Bid Office, SPAWARSYSCEN, Code D21B, 53570 Silvergate Avenue, Bldg. A33, Room 0061, San Diego, CA 92152-5112

A -- NEW AND INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LASERS AND LASER-BASED TECHNOLOGIES. SOL N66001-00-X-6002 DUE 041800 POC Robert Ashley, 619-553-5493 E-MAIL: Robert Ashley, rashley@spawar.navy.mil. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego (SPAWARSYSCEN-SD) 53560 HULL STREET San Diego, CA 92152-5001 BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT CENTERWIDE BAA: SOL BAA N66001-00-X-6002 DUE 18 APRIL 2000 POC: ROBERT ASHLEY The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego (SSC SD) is soliciting proposals for new and innovative research and development (R&D) solutions to the development of lasers and laser-based technologies. This program is directed towards fleet operations supporting data acquisition for applications of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). The Center's mission includes the development of advanced systems for image acquisition, remote sensing and other advanced technologies related to ISR. Within these mission areas the Center is responsible for the full spectrum of research, development and support functions. Typical functions include fundamental research; concept formulation; assessment of system and subsystem requirements; development, analysis and evaluation of concepts, systems and subsystems; and development of operational concepts and tactics. It is anticipated that existing and projected SSC SD R&D program funds will be used for contract awards. Offerors are encouraged to identify past and planned investments, which would provide leveraging opportunities. PROPOSALS ARE DUE 18 APRIL 2000 POC Robert Ashley, (619)553-5493 The BAA subject areas are: Topic #1, "EDASSDL: Efficient Diode-Pumped All Solid State Dye Lasers" Topic #2, "FAIRLASS: Frequency Agile Infrared Laser, All Solid State" This BAA identifies a need for: Topic #1. SSCSD ISR Department is interested in all solid state dye laser technologies. All solid state dye lasers are wavelength diverse devices that utilize solid state optical excitation sources (typically laser diodes) to pump a dye contained within a solid state host medium. Of particular interest is the development of all solid state dye lasers which are directly pumped by laser diodes. In this regard the following research areas are considered most important, although research in other areas relevant to the development of EDASSDL devices will be considered. 1. The development of solid state dye lasers which utilize new or improved dye-host materials appropriate for diode pumping, and which includes considerations of such issues as dye life, thermal loading heat conduction, and laser efficiency; 2. Modeling of the excitation dynamics for laser dyes in a solid state host pumped by laser diodes, which addresses the threshold and slope efficiency and identifies the performance issues for such devices; 3. Excitation pulse length scaling of solid state dye lasers; and 4. Development of solid state dye laser materials that minimize the adverse impact of thermal effects on laser operation. In addition, proposals will be considered which address concept formulation of remote sensing/imaging systems utilizing high repetition rate pulsed dye lasers, as well as proposals directed toward the development of compact, light weight, portable solid state dye lasers,particularly monolithic laser assemblies. A significant component of this program involves extending the range of operation of EDASSDL devices with respect to competing technologies such as diode-pumped solid state laser-based optical parametric oscillators. Proposed solid state dye lasers should have one or more fundamental advantages over current laser technologies and these advantages should be explicitly indicated in the proposal. Other important attributes of proposed EDASSDLs will be ease of operation, reliability, stability and gain medium lifetime. The applications envisioned for systems employing EDASSDL devices include remote sensing, LIDAR, free space high data rate optical communications and high-resolution image acquisition. Objectives: The program shall demonstrate: a. Long pulse (> 1 microsecond) operation of an all-solid state dye laser. b. Dye-host materials capable of direct pumping by laser diodes. c. Dye-host materials with improved service life relative to currently available materials. d. High repetition rate (>1 MHz) pulsed operation of an all-solid state dye laser. e. Improved optical damage limit for dye-host materials. f. Improved thermal conductivity for dye-host materials. g. A comprehensive analytical understanding of the following issues: threshold for long pulse operation; pump power density (or energy density) scaling of the threshold and slope efficiency, pulse length scaling from 1 microsecond to several milliseconds. h. A light-weight, rugged, fieldable solid state dye laser. Topic #2. SSCSD ISR Department is interested in the development of all solid state infrared (IR) lasers (wavelength>1000 nm). Of particular interest is the development of all solid state IR lasers which are wavelength diverse, or can be adapted to produce wavelength diverse emission through nonlinear optical means such as optical parametric oscillation. Wavelength tuning will extend the emitted laser wavelength further into the IR. Important attributes of proposed FAIRLASS devices will be operational efficiency, fabrication costs, ease of scaling the output aperture to large dimensions, stability, and capability of high average power operation (20 W or higher). The applications envisioned for systems employing FAIRLASS devices include surveillance operations such as remote sensing of battlefield contaminants and covert target image acquisition. It is envisioned that much of the initial research and development on this program will be focused on crystal growth, although proposed research in other areas relevant to the development of FAIRLASS devices will be considered. The following research areas are considered most important: 1. The growth of large diameter (>100 mm) solid state IR laser gain media boules; 2. Development of characterization techniques for analysis of inhomogeneities in large diameter gain media; 3. IR source optimization for nonlinear optical applications; and 4. Development of materials and techniques for achieving tunable high average power IR radiation at wavelengths longer than 1 micron. The program shall demonstrate: a. Practical IR laser crystal boule growth of at least 75 mm diameter, with capabilities to scale to diameters greater than 100 mm; b. Technologies for low loss coupling of high power pump diode arrays to the laser gain medium; c. Low loss laser resonator materials including low loss broad band thin film optical coatings; d. Improved optical damage limit for optical crystals and coatings in the IR; e. Efficient, tunable IR laser emission at wavelengths greater than 1 micron. SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS Organizations wishing to participate should submit proposals (3 copies) of their approaches along with a capability statement to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, Attn: Robert Ashley, 53560 HULL STREET San Diego, CA 92152-5001 by close of business 18 APRIL 2000. Efforts described in the proposals are anticipated to have performance periods of 1 -- 3 years (i.e., be phased such that further development is based upon the exercise of options), and have values ranging from tens of thousands of dollars per year to $2 million per year. Responses that propose to deliver technical data with restrictions shall complete the provision at DFARS 252.227-7017, Identification and Assertion of Use, Release, or Disclosure Restrictions. Both topics are considered to be unclassified by the government; and therefore, all proposals submitted shall be unclassified. Specific deliverables, delivery schedule, and contract will be negotiated with successful offerors. There will be no formal request for proposal (RFP) or other solicitation with regard to this BAA nor does the issuance of this BAA obligate the government to fund any subsequently invited proposals nor pay any proposal preparation costs. The government reserves the right to accept a submitted proposal and negotiate for contract award up to 24 months from the date the proposal is due. When multiyear, multitasking or incrementally funded approaches are proposed, SPAWARSYSCEN-SD reserves the right to terminate funding for the convenience of the Government. Successful/unsuccessful offeror's will be notified within 120 days of evaluation. Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria: 1. Relevance of overall scientific or technical merit to Navy needs; 2. The offeror's capability, related R&D experience, facilities, techniques, and unique combinations of these, which are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives; 1. The qualifications, capabilities, and experience of key personnel who are critical in achieving the proposal objectives; 2. Cost. (The amount of past and proposed industry investment as well as the past and proposed Government contract investment relevant to the technology should be explicitly indicated). Only one proposal may be submitted by an offeror for each topic. Determination as to whether an offeror has submitted more than one proposal for one topic will be at the sole discretion of the Government. If the Government determines that an offeror has submitted more thanone proposal for a topic, all proposals by that offeror for said topic will be returned to the offeror without review and the offeror will be disqualified. Offerors are encouraged to contact Mr. Mark Tukeman via email (tukeman@spawar.navy.mil) prior to submitting a proposal if clarification of the multiple proposal criteria or any other technical matter is desired. Failure to contact the POC is immaterial to the disqualification process. This is to notify potential offerors that each grant or cooperative agreement that may be placed under this announcement or solicitation to an institution of higher learning, including a college or university, must include the following clause: "As a condition for receipt of funds available to the Department of Defense (DoD) under this award the recipient agrees that it is not an institution that has a policy of denying, and that it is not an institution that effectively prevents, the Secretary of Defense from obtaining for military recruiting purposes: (A) entry to campusesor access to students on campuses; or (B) access to directory information pertaining to students." If the recipient is determined, using procedures established by the Secretary of Defense to implement Section 558 of Public Law 103-337 (1994), to be such an institution during the period of performance of this agreement, and therefore to be in breach of this clause, the Government will cease all payments of DoD funds under this agreement and all other DoD grants and cooperative agreements, and it may suspend or terminate such grants and agreements unilaterally for material failure to comply with the terms and conditions of award. Technical Proposal: The technical proposal shall not exceed twenty (20), 8 x 11 inch typewritten pages (10 point font or greater). The proposal shall include a one page executive summary of the technical and management proposal. Supplemental information may be submitted by the offeror in a separate volume; however, information contained in the supplemental volume is considered to be NOT part of the proposal and may be referenced by each reviewer at his own discretion. That is, the technical scoring will be based solely on the twenty (20) page technical volume. The technical and management proposal shall include full discussion of the scope, nature, and objectives of the proposed research effort; rationale for the technical approach and methodology expected results of the offeror's contributions to SSCSD goals. A separate Statement of Work suitable for contractual incorporation should be included with the proposal (excluded from page limitations); schedule of milestones; related research efforts performed in the past; resumes of key personnel (excluded from page limitations); facilities/equipment; and prior, current or pending support. The Government encourages a phased approach that provides an early proof of principal technology demonstration prior to development and testing. Cost Proposal: The cost proposal has no page limit and shall be submitted as a separate volume together with supporting detailed cost data, including any subcontractor data. A summary at the cost element level (i.e. total direct labor, G&A) shall be included. Summary shall also include a funding profile by government fiscal year. The cost proposal should remain open for acceptance by the Government for a period of 120 days. This constitutes a broad agency announcement (BAA) in accordance with FAR 6.102(d)(2)(i). It is important to note that all post-submission liaison by the offeror with SPAWARSYSCEN-SD be via Code D211 and not the expected technical code. Contracting questions should be directed to Robert Ashley. All responsible sources may submit an offer that will be considered. Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Institutions (MI) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting; however, no portion of this BAA will be set aside to HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research for exclusive competition among these entities. Posted 02/28/00 (W-SN429088). (0059)

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