Broad Agency Announcement – N68335-13-R-0157
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Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
N68335-13-R-0157
Reconnaissance and Surveillance
Payloads, Sensors, Delivery Systems and Platforms
POSTED DATE: 25 January 2013
Prepared by: NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION, Lakehurst (NAWCADLKE)
(Code 2.5.2.4), Highway 547, Bldg 562, Lakehurst, NJ 08733
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Broad Agency Announcement – N68335-13-R-0157
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction 1
2. Background 1
3. Specific Areas of Interest 3
4. Proposal Submission 5
4.1 Phase I - Proposal Abstracts 5
4.2 Phase II – Full Proposal 9
4.2.1 General Information 9
5. Evaluation Criteria 11
5.1 Primary Evaluation Criteria 11
5.2 Additional Evaluation Criteria 11
6. Awards 11
Table of Contents
Table 1 – General Areas of Interest 2
Table 2 – Technology Readiness Levels and Descriptions 7
Table 3 - Quad Chart Format 8
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Broad Agency Announcement – N68335-13-R-0157
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V 1.0
SOL – Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
TITLE – Reconnaissance and Surveillance Payloads, Sensors, Delivery Systems and Platforms
RESPONSE DATES – Phase I: Responses may be submitted at any time up until the closing date of the BAA (24 January 2014)
Phase II: BY REQUEST ONLY
AGENCY – NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION (NAWCAD)
(Code 2.5.2), Highway 547, Bldg 562, Lakehurst, NJ 08733
This notice constitutes a BAA as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). This BAA is also posted at http://www.navair.navy.mil/doing_business/open_solicitations/ (Business Opportunities/Open Solicitations).
1. Introduction
The Avionics Department (AIR-4.5) is soliciting technical/cost proposals for research and development support in technologies that are applicable to Communications Relay, Electro-Optical (EO), Radio Frequency (RF), Acoustic Sensors, Manned and Unmanned Airborne Payloads, Persistent Surveillance Technologies, Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS), and Special Sensor Systems for Navy Aircraft and Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs). Technologies proposed should emphasize rapid development, Test and Evaluation (T&E), and technology insertion to the warfighter.
2. Background
The Avionics Department (AIR-4.5) develops advanced sensors (Acoustics, EO, Radar, Magnetics, and other special sensors) and systems. The purpose of these sensors and surveillance systems is to support a variety of Aviation missions including Air-Under-Sea-Warfare (USW), Airborne Strike, Air Warfare, Counter-Air, Close Air Support and Interdiction, Defense Suppression, Electronic Attack, Naval Warfare and Amphibious Strike, and Anti-Surface Warfare. Most of the sensors will be air deployed (via manned or unmanned aircraft), but ground, surface and undersea deployable sensors will also be included when mission driven.
This BAA not only includes the sensors, sensor data processing and sensors systems, but mathematical modeling of the sensor, communication techniques between the sensors and/or platforms, interfaces, the fusion and exploitation of multi-sensor data, and any other technique to develop advanced capabilities and to reduce the cost of transitioning sensors technologies into the fleet. Furthermore, the BAA shall cover development and/or analysis of related sensors air, sea and land clutter detection models using relevant sensor data.
2.1 Research Areas of Interest
NAWCAD Air-4.5 is interested in, but not limited to, researching the following areas:
1. Signal Processing / 24. Sensor Recording Technologies and techniques2. Non-Acoustic Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Sensors and Systems / 25. Flat Panel Displays
3. Information Processing / 26. Insertion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Techniques into Airborne Sensors for Situations Optimization
4. Devices and Materials / 27. Adaption of Processing and Execution Formulation upon Minimal Command Sequence
5. EO Systems Engineering Methodologies / 28. Environmental Ocean Measurement
6. Laser Identification Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Components and Systems / 29. Multi-Source Sensor Data Fusion and Exploitation
7. Hyperspectral Components and Systems / 30. Contested Airspace Payload Delivery
8. Laser Components Systems / 31. Unattended Remote Controlled Sensor Technology
9. EO Sensors and Systems for Reconnaissance and Surveillance and for Remote Sensing / 32. Imaging/Non-Imaging, Active/Passive Sensor Technology Integrated in a Unique Manner to Allow Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) Capability Aboard Cargo/Transport-Type Multi-Mission and Other Aircraft
10. Magnetic Sensors and Systems / 33. Expendable/low cost surveillance
11. Laser based Infrared Countermeasure (IRCM) Systems / 34. Airborne Networking of Autonomous Vehicles and Manned Aircraft, and Ground/Afloat Systems
12. Acoustic ASW Sensors and Systems / 35. Netted Air Deployed Weapons Integration and Delivery
13. Acoustic and Optical Mine Counter Measure (MCM) Sensors and Systems / 36. Rapid Precision ASW Targeting Technologies and Techniques
14. Research involving the interrelationship of acoustic and non-acoustic phenomena applicable to ASW / 37. Innovative Methods for 2-Way Interface Between Open Architecture RORO or Over The Horizon (OTH) Reach-Back Sensors or Systems to Onboard Legacy Aircraft Tactical Systems
15. Telemetry methods for off-board sensors to and from various platforms / 38. Radio Frequency Techniques and compact radar Technologies for Land and Maritime Target Detection, Geo-location, Moving Target Identification (MTI), Multi-Moving Target Identification (MMTI), Tracking, and Imaging
16. Mathematical modeling and techniques for analyzing ASW effectiveness and performance / 39. Computational Electromagnetic Modeling and Analysis Techniques
17. In-sensor acoustic signal processing / 40. Precision Geo-location technologies and techniques
18. Biometrics surveillance systems and technologies. Measurement and biometrics imaging techniques / 41. Radio Frequency analysis and fusion technologies and techniques
19. Techniques for quantum encryption, coding, and computation / 42. Data Link Communication technologies and techniques
20. UAV Autonomous Operations / 43. Radio Frequency Signal analysis and processing technologies and techniques
21. Multi-Domain and UAV Networking and Communications technologies and techniques / 44. Seismic sensors system technologies and techniques
22. Multi-Domain and UAV and Airship Sensors / 45. Data storage technologies and techniques
23. Airborne Video Recording Technologies and techniques / 46. Metadata tagging and secure data vault management.
48. Remote payload deliveries / 47. Radio Frequency antenna technologies and communications techniques
Table 1 – General Areas of Interest
3. Specific Areas of Interest
Proposals are being solicited in the following areas:
(1) Multi-Domain EO Sensors
(2) Acoustic Sensors
(3) Multi-Domain RF Sensors
(4) Manned and Unmanned Airborne Payloads
(5) Biometrics and Unattended Ground Sensors
(6) UAVs and Airships
(7) Multi-Domain Special Sensors
(8) RF analysis and fusion Components and Systems
(9) Precision Geo-location components and systems
(10) Persistent OTH Network and Communication components and systems
(11) Persistent airborne data link Communication Components and systems
(12) Other specific interests of NAVAIR relating to all of the sensors and UAV categories mentioned in Table-1 listed below:
(a) Non-Cooperative Identification (ID) Sensors and Systems, Magnetic ASW Sensors and Systems, Non-Acoustic Sensors and Systems, Acoustic Sensors and Systems, Surveillance Radar Sensors and Systems, Night Vision Systems, New Laser and Nonlinear Materials, LIDAR, Sensors and Systems, Hyperspectral Sensors and Systems, Airborne Early Warning (AEW) radar operating at Ultra High Frequency (UHF) through L band and S-bands, tactical radar operating at C, X, and Ku bands, synthetic aperture radar operating in Ku-, X-, C-, L-, and UHF- and lowerbands, and Command, Control, Communications & Intelligence (C3I) systems operating at any radio frequency throughout the spectrum.
(b) Manned and UAV Launched Payload systems to include UGS, Targeting and Weaponized systems, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) UAV platform and sensors, and other Air-deployed Systems.
(c) Communication Relay Systems and Technologies for the deployed and dismounted warfighter.
(d) Unattended ground sensors and compact autonomous vehicles, Low cost imaging optical (uv through the far infrared) for both targeting and cueing using multi-band and/or spectral classification techniques, Low cost radar for target detection imaging and/or tracking, Laser radar for target tracking and identification, and Electronic Surveillance Measures (ESM) for target location cueing and identification.
(e) Target geo-location, Auto classification utilizing target images, Acoustic and other emissions and secure means of data distribution using commercial satellites and networks, and Low cost sensor stabilization requirements and proposed solutions shall be addressed.
(f) Imaging/Non-Imaging, Active/Passive Sensor Technology integrated in a unique manner to allow roll-on/roll-off capability aboard cargo/transport-type multi-mission and other aircraft include:
(g) A modular package approach is desired for ease of integration with existing optical benches and also for ease of reconfiguration and installation. External sensor pod approaches will also be considered if in so doing, additional advantages are gained (e.g., added spatial coverage) without compromising the required roll-on, roll-off capability. The system shall be capable of incorporating a variety of sensors to include, but not limited to: imaging optical (uv through the far infrared) for both targeting and cueing using multi-band and/or spectral classification techniques; advanced radar for target detection and tracking; laser radar for target tracking and identification; ESM for target location cueing and identification; Command, Control, Communications, Computers, & Intelligence (C4I) for receiving and disseminating target information and secure transmission of imagery and target track data. The proposed system shall include all aspects of multisensor/aircraft integration. Concepts for utilization of unexploited target signatures, emissions, and processing for extracting this information shall be considered. Sensor stabilization requirements and proposed solutions shall be addressed. In addition, wide bandwidth (commensurate with resolution and time) recording and storing of high resolution target imagery and video, and LADAR detector output shall be considered as part of the system solution.
3.1 Technologies Being Sought
Examples of technologies sought include, Lasers, LIDARS, Detector Technologies, Hyperspectral Sensors and Systems, Magnetic Anomaly Detectors and Systems including Optically Pumped Sensors, Night Vision Devices, Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) Systems, Infrared Search and Track (IRST) Systems, Long Standoff Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems (both Visible and IR), Sonobuoy Sensors and Processors, Acoustic Sensor Stand-off Delivery/Telemetry systems, Antennas and radomes, Phased / electronically scanned / conformal array antenna concepts, electronically scanned and advanced mechanically scanned radar solutions to the maritime surveillance problem involving small surface and airborne targets, Scattering and diffraction, including rough surface, Computational electromagnetics (with emphasis on antenna design and antenna-platform interaction), Remote sensor telemetry and miniaturized RF telecommunication transceivers, Optical components/fiber optics, Photonics and monolithic microwave integrated circuits, High power broadband Transmit/Receive (T/R) modules and associated subassembly/device technologies, Direct digital synthesis exciter concepts, Advanced receiver and data acquisition concepts, Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) techniques for arrays, Massively parallel processing architectures for multi-channel STAP, Software engineering, Advanced signal processing of synthetic aperture radar data, Advanced image processing and exploitation, Moving target imaging techniques, Automatic target recognition and classification, Advanced signal processing concepts for multi-mode sensor operation, and equipment installation techniques solutions.
4. Proposal Submission
The submission process is two-phased as described below. No further Request For Information (RFI), solicitation or other announcement of this opportunity will be made. Phase I proposals may be submitted at any time up and to the closing date of the BAA (24 January 2014). Offerors are instructed to submit proposals only for actual technologies within the areas of interest listed in previous paragraphs.
Offerors shall submit their phase I proposals to both contracts points of contact: Mr. Kevin Smith, Phone: (732) 323-7789, E-mail: and Mr. Patrick Smith, Phone: (732) 323-7754, E-mail: . Offerors shall submit their proposals electronically via E-mail and shall not exceed 7 MB in size. Proposals submitted to individuals other than the two email addresses above will not be accepted. Documents may be submitted in Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office formats.
PHASE II IS BY INVITATION ONLY.
4.1 Phase I - Proposal Abstracts
Submit a technical concept, not to exceed five pages, any time during the above stated open periods. The concept-abstracts will be evaluated (at a minimum) upon submission with an approximate Government response time of 60 days after submission. All proprietary portions of the abstract shall be clearly identified and will be treated in the strictest confidence. The technical abstract shall include the following: The specific area of the BAA that the offeror is responding to and how it ties to the offeror’s response; the need for the project research and how the fleet will benefit after transition (including commercial applications); the technology challenges that must be overcome; the brief technical approach; a brief description of the facilities involved, the Operational Payoff using measures of performance and any potential
cost/resource savings; potential Program Management Activity (PMA) sponsors and/or users; a rough order magnitude cost estimate (per year) for each concept paper with type of acquisition vehicle (contract/agreement) being proposed and, if applicable, the anticipated sharing arrangement; anticipated Department of Defense Technology Readiness Level (TRL), defined in Table 2, per fiscal year; a time line from start through technology insertion into the fleet; and brief resume of the key personnel. A Quad Chart, defined in Table 3, for each concept paper will be required in addition to the five page technical abstract. Proposals submitted under this BAA will be protected from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with FAR 3.104-4 and 15.207. Offerors are hereby notified that non-Government participants may have access to the offerors’ proposals, and that submission of an offer shall constitute consent to the disclosure of proprietary information to all non-Government participants in the selection process. Government scientific experts will perform the evaluation of technical proposals. Restrictive notices notwithstanding, one or more support contractors may be utilized as subject-matter-expert technical advisors. However, proposal selection and award decisions are solely the responsibility of Government personnel. The non-Government participants are employees of commercial firms under contract to the Government, and if they serve as technical advisors they will be authorized access to only those portions of the concept data and discussions that are necessary to enable them to provide specific technical advice on specialized matters or on particular problems. Each support contractor’s employee having access to technical and cost proposals submitted in response to this BAA will be required to sign a non-disclosure statement prior to receipt of any proposal submissions. NOTE: Typically, research findings result in the need for additional services/supplies, which are not possible to anticipate or project in the future. Contract modifications may be executed to satisfy these requirements; thereby providing for flexibility in technology assessment (with technology transition the ultimate goal). In the event that this is required, it shall be considered to be within the scope of this BAA and the resulting contract, and therefore will have met the requirements of the FAR/DFARS and the Competition in Contracting Act.
The additional cover sheet for the abstracts shall identify the following: