PROPOSERS' DAY CONFERENCE DARPA will host a Proposers' Day Conference in support of the Advanced Sighting System (One-Shot) program on November 20, 2006 at the Executive Conference Center located at 3601 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 600, Arlington, Virginia 22201 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The purpose of this conference is to provide information on the One-Shot program; promote additional discussion on this topic; address questions from potential proposers; and provide a forum for potential proposers to present their capabilities for teaming opportunities. PROGRAM OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION: The objective of Advanced Sighting System (One-Shot) program is to enable Snipers in the measurement of downrange crosswind (wind) and range to target and compensate the trajectory of the first round to accurately hit targets within the crosshair. The system must operate over a range of visibilities, atmospheric scintillation, environmental and operating conditions and exploit novel technologies that address the overall requirements of this program. It is anticipated that the ultimate system culminating from this investigation and development conducted in Phases 1 and 2 will provide performance summarized in an Annex to Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 07-03 (Classified). The BAA (excluding the Annex) will be posted to FedBizOpps at a later date. It is recognized that crosswind has the effect of deviating the bullet trajectory producing offsets in the hit point. In some cases, a 10 mph wind could produce a miss even at 400 meters while in other cases; the deviation could be much worse ranging to approximately 3 meters at 1200 meters range. The deviation increases as the wind velocity and/or the engagement range increases. Current methods to compensate the bullet trajectory, under adverse combat conditions, are inadequate since they require a) a spotter to guide the shooter on target by observing wind velocity and direction, b) determining the hit point if the 1st round results in a miss, c) guessing range to target, and d) intense field training. Typically for long range shots, it is desirable to profile the downrange wind instead of measuring an average value since wind can change at various points along the range. If the wind is profiled, it could increase the overall measurement time duration; introducing latency in measurements. Therefore the system must be able to optimize the required accuracy in a given measurement period and the number of profiled segments. Clearly, the greater the number of sampling segments, the better is the anticipated hit accuracy. Topography, pressure and temperature should therefore be considered in the estimation of the number of profiled wind segments. Although substantial efforts have been made over a decade in measuring crosswind, two approaches have been commonly used. These are, namely a) Laser Doppler Velocimeter (LDV) and b) Coherent Doppler Lidar. Although these techniques are useful for some applications, they do not seem to be adequate for this application. Proposers may consider any potential sensor technology, individually or in combination, or other effective sensor modalities which the Proposer considers to be technically superior or more affordable or both. Proposers are reminded that 1) the time urgency of the need argues for mature technologies rather than immature technology requiring many years of development, and 2) end system affordability in production argues against unduly complex and expensive sensor solutions and system architectures. PROGRAM GOALS: Phase 1 Goals (Base Program): In Phase 1, the Proposer shall demonstrate the technology of choice for estimating crosswind velocity, direction and range to target by modeling/simulations and validating the hit point accuracy by developing sufficient hardware to conduct field measurements. At the end of Phase 1, the proposed approach must provide answers to the following questions: 1. Does the developed approach measure Crosswind? 2. If so, can it measure crosswind to the maximum effective range of the weapon? 3. What is the measurement accuracy of the proposed system compared to other errors (weapon, riflescope magnification, in-line night sight, etc.)? 4. Is down range wind profiling required? How often? Does one need to measure wind in other directions? If not, what's the error? 5. What is the maximum overall measurement time? 6. Does the simulation error agree with the field test data? 7. How accurately the approach measure range to target? 8. How does it minimize clutter while ranging target? 9. What is the minimum and maximum offset error at various ranges and wind conditions? 10. How is the offset error signal presented to the User (Shooter or the Spotter)? Phase 2 Goals (Option 1): In Phase 2, the successful contractor will develop a prototype crosswind measurement and compensation system. The SWAP of One-shot will be commensurate with battlefield operational and environmental requirements and interfaces with the weapon or spotting scope. The desired system, as a minimum, will include the sensing and display elements that will be fully integrated with a riflescope (desired) or spotter's scope. It is required that methods and design approaches for integrating the One-shot sensing and display technologies into the riflescope and/or spotting scope be identified, described and plan provided to demonstrate manufacturing in volumes along with potential cost matrix for the bill of materials (BOM). The contractor must provide the impact of the proposed sensing system on the battlefield concept of operation (CONOPS). Substantial deviations from the current practices are discouraged. Minor changes that improve the efficiency and ultimately the overall performance should be provided as part of the training resources and instruction sets, and will be part of the deliverables for this effort. The desired system must be developed quickly on a rapid success-oriented schedule. The desired system must be affordable in volume production. DARPA will be requesting proposals for the full scope of development (e.g., an end-to-end system designed by a team of multidisciplinary research organizations. Proposals addressing only individual component-level technologies will be considered nonresponsive to the BAA. A SECRET facility clearance and a SECRET safeguarding clearance are required to perform under this BAA (beyond Proposers' Day). Organizations that do not have BOTH of these clearances may still perform under this BAA by teaming with an organization that does. Additional information on the One-Shot program, to include BAA07-03, the associated Proposer Information Pamphlet (PIP), and DD Form 254,Contract Security Classification Specification, will be available at a later date. Details regarding program objectives, development and integration schedule, and milestone criteria will be provided in a classified addendum to the associated program BAA. To receive the classified addendum, your organization's CAGE code must list both the facility and safeguarding clearances, as a minimum, at the SECRET level. Proposers are advised to email their Facility Security Officer's (FSO) name, phone number, secure fax number, and classified registry mailing address, and CAGE code to
[email protected] as soon as possible in order to receive the classified addendum in time to prepare their proposal accordingly. The classified addendum, when available, will be sent ONLY to each organization's FSO. REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Participants must register NLT November 17, 2006, at the following website: https://enstg.com/signup/passthru.cfm?ConferenceCode=ONE92074. Directions to the facility and other materials are also available on the website. There is no registration fee for attending this conference. Attendance at the Proposers' Day is voluntary, and is not required to propose to the associated BAA. The Proposers' Day will be classified DOD Collateral SECRET and open to all potential proposers possessing an active security clearance at that level. Non-US citizens will not be allowed to attend classified portions of this conference. To attend, your Facility Security Officer (FSO) must fax your clearance information to the Executive Conference Center to the attention of: Han Ripley at (703) 527-5445 by COB November 17, 2006. The "Purpose of Visit" should state "Advanced Sighting System (One-Shot) Proposers' Day". Due to space limitations of the conference facility, attendance will be limited to the first 100 registrants, and no more than 2 representatives per organization. All attendees will be required to present government issued photo identification upon entry to the event. Additionally, all US Citizens are required to submit a US Citizenship Verification form in order to attend this conference. Non-US citizens are required to submit a DARPA Form 60 ?Foreign National Visit Request?. The completed Citizenship Form or DARPA Form 60 must be faxed to: Pamela Jackson, fax 703-696-9781 no later than November 17, 2006. Both documents are available for download at the registration website. Additionally, attendees who would like to present company overviews, discuss their technology expertise, and/or discuss teaming opportunities in scheduled presentations at the conference may request to do so. Presentations may contain 5 slides and are limited to five (5) minutes each. Proposers desiring to reserve a time to present at the Proposers? Day Conference should send requests to
[email protected] as soon as possible, but no later than the registration cutoff date for the Proposers? Day Conference. All material to be displayed at the conference must be approved in advance by both the organization that funded the research and the DARPA Program Manager. The DARPA Program Manager will screen the proposed material for sensitive but unclassified material and approve in advance any presentations. It is the presenter?s responsibility to ensure that all material they plan to present at the Proposers? Day Conference has been approved by the funding organization in advance. An electronic copy of all material to be presented must be provided to the DARPA Program Manager for review by November 17, 2006. There will be no exceptions to this requirement. After the conference, there will be an opportunity to meet individually with Deepak Varshneya, DARPA/STO Program Manager. Please send all requests to
[email protected] to schedule an individual session. Unclassified information presented at the Proposers? Day may be subject to US Export Controls (International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and National Security regulations. All attendees must meet the requirements for participation set by those regulations. NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER IDENTIFIED BELOW WITH RESPECT TO THIS PROPOSERS' DAY ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT INSTEAD ADDRESS ALL INQUIRIES AS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED HEREIN.