SPECIAL NOTICE
99 -- Request for Information (RFI) - High Energy Laser (HEL) Optical Coating
- Notice Date
- 2/10/2023 7:50:24 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- Contracting Office
- DEPT OF DEFENSE
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Response Due
- 2/27/2023 2:00:00 PM
- Point of Contact
- Claire Dowd
- E-Mail Address
-
claire.m.dowd.civ@army.mil
(claire.m.dowd.civ@army.mil)
- Description
- This is a Request for Information (RFI) only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that the Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare System (PEO IWS) 2.0, Above Water Sensors and Lasers, will take procurement action in this matter.�Further, PEO IWS 2.0 will not be responsible for any cost incurred in furnishing information.� Directed Energy (DE) weapons are maturing to the point that the DoD is planning on fabricating High Energy Laser (HEL) weapons in significant quantities for integration on various land, sea, and air based platforms.� This requires that the DE Industrial Base be capable of meeting the anticipated production demand.� The Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare System (PEO IWS) 2 Above Water Sensors Office is tasked with ensuring that commercial vendors are prepared to meet this demand.� This RFI is being used to determine the current status of the industrial base to cost effectively deposit dielectric optical coatings that meet the requirements necessary for HEL weapon systems. Highly reflective optical coatings for HEL weapon systems must meet stringent requirements to ensure reliable performance when exposed to high power laser light.� These typically include 1) extremely high reflectivity at multiple wavelengths, 2) Low absorption, especially at the HEL wavelength, 3) minimal substrate and coating defects that can be potential damage sites, 4) Low coating induced stress that can potentially deform the optic and impact wavefront quality, and 5) high laser induced damage thresholds.� Coating failures can have a catastrophic impact on HEL weapon system availability and reliable coating performance is critical to the viability HEL weapon systems. The government will use the results of this RFI to assess current domestic industrial capabilities for anticipated HEL Weapon System production needs. Additionally, this information will be used to develop investment strategies to address cost, lead time, and performance issues.� The goal of this RFI is to analyze production challenges that contribute to performance and reliability issues, delivery timelines, and cost (i.e., supply chain issues, component requirements, etc.).� The government will use the results of this RFI to assess current domestic industrial capabilities to fabricate HEL optical coatings that meet the required specifications and in anticipated quantities.� Additionally, the RFI will help inform the government of potential investment areas that would enable industry to meet the anticipated demand while achieving performance and cost goals.� Background:� Based on prior HEL weapon system development programs as well as significant test and characterization efforts, optical coatings have been identified as a potential risk to the reliable operation of HEL weapon systems.� These risks manifest themselves as coating failures during HEL operation which would necessitate their replacement, as well as system re-alignment, creating significant weapon system down times.� Requirement:��The Department of Defense requires improvement of production processes of domestic vendors of HEL optical coatings to address performance, reliability, lead time, and cost issues.�� While not specifically called out in this RFI, HEL optical coating performance must be of the highest quality, exhibiting minimal absorption, high reflectivity in multiple spectral bands, minimal mechanical stress, minimal surface and coating defects, and high laser induced damage thresholds.����� � This RFI is asking for information and inquiring for answers to the following key questions: What are the main contributing factors to the production timeline for your HEL Optical Coating processes? Provide a general breakdown of the production steps and timelines necessary to fabricate a HEL coated optic that meets requirements Is there tooling or equipment that can improve areas of the timeline for the characterization of parts? Are there specific recommendations related to coating performance, reliability, lead time, and cost reduction that can benefit from investment in equipment, tooling, etc. ? Examples may include the addition of a dedicated Coating Chambers, tooling, substrate supply and coating materials supply. What areas within the manufacturing process can be improved in order to reduce coating and/or substrate defects while still meeting reflectivity and absorption specifications. Anything else? State other ideas on how production timelines for manufacturing can be improved and costs be lowered while still maintaining performance and quality? Contract Type Considerations:��The Government anticipates issuing a single Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement. Responding to this RFI:� Interested parties responding to this RFI must provide the following information: Company name Business size If your company is a small business, please identify any socio-economic category that applies CAGE code Name of the primary point of contact for the response Email address Phone number All information received in response to this RFI may be marked �Proprietary�. An e-mail response will be sent after all data has been reviewed. � � � ��Response Submission Deadline:��Responses to this RFI must be submitted no later than 4PM Central on 27 February 2023.� RFI submissions will be accepted as email attachments only.� All responses must be sent to the Agreements Specialist, Claire Dowd (Claire.m.dowd.civ@army.mil)with �PEO IWS2 HEL Optical Coating RFI Response� in the subject line.�
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/77eaf6f9f45541888f21a6d68865b7a5/view)
- Record
- SN06588382-F 20230212/230210230108 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
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