Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22217-5660

A -- ARCTIC RESEARCH FROM SUBMARINES POC Mr. Mark J. Kurzius, ONR 252 (703) 696-2610. 96-012 - The Office of Naval Research (ONR) in collaboration with the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) invites submission of proposals for unclassified basic research to increase our fundamental understanding of processes in the Arctic Ocean utilizing a U.S. Navy nuclear submarine as a research support platform. There will be opportunities for research on annual cruises of about 75 days (ca. 45 days under the ice) each in 1997, 1998 and 1999. This notice constitutes a broad agency announcement as contemplated in FAR 6.102(D)(2). Research areas of interest fall into six broad categories: air-ice-ocean interaction, ocean circulation, ocean biology and chemistry, ice-acoustic interaction, ice electromagnetic interaction, and marine geology and geophysics. Specific issues within these categories include, but are not limited to, the surface heat budget, pack ice mechanics and thermodynamics, upper ocean dynamics and productivity, shelf-basin interaction, horizontal transport mechanisms, vertical convection, ambient noise sources, optical properties and tectonic development of the Arctic Ocean basins. (Research goals and plans for the Arctic Region are further described in the ONR High Latitude Dynamics Program Summary Book, the NSF Arctic Research Program Publication (NSF95-133), and the NSF Arctic System Science (ARCSS) Oceans-Atmosphere-Ice Interaction Science Plan. General information on previous science submarine cruises to the Arctic can be found in: Gossett, J., Arctic Research Using Nuclear Submarines, Sea Technology, pp. 33-40, March 1996. A collected set of these documents or additional information may be obtained by request from the Office of Naval Research, Michael Van Woert, High Latitude Program, Code 322, 800 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22217-5660, (703) 696-4720 (voice), (703) 696-2710 (FAX), vanwoem@onrhq.onr.navy.mil (internet).). Existing sensors on and sampling capabilities of the submarines include: (1) water samples, (2) temperature or sound velocity profiles taken by expendable probe, (3) Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) profiles taken by expendable probe, (4) a sail mounted submarine CTD system, (5) bathymetry recorded by installed fathometers, (6) ice profile data from upward looking, narrow beam sonar, (7) ice image data from upward looking video and sidescan sonar, (8) water sampling from ships seawater system, and (9) navigation data at a non-classified level. Space onboard the submarine for additional equipment is extremely limited. In addition, all temporary equipment for a submarine must be formally approved by Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and then authorized by the submarine Type Commander. Therefore, equipment requested in addition to equipment already mentioned above must be submitted to NAVSEA for approval no later than 1 February 1997 in order to be considered for installation for the 1997 cruise. Space for scientific personnel is also limited. The number of scientific personnel embarked will be limited to those absolutely needed to accomplish the goals of the science program. The selection of embarked personnel will be made through a process that is separate from the selection of individual science investigations. Embarked scientific personnel must be U.S. citizens, must meet submarine physical requirements, and must have a current Department of Defense secret security clearance. These scientific personnel, along with technical personnel from the Arctic Submarine Laboratory, will be responsible for collecting data on behalf of all sponsored research projects. Every effort will be made to ensure that acquired scientific data are declassified as soon as possible, normally within 30 days, after the ship's return to home port. The area of data acquisition and sampling is limited to that area defined by the Chief of Naval Operations, which is the area within the perimeter defined by straight lines connecting the following vertices: 87-00N 015-00W, 86-35N 060-00W, 80-00N 130-00W, 80-00N 141-00W, 70-00N 141-00W, 72-00N 155-00W, 75-30N 175-00E, 78-30N 172-00E, 80-30N 163-00E, 78-30N 126-00E, 84-20N 110-00E, 84-25N 080-00E, 85-10N 057-00E, 83-50N 033-00E, and 84-05N 008-00E. The boat can sample to a maximum depth of 800 feet (~240 m) and can cruise at speeds up to 25 kts. The sampling periods for the next three years are tentatively set for Aug-Oct 1997, Jun-Aug 1998, and Apr-Jun 1999. Proposals that utilize the unique capabilities of a nuclear submarine are particularly encouraged. That is, unobstructed, underway, under-ice operations. Proposals requesting surfacings to make observations are also encouraged, but those that could have been made from either ice camps or ice breakers will be considered on a time available basis. The Government reserves the right to select for award, all, some, or none of the proposals (either in their entirety or part thereof) received in response to this announcement. To be considered for the 1997 Cruise, full proposals submitted in response to this announcement, must be received no later than 1August 1996. Proposals should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the guidelines provided in the NSF brochure, Grant Proposal Guide, NSF 94-2. The Guide is available on the Science and Technology Information System (STIS). Copies are also available from the Forms and Publications Unit, Room P15, National Science, Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230, (703) 306-1130 (voice), pubs@nsf-gov(e-mail) or www.nsf.gov(web page). To facilitate advance planning for the 1998 and 1999 cruises, abbreviated proposals (two-pages maximum in the form of a letter without NSF cover sheets) stating objectives, approximate budget, and technical approach (particularly identifying existing sensors/sampling capabilities investigators desire to use and/or items of equipment investigators desire to bring aboard) are requested by 1 November 1996. The full proposals will be subjected to outside peer review in accord with NSF policy. Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria: (1) scientific and technical merit of the research, (2) qualifications and experience of the principal investigator and his or her team, (3) the availability of facilities that are critical to the proposed objectives, (4) relevance of the proposed research to agency program priorities, (5) suitability and supportability of the experiment for deployment on a submarine, (6) realism of proposed costs, and availability of funds. There will be no formal requests for proposals or other formal solicitations regarding this announcement The period of performance may be up to three years in length. Ten to twenty awards totaling $1-2M are anticipated. For awards made as contracts, evaluation of the socio-economic merits of the proposals shall include the extent of commitment in providing meaningful subcontracting opportunities for small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business concerns, historically black colleges, universities and minority institutions. Proposals may be either single investigator or integrated and multidisciplinary. An original and 20 copies of the proposal should be sent to the Office of Naval Research, High Latitude Program, Code 322, Ballston Tower One, 800 North Quincy Street, Room 704, Arlington, VA 22217-5660. Questions regarding submarine Arctic research capabilities should be directed to Mr. Jeff Gossett, Arctic Submarine Laboratory, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, 49250 Fleming Road, San Diego, CA 92152-7210, Phone (619) 553-7446. Questions regarding proposal business issues and legal matters relating to this BAA should be directed to Mr. Mark Kurzius, Code 252, Office of Naval Research, Ballston Tower One, 800 North Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22217-5660, Phone (703) 696-2610 (0120)

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