SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Optical Windows for Airborne Sensors RFI
- Notice Date
- 8/25/2015
- 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 Material Command, AFLCMC/PK - WPAFB (includes PZ, WL, WW, WI, WN, WK, LP, WF, WK), 2275 D Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 45433-7218, United States
- ZIP Code
- 45433-7218
- Solicitation Number
- FA8620-15-R-3041
- Archive Date
- 10/30/2015
- Point of Contact
- Ed Huling, Phone: 937-255-4694, Richard Carrier, Phone: 937-255-1955
- E-Mail Address
-
edward.huling@us.af.mil, richard.carrier@us.af.mil
(edward.huling@us.af.mil, richard.carrier@us.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- FedBizOpps Request for Information FA8620-15-R-3041 USAF Imaging & Targeting Support (I&TS) (AFLCMC/WINPA) CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Special Operations Forces (SOF) Directorate (AFLCMC/WI), ISR Sensors and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Division (AFLCMC/WIN) Contracting Offices 2640 Loop Road West, Rm 215, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7106, United States REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI): Optical Windows for Airborne Sensors BACKGROUND: AFLCMC/WIN manages the USAF Imaging & Targeting Support (I&TS) program supporting the GEOINT Capabilities Working Group (GCWG). The GCWG manages and plans Air Force airborne GEOINT Capabilities Research, Development Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) investments. A key focus of I&TS is on improving and adding new airborne sensor phenomenologies which include Electro/Optical (EO), Infrared (IR), Spectral-Multispectral (MSI)/Hyperspectral (HSI), Ground Surveillance Radar (GSR), Full Motion Video (FMV) and Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR). Purpose: In support of existing and future airborne sensor programs, AFLCMC/WIN is conducting market research across industry for manufacturers of specialized optical windows. An ideal window would be lightweight; impervious to the forces of flight dynamics and surface/coating erosion; and invisible to the active and passive sensor systems that it protects. Airborne optical windows may accommodate operating in the infrared (IR), visible, and ultra-violet (UV) parts of the spectrum. Typically, window materials and coatings vary widely depending on application. Current window materials include zinc sulfide, diamond, sapphire, and so on. The Air Force is migrating to new sensor capabilities that utilize the full visible through Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) range of the electromagnetic spectrum. These sensor capabilities require specialized windows that are optically flat, resistant to erosion, have high transparency in the spectral bands of interest, and can provide reliable environmental isolation under dynamic flight conditions. Additionally, sensor fields-of-regard may require windows from a few inches on a side up to approximate dimensions of 20" x 32". We recognize that a large window transparent to the complete wavelength range (0.4 - 13.5 μm), operating between 0 to >70kft (and related internal and external temperature and pressure differentials) is a challenge, but need to know the current state of the art and developing manufacturing capabilities. AFLCMC/WIN seeks white papers and/or brochures/data sheets by 30 September 2015. All correspondence submitted will be controlled as proprietary. After reviewing the submitted white papers, the Government may request technical exchanges and/or site surveys of respondents' facilities. This market research will potentially shape Air Force efforts in the FY15-24 timeframe. The Government anticipates the information received will be used to plan and program the required efforts to support airborne GEOINT objectives. White papers should include the following information: 1) Name of the manufacturer & location 2) Name of the product and date the manufacturer started/will start manufacturing the product as well as Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL). Information on MRLs can be accessed at the following locations: https://acc.dau.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=18231 http://dodmrl.com/ 3) Product datasheet, if available 3) Optical Window Characteristics: Transmission limits, Transparency (by frequency range & sample thickness (charts preferred), available sizes (currently in production or development)/thickness, pressure and temperature tolerances, durability (due to strike), recommended coatings 4) Material composition & characteristics (e.g., thermal, surface) 5) Costs 6) Manufacturing and production schedule (i.e., some windows are know to take months to grow and polish) 7) Mounting recommendations 8) Special handling/cleaning requirements 9) Field testing for optical degradation 10) Life expectancy 11) Current Customers/uses Responses: The Government invites industry to submit White Papers and a Quad Chart at the unclassified or classified levels up to TS/SCI at any time on or before Guidance on the suggested White Paper and Quad Chart is attached. When submitting classified responses to this RFI, please ensure all appropriate security procedures and policies are followed when responding to this RFI. Please restrict page count to no more than 10 pages (White Paper) in length and submit electronically or via mail (regular mail for UNCLASSIFIED; Registered mail for SECRET to the points of contact stated below. Do not submit TS/SCI by mail, only on JWICS, and only if it is coordinated and approved by the appropriate government agency/sponsor. The Point of Contact for submittal of white papers and any technical questions is: Mr. Ed Huling (937) 255-4694/ Richard Carrier (937) 255-1955/ Maj Andrew Soine (937) 255-3575 AFLCMC/WINA 2640 Loop Road West, Room 205 Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433-7101 E-mail addresses: edward.huling@us.af.mil; richard.carrier@us.af.mil; andrew.soine@us.af.mil Unclassified depository: Unclassified inquiries via NIPRNET: SECRET email via SIPRNet: edward.e.huling2@afmc.af.smil.mil richard.w.carrier2@ afmc.af.smil.mil andrew.t.soine.mil@afmc.af.smil.mil TOP SECRET email via JWICS: edward.huling@af.ic.gov richard.carrier@af.ic.gov andrew.soine@af.ic.gov This is not a Request for Proposal. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this announcement. Submitting capabilities and concepts in response to this announcement is voluntary, and participants shall not be compensated. Technical questions can also be addressed by Mr. Ed Huling (937) 255-3872 or Dr. Dan LeMaster.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/ASC/FA8620-15-R-3041/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 45433, United States
- Zip Code: 45433
- Zip Code: 45433
- Record
- SN03855406-W 20150827/150826000344-d3c14966b548863bea3554d62d7159fa (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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