SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Imaging Coherent Optical Radar (ICHOR)
- Notice Date
- 10/29/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714
- ZIP Code
- 22203-1714
- Solicitation Number
- BAA04-02
- Response Due
- 2/20/2004
- Archive Date
- 10/29/2004
- Point of Contact
- Andy Hutchinson, Program Manager, DARPA/MTO, Phone 000-000-0000, Fax 703-696-2206,
- E-Mail Address
-
ahutchinson@darpa.mil
- Description
- PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting research and development proposals addressing innovative technology for electro-optical range-resolved vibrational imaging sensors for a wide range of military missions, including buried land mine detection using acoustic probes. The overall goal of the program is to develop sensor technologies for efficient, high precision vibrational and range imaging. Intrinsic near-shot-noise-limited detector/amplifier arrays are desired. Direct heterodyne, high local oscillator fluence solutions are discouraged, although other approaches, including, for example, low local oscillator fluence heterodyne, autodyne, or homodyne concepts, will be considered. The laser receiver sensors will consist of multi-element (> 1000 pixel) detector arrays capable of receiving laser returns and extracting range data and vibrational signatures at each picture element of the array. The receiver array will respond to radiation in the eye-safe wavelength bands. Spectral agility to longer wavelengths to penetrate atmospheric obscurants is desired but not required. Technology critical to success includes detectors/amplifiers with high bandwidth and near-shot-noise-limited performance to respond to the small signal expected from the return pulse, read-out integrated circuits capable of noise reduction processing, unique signal processing to accurately resolve range and vibrational information, and optical components for filtering and pre-processing the information. Systems that demonstrate this technology will collect the vibrational and range image in as short a time as possible, and avoid the use of scanning mechanisms to illuminate the target scene or to record the image. The emphasis of this program is on the vibrational imaging transmitter/receiver and signal processing electronics. Pictures depicting the conceptual buried land mine detection application, as well as a basic block diagram of a potential system embodiment can be viewed on the DARPA/MTO website ICHOR solicitation page. The imaging receiver should produce a vibrational and range image in which each pixel records the distance from the sensor to an incremental part of the sensor field-of-view (FOV), and samples and processes the laser return data to obtain the vibrational signature of the target with extreme sensitivity. The imaging technology should be capable of measuring the vibrational response of soil over anti-tank mines at acoustic frequencies of up to several kHz. The systems should be sized for platforms from micro-vehicles to Future Combat Systems tactical ground vehicles. The data collection and processing should be robust enough to produce the image under the condition of platform motion and vibration. The goal is to operate near the eye-safe wavelength of 1.5 microns, but the flexibility to image at longer wavelengths to overcome limitation imposed by weather is desirable. The size, weight, and electrical power requirements of a candidate range-resolved vibrational sensor are critical issues. In all cases, highly efficient use of laser transmitter energy is desired to minimize system size, weight and power. DARPA is seeking breakthrough approaches in detector sensitivity, electronics bandwidth, and signal processing which will lead to system demonstrations. DARPA seeks innovative proposals in the following areas: I. Integrated Laser Source/Detector/Signal Processor - The integrated source/optics/array/read-out circuit performs several essential functions, including transmission and detection of low level, high speed optical signals; processing the information to obtain the precise range to each picture element; processing multiple returns over a sufficient time interval to obtain ultrasensitive vibrational spectra, and conditioning the information for read-out to an off-chip processor or display; and II. Supporting Technology - The goal of realizing range-resolved integrated sensor systems will be supported by research focusing on materials/detector structures, and unique signal processing components. This technology is meant to enhance the detection capability, noise reduction, and the ability to fabricate extremely low power systems. Additional information on these technology areas is provided in the Areas of Interest section of the BAA 04-02 Proposer Information Pamphlet referenced below. PROGRAM SCOPE Awards totaling approximately $60 million over four years are expected to be made during the first half of calendar year 2004. Multiple awards are anticipated. Collaborative efforts/teaming are encouraged. A web site?https://www.davincinetbook.com/teams--has been established to facilitate formation of teaming arrangements between interested parties. Specific content, communications, networking, and team formation are the sole responsibility of the participants. Neither DARPA nor the Department of Defense (DoD) endorses the destination web site or the information and organizations contained therein, nor does DARPA or the DoD exercise any responsibility at the destination. This web site is provided consistent with the stated purpose of this BAA. Cost sharing is not required and is not an evaluation criterion but is encouraged where there is a reasonable probability of a potential commercial application related to the proposed research and development effort. The technical POC for this effort is J. Andrew Hutchinson, fax: (703) 696-2206, electronic mail: ahutchinson@darpa.mil. GENERAL INFORMATION Proposers must obtain a pamphlet entitled ?BAA 04-02, Imaging Coherent Optical Radar (ICHOR), Proposer Information Pamphlet? which provides further information on Imaging Coherent Optical Radar, the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, proposal abstract formats, proposal formats, and other general information. This pamphlet may be obtained from the FedBizOpps website: http://www.fedbizopps.gov/, World Wide Web (WWW) at URL http://www.darpa.mil/, the Federal Grant Opportunities (FedGrants) website at URL http://fedgrants.gov/, or by fax, electronic mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. In order to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submit proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and nine (9) copies of the proposal abstracts as specified in the Proposer Information Pamphlet, along with two (2) electronic copies (i.e., two separate disks) must be submitted to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 04-02) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Friday, December 19, 2003. File formats for the electronic copies shall be PDF, and MS-Word-readable. Media for each copy may be a single CD-ROM, a single 100 Megabyte Iomega Zip (registered) disk, or a single 3.5-inch High Density MS-DOS formatted 1.44 Megabyte diskette. Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 04-02, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended), and Copy number __ of 2. Proposal abstracts received after this time and date may not be reviewed. Upon review, DARPA will provide written feedback on the likelihood of a full proposal being selected and the time and date for submission of a full proposal. Proposers not submitting proposal abstracts must submit an original and nine (9) copies of the full proposal as specified in the Proposer Information Pamphlet, along with two (2) electronic copies (i.e., two separate disks) must be submitted to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (Attn.: BAA 04-02) on or before 4:00 p.m., local time, Friday, February 20, 2004, in order to be considered during the initial round of selections; however, proposals received after this deadline may be received and evaluated up to one year from date of posting on FedBizOpps and FedGrants. File formats for the electronic copies shall be PDF, and MS-Word-readable. Media for each copy may be a single CD-ROM, a single 100 Megabyte Iomega Zip (registered) disk, or a single 3.5-inch High Density MS-DOS formatted 1.44 Megabyte diskette. Each disk must be clearly labeled with BAA 04-02, proposer organization, proposal title (short title recommended), and Copy number __ of 2. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 04-02 Proposer Information Pamphlet, constitutes the total BAA. No additional information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for the same will be disregarded. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal which shall be considered by DARPA. Input on technical aspects of the proposals may be solicited by DARPA from non-Government consultants /experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Non-Government technical consultants/experts will not have access to proposals that are labeled by their offerors as ?Government Only?. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals; however, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in fully integrated electro-optical range-resolved vibrational imaging sensors incorporating intrinsic near-shot-noise-limited detector/amplifier arrays and read out integrated circuits capable of noise reduction processing. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or full proposal to this BAA, should be directed to one of the administrative addresses below; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding BAA 04-02. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. DARPA encourages use of the WWW for retrieving the Proposer Information Pamphlet and any other related information that may subsequently be provided. EVALUATION CRITERIA Evaluation of proposal abstracts and full proposals will be accomplished through a technical review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (l) overall scientific and technical merit, (2) potential contribution and relevance to DARPA mission, (3) plans and capability to accomplish technology transition, (4) offeror's capabilities and related experience, and (5) cost realism. Note: cost realism will only be significant in proposals which have significantly under or over-estimated the cost to complete their effort. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: (703) 351-8616 (Addressed to: DARPA/MTO, BAA 04-02), Electronic Mail: BAA04-02@darpa.mil Mail: DARPA/MTO, ATTN: BAA 04-02 3701 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203-1714 This announcement and the Proposer Information Pamphlet may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitations area.
- Record
- SN00461728-W 20031031/031029213431 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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