The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agencys (DARPA) Special Projects Office (SPO) anticipates releasing a Broad Agency Announcements (BAA) in early June 2005 for the Low Altitude Airborne Sensor System (LAASS) Program. This is an announcement for the Proposers Day Briefing for the LAASS program on 15-16 June 2005 in Arlington, VA. The goal of LAASS is the development of Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) and Manned Aircraft (MAC)-based sensor systems that will detect, locate, and characterize power distribution infrastructure and underground or otherwise hidden facilities and operations in rural or urban environments. These include underground facilities (UGFs), tunnels, buildings/basements, caves, and activities under heavy foliage. The desired sensor payloads include acoustic, passive electromagnetic (EM), and gravity gradiometers. A baseline concept for LAASS was developed by a Government Team in Phase 1. Data were collected using a quiet sensor package on a towbody below a helicopter using off-the-shelf sensors and data acquisition systems. These data have been used to determine the potential performance of the LAASS concept as a function of sensor noise, altitude, and time on station if the form-fit sensors on UAV and MAC platforms are adequately quieted and advanced algorithms for detection, localization, and imaging are developed. The purpose of this classified Proposers Day Briefing is to summarize the technical results achieved to-date and to present the goals and structure of the LAASS program to potential bidders. An unclassified data package will be released to potential bidders, and a 3-4 hour detailed tutorial on its use will be provided. It is appropriate to bring technical analysis staff with MATLAB-equipped laptops to the tutorial to obtain the maximum benefit, though phone-based database support will be provided during the proposal and execution phase. One-on-one meetings with the DARPA Program Manager and other members of the LAASS Government Team will be available as well. It is expected that all material will be presented on day 1 of the briefing, but that additional one-on-one meetings and repeat presentations of results details and database tutorials will be available on day 2. The 12 month Phase 2 Advanced Algorithm Development and System Design activities to be funded under this BAA should focus on sensor packaging and algorithms for sensor SNR enhancement and end-to-end system detection, localization, and target imaging goals. Their performance should be evaluated using Government furnished data. The result of this phase will be a concept design and the estimated performance for the Phase 3 prototype, and an updated execution plan and cost for the Phase 3 prototype development effort. Three sensor/platform configurations are of interest: 1) a UAV with EM and Acoustic capability, 2) an EM sensor payload capability for use on existing manned helicopters, and 3) a Gravity Gradiometry sensor, processing, and platform integration design concept for either manned or unmanned rotary wing aircraft. Proposers may bid on any or all of the sensor/platform configurations. The 27 month Phase 3 Advanced System Prototype Development and Demonstration activities will be funded under this BAA for the performers whose designs are selected from Phase 2. In this phase winning performers will conduct final design, build, and demonstration of the platform-integrated form-fit systems for the sensor/platform configurations they have designed. SECURITY: Work under LAASS Program will be classified at the collateral SECRET level. Proposers must have the required United States personnel clearances, cleared facilities, storage, and processing capabilities to submit a proposal for this solicitation. DARPA will hold a Proposers Day Briefing for the LAASS BAA05-39 on 15-16 June 2005 at the Booz Allen Hamilton conference facility at 3811 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 600 in Arlington, VA. Doors will open at 0745, and presentations will begin at 0845. Potential proposers should indicate their interest via e-mail to
[email protected] to receive further instructions for attending. The conference schedule will be sent with confirmation emails. The meeting will be classified at the SECRET/NOFORN level, and Security Clearances should be sent to: Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., Security Officer: Angela Garrett, 4001 Fairfax Drive, Suite 750, Arlington, VA 22203, Security Phone Number: (703) 465-2684, Unclass Fax Number: (703) 465-5746, Cage Code: 1E4G2. Security clearances must be received at Booz Allen Security Office by COB 10 June, 2005. All attendees at the Proposers Briefing must be pre-approved and pre-registered, including having valid United States security clearances in place before the meeting starts. The number of attendees per organization may be limited due to space considerations. All questions regarding attendance should be emailed to
[email protected]. Point of Contact: All potential proposers interested in attending the Proposers Briefing should indicate their interest by emailing
[email protected].