18 -- Infrared Radiation Effects Laboratory (IRREL)

A. The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/VSSS), is requesting proposals (technical and cost/business) in response to this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). The primary objective of this BAA is to conduct innovative development programs to identify operational procedures, test procedures, analytical techniques and test hardware that will advance the state of the art in the analytical and experimental capabilities of the AFRL Infrared Radiation Effects Laboratory (IRREL), located at Kirtland AFB, NM, for radiometric, radiation and electronic characterization of sensor devices for space applications. In addition to designing and developing new experimental techniques and test fixtures needed to characterize space sensor devices, the successful offeror will be responsible for scheduling and controlling the daily activities of IRREL in support of developing and transitioning high payoff space technologies in support of future DOD space systems to include the conduct of laboratory safety and property accountability programs that comply with all applicable Government, Air Force, Kirtland Air Force Base and Phillips Research Site regulations and instructions. A Cobalt-60 certified operator?s license as outlined by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is required. This 5-year program is estimated to cost in the range of $5-6.5 Million dollars. B. This effort requires the development of characterization methods utilizing the independent Air Force characterization facility, the Infrared Radiation Effects Laboratory (IRREL). This laboratory and its personnel execute the radiometric and radiation response characterizations and provide the resultant data packages. The data and analyses produced by this laboratory are vitally important in determining the overall performance and radiation hardness of devices for use in space applications. In order to perform the above, the contractor will need to perform day to day operations and management of the laboratory. C. This technical effort anticipates the following areas: (1) Radiometric characterization of focal plane arrays (FPAs), detector arrays and individual detectors, (2) Electronic characterization of multiplexer/readouts and individual circuits, (3) Radiation characterization of readout integrated circuits, test device structures, and space FPAs using gamma radiation, proton radiation, x-rays, electrons, and heavy ions. D. Testing may utilize the Mosaic Array Test System (MATS), which will be furnished by the Government, to characterize devices at cryogenic temperatures in both clear and radiation environments. This includes characterizations at Kirtland AFB, NM to include IRREL and the AFRL Colbalt-60 source and at a NRC regulated proton source. It is estimated that the IRREL lab on the average will perform 20-25 characterizations per year including approximately 6 characterizations at the offeror?s selected proton source estimated at 6 days per characterization. E. The contractor shall conduct innovative development programs to identify operational procedures, test procedures, analytical techniques, and/or test hardware that will advance the state-of-the-art in test devices and the analytical and experimental capabilities of the laboratory. The end products from characterization will be test plans, test data, data briefings, technical reports, and in-depth data analysis. Work performed may be classified up to the TS/SCI level. The contractor shall make recommendations to the Government on the scheduling for the implementation of these programs. Upon approval from the Government and the availability of funds, the contractor shall perform all necessary analysis, design, fabrication, integration, and evaluation of hardware and/or software necessary to accomplish characterization. Any improvements or changes to the government furnished equipment shall be appropriately documented and each shall be beneficial to the Air Force and advance the state-of-the-art in FPA characterization. F. The IRREL staff will be required to provide technical advisor support to the AFRL. This technical advisor support will consist of: (1) supporting program reviews for AFRL technology development programs, (2) developing technical specifications for AFRL technology development programs, (3) and serving as advisors to the Government when the Government is performing evaluations on initial contractor proposals. This will be a very minor portion of the effort and must be broken out separately in both the SOW and cost proposal (approximately 10 days per year). G. A minimum of one member of the IRREL technical staff must possess and maintain a Cobalt-60 certified source operator?s license as outlined by the NRC. Other staff may be added if demanded by the work schedule and approved by the government. H. The contractor should conduct a continuing safety program for the duration of the contract to assure that safety features are incorporated into the operation of the laboratory and the design and fabrication of the test equipment. The IRREL staff will be required to comply with KAFB Instruction 32-7001, dated 1 February 1996, for managing hazardous materials and the Phillips Research Site Operating Instruction 21-101, for tool control. POINTS OF CONTACT Technical Points of Contact (TPOC) Mr. Allan Hahn, Program Manager, Phone (505) 846-8180, fax (505) 846-6098, Email [email protected] Ms. Amber Anderson, alternate technical point of contact, Phone (505) 853-1007, fax (505) 846-6098, Email amber.anderson@kirtland,af.mil Contracting Point of Contact Wayne Zitzka, Contract Specialist, Phone (505) 846-4987, Fax (505) 846-6022, Email: [email protected] .