Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contract Management Directorate (CMD), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- STEERED AGILE BEAMS (STAB) SOL BAA 99-25 DUE 110899 POC LtCol David Honey, DARPA/MTO and Dr. Robert Leheny, DARPA/MTO, Fax (703) 696-2206 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil, http://www.darpa.mil. E-MAIL: BAA99-25@darpa.mil, BAA99-25@darpa.mil. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for technical research in the area of Steered Agile Beams (STAB). Laser beams play an important role on the battlefield in military systems such as infrared countermeasures (IRCM), target designation and laser communications. At present, further improvement of these applications is hindered by the lack of small, lightweight, low cost, rapid laser beam steering, pointing and tracking capability. The gimbaled and turret mounted laser systems that are currently available tend to be bulky, heavy, expensive and unsuitable for new and novel battlefield applications. Some military applications would also benefit from an ability to emit multiple independently controlled laser beams, and from adaptive optics technology that would provide correction for atmospheric induced degradation. The objective of the STAB program is to develop and demonstrate novel chip-scale laser beam steering technologies for military applications. These new beam steering technologies should be capable of achieving significant reductions in size, weight, power, and cost over conventional methods. While each future application will have its own unique set of requirements, the list of potentially useful characteristics could include (but is not limited to) the ability to scan a laser beam better than plus or minus 45 degrees, eye safe operation, rapid acquisition of the intended receiver and maintenance of optical alignment with mobile targets at representative target ranges of from 500 m up to 2 or 3 km, correction for atmospheric degradation (if required), covert optical data communications of up to 1Gb/s, the ability to operate in the presence of strong daylight, and side lobe suppression of better than 30 dB. Compatibility with current target designation and IRCM infrastructure, and means for covert target designation are desirable. This DARPA program will build on advances in chip-scale photonic device technologies to developand demonstrate revolutionary new system concepts and resulting capabilities. Five key elements in Steered Agile Beams need to be addressed: laser emitter (including link budget), steering method, atmospheric correction, pointing and tracking, and receiver design (including background rejection). Recent advances in component technologies such as liquid crystals, micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) and optical MEMS, resonant cavity photodetectors, micro-diffractive optics, adaptive optics, micro-cavity quantum well lasers and photonic bandgap materials offer new opportunities in the development of chip-scale microsystems for steered laser beam applications. Attainment of STAB objectives will greatly enhance and expand the utility of laser beams on the battlefield, and enable development of new weapons systems and tactics. The ability to rapidly steer multiple beams from a small, light weight package will allow conformal mounting of IRCM systems across all vulnerable points of military aircraft. Multiple beam steering will also enable deployment of target illumination and designation systems capable of simultaneous engagement of multiple targets. Covert laser communications will significantly extend the range of operations of scout missions without compromising operational security. Recent advances in photonic materials and devices should enable development of components offering substantial improvement over current methods used in steered beam systems. Additional information on these areas of interest is provided in the Areas of Interest Section of the BAA 99-25 Proposer Information Pamphlet described below. PROGRAM SCOPE: The program is expected to have three main phases: (I) Although the main focus of the program is development of novel chip-scale microsystems, the program will begin with a system design phase. This first phase will result in the design of a STAB system (at the component/subsystem level) for military application(s), from which the required performance characteristics of each major component or subsystem will be determined. (II) The main thrust of the program will be a broadly-based research phase, focused mostly on the development of prototype chip-scale beam steering components. Resources permitting, this phase will also include development of other key components, leading to a proof-of-principle demonstration. (III) A small, development and integration phase leading to a proof-of-principle demonstration of two or more competing STAB subsystems, will conclude the program. Teaming is strongly encouraged between component researchers, manufacturers, material suppliers, equipment vendors (technology suppliers) and the system/subsystem integrators (technology users). The program will support some very innovative individual investigator efforts as well. Proposed teams should have expertise and experience as researchers, industrial producers, commercial users and defense aerospace contractors with experience in ruggedizing commercial photonic and electronic equipment. Teams must be capable of demonstrating the technology developed under the program in a military application. The program scope does not include a field insertion but rather a prototype demonstration. Offerors are, however, encouraged to propose high payoff insertion demonstrations as a program option. Awards totaling approximately $35,000,000 over four years are expected to be made by the first quarter of calendar year 2000. Multiple awards are anticipated. The technical POC's for this effort are David Honey (703) 696-0232, email: dhoney@darpa.mil and Robert Leheny (703) 696-0048, email: rleheny@darpa.mil. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain a pamphlet titled, "BAA 99-25, Steered Agile Beams (STAB), Proposer Information Pamphlet", which provides further information on areas of interest, the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, and proposal and proposal abstract formats. This pamphlet may be obtained from the World Wide Web (WWW) 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 abstract must be submitted to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: BAA 99-25), on or before 4:00 p.m. (local time), June 22, 1999. Proposal abstracts received after this date may not be reviewed. Upon review, DARPA will provide written feedback on the likelihood of a full proposal being selected and the date and time for submission of a full proposal. Proposers not submitting proposal abstracts must submit an original and nine (9) copies of the full proposal to DARPA/MTO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: BAA 99-25), on or before 4:00 p.m. (local time), November 8, 1999, in order to be considered. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 99-25 Proposer InformationPamphlet, constitutes the total BAA. No additional information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for same will be disregarded. The government reserves the right to select for negotiation and/or 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. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions (MI) 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 steered agile beam systems. 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 addressesbelow; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding BAA 99-25. 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 99-25); Electronic Mail: BAA 99-25@darpa.mil; Mail: DARPA/MTO, ATTN: BAA 99-25, 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. Posted 05/06/99 (W-SN328413). (0126)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0007 19990510\A-0007.SOL)