THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS BEING MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) W56JSR-18-S-0001. Counter Small Unmanned Aerial System High Energy Laser (C-sUAS HEL). The RCCTO is requesting whitepapers. Format shall be in accordance with instructions found at “Whitepaper Submissions” in Section V(A) of the BAA made as an attachment to this announcement. A rough order of magnitude (ROM) in accordance with Section V(A)(14) of the BAA is requested with the whitepaper submissions and will not contribute to the page total the whitepaper submissions. Vulcan specific collection for whitepaper submissions can be found at: https://vulcan-sof.com/login/ng2/submission?collectionUuid=5f38a0bb-e6d3-441f-92e5-8199f0b66100 In accordance with the instructions in Section V(A)(3) of the BAA, ROM shall not be submitted via the Vulcan site. Please submit all ROMs to Josh Flinn at
[email protected] and Paul Kemp at
[email protected] Subject line must read “ROM Counter Small Unmanned Aerial System High Energy Laser-[Company Name]”. Example: ROM Counter Small Unmanned Aerial System High Energy Laser -ABC Inc. Failure to do so may result in elimination for consideration for the funding opportunity. Whitepaper submissions are due no later than 1:00pm ET on 24 Feb 2021. Please note that only UNCLASSIFIED Whitepapers can be submitted through Vulcan. Problem Statement: The exponential growth of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) creates new risks for the Department of Defense (DoD). Technology trends are dramatically transforming legitimate applications of sUAS while simultaneously making them increasingly capable weapons in the hands of state actors, non-state actors, and criminals. Small UAS may also pose hazards to DoD operations in the air, land, and maritime domains when controlled by negligent or reckless operators. The Department must protect and defend personnel, facilities, and assets in an environment where increasing numbers of sUAS will share the skies with DoD aircraft, operate in the airspace over DoD installations, and be employed by our Nation’s adversaries. The primary opportunity and purpose of this effort is to integrate a government owned High Energy Laser (HEL) subsystem with a power and thermal subsystem and sensor package to demonstrate increased lethality in negating sUAS. The HEL C-sUAS system will be demonstrated in a relevant environment and must show increased magazine depth while reducing operational costs, risk of interfering with untargeted systems, and risk of collateral damage when compared to other C-sUAS Block 0 systems. A Counter Small UAS High Energy Laser System should: Detect and characterize Class 1 and 2 UAS threats at standoff ranges. Possess hard-kill capability against Class 1 and 2 unmanned aerial systems using a high energy laser at standoff ranges with high reliability. Be agnostic towards laser technology, have a modular open system design, and interface with Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) Possess the capability to defend fixed and semi fixed sites. Reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 5 when demonstrated as a prototype at the end of this effort. Opportunity Sought: Whitepaper submissions shall include how you would approach designing, integrating, prototyping, and delivering two (2) Counter Small UAS High Energy Laser systems with the assumption that two (2) high energy laser weapon systems and two (2) surveillance radar systems will be provided as GFE at the start of the project, and the system will be ready for demonstration in April 2022. Follow-On Production Work: Following successful completion of the prototype project and subject to the availability of funds, the Government anticipates transition from the prototype project to a follow-on production/sole source FAR-based contract or Other Transaction Agreement. Follow-on production activities are anticipated to be in support of PEO Missile and Space’s counter UAS efforts. It is not fully known at this time what the quantities or dollar values will be, or which exact program office or agency may produce follow-on production. However, it is fully expected that the hardware/software will be used in follow-on production agreements or contracts by one or more agencies and/or program offices. The follow-on production efforts for this prototype project are expected to vary depending on the customer; however, as this hardware/software is anticipated to be an additional capability increase for existing systems or systems in production or development, it is anticipated that a successful prototype project may result in eventual production. Technical Point of Contact: Mr. Corry Cox,
[email protected] Notice: Offerors are advised that employees of the firms identified below may serve as non-government advisors in the review and evaluation of white papers as well as the source selection process. These individuals will be authorized access only to those portions of the white paper / proposal data and discussions that are necessary to enable them to perform their respective duties. Such firms are expressly prohibited from competing on the subject acquisition. KODA Technologies; 112 Windy Way Dr., Madison, AL. 35758; (256) 900-1002 Avacal Inc; Huntsville, AL 35802; (256) 714-9187 In accomplishing their duties related to the white paper evaluation and source selection process, the aforementioned firm may require access to proprietary information contained in the offerors' proposals. Therefore, pursuant to FAR 9.505-4, this firm may execute an agreement with each offeror that states that they will (1) protect the offerors’ information from unauthorized use or disclosure for as long as it remains proprietary and (2) refrain from using the information for any purpose other than that for which it was furnished. To expedite the evaluation process, each offeror must contact the above companies to effect execution of such an agreement prior to the submission of proposals. Each offeror shall submit copies of the agreement with their proposal, if applicable.