A -- SENSOR INTEGRATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

Notice Date

February 21, 2001

Contracting Office

Commander, Attn: Contracts 2.5.1, Bldg 588, Suite 2, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, 47253 Whalen Road, Unit 9, Patuxent River, MD 20670-1463

ZIP Code

20670-1463

Solicitation Number

N00421-01-R-0176

Response Due

March 1, 2002

Point of Contact

Sue R. Wainwright, Contract Specialist, (301) 757-9746 , Vicki Fuhrmann, Contracting Officer, (301) 757-9707 ,TECHNICAL POC: Charles Caposell (301) 342-2638/(703) 696-4814

E-Mail Address

Contract Specialist (wainwrightSR@navair.navy.mil)

Description

Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) N00421-01-R-0176 TITLE SENSOR INTEGRATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES DUE Within one year of the date of CBD publication AGENCY NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION (NAWCAD) (Code 2.5.1.4.1), Bldg 588, Suite 2, 47253 Whalen Road, Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, MD 20670-1463 POC: Sue R. Wainwright, Contract Specialist, (301) 757-9746 Vicki Fuhrmann, Contracting Officer, (301) 757-9707 TECHNICAL POC: Charles Caposell (301) 342-2638/(703) 696-4814 This notice constitutes a BAA as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). This BAA is also listed at http://www.navair.navy.mil/business/ecommerce/index.cfm (Business Opportunities/Open Solicitations). I. INTRODUCTION. The NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS TEAM (NAST) is soliciting proposals for research and development (R&D) concepts in sensor integration and communication technologies. Concepts proposed may represent novel dedicated technologies and/or dual use of new emerging commercial technology. II. BACKGROUND. The Navy is working jointly with the Marine Corps and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to advance the science and technology of sensor integration and communication technologies. Sensor integration and communications addresses any system that processes data from multiple sensors in real-time or incorporates some mechanism of communication of sensor data to an integration node. The overall program objectives are: (A) to explore new concepts through emerging multi-sensor integration or adaptive data communications technologies, (B) create adaptations to better suit the needs of the war-fighting community, (C) certify the sustainability and safety of candidate systems, and (D) promote those systems through the procurement process. The size, weight, and cost of the sensor system or sensor network are of particular concern. Historically, awards have been in the area of one-to-two million dollars; however, this does not preclude awards of a lower or higher dollar value. III. SPECIFIC AREAS OF INTEREST. Proposals are being solicited in three areas: A. New Operational Concepts for using sensor integration or sensor communications including systems that can be integrated with aircraft, weapons, UAVs and robots. Concepts should address possible ways to deploy and operate systems from Naval Aircraft or from sea-based platforms. Examples of the type of concepts that could be proposed are: 1. Reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition (RSTA) cloud concepts with multiple sensors operating collaboratively to create seamless view of the battle space. 2. Network-centric warfare concepts where high-speed nodes provide an instantaneous view of critical battle space elements. 3. Groups of small, lightweight payloads (or "swarms") that can be deployed through existing delivery mechanisms (cluster munitions, chaff/flare dispersers, sonobuoy launchers, etc.) and collaborate to perform coordinated strikes. 4. Relay concepts where groups of low-power, deeply deployed sensors relay data to an airborne or shipboard control station. 5. Concepts that interpret SAR or acoustic sensor grids locally and in real-time. B. Technologies that advance the state-of-the-art in performance and suitability of theatre-wide or tactical sensor integration and communications. 1. Multi-mode integrated electronics technologies that combine orthogonal sensor components into an integrated electronics package. 2. Advance RF switches and phase shifters. 3. High gain, lightweight antennas and components for distributed sensor arrays. 4. Innovative tools, encryption devices, and networking algorithms for instantaneous remote sensor integration. 5.Ultra-wide-band transmitters and receivers, high-speed transducers, and components for signal collection and conditioning over large instantaneous signal bandwidth. 6. Small, ruggedized packaging concepts for processing, routers, data servers, and other components for fiber optic, optical and wireless RF communication and relay nodes. C. Systems Integration and Demonstration Testing. 1. Testbed demonstrations utilizing state-of-the-art sensors and radar components such as UESA antennas, silicon carbide transmitters, and digital receivers. (NOTE: An industry day is planned tentatively for this area of interest on 30 March 2001 to provide a bidder's package. The specifics of this Industry Day will be announced in a subsequent CBD/website announcement.). 2. Networking and data link system demonstrations for transmittal of imagery and multiplexed sensor data. New approaches for high-bandwidth, multiplexed, digital, LPI/LPD links as well as approaches for network management. 3. Fires and targeting concepts which utilize relays to provide a "forward pass" from a sensor network to transient platform such as UAV, a weapon, or group of loitering and obtaining final control via a secondary mission planning or control station technology that enables sensor data fusion in real-time. 4.Control interfaces that address issues of autonomous or semi-autonomous guidance and control of unmanned and ground robots utilizing real-time sensor network information. 5. Tools and manipulators that provide new capabilities for insertion of robotic elements, payload launching and retrieval mechanisms, and additional functionality to existing delivery systems. 6. Reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition concepts to provide complet instantaneous awareness of a battlespace and communication of information to battlespace components. 7. Mobile sensors and sensor grid demonstrations which provide real-time sensing and communication of a surf zones or riverine enviroments. IV. CONTRACT/AGREEMENT TYPE. NAVAIR is willing to consider various types of acquisition vehicles including, but not limited to, traditional FAR/DFARS type contracts and/or non-procurement agreements (e.g. Cooperative Agreements and Other Transactions). Other Transactions will be entered into under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2371 (Congressional direction requires that at least 50 percent of the cost of a project under this initiative be provided by industry) and Section 845, Authority to Carry Out Certain Prototype Projects. Information concerning Other Transactions can be found at http://www.darpa.mil/cmo/pages/other_trans.html and http://www.acq.osd.mil/ddre/research, or by contacting Sue R. Wainwright at (301) 757-9746 or by e-mail at wainwrightSR@navair.navy.mil. Final decision on acquisition type (contract/agreement) will be made by the government. NOTE: Typically, research findings result in the need for additional services/supplies, which are not possible to anticipate or project. Contract modifications may be executed to satisfy these requirements; thereby providing for flexibility in technology assessment (with technology transition the ultimate goal). In the event that this is required, it shall be considered to be within the scope of this BAA and the resulting contract, and therefore will have met the requirements of the FAR/DFARS and the Competition in Contracting Act. V. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION. No request for proposal (RFP), solicitation or other announcement of this opportunity will be made. Submit proposals in two (2) phases. A. PHASE I -- Proposal Abstracts Submit Proposal Abstract, not to exceed fifteen pages, any time during the above stated open period. The Proposal Abstracts will be evaluated (at a minimum) quarterly. All proprietary portions of the abstract shall be clearly identified and will be treated in the strictest confidence. Offerors are hereby notified that non-government participants will have access to the offeror's proposals, and that submission of an offer shall constitute consent to the disclosure of proprietary information to all non-government participants in the source selection. The non-government participants are employees of commercial firms under contract to the Government, and if they serve as technical advisors they will be authorized access to only those portions of the proposal data and discussions that are necessary to enable them to provide specific technical advice on specialized matters or on particular problems. Abstracts shall identify the following: (1) BAA Number;N00421-01-R-0176; (2) Organization Name; (3) Other Team Members and type of business for each; (4) Technical Points of contact (including phone, fax, and e-mail information); (5) Administrative Point of Contact; (6) Overview of the Proposed Work to include: A summary of proposed concept (including commercial applications), an estimated timeframe for project completion, a brief description of the facilities involved, and a brief resume of the principle investigator(s); and, (7) A rough order of cost magnitude with type of acquisition vehicle (contract/agreement) being proposed, and, if applicable, the anticipated sharing arrangement. BRIEFING: The Government may request the contractor to present a technical briefing on the proposed effort(s) at NAVAIR/Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division facilities, Patuxent River, MD. Although discussions with the government are permitted prior to submission of abstracts, these technical briefings are desired following the formal submission of an abstract. The Government is not liable for any costs associated with this brief. The abstract cover letter should discuss the contractor's willingness to provide a technical brief. Submit an original with four (4) additional copies, of the abstract proposal to the following address: Naval Air Systems Command, Code: AIR-2.5.1.4.1, Attn: Sue R. Wainwright -N00421-01-R-0176, BLDG 588, Suite 2, 47253 Whalen Road, Unit 9, Patuxent River, MD 20670-1463. Contents of Proposal Abstracts may also be submitted electronically to wainwrightSR@navair.navy.mil. Confirmation of receipt is recommended for electronic submission. If interested, the Navy will contact the offeror for additional information and/or a Phase II Proposal (See paragraph "B" below.) IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE CONTRACTORS: Registration in the DoD's Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database will be a prerequisite for receiving an award resulting from this BAA. For more information please contact the CCR Assistance Center at 1-888-227-2423. B. PHASE II Full Proposal General Information: Only Offerors whose Phase I -- Proposal Abstract is considered capable of meeting Program requirements will be asked to submit Phase II -- Full Proposals. REQUEST FOR SUBMISSION OF A FULL PROPOSAL DOES NOT GUARANTEE AWARD SELECTION. See listing for (BAA) N00421-01-R-0176 at www.navair.navy.mil/business/ecommerce/index.cfm (Business/Doing Business With Us/Open Solicitations) for instruction on how to submit Phase II-Full Proposal.

Web Link

NAVAIR Homepage (Business Opportunities/Open Solicitations) (http://www.navair.navy.mil/business/ecommerce/index.cfm)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010223/ASOL009.HTM (W-052 SN50E1O7)