A -- DEVELOPING AND MODELING FIBER LASERS AND FIBER AMPLIFIER

Notice Date

May 8, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL -- PL "Directed Energy Directorate", 2251 Maxwell Ave, Kirtland AFB, NM, 87117

ZIP Code

87117

Solicitation Number

01-02DE

Response Due

July 16, 2001

Point of Contact

Debbie Chisenhall, Contract Specialist, Phone 505-846-1326, Fax 505-846-1546, Email debbie.chisenhall@kirtland.af.mil -- Debbie Chisenhall, Contract Specialist, Phone 505-846-1326, Fax 505-846-1546, Email

E-Mail Address

Debbie Chisenhall (debbie.chisenhall@kirtland.af.mil)

Description

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) NUMBER 01-02DE FOR "DEVELOPING AND MODELING FIBER LASERS AND FIBER AMPLIFIER." Points of Contact (POC): For contracting issues: Maggie Howe, Contract Specialist, Det 8 AFRL/PKDL, 2251 Maxwell Avenue SE, (Bldg. 499, Room 122), Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773, Phone: 505-846-5119, Fax: 505-846-1546, E-mail: Margaret.Howe@kirtland.af.mil or Debbie Chisenhall, Contract Specialist, Det 8 AFRL/PKDL, 2251 Maxwell Avenue SE, (Bldg. 499, Room 122), Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773, Phone: 505-846-1326, Fax: 505-846-1546, Email: Debbie.Chisenhall@kirtland.af.mil. For technical issues: Mr.Richard Berdine, Project Officer, AFRL/DELO, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue SE, (Bldg. 761, Room 208D) Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776, Phone: 505-853-0474, Fax: 505-853-0485, Email: Richard.Berdine@kirtland.af.mil or Lt. Kalli Lagonik, AFRL/DELO, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue SE, (Bldg. 761, Room 208) Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776, Phone: 505-853-2001, Fax: 505-853-0485, Email: Kalliroi.Lagonik@kirtland.af.mil. INTRODUCTION: This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Number 01-02DE, entitled "Developing and Modeling Fiber Lasers and Fiber Amplifier," identifies current R&D needs for the Directed Energy (DE) Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). All potential offerors should be aware that the funding for this effort has not been approved. If funding becomes available, there is a high probability that the planned funding for this effort may not become available for obligation until (as late as) contract award. Each offeror must understand and accept this risk prior to expending resources on any proposal(s) for this effort. Also, since AFRL/DE's funding situation fluctuates, the Government reserves the right to fund below or above the anticipated funding level. In general (but especially if the proposed approach differs significantly from the approach discussed herein) offerors are STRONGLY encouraged to discuss their planned approach early in the process with the Technical POC to ensure it is a viable approach and/or is relevant to the need. Offerors should be aware that AFRL is stressing basic physics research, including experimental, theoretical and modeling, of fibers suitable for lasers and amplifiers, semiconductor lasers for pumps, and beam combining methods. This announcement does not constitute authorization to begin work prior to contract award; and, notwithstanding any part of this announcement, discussions with any of the points of contact or other Government personnel shall not constitute a commitment by the Government to subsequently fund or award any proposed effort. Offerors are advised that only Government Contracting Officers are legally authorized to contractually bind or otherwise commit the Government. REQUIREMENTS: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Directed Energy (DE) Directorate, Kirtland AFB, NM anticipates awarding approximately three contracts with each contract to allow performance for 12 or 24 months of technical effort (as described in Section C, paragraph (14) below) plus an additional three months of effort to complete the final Technical Report (TR). The anticipated funding for each contract will range between $80K -- $300K per year for an anticipated total contract face value not exceeding $160K -- $600K. The total expected funding available for all efforts, all phases, and all years is not expected to exceed $1.0M. (Note: Due to the expected insignificant cost associated with the 3-month TR process, no additional cost beyond the technical effort is included in the overall estimate for this process.) As specified at FAR 35.016, this BAA will fulfill requirements for scientific study and experimentation directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art and/or increasing knowledge or understanding rather than focusing on a specific system or hardware solution. Specifically, this effort is to explore basic physics that can lead to improving the state-of-the-art in high power fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers. AFRL is seeking proposals for improving the output power and beam quality of fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers, and modeling efforts to predict performance of various approaches. These efforts are in support of the Laser Integration Technology (LITE) Program. Part of LITE's charter is to explore fundamental physics concepts in the general area of fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers, and methods of combining these devices, including methods of nonlinear frequency conversion. Thus, AFRL's interests are very broad but may be classified into the three general, but separate, categories of pumps, fibers, and combining of beams. In the area of pumps, AFRL is interested in improving semiconductor laser power, beam quality, efficiency, reliability, and beam coupling to fibers. In the general area of fibers, AFRL is interested in novel Yb-doped fiber designs that would increase fiber laser/fiber amplifier power while preserving single transverse mode operation, polarization and limiting nonlinear effects. This includes different gain dopants, cladding materials and geometries, polarization preserving techniques, large core fibers with refractive index profiles that limit transverse mode operation, and high or low power operation without nonlinear effects. In the area of beam combining, AFRL is interested in both coherent and incoherent methods using either linear or nonlinear techniques. These beam combining methods include but are not limited to Stimulated Brillouin scattering, laser-to-laser strong or weak coupling, parametric coupling, Talbot imaging, and phase compensation. Common to the above three areas are many optical components. Thus, AFRL is interested in exploring new ideas in components such as beam isolators, beam splitters, phase compensators, nonlinear optical crystals, gratings, mirrors, and various types of couplers. Furthermore, the LITE program is interested in new materials that may later become candidates for fiber research. Thus, we are interested in spectroscopic studies, analysis, and designs of bulk lasing materials. Common and necessary to the above is the emphasis on the fundamental physics processes. The complete solicitation (number 01-02DE (no spaces)) for this effort is available at the FedBizOpps website (http://www.fedbizopps.gov/) therefore, paper copies of this announcement will not be made. Potential offerors shall comply with all BAA requirements. Proposals must be received at the address in the above paragraph no later than one year from the date this announcement is published in the Commerce Business Daily at 2:00 P.M. Mountain Standard or Daylight Savings Time (whichever is in effect). After this time, this BAA is closed. Notwithstanding the acceptance of proposals for one year, the funding situation is such that acceptable proposals received no later than 16 July 2001 are more likely to be funded than those received after 16 July. For offeror's wishing to take advantage of this enhanced funding opportunity, proposals shall be delivered on 2:00 P.M. Mountain Standard Time no later than 16 July 2001. An Ombudsman has been appointed to mediate concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the pre-proposal phase of competitive, negotiated acquisitions. The Ombudsman does not participate in proposal evaluation or contractor selection. The Ombudsman can work with responsible acquisition officials to respond to concerns, but will not detract from the authorities of the Project Officer or Contracting Officer. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain the confidentiality of sources. The Ombudsman at Phillips Research Site is Mr. Eugene C. DeWall, Director of Contracting, Det 8 AFRL/PK, 2251 Maxwell Ave SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773; (505) 846-4979. Before contacting the Ombudsman, potential offerors should normally first refer concerns to the appropriate point of contact identified in the beginning of this announcement. See CBD Notes 25, and 26; they are applicable to this BAA. Please note that any attempted E-mail communications with the Government offices cited herein may not be received; always call and confirm receipt. The Government is not responsible for the non-receipt of E-mail messages.

Web Link

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Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010510/ASOL011.HTM (D-128 SN50L5P1)