Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF JANUARY 28, 2006 FBO #1524
SOURCES SOUGHT

A -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION(RFI) - HIGH ENERGY LASER TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR (HELTD) PROGRAM RFI NUMBER W9113M060003

Notice Date

1/26/2006
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

Contracting Office

US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Deputy Commander, ATTN SMDC-CM-AP, P.O. Box 1500, Huntsville, AL 35807-3801
 

ZIP Code

35807-3801
 

Solicitation Number

W9113M060003
 

Response Due

2/25/2006
 

Archive Date

4/26/2006
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

This is a Request for Information (RFI) from interested commercial sources by the U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command (SMDC) regarding the ability of firms to develop, integrate, and test a 100kW-class High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator (HELTD). The HELTD will consist of a high-power, solid-state laser (SSL) subsystem; beam control subsystem (BCS); battle management, command, control, and communications (BMC3) subsystem; thermal management subsystem; and electrical power/recharge subsyst em integrated on a mobile hybrid-electric tactical vehicle with trailer (if required). The type of tactical vehicle will be determined during early systems engineering studies, but maximizing specific power while minimizing development cost for the HELTD is desired. This notice is published in accordance with FAR Part 15.201, and is an RFI for planning purposes only. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a commitment by the U.S. Government, nor should it be construed as such. Respondents are advised t hat SMDC is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of information received, or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. There shall be no basis for claims against the Government as a result of any inform ation submitted in response to this RFI. The Government WILL NOT award a contract on the basis of this RFI, and WILL NOT reimburse the costs incurred by providing the information requested under this notice. This RFI is open to any capable and qualified U. S. commercial sources, and partnering is encouraged. The goal of the HELTD Program is to demonstrate the capability to successfully engage and defeat a variety of airborne targets with a high energy laser (HEL) beam by the end of FY13. The airborne and ballistic threats may include rockets, mortars, artille ry, precision-guided munitions, surface-to-air missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The HELTD is not currently envisioned to be deployable as a weapon system, but it is intended to support future transition to a major acquisition program. Specifically, the HELTD must be capable of receiving multiple track data files from a government-provided acquisition sensor, classifying and identifying objects, establishing laser-quality track files, determining the optimum time to engage the target, providing safe- guards to preclude inadvertent irradiation of friendly assets, selecting an optimum aimpoint to engage the target, directing and maintaining the HEL beam on the aimpoint, and verifying kill of the target or retargeting, as necessary. The HELTD will be use d to demonstrate resolution of technical issues related to SSL beam control (beam and wavefront shaping and/or phase control); SSL beam propagation in a simulated battlefield environment or poor weather conditions; pointing and tracking (timely and accurate hand-off from an acquisition sensor, aimpoint selection and tracking algorithms, jitter control and boresight errors, illuminator and infrared sensor performance); optics performance (window survivability, uncooled optics and coatings, alignment, adaptive optics and/or fast steering mirrors); and lethality (SSL beam coupling to the target, target kill mechanisms, and fluence requirements). The initial HELTD concept must be flexible enough to accommodate alternative SSL subsystem architectures. Two candidate SSL technologies are being developed in the laboratory under the Joint High Power Solid State Laser (JHPSSL) Phase 3 program, which has a goal of demonstrating a minimum of 100kW output power by the end of FY08. A complete set of thresholds and goals for JHPSSL Phase 3 may be provided on request. SMDC currently plans a downselect for the SSL subsystem technology from these two SSL cand idates no later than early FY09 for use as the HELTD SSL subsystem. The HELTD effort is envisioned to consist of distinct contractor teams for systems engineering and systems integration. The Systems Engineering team will define the initial HELTD concept; make subsystem technology recommendations; and continuously balance cost, schedule, and performance requirements. This Systems Engineering team will also support coordination with additional governme nt stakeholders including USAADASCH, UAMBL, and PM Cruise Missile Defense Systems (CMDS). This Systems Engineering team must assess candidate subsystem technologies including the J-HPSSL Phase 3 contractors without perceived or actual conflicts of interes t or concerns for unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information. The System Integration team will be responsible for the design and development of the BCS and BMC3 subsystems, integration of all HELTD subsystems on the mobile platform, and demonstration of HELTD performance at the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facilit y (HELSTF) at the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). The BCS must be capable of receiving and transmitting the HEL beam as provided by the selected SSL technology. The BMC3 must be capable of receiving target handover track information from an acquisition radar (GFE) such as the WSMR range radars. The responder must have prior successful experience in developing and testing air and missile defense weapon systems. The government is considering one possible contracting strategy that would provide an HELTD System Engineering prime contractor for a period of performance from contract award until shortly after government SSL subsystem downselect. This Systems Engineeri ng contractor would not be one of the J-HPSSL Phase 3 contractors or any other potential subsystem provider. During this initial performance period, the System Integrator, potentially a major subsystem provider, is a sub-contractor under the System Engine er. The System Integrator would revert to prime contractor for a second period of performance that follows SSL subsystem downselect and runs through contract completion. During the second performance period, the System Engineer is now a sub-contractor un der the System Integrator. Responders to this RFI are encouraged to recommend potential alternative contracting strategies. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDERS: Responders (individual contractors or potential teams) should provide a high-level description of their capabilities in laser and beam control technologies and their capabilities for systems engineering and integrating weapon sy stem concepts for air and missile defense operations. This includes identifying capabilities to manage the development process within a structured framework, i.e. Acquisition Systems Management Model, Technology Program Management Model, etc. Responders should be as specific as possible, and should identify unique technical development experience and qualifications. Responders should also provide comments/information in the following areas: a) ROM cost estimates for the BCS and BMC3 subsystems and HELTD s ystem systems engineering and integration, b) feasibility for integrating the HELTD onto a hybrid-electric vehicle and the resulting options and availability for electrical power and thermal management, c) feasibility for incorporating vibration control on a mobile platform supporting a laser subsystem operating at 1.0 microns, d) the need , risk and cost for incorporating adaptive optics to sustain beam quality to the target based on the given target set, e) track handover requirements from an acquisition radar, and f) techniques for promptly restoring optical alignment after vehicle movement. The government is also considering an interim demonstration of a fixed-site SSL Breadboard System capable of successfully engaging a 60mm mortar by the end of FY10. Responders should provide comments on the feasibility of this interim demonstration includ ing projected cost impacts. This SSL Breadboard System would be composed of a ruggedized JHPSSL Phase 3 device, a beam control system to be recommended, adaptive optics (if required), beam control softwa re derived from the Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) program, and the range radar at the White Sands Missile Range. The responses should reference W9113M060003/HIGH ENERGY LASER TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATOR (HELTD), not exceed 15 pages in length, and should be delivered to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, ATTN: SMDC-RDTC-TDD, PAUL SIMPSON, P.O. Box 1500, Hunt sville, AL 35807-3801 no later than 25 Feb 06. Electronic submission to paul.simpson@smdc.army.mil is the preferred method of submission. All respondents shall include their assigned Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code. Responders are further requ ired to indicate their status as a foreign-owned/foreign controlled firm and any contemplated use of foreign national employees. Due to the nature of this potential effort, no foreign country sources will be considered. Proprietary Data: All information su bmittals containing proprietary data should be appropriately marked. It is the responder's responsibility to clearly define to the Government what is considered to be proprietary data.
 

Place of Performance

Address: US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Deputy Commander ATTN SMDC-RDTC-TDD, P.O. Box 1500 Huntsville AL

Zip Code: 35807-3801

Country: US
 

Record

SN00973832-W 20060128/060126212421 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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