PL/PKL/ Lasers & Imaging Division 3550 Aberdeen Avenue SE Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5776

A -- COHERENT, HIGH-POWER SEMICONDUCTOR LASER PRDA NO. 95-02 POC Ernestine Stewart, Contract Specialist, PL/PKLA (505)846-0150 Technical POC: Linda L. Dehainaut, PL/LIDA (505)846-8992. The USAF Phillips Laboratory is seeking proposals for new and innovative approaches to achieve high brightness (Watts/(cm2zSr)) semiconductor laser operation. The High Power Semiconductor Laser Technology (HPSLT) program is directed toward demonstrating high-power, spatially and temporally coherent semiconductor laser (array) sources for Air Force applications. The Phillips Laboratory desires the development of semiconductor lasers with the following characteristics: 1) extended single lateral aperture, 2) lowest order lateral and transverse mode, 3) high power, and 4) continuous (CW) operation. Specified powers are to be measured after coupling through a single mode optical fiber, with all the energy not coupled into the single mode removed. We anticipate the laser power emitted by the semiconductor laser will be 50% to 100% larger than the laser power coupled through the single-mode fiber. The chosen laser design should have a power output that is reasonably stable over time, be rugged, reliable and manufactured in a way that can be readily transformed into a space qualified device. The proposal should provide an economic path toward demonstration of compactness, ruggedness and high reliability. Proposals should include a plan for transitioning from development to the economical manufacturing, packaging, and reliability verification of resulting devices. B--REQUIREMENTS: The effort shall be divided into four phases: Phase I, a one-year basic effort, Phase II, a second year, Option I, a Phase III, a third year, Option II, and Phase IV, a fourth year, Option III. In Phase I (Basic), the effort should (1) investigate the physics and scalability of the proposed design and (2) demonstrate 3 W, CW, single linear polarization state at 980 nm through a single-mode fiber. Phase II (Option I), Phase III (Option II) and Phase IV (Option III) should be proposed as options to be exercised at the discretion of the Government. In Phase II (Option I), the design developed and fabricated in Phase I shall be optimized to demonstrate 5 W, CW, single linear polarization state at 980 nm through a single-mode fiber. Phase III and Phase IV (Options II and III) should be proposed to address space laser communication requirements, and the offerors should select one of two possible approaches to meet these requirements. Approach 1: Continue scaling the coherent CW power coupled through a single- mode fiber. In Phase III (Option II) the design developed and fabricated in Phases I and II shall be optimized to demonstrate 10 W, CW, single linear polarization state coupled through a single-mode fiber. The wavelength shall be in the band achievable by InGaAs (wavelength to be agreed upon at the time the option is exercised). Phase IV (Option III) will address compact coupling geometry, rugged packaging, and be fabricated and tested for stability, reliability, and lifetime. Approach 2: Produce modulated light directly from the output facet of the device developed in Phases I and II. The output beam should be squared to a unit aspect ratio but does not need to be coupled through a single-mode optical fiber. The design shall be optimized to demonstrate 5 W average output power, single linear polarization state, diffraction limited beam, single longitudinal mode and modulated at 2.5 Gbps (in a modulation format to be agreed upon at the time the option is exercised). The wavelength (to be agreed upon at the time the option is exercised) will be in the band achievable by InGaAs. The preliminary design for a compact coupling geometry and compact and rugged package should be developed during this phase. During Phase IV (Option III) devices which have a compact coupling geometry and compact and rugged packaging will be fabricated and tested for stability, reliability, and lifetime. Deliverables to the Government shall be four working prototypes at the end of each phase. The prototypes shall be devices which meet phase goals and are representative of technology developed during the respective phase. Theoretical and experimental evidence demonstrating scaling to final contract goals shall be provided with working prototype delivery at the end of Phase I and Phase II. In addition to working prototype delivery, four test samples should be proposed for delivery at the end of each six-month period after contract award date. These test samples shall be devices developed in the normal course of research and agreed to by the Government prior to delivery. Other deliverables include monthly status reports, occasional verbal responses, occasional meetings, technical sketches and drawings, annotated viewgraph packages from each review, and a final technical report. The final technical report will provide a detailed technical description of the work performed under the contract, including all accomplishments, conclusions, and ideas for possible technology improvements in a subsequent efforts. C--BASIS FOR AWARD: This PRDA is intended to solicit proposals to develop lasers that meet or exceed the above characteristics. The Air Force reserves the right to select any, all, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. The selection of sources for contract award shall be based on a scientific and engineering evaluation of the responses. The offerors~ proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria in order of priority: 1. Creative solutions based on sound engineering and scientific analysis will be rated first in the evaluation process. The potential contributions of the effort to the HPSLT program and the extent to which the research will balance the overall program's objectives. 2. The overall scientific and/or technical merits of the proposal. 3. The offeror's ability to demonstrate a clear understanding of the problems that will be encountered during the effort and the offeror's ability to present both the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed approach. 4. The inclusion of preliminary experimental and theoretical results which support the offeror's approach. 5. The offeror's current capabilities, facilities, techniques, or unique combinations of these, along with the qualifications, capabilities, and experiences of the proposed principal investigator, team leader, and other key personnel, both of which are integral factors for achieving proposal objectives. 7. The offeror's record of past and present performance. 8. The reasonableness and realism of proposed costs and fee, if any, and the availability of funds. The anticipated funding level for this effort is $700,000 per year per award. The government anticipates Cost Plus Fixed Fee award contract(s). Use of Government Furnished Property is not contemplated. The Government anticipate multiple awards, subject to availability of funds. Responses shall reference the above announcement and shall be unclassified. An original and five copies of your proposal are required. In addition, the offeror shall submit one copy of the technical and cost proposals to the cognizant DCAA office. The proposals are due 38 calendar days after the publication of this announcement. Subsequent proposals will be evaluated until 7 March 1996 subject to funding. Proposals shall be separated into two volumes consisting of 1) a management/technical proposal and 2) a cost proposal. The offeror~s management/technical proposal shall not exceed 60 pages, shall include a one page summary of the schedule and milestones for the proposed development, a Statement of Work (SOW) for each option, covering the proposed tasks and a summary of the deliverables associated with each option, a technical paper which includes technical arguments substantiating the above, a discussion of the unique aspects, a comparison with other approaches and a discussion of the risks and technical uncertainties, the overall approach to the management of the effort, including brief discussions on total organization, teaming with other contractors, subcontractors relationships, technology transition plans, and planning, scheduling, and management control practices. The cost proposal shall include a one-page summary with options priced separately and a SF 1411 for the effort (options included). Supporting pages shall provide detailed breakdowns of labor hours by labor category and task/subtasks, including estimates of cost in each year by task, materials, travel, and other direct costs and indirect costs. The offeror shall justify the realism of the proposed costs. An offeror's proposal is presumed to represent the best efforts to respond to the solicitation. Any inconsistency, whether real or apparent, between promised performance and cost shall be explained in the proposal. The burden of proof as to cost credibility rests with the offeror and shall be included in the proposal. Upon receipt of a proposal, the Air Force will perform an initial review of its scientific merit and potential contribution to the HPSLT program and also determine if funds are available for the effort. Replies to this synopsis must reference PRDA No. 95-02. Responses by telegram or responses combining more than one synopsis reference number will not be honored. Foreign firms are advised they will not be allowed to participate as the prime contractor. Firms responding should indicate whether or not they are small business, or 8(A) firm, and whether or not they are woman-owned. SIC Code 8731 with a standard size of 1000 people. This notice constitutes the actual solicitation for this requirement. A formal request for proposals will not be issued. Responders shall consider instructions contained in the ''Proprietary Information'' and ''When and How to Submit'' sections of the AFMC Unsolicited Proposal Guide, (AFMC) Pamphlet 64-101, dated 18 February 1994. POC: PL/XPI, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue, SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776, (505)846-6952. The cost of preparing your proposal is not an allowable direct charge to any resultant contract or any other Government contract, but it is an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost as provided in FAR 31.205-18. The AF shall send notices of nonselection to offerors whose proposals are not being considered for funding. Offerors are cautioned, only the Contracting Officer may commit the Government to an award. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The purpose of the Ombudsman is to receive and communicate serious concerns from potential offerors when an offeror prefers not to use established channels to request concerns during the proposal development phase of the acquisition. Potential offerors should use established channels to request information, pose questions and voice concerns before contacting the Omudsman. For serious concerns only, potential offerors are invited to contact the PL Ombudsman, Colonel Dayton L. Silver, Phillips Laboratory Vice Commander, or his alternate, Mr. Bruce Grunsten, Chief, Phillips Laboratory Contracts Policy Division at (505)846-8273, 2251 Maxwell Avenue, SE, Building 424, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776. Questions of a technical nature must be addressed in writing to Linda L. DeHainaut, PL/LIDA, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776. Questions of a contractual/cost nature should be addressed to PL/PKLA, Attn: Ernestine Stewart, 3651 Lowry Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5777. (0025)

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