiometry; sensors; lasers; image processing; astronomy; space situational awareness (SSA); atmospheric characterization; astrodynamics; acquisition, tracking and pointing; adaptive optics; non-resolved object characterization; data reduction; analysis tool development; small telescope development support; and support of special operations. A draft RFP may be issued. All entities capable of performing this work are invited to submit a SOC. Based on the results of the SOC evaluation, the Government reserves the right to set aside all or portions of this requirement for small businesses. Interested businesses are requested to submit a SOC no later than 1 October 1200 MST. For each Technical Area of interest, please provide sufficient written information to indicate capacity and any other specific and pertinent information that would enhance our consideration and SOC evaluation. Each submission must address items 1-8 listed below. Any responses received not addressing item 1-8 may not be evaluated as being capable. 1. Company Name and Mailing Address 2. CAGE Code and DUNS Number 3. Point(s) of Contact 4. POC Telephone Number and e-mail Address 5. Business Size Status (i.e. 8(a), HUBZone, woman-owned, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned, Small business, Large business, Historically Black College/University. Also, indicated if entity is minority-serving institutions of higher education that meet the definition of "Covered Institution" as defined in 10 USC 2362 Covered Educational Institution is (1) an institution of higher education eligible for assistance under title III or IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1501 et seq); or (2) and accredited postsecondary minority institution.) 6. DCAA-Approved accounting system in place to adequately track and accumulate expenditures 7. Relevant experience in the past five years in the technical areas of interest 8. Availability of an adequate number of qualified personnel to support the effort Submit SOC (original plus 2 copies) for BREA to Det 8 AFRL/RDKL, Attn: Susan Thorpe, 2251 Maxwell Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB NM, 87117-5773. The SOC is limited to 15 pages, not to exceed three pages per Technical Area, single-spaced, 12-point font, excluding resumes. Resumes of key personnel who might be assigned (not including clerical) may be included to enhance our consideration and evaluation. Submitted information shall be unclassified. NOTE: A Top Secret Facility Clearance and sufficient Top Secret cleared and qualified personnel will be required. Respondents to this sources sought synopsis must indicate whether they qualify as a small business under NAICS Code 541712; the associated size standard is 500 employees. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Any costs incurred as a result of this announcement shall be borne by the respondent and will not be charged to the Government for reimbursement. If your interest is in subcontracting possibilities, please indicate this clearly. Foreign firms are advised that they will NOT be allowed to participate in Technical Areas 1-3. Some efforts under Technical Areas 4 and 5 may be open to foreign firms; please contact the Contracting Officer for conditions and restrictions. Point of Contact Susan Thorpe, Contracting Officer, Phone 505 846-3404, Email Susan.Thorpe@kirtland.af.mil Patrick Kelly, Program Manager, Phone 505 846-2094, Email Patrick.Kelly@kirtland.af.mil
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