SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- Request for Information (RFI) for FLARE - Request for Information (RFI) for FLARE
- Notice Date
- 9/12/2017
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Directed Energy Directorate, 2251 Maxwell Ave, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, 87117
- ZIP Code
- 87117
- Solicitation Number
- RFI-AFRL-RVKDL-2017-0005
- Point of Contact
- Christopher D. Lockridge, Phone: 505-846-1527, Luisa A. Martinez-Medina, Phone: 505-846-6865
- E-Mail Address
-
christopher.lockridge.2@us.af.mil, luisa.martinez-medina@us.af.mil
(christopher.lockridge.2@us.af.mil, luisa.martinez-medina@us.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Request for Information (RFI) for High Energy Combinable Fiber Laser Advanced Research Effort (FLARE) High Energy Combinable Fiber Laser Advanced Research Effort (FLARE) RFI-AFRL-RVKDL-2017-0005 ________________________________________ THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY as defined in FAR 15.201(e). This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes to further the Government's understanding of market capabilities. This RFI is not a request for proposals; therefore responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. This announcement shall NOT be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. Responses to this RFI will NOT be returned and no further feedback will be provided. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website (http://www.fbo.gov). Submitted information shall be UNCLASSIFIED. NO reimbursement will be made by the Government for any costs associated with providing information in response to this RFI or any follow up information requests. High Energy Combinable Fiber Laser Advance Research Effort (FLARE) The Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate (AFRL/RD), Fiber Laser and Beam Combining Program (FLBC), is seeking information on industry's capability relative to in-house development and demonstration of high power fiber lasers/amplifiers for multiple beam combining architectures including tiled and filled array for insertion into laser weapon systems. The principal interest is in airborne applications. For airborne platforms, information is sought on industry's capability to mature robust narrow linewidth fiber lasers suitable for insertion to future air dominance platforms with challenging Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) considerations using either coherent or spectral beam combining architectures. In addition, similar technologies are highly desired for ground-to-air applications utilizing comparable combining architectures and targeting counter specific airborne threats. Information is sought from respondents regarding past/current relevant experience in the development and demonstration of high fiber lasers including; highest power (continuous or pulsed) achieved, high energy programs supported and if experience is at the component, subsystem or system integration level. Additionally, for future air dominance applications, FLBC is seeking information on industry's capability regarding research, development and demonstration of high brightness, low SWaP laser diodes for pumping fiber amplifier systems. The primary interest is in reducing the overall size and weight of diode pump module while increasing output power, electrical-to-optical efficiency and optimizing module design for dense packaging. Respondents should address their level of familiarity with (and capability in) all research and development (R&D) areas listed below as contemplated for: a) demonstration of SWaP constrained high power fiber laser architectures compatible with future air dominance fiber laser beam combining applications; b) fiber laser sources; c) fiber array/beam combining systems; and d) respondents ability to perform in all areas listed below at classified levels. 1) Modeling and Simulation (M&S) - Develop, maintain and execute fundamental physics and engineering computer-based models to predict performance of: a. Fiber coupled laser diode cooling b. Optical pumping of fibers (including SWaP optimization) c. Novel optical fiber designs including active and passive conventional, microstructure large-mode area (LMA) fibers d. High power scaling of rare-earth doped optical fiber amplifiers (including Erbium, Ytterbium and Thulium fibers) e. Mitigation of deleterious non-linear optical and thermo-optics effects in fibers f. Beam combining multiple high power fiber sources 2) Design, acquire and modify hardware required to perform the R&D effort including: a. Optical b. Mechanical c. Thermal d. Electrical e. Fluids 3) Testing, data analysis and management: a. Test planning, experiment design and build-up: Based on M&S results, plan and design experiments and build experimental setups required to generate the necessary data to validate physics and engineering models. Experiment planning and design includes mitigating risks to acceptable levels for both R&D assets and personnel. b. Experiment execution: Establish manual and automated data acquisition methods and collect the necessary experimental data as determined by test planning. c. Data analysis: Analyze the collected data to determine if the experiment was successful, or needs to be repeated, modified, or a different experiment is needed to generate and collect the required data. d. Data management: Manage the data by proper recording from R&D instruments, formatting data for use by M&S codes and archiving data for later recall and reference. 4) Design, development, integration and upgrades of R&D experimental laser laboratory systems and facilities: a. R&D must be conducted in accordance with the Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health (EOSH) standards for laboratories performing high power fiber laser power scaling and beam combining validation and verification assessments, including: i. System safety planning and documentation ii. Hazardous materials and hazardous waste management b. Government equipment/property management c. Configuration management and tool control All R&D efforts shall be performed at AFRL facilities located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. There is a possibility for limited R&D efforts to be performed at other specified Government and/or commercial facilities. RESPONSE GUIDANCE Interested parties capable of performing this work are invited to submit a capability statement that meets all items on company letterhead no later than (NLT) 12 October 2017 at 12:00 noon Mountain Standard Time (MST). Provide sufficient written information to indicate capability and any other specific and pertinent information. Reponses must also address items a. - d. below. Company Profile a. Company Name and Mailing Address b. CAGE Code and DUNS Number c. Point(s) of Contact to include telephone number and e-mail address d. Business Size Status (i.e. 8(a), HUBZone, woman-owned, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned, Small business, Large Business, Historically Black College/University). Also, indicate if entity is a minority-serving institution of higher education that meet the definition of "Covered Institution" (as defined in 10 USC 2362 Covered Educational Institution) which is (1) an institution of higher education eligible for assistance under title III or V of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1501 et seq); or (2) an accredited postsecondary minority institution). The applicable NAICs code is 541712 with an associated small business size standard of 1,000. Responses must be unclassified and any proprietary information provided must be portion marked accordingly. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly identified. RFI responses are limited to 10 pages, single-sided, single-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font with one inch margins. A cover page and/or index are not included in the page count. Submittals should consist of one (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic version (CD-ROM) in format readable and usable by Microsoft (MS) Word 2010® or in PDF format viewable with the standard Adobe Acrobat Reader®. Submissions shall be delivered by MAIL ONLY and received NLT 12 October 2017 at 12:00 noon MST, to the Contracting Office at the following address: AFRL Det 8/RVKDL Attn: Christopher Lockridge Contract Specialist 3550 Aberdeen Ave. SE Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776 Submissions sent via facsimile, hand delivered or electronically will NOT be accepted. Note: The operations, research, and test data produced under a resultant contract may contain Military Critical Technology List (MCTL) information whose export is restricted by the Export Control Act (Title 22, USC, Section 2751, et seq.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (Title 50, USC, App. 40-1, et seq.). Therefore, ONLY offerors who are certified by the Defense Logistics Information Service (DLIS) may submit statements of capability. Contact US/Canada Joint Certification Office, DLIS, Federal Center, 74 Washington Ave, North, Battle Creek, Michigan, 49037-3084, (800) 352-3572, http://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp/, for further information on certification and the approval process.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLPLDED/RFI-AFRL-RVKDL-2017-0005/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: United States
- Record
- SN04672391-W 20170914/170912231548-b9f8e196c593d26ba154f9ac4afaa481 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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