Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contract Management Directorate (CMD), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- MEM-BASED, LARGE SCALE, SPACE-FED ARRAY TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM SOL BAA00-05 DUE 022100 POC Dr. John K. Smith, Facsimile: (703) 516-7360 WEB: click here for more information on BAA00-05, http://www.darpa.mil/SPO/solicitations/baa00-05/. E-MAIL: contact for BAA-00-05, baa00-05@darpa.mil. DARPA is soliciting proposals for the development of technologies, designs, and fabrication techniques that can be applied to the production of large scale (5 -- 50 sq. meter) phased-array antennas at an affordable cost. Potential applications are those that allow the antenna system to occupy a large physical volume but limit the allowable weight and prime power consumption, such as aerostat or space-based platforms. To minimize weight and cost, the design concept should envision an RF space-fed 2-D electronically scanning lens (manifold fed systems are not of interest). It may require several RF feeds illuminating overlapping array sections in order to obtain a significant instantaneous signal bandwidth, and will require monopulse capability for fire control applications. To minimize weight and prime power consumption, the concept for the space-fed 2-D lens utilizes micro-electromechanical (MEM) phase shifters with integrated optical beam controllers. These will receive their commands optically through the free-space optical transmission of the phase shifter control commands, using established technology such as that associated with digital micro-mirror devices found in modern video projection systems (the use of optical fiber for transmission of phase shifter commands is not of interest in this concept). The current focus for this concept is X-band. The X-band MEM phase shifter with integrated optical beam controller is considered the critical component in the concept system. DARPA wishes to initiate the development of a functional section of the overall 2-D array. This section will consist of approximately 10,000 elements, and will have an area of 3 -- 4 sq. meters. It is anticipated that this development effort will consist of the following three phases: PHASE I -- Develop a preliminary design for a single module that integrates an X-band MEM phase shifter with an optical beam control unit that receives phase shift commands via free-space optical transmission. Design, fabricate, and test a sufficient number ( 100) of X-band MEM phase shifters to validate the projections of performance and producibility at low cost for the phase shifter to be employed in this conceptual design. Design, fabricate, and test a number ( 10) of optical control circuits that are functionally equivalent to the design for the optical beam control module. Based on the design for the phase shifter and optical beam control module, develop a proof-of-concept array section design having @ 10,000 elements. This array section design is to include all components necessary to produce a fully functioning X-band array section, and must be scalable to a full-scale array. Perform the necessary analysis to provide predictions of performance for the array section, and a full-scale array having an area of 8 sq. meters based on the array section, including electrical and mechanical tolerances. Develop a plan for demonstrating the reliability of the integrated MEM phase shifter optical beam control modules and the array section. This plan is to be exercised in PHASE II. Produce a cost proposal for PHASE II. PHASE II -- Produce a fully integrated MEM phase shifter with an optical beam control module based on the preliminary design of PHASE I, and fabricate a sufficient quantity of these integrated modules to fully populate the array section designed in PHASE I, with spares (about 11,000 total). Demonstrate the proposed concept for optical beam control. This demonstration to include a demonstration of the integration of the optical beam controller with the MEM phase shifter and the functionality for optical beam control. Demonstrate the reliability of the MEM phase shifter and optical beam control module using the plan developed in PHASE I. Use the results to project the reliability of the full-scale array. Produce a cost proposal for PHASE III. PHASE III -- Fabricate and laboratory test the array section designed in PHASE I, using the integrated MEM phase shifter optical beam control modules fabricated in PHASE II. Laboratory test the array section in both transmit and receive modes. This testing may be performed through the acquisition and integration of COTS transmitter and receiver components. This testing should show that the array section has achieved the array section performance predicted during Phase I. The purpose of BAA00-05 is to solicit proposals for the PHASE I effort ONLY. Due to the complex nature of the overall effort, DARPA welcomes PHASE I proposals from development teams that can maximize the competency in all of the critical design and fabrication areas, including full scale array and array section design, and phase shifter with optical beam forming controller and interface. Any team that submits a proposal must be capable of building the necessary phase shifters with optical controllers, plus fabricating and testing the array section. DARPA reserves the right to make multiple awards for the PHASE I effort in FY2000. It is expected that each PHASE I award will not exceed $1.2 million, and that the PHASE I effort will take six months. DARPA will award PHASE I efforts based on the results from the proposal evaluation and availability of funds. Proposals for the subsequent phases will ONLY be solicited from the performers as part of their effort on the current phase of the program. DARPA does not intend to conduct any additional solicitations for the PHASE II and PHASE III efforts. DARPA will award PHASE II and III efforts based on cost proposals submitted for these phases, the results of previous phases, and availability of funds. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDANCE -- Full proposals are to be prepared as web structures that will be submitted on a single CD-ROM. Detailed instructions for the preparation of PHASE I proposals can be found in the Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP) at http://www.darpa.mil/SPO/solicitations/baa00-05/pip.htm. PROPOSALS -- The PHASE I proposal shall contain the following four sections ONLY: (1) Technical Approach, (2) Organization and Personnel, (3) Statement of Work and Program Plan, and (4) Cost Proposal. BASIS FOR AWARD -- PHASE I proposals shall be evaluated against the following criteria, in order of importance: (1) overall scientific and technical merit; (2) the qualifications of the offeror to perform the work; (3) the ability of the Program Plan to address the objectives of the proposed technical solution; and (4) the realism of the proposed cost relative to the work to be performed. No other evaluation criteria will be used. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION -- Ten copies of the CD-ROM containing the full PHASE I proposal must be received before the proposal deadline. All proposals shall be sent to: DARPA BAA00-05, Mail Room 3701 N FAIRFAX DR ARLINGTON VA 22203 PROPOSAL DEADLINE: PHASE I proposals are due by 1500 EST, 21 February, 2000. OTHER INFORMATION -- A Proposers' Information Pamphlet (PIP) can be found at http://www.darpa.mil/SPO/solicitations/baa00-05/pip.htm. A briefing to industry for this BAA will be held from 0900 to 1200 (EST) on 21 January 2000, at SM&A Corp., 1110 N. Glebe Rd, Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201. Due to limited space, it is requested that interested organizations send no more than four (4) persons to the briefing to industry. To ensure adequate notice, it is requested that persons planning to attend the briefing to industry register their intent by completing the form at http://ssg.smawins.com/baa00-05/. DARPA intends to make available the list of attendees to the briefing to industry at http://www.darpa.mil/SPO/solicitations/baa00-05/attendees.htm. If you do not wish to be included on this list, please so indicate on the briefing to industry registration form. DARPA reserves the right to award procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions agreements for any, all, part, or none of the proposals received. Non-government advisors, who have signed appropriate non-disclosure and conflict of interest statements, may assist in the evaluation and review process. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals. 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 within the topic areas for this BAA. If required, proposers should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the provision at FAR 52.215-12, Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data, to trade secrets or privileged commercial and financial information contained in their proposals or abstracts. Technical POC: Dr. John K. Smith, Program Manager, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Special Projects Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, Facsimile: (703) 516-7360, E-mail: jksmith@darpa.mil (E-mail contact is preferred). Contractual POC: DARPA, Contracts Management Directorate (CMD), ATTN.: Kristen Numrych, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. Technical or contractual questions shall be e-mailed to baa00-05@darpa.mil or faxed to (703) 516-7360, ATTN.: BAA 00-05. Refer to FAQ file for an answer. Web Site: http://www.darpa.mil/SPO/solicitations/baa00-05/. BAA00-05 CBD Announcement, PIP, FAQ file, and list of attendees to the Briefing to Industry are accessible from this site. Posted 01/06/00 (W-SN413567). (0006)

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