HQ Electronic Systems Center, R&D Contracts, ESC/PKR, 104 Barksdale Bldg. 1520, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-1806

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR BASIC RESEARCH IN ELECTROMAGNETICS AND RELIABILITY POC Robert V. McGahan, RL/ER, 617-377-3700; John Flaherty, Contracting Officer, ESC/PKR, 617-377-2529. The Rome Laboratory Electromagnetics and Reliability Directorate, Hanscom AFB, MA, is accepting Basic Research proposals in support of research in all areas of interest to the Directorate. For purposes of this Announcement, Basic Research is scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge or understanding of the engineering sciences. Focus of the research should not be directed toward a specific system or hardware solution. Specific technical research topics are: (1) Antenna Research - All aspects of array radiation and mutual coupling determination from HF through millimeter wave frequencies, digital and adaptive beamforming including the use of optical signal distribution and artificial intelligence means, multifunction, reconfigurable structural array antennas, component technology to enable advanced arrays,and large antenna measurement techniques. (2) Electromagnetic Scattering from Targets and Terrain - Calculation and measurement of scattering from bodies of arbitrary composition, antennas, terrain (especially foliage and vegetation), including time-domain effects, cross-section control, terrain reflectivity calibration, polarization effects on clutter. (3) RF Propagation Research - Theoretical and experimental investigation of radiowave propagation effects impacting communications and surveillance systems. Research is applicable, but not limited, to ground/foliage penetrating radar and imaging technology. Links may involve terrestrial, satellite, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configurations. Applications include wireless radio, personal communications, low-earth, medium-earth and geostationary satellite communications, radar, navigation, and intelligence systems. Research areas include advanced models for near-real time system evaluation, long-term link characterization for planning and testing, as well as signal processing and adaptive nulling/beamforming algorithms for mitigation of channel distortion. Phenomena to be considered include, but are not limited to, tropospheric ducting and ionospheric scintillation, Doppler spread, rain and cloud attenuation, multi-path, low grazing angles, and ground/foliage masking. (4) Electro-Optical Component Research - Single mode and multimode fiber optic components, including sources, detectors and monolithic and hybrid integrated opto-electronic circuits, planar film techniques for passive couplers, optical multiplexers, optical/microwave integration, process compatible techniques, optical waveguiding materials and switching techniques. (5) Optical Processing Research - Architectures and algorithms for real time target tracking pattern recognition and spatial light modulation using non-linear optical materials and highly parallel structures, hybrid opto-electronic processing systems. (6) Electromagnetic Materials - Synthesis, growth, fabrication, purification, characterization and modelling of III-V semiconductors (especially bulk indium phosphide and gallium arsenide, its lattice matched alloys, other compatible thin films and hetero-technologies related to indium phosphide), nonlinear optical materials, especially photorefractives and materials for waveguide applications, gallium nitride and related materials. (7) Infrared Detector/Sensor Research - Techniques for improving the performance of infrared internal photoemission arrays. Optimization of infrared camera models. Determination of the limits of infrared sensing. Novel processing techniques for infrared image data. (8) Infrared Surveillance - Methods of extending wide area surveillance capability in the infrared spectrum. Interests include sensor arrays, sensor hardware, characterization and removal of clutter, tracking and front end signal processing. (9) Emission Security Research Development - Computer assisted tools, improved antennas, digital filtering techniques, and acoustic/optic/electronic/video signal processing. Advanced signal processing techniques including vibration energy retrieval and analysis, wideband signal analysis, and video signal analysis. Development of multi-channel Bragg-Cell or other optical correlotor technologies. (10) Bit Rate Adaptive Speech Coding - Advanced narrowband speech compression algorithms for landline, RF, and satellite applications. Interoperability among strategic and tactical secure voice networks, increased channel capacity in existing frequency bands, survivable communications for LPI/AJ and RF LMR applications, narrowband multi-speaker conferencing (including video teleconferencing), and robust communications in hostile noise. (11) Software Reconfigurable INFOSEC technology - Implementation of information-security technology in software including: the emulation of existing communication security (COMSEC) equipment on a generic microprocessor (No Foreign Participation), development of benign ways of transmitting and loading cryptographic algorithms or key into host platforms (No Foreign Participation), or novel applications of encryption. This announcement is open and effective until rescinded by a revised announcement. The cost of preparing proposals in response to this announcement is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or any other contract, but it is an allowable expense to the normal bid and proposal indirect cost in FAR 31.205-18. Offerors may, at any time, contact individuals listed in the BAA brochure for clarification of technical, contractual issues and cost response format. Proposals may be submitted for one or more of the above topics or a specified portion of one topic. A proposer may submit seperate proposals on different topics or different proposals on the same topic. The government does not guarantee an award in each topic area. Every effort will be made to protect the confidentiality of the proposal with a legend such as that provided in FAR 52.215-12. Proposal containing a more restrictive legend shall not be considered. Proposal evaluation criteria are contained in the BAA Booklet, no further evaluation criteria will be used in source selection. The technical and cost information will be evaluated at the same time. AFSC Form 91, Policy Agreements, do not apply to BAAs. 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 not to diminish the authority of the program director or contracting officer, but to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate government personnel. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the source selection process. Interested parties are invited to call Colonel Claude E. Messamore, Jr., ESC/IG, at (617) 377-5106. The Ombudsman should only be contacted with issues or problems that have previously been brought to the attention of the program manager and/or the contracting officer and could not be satisfactorily resolved at that level. Companies responding to this announcement are cautioned that only a Contracting Officer may obligate the Government to any agreement involving expenditure of Government funds. If you are interested in submitting a proposal you should request a copy of the RL Broad Agency Announcement Booklet by sending a self-addressed label to: RL/ER, Attn: BAA Coordinator, 31 Grenier Street, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-3010. (0080)

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