Rome Laboratory, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome NY 13441-4514

A -- SPECIAL NOTICE: ROME LABORATORY'S FY96 STTR TOPIC POC Joetta A. Bernhard, Contracting Officer, A/C 315-330-2308; Margot Ashcroft, SBIR Program Manager, 315-330-2912. ROME LABORATORY'S FY96 STTR TOPIC. Rome Laboratory is pleased to make available its Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) draft topic, ''Innovative C3I Technologies,'' for the 1996 Department of Defense (DOD) Solicitation: OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative technologies for enhancing the performance, availability and affordability of C3I systems and subsystems. DESCRIPTION: C3I Technology pursued within Rome Laboratory addresses four mission thrusts: Command, Control, and Communications; Electromagnetics and Reliability; Intelligence and Reconnaissance; and Surveillance and Photonics. Proposals may address any aspect of C3I technology. Proposed titles must reflect the specific technology problem being addressed. Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) C3 concepts for fixed, mobile, or distributed command centers; mission-support system-planning tools; innovative methods for employing commercial off-the-shelf communications technology; innovative concepts and technologies in computer science (including distributed computer systems technology, artificial intelligence, and distributed data bases); innovative concepts in information portral; and survivable protocols; (b) Electromagnetic technology, including the following: (1) adaptive pattern control for high-performance phased-array antennas; (2) innovative target and clutter scattering models for improved radar detection; (3) improved modeling of high frequency propagation for enhanced communications and small target detection; (4) monolithic millimeter wave components; (5) materials for thin, lightweight, conformal phased arrays; and (6) computational electromagnetics for assessing susceptibility in RF environments; (c) Science and engineering research that encompasses all aspects of the system life cycle from ''cradle to grave,'' including development and use of tools and techniques such as the following: (1) modeling and simulation; (2) materials and process characterization; (3) operational assessments; (4) assessments and correction of failure modes and effects; (5) development of diagnostic techniques for implementation of cost-effective logistic suppor capability; (d) Intelligence technology, including the following: target identification, signal exploitation, data handling, sensor exploitation, speech processing, mass storage, and information warfare; to provide real-time information that will dramatically enhance air superiority, survivability, and global awareness; (e) A wide variety of surveillance technologies; including signal processing, airborne radars (bistatic radars and multispectral surveillance radars), advanced algorithm development and testing for airborne surveillance systems, and the application of digital and analog photonics to existing and planned Air Force systems. The 1996 solicitation will be released 1 Dec 95. The purpose of the draft release of this topic is to provide an opportunity for dialog between potential bidders and Rome Lab engineers prior to solicitation release. The draft topic is also available via Rome Laboratory's WWW Home Page at the following URL address: ''http://www.rl.af.mil:8001/Lab/XP/SBIR/sbir-main.html.'' POC for this announcement is Ms. Margot Ashcroft, XPD, x3021. (0307)

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