SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Advanced Directed Energy Research & Development Initiative
- Notice Date
- 3/18/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command, NSWC Dahlgren Division, N00178 NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER Dahlgren Division 17362 Dahlgren Road Suite 157 Dahlgren, VA
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- N0017809Q3005
- Response Due
- 9/30/2009
- Archive Date
- 10/30/2009
- Point of Contact
- Angela Headley,Voice: 540-653-7097,Fax: 540-653-6810
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This synopsis is being posted to both the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) page located at http://www.fbo.gov and the Navy Electronic Commerce on Line (NECO) site located at https://www.neco.navy.mil. While it is understood that FBO is the single point of entry for posting of synopsis and solicitations to the Internet, NECO is the alternative in case FBO is unavailable. Please feel free to use either site to access information posted by the Naval Sea Systems Command. This publication constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) as contemplated in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.102(d)(2). A formal Request for Proposals (RFP), other solicitation, and/or additional information regarding this announcement will not be issued. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) will not issue paper copies of this announcement. The NSWCDD reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the white papers submitted in response to this announc! ement. NSWCDD reserves the right to fund all, some, or none of the white papers received under this BAA. NSWCDD provides no funding for direct reimbursement of proposal development costs. White papers and cost proposals (or any other material) submitted in response to this BAA will not be returned. It is the policy of NSWCDD to treat all white papers as sensitive competitive information and not to disclose their contents. All responsible sources from industry and academia may submit proposals under this BAA. 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. Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy National Laboratories, are not eligible to bid on this BAA. However, teaming arrangements between FFRDCs and eligible principal bidders are allowed so long as they are permitted under the sponsoring agreement between the Government and the specific FFRDC. This announcement will remain open through 30 September 2009. For consideration during the initial round of selections, proposers are required to submit white papers by 4:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on March 31, 2009. However, proposals received after this deadline may be evaluated up to 6 months from date of initial posting of this BAA. Please note: This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY, NOT A SOLICITATION. Awards under this BAA are expected to be contracts. Department of Defense funding for this BAA will be provided in one of the following funding categories: RDT&E (Research Development Test and Evaluation), 6.1. Basic Resea! rch, 6.2. Applied Research, or 6.3. Advanced Technology Development. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division is interested in receiving white papers for innovative technology research and development in the areas of high power source technology with prevue to Directed Energy applications. The frequency ranges of interest cover a broad spectrum from DC to L-Band. Technical questions should be directed to Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Code NSWCDD (Code CXS13-13), 17632 Dahlgren Road, Suite 157, Dahlgren, VA 22448-5110, or email to angela.headley@navy.mil. DESCRIPTION: The Directed Energy Technology Office (DETO), Code Q206, of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Laboratory (NSWCDL) is seeking proposals for innovative technology research and development in the areas of high power source technology, advanced broadband antenna concepts, and compact power generation/conversion for Directed Energy applications. These include innovative and novel! ideas for significant improvements in peak power, bandwidth and average power capability relative to current RF source technology. The level of funding is expected to exceed $6M in FY09. This BAA is also targeting high power broad-band antenna concepts with modest to high directivity, along with compact power generation technology, and advanced waste-heat conversion technology for heat-rejection minimization. Novel solutions for significant improvement in current technology in robustness, efficiency, size, and weight are sought. The nine areas of interest are listed below in more detail.FOCUS AREA 1: Low power (40-80kW) CW, VHF & UHF technologies. The goal in this area is to develop broad-band RF amplifiers capable of chirp/sweep across an instantaneous fractional bandwidth of 15%-20%. Proposals under this solicitation are encouraged to address: 1) novel efficiency mitigation techniques to overcome bandwidth/efficiency trade-offs, 2) high-voltage breakdown issues in ground-level military environments 3) compactness and robustness of device, and 4) low-volume build costs. FOCUS AREA 2: Medium power (200-300kW) CW, UHF technologies. The goal in this area is to develop broad-band RF amplifiers capable of chirp/sweep across an instantaneous fractional bandwidth of 10%-15%. Proposals under this solicitation are encouraged to address: 1) novel efficiency mitigation techniques to overcome bandwidth/efficiency trade-offs, 2) high-voltage breakdown issues in ground-level military environments 3) compactness and robustness of device, and 4) low-volume build cost! s. Special consideration will be given to proposals which innovatively address overall size and efficiency optimizations which should include considerations for pre-driver size for example. FOCUS AREA 3: High power (750-1000kW) CW, UHF technologies. The goal in this area is to develop broad-band RF amplifiers capable of sweeping/chirping across an instantaneous fractional bandwidth of 10%-15%. Proposals under this solicitation are encouraged to include: a) novel concepts for efficiency preservation under large bandwidth constraints, b) high-voltage mitigation schemes, c) volumetric and weight optimization, d) robustness, and e) overall system complexity minimization. Awardees in this topical area must have a historical record of advanced design, simulation, and experimental elements of advanced R&D in high power vacuum electronics. Phase 2 for this effort, assuming funding availability, will be to build and test a brass-board device designed in phase 1. Furthermore, ! this solicitation is restricted to those entities with DoD SECRET clearances for all necessary personnel and facilities to perform work. This research initiative will involve a joint government-industrial team consisting of Navy, Air Force, and the selected industrial R&D partner(s). This research effort will necessitate a truly advanced approach to R&D system engineering in that the source, advanced cooling, power and modulator subsystems all are highly interdependent, and thus must be designed together, with trade-offs dictated by any given limiting subsystem capability. Overall system stability is forefront for the entire design. FOCUS AREA 4: High peak power (20-30MW), L-Band (1-2 GHz) RF technologies. The program is specifically looking at 2 frequencies within this band. The goal in this area is to develop RF technology capable of rep-rates greater than 150 pps, and pulse widths up to 50 microseconds. Proposals under this solicitation are encouraged to address:1) novel dual frequency concepts in a single device, 2) instantaneous frac! tional bandwidths from 10%-15%, 3) optimization of efficiency, volume and weight, 4) overall compactness and robustness of device, and 5) low-volume build costs. Single amplifier/oscillator device solutions for each separate frequency will also be considered. FOCUS AREA 5: Very high peak power (100+MW), HF/VHF/UHF pulsed wideband RF generators. The goal in this area is to develop compact, rugged wideband RF sources capable of rep-rates greater than 50 pps with pulse widths from 10-500 ns. The focus is on compact systems on the order of several hundred pounds and a volume less than 100 cubic ft. Proposals under this solicitation are encouraged to address:1) novel antenna concepts for directionality and gain across the wide bandwidth, 2) techniques for generating multiple frequencies instantaneously and/or by electronic tuning during the pulse, 3) instantaneous fractional bandwidths greater than 20%, 4) optimization of efficiency, volume and weight, 5) overall compactnes! s and robustness of device, 6) high-voltage breakdown issues in military environments, and 7) low-volume build costs. This research effort will necessitate a truly advanced approach to R&D system level engineering in that the RF generator, antenna, and prime power/power modulator subsystems all are highly interdependent, and thus must be designed together, with trade-offs dictated by any given limiting capability of said subsystem, with the overall system stability in mind. Furthermore, this topical solicitation is restricted to those entities with DoD SECRET clearances for all necessary personnel and facilities to perform work. FOCUS AREA 6: High Power (>1 MW) L-Band (1-2GHz) sources capable of chaotic mode oscillations. Specific attention will be paid to proposals with goals of chaotic waveform generation covering a 200MHz band from 1.1 GHz - 1.3 GHz. Proposals under this solicitation are encouraged to address: 1) optimization of efficiency, volume and weight, 2) overall compactness and robustness of device, and 3) low-volume build cos! ts. FOCUS AREA 7: Novel and innovative techniques for waste heat conversion into electrical or mechanical work. Research areas such as thermoelectric (TEG, etc.), thermoacoustic, and the like are encouraged to reply. Heat recuperation levels in the 10-50kW range are of great interest. Proposals under this solicitation are furthermore encouraged to address:1) compactness and robustness, 2) complexity minimization, and 3) efficiency. FOCUS AREA 8: Focus Area 8 addresses the need for a compact, rugged, DC diesel generator. The goal in this area is to develop a compact, light, rugged DC diesel generator that is capable of 400kW at 135F using JP-8 fuel. Nominal output voltage is 700VDC +25VDC/-50VDC. It is acceptable for the proposed solution to be a single or combination of multiple generators to produce the desired output power. The generator will operate in a mobile environment and must be as small and light as possible. Proposals are encouraged to address: 1) en! gine selection, 2) generator head design, 3) active rectifier design and power conditioning, 4) packaging, 5) system modeling to determine performance characteristics, 6) reliability, 7) cost (low and high volume), and 8) weight. FOCUS AREA 9: Focus Area 9 addresses the need for an antenna that will focus L-Band power (1.2 - 1.6 GHz) at approximately a 120-m range from the antenna to deliver a high power density area (~30 W/cm2) over a specified cross sectional area (3 meters diameter). The input power to the antenna is assumed to be approximately 30MW peak at two different L-band frequencies that will be fed from two separate L-band sources. The objective of this focus area is to develop design studies for an antenna that will meet the performance parameters listed in this focus area with particular emphasis on reducing the physical size of the antenna. Manufacturability of the proposed antenna design will be a critical parameter in the proposal evaluation criteria. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION PROCESS FOR WHITE PAPERS: All white papers s! ubmissions will be protected from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with FAR 15.207, applicable law, and Department of Defense and Department of Navy regulations. Offerors are expected to appropriately mark each page of their submission that contains proprietary information. All white papers received will be maintained for a period not to exceed three years and will be considered as candidate sources for research projects during that period. Offerors may replace, update, or withdraw white paper submissions at any time. All white papers submitted for topics may be considered. Submissions of white papers under this BAA are expected to be unclassified. However, confidential/classified proposals are permitted with prior/ advanced approval from the TPOC. The NSWCDD, Code CXS13 must be notified in writing 5 working days prior to submission of any classified proposals. Every classified proposal must be accompanied by an Unclassified Statement of Work (SOW). Alternatives! to the format and content identified below may be appropriate depending on the scope and nature of the proposed effort. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division anticipates making multiple awards of contracts. All white papers received that indicate interest in a particular research/technology area will be reviewed for potential projects in that area. Please identify the area in which your research and/or technology is to be considered. IMPORTANT Certain white papers are not appropriate under this BAA and are not desired. Engineering and technical services white papers are not appropriate. These usually involve applying effort toward a broadly identified task, often on a level-of-effort basis, rather than delivery of an end item such as a final report. This BAA seeks white papers for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art, increasing knowledge/understanding, and the knowledge gained by brass-board design, build and testing. A determination of appropriateness will be made on a cas! e-by-case basis by government scientists and engineers. Proposal Evaluation: White papers will be reviewed and formal technical and cost proposals may be required from sources whose approaches have been selected for further consideration. An invitation to submit a proposal does not assure subsequent contract award. Formal Cost and Technical Proposals may be required approximately four (4) weeks after notification that NSWCDD has decided to pursue the offeror's approach as identified in their white paper submission. The following evaluation criteria apply to all submitted white papers in all focus areas. These submissions will be selected through a technical/scientific/cost decision process with technical and scientific considerations being more important than cost. Even though cost is of less importance than all the technical factors combined, it will not be ignored. The degree of its importance will increase with the degree of equality of the white papers in relatio! n to the other factors on which selection is to be based, or when the cost is so significantly high as to diminish the value of the technical superiority to the Government. Criteria A-D is listed in descending order of priority. Any sub criteria listed under a particular criterion are of equal importance to each other. Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria: (A) Overall scientific and technical merits of the proposal; (B) Naval relevance, transition potential and anticipated contributions of the proposed scientific research; (C) The offeror's capabilities, related experience, and past performance, including the qualifications, capabilities, and experience of the proposed principal investigator, team leader or key personnel who are critical in achieving the proposal objectives; (D) Realism of the proposed cost; and (E) Availability of funds. White papers should be written in MS Word format, photos and illustration should be in either.jpg or.pdf format. The white paper shall be emailed to angela.headley@navy.mil. Hard co! pies submissions are neither required nor desired. WHITE PAPERS SHOULD BE FORMATTED AS FOLLOWS: A. Cover Page (one page) - identify offeror by name and address, include point of contact with telephone number and email address, include date of submission, indicate that submission is in response to this BAA. B. Overview. The white paper submission must include an abstract encompassing technology being used, not to exceed two type written pages. C. Costing (one page) - provide representative salary costs (hourly rates). In addition, identify and provide all applicable indirect (facility and administration) rates that would be charged on each project; provide name, address, and point of contact, including telephone number, of applicable government auditor and, where applicable, government Administrative Grants Officer/Administrative Contracting Officer. D. Specific Research Area Information [one page for each research/technology area (listed above) in which you have inter! est/capability to conduct research projects] - provide specific capability information applicable to the research area to supplement information provided in the overview; identify/discuss specific human resources expertise, specific facilities or equipment relevant to the research area, offeror's prior participation in related research projects, and any other relevant information. DO NOT submit a specific research proposal unless requested. Please identify the topic area applicable to your white paper submission. Questions regarding this announcement may be submitted to NSWCDD, Contracts Division, Code CXS13-13, 17632 Dahlgren Road, Suite 157, Dahlgren, VA 22448-5110, or email to angela.headley@navy.mil. This announcement will remain open and white papers will be accepted through 30 September 2009. For consideration during the initial round of selections, proposers are required to submit proposals by 4:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on April 15, 2009. However, proposals received after this deadline may be evaluated up to 6 months from dat! e of initial posting of this BAA. Awards may be made at any time after this notification is published, but only those offerors who have submitted white papers will be considered. Early submissions are encouraged. This notice constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Scientific and Engineering Research for Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, and, as such, solicits the participation of all offerors capable of satisfying the Government's needs. This BAA should not be construed as a commitment or authorization to incur costs in anticipation of a contract; the Government is not bound to make any awards under this announcement.
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