Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- PHOTONIC ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER TECHNOLOGY (PACT) SOL BAA 98-05 DUE 032798 POC R. LEHENY and F. PEASE, DARPA/ETO, FAX (703) 696-2206 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil, http://www.darpa.mil. E-MAIL: BAA98-05@darpa.mil, BAA98-05@darpa.mil. PROGRAM OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for technical research in the area of Photonic A/D Converter Technology (PACT). Analog-to-digital (A/D) converters provide an essential link between analog sensor systems (radar, communications, and electronic warfare systems) and digital signal processing systems. Progress toward advancing the technology for very-high-resolution, high-sampling-rate A/D modules has been extremely slow, due in large part to difficulties in design and fabrication of electronic circuits capable of meeting the required performance. The PACT program seeks to overcome these limitations through the application of advanced photonic components (lasers, modulators, detectors, and advanced microelectronic and optoelectronic components). The objective of the PACT program is to develop and demonstrate technologies capable of achieving a dramatic advance in A/D converter performance in the range of 1 to 100 Gigasamples per second (Gsps) __ for example, approaching 12-to-14-bit resolution (12-to-14-bit signal-to-noise ratio with 90-dB spur-free dynamic range at a sampling rate of 10 Gsps or 4-bit resolution at 100 Gsps). If achieved, these performance levels would represent a substantial improvement over present state-of-the-art electronic A/D converters operating at 10 Gsps. At 100 Gsps and 4-bit resolution they would represent a unique new capability beyond the range of existing A/D converters. This DARPA program will build on advances in photonic device technologies to develop and demonstrate revolutionary new system concepts and resulting capabilities. Three key elements in A/D converters need to be addressed: (1) sampling clock stability, (2) signal source/sampling electronics linearity, dynamic range and isolation, and (3) sample quantizer dynamic range, and response time. Achieving performance in these areas at their theoretical limits for high-speed signal sampling suggests, for example, (1) a reductionof clock jitter to <10femtoseconds (fs), (2) development of robust optical sampling techniques with bandwidth capabilities increased to >100 GHz, and (3) reduction of quantizer restoration time to the sub-picosecond range with good linearity and wide dynamic range. Attainment of PACT objectives will enable direct A/D conversion of signals at their source over the entire spectrum of interest for military systems thus providing enhanced performance in digital beam-forming to suppress jamming, higher dynamic range for detecting targets in clutter, and broader instantaneous bandwidth for enhanced target identification. For example, sampling at 100 Gsps could either enable improvements in resolution over Nyquist sampling at lower rates (e.g., 2.5-bits improvement for 500-Mhz bandwidth signals) or create a new capability for direct broadband A/D conversion of millimeter-wave signals. PROGRAM SCOPE: The program is expected to have two main phases: a broadly based research phase focused on component parts for PACT subsystems followed by a selection process for the engineering of complete subsytems and a development phase leading to the demonstration of two or more competing PACT subsystems. Teaming is strongly encouraged between component researchers, manufacturers, material suppliers, equipment vendors (technology suppliers), and the system/subsystem integrator (technology users). The program will support some very innovative individual investigator efforts as well. Each proposed team should have expertise and experience as researchers, industrial producers, commercial users, and defense aerospace contractors with experience in ruggedizing commercial photonic and electronic equipment. Teams must be capable of demonstrating the technology developed under the program in a military application. The program scope does not include a field insertion but rather a prototype demonstration. Offerors are, however, encouraged to propose high-payoff insertion demonstrations as a program option. Awards totaling approximately $40 million over 4 years are expected to be made by the first quarter of calendar year 1998. Multiple awards are anticipated. The technical POCs for this effort are Dr. Robert Leheny, e-mail: rleheny@darpa.mil; and Dr. Fabian Pease, e-mail: fpease@darpa.mil. GENERAL INFORMATION: Proposers must obtain a copy of the BAA 98-05 Proposer Information Pamphlet, which provides further information on areas of interest, the submission, evaluation, and funding processes, and proposal and proposal abstract formats. This pamphlet may be obtained by fax, electronic mail, or mail request to the administrative contact address given below. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. To minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review, proposers are strongly encouraged to submit proposal abstracts in advance of full proposals. An original and nine (9) copies of the proposal abstract must be submitted to DARPA/ETO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: BAA 98-05), on or before 4:00 p.m., January 23, 1998. Proposal abstracts received after this date may not be reviewed. Upon review, DARPA will provide written feedback on the likelihood of a full proposal being selected and the date and time for submission of a full proposal. Proposers not submitting proposal abstracts must submit an original and nine (9) copies of the full proposal to DARPA/ETO, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714 (ATTN: BAA 98-05), on or before 4:00 p.m., March 27, 1998, in order to be considered. This notice, in conjunction with the BAA 98-05 Proposer Information Pamphlet, constitutes the total BAA. No additional information is available, nor will a formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for same will be disregarded. The government reserves the right to select for negotiation and/or award all, some, or none of the proposals received. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal; which will be considered by DARPA. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals; however, no portion of this BAA will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research in optical micro-networks systems. All administrative correspondence and questions on this solicitation, including requests for information on how to submit a proposal abstract or proposal to this BAA, should be directed to one of the administrative addresses below; e-mail or fax is preferred. DARPA intends to use electronic mail and fax for correspondence regarding BAA 98-05. Proposals and proposal abstracts may not be submitted by fax or e-mail; any so sent will be disregarded. EVALUATION CRITERIA: Evaluation of proposal abstracts and proposals will be accomplished through a technical review of each proposal using the following criteria, which are listed in descending order of relative importance: (1) overall scientific quality, technical merit, and realism; (2) potential contribution of the proposed effort in terms of its impact on existing or future military and commercial systems and relevance to the DARPA mission; (3) realism of procedures for evaluating technical progress; (4) effectiveness of the management plan and, if applicable, the team structure and team composition; (5) offeror s capabilities, key personnel, past performance, related experience, facilities, and techniques, or unique combinations of these, that form integral factors for achieving the proposal s objectives; and, (6) offeror's cost realism. Note: Cost realism will be significant only in proposals that have significantly underestimated or overestimated the cost to complete their effort. The administrative addresses for this BAA are: Fax: (703) 351-8616, (Addressed to: DARPA/ETO, BAA 98-05), Electronic Mail: BAA 98-05@darpa.mil, Mail: DARPA/ETO, Attn: BAA 98-05, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. This announcement may be retrieved via the WWW at URL http://www.darpa.mil/ in the solicitations area. (0356)

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