DARPA-SN-24-75.pdf

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Tactical Technology Office

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

DARPA-SN-24-75

Wing Over Wave Test

This is a Request for Information only

Responses due 7 July 2024, by 4:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)

This Request for Information (RFI) from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office (TTO) seeks ideas, methodologies, and approaches solely for information and planning purposes.

Intellectual or other privileged or proprietary information contained in responses to this RFI will not be distributed outside of the U.S. Government. In the event that a new DARPA program is developed related to the subject of the RFI and a solicitation is issued, no intellectual or other proprietary information received in response to this RFI will be divulged to agencies outside the U.S. Government.

BACKGROUND:

The DARPA Liberty Lifter program aims to design, build, float, and fly an affordable, innovative seaplane to operate efficiently in ground effect (IGE; << 1 wingspan above the free surface), sustain flight altitudes up to 10,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL), and enable efficient theater-range transport of large payloads at speeds far exceeding existing sea lift platforms. Liberty Lifter will use low-cost marine manufacturing to build a highly innovative seaplane operating with runway and port independence while being capable of meeting DoD heavy lift requirements (100+ tons). A critical technical challenge for the Liberty Lifter design effort is the need to understand and accurately model vehicle flight dynamics including aerodynamic forces and moments in IGE flight over sea states up to and including Sea State 5 (significant wave heights of 8.2-13.1 feet and significant wind speeds of 22-27 knots).

DESCRIPTION:

DARPA seeks a test facility to evaluate a large-scale aerodynamic model of a canonical wing planform in ground effect over waves. A generic wing planform, section, and aspect ratio were chosen to generate representative force (lift, drag) and moment measurements to enable comparison to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) results and tuning of CFD models for Liberty Lifter and future wing-in-ground effect vehicle designs. The test article is a rectangular wing planform with 12-foot span, 3-foot chord, aspect ratio 4, with a constant NACA 4415 airfoil section and no high-lift devices, propulsion, or moving/adjustable control surfaces. Two vertically-oriented support struts in the upper wing are incorporated into the model to enable mounting and orientation in the test facility. The test article incorporates a 64-port pressure tap array, a five-port pressure probe to be mounted ahead of the model in the freestream, and a six-degree-of-freedom Kistler force gauge to be attached to the mount assembly to enable aerodynamic force and moment measurements.

DARPA is interested in responses that address the following areas:

1. Technical description of applicable facilities to enable aerodynamic force and moment data collection using the DARPA-provided test article in a representative IGE over waves environment. Description should include but not be limited to test environment dimensions, instrumentation, model physical (to include ranges of values for angle of attack, angle of sideslip, and height above the mean free surface) and data interface capabilities, data analysis tools, wind and wave generation capabilities and performance envelope, boundary layer characterization/measurement at air-water interface, and safety requirements for model test.

2. An assessment of the confidence in quality, fidelity, and repeatability of test data generated at the proposed facility to include identification and isolation of noise/vibration from force measurements, mapping of boundary layer effects, and any correction or mitigation factors applicable to test data.

3. Detailed descriptions of completed testing and results compared to CFD modeling and simulation predictions that demonstrate feasibility of collecting accurate aerodynamic force and moment data in an IGE over waves environment.

NOTE: This RFI is for physical modeling and data collection; responses proposing CFD-only solutions will not be considered.

REQUESTED INFORMATION:

Responses should include:

1. A white paper describing the applicable test facility and proposed testing approach for IGE flight over water data collection using the DARPA-provided test article.

Responders should also provide an outline for comparison of model test results with appropriate CFD modeling & simulation.

2. Responder’s relevant capabilities and experience that would enable desired solutions, to include specific details of other support/studies the submitter has conducted (e.g., size/scope/complexity of previous/current contracts assisting high-tech entities).

3. Technical and/or administrative contact information to facilitate potential follow- on discussions (complete business name; SAM Unique Entity ID, if responder has one;

primary POC name, title, address, telephone, email).

SUBMISSION:

Responses are welcome from all capable sources including, but not limited to, private or public companies, individuals, universities, university-affiliated research centers, not-for-profit research institutions, and U.S. Government-sponsored labs.

This announcement contains all information required to submit a response. No additional forms, kits, or other materials are needed.

Respondents to the RFI should be concise. Responders should submit a single integrated response addressing the areas described above. DARPA will only review responses submitted in a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) file or unprotected Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file. Each response is limited to not more than ten (10) pages using 12-point font and 1-inch margins on 8.5-inch by 11-inch paper. Effective responses that can be provided in fewer than five (5) pages are encouraged. Supporting graphics and data charts are encouraged and will not be counted towards the page limit when appended to the written RFI response. If applicable, responders may also include an annotated bibliography of reports and publications and may append copies of reports or publications that are particularly relevant to this RFI, or difficult to obtain otherwise.

All technical and administrative correspondence and questions regarding this announcement and how to respond to this RFI should be sent to DARPA-SN-24- 75@darpa.mil. E-mail sent directly to individual DARPA program managers will not receive a response. No telephone inquiries will be accepted.

NOTE: DARPA may request individual discussions with respondents as necessary to gain a full understanding of the technical and partnership models submitted. DARPA may contact respondents individually via e-mail. RFI responses should identify one or more points of contact in the event DARPA chooses to request individual discussions.

DISCLAIMERS AND IMPORTANT NOTES:

mailto:DARPA-SN-24-75@darpa.mil

This is an RFI issued solely for information and program planning purposes; this RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or proposal abstracts. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Submission of a response is strictly voluntary and is not required to propose to subsequent Broad Agency Announcements (if any), program solicitations (if any), or research solicitations (if any) on this topic. No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the SAM.gov website. It is the responsibility of any potential offerors/bidders to monitor this site for the release of any solicitation or synopsis.

DARPA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this RFI or participating in any subsequent workshop pertaining to this RFI.

NO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RFI

RESPONSE SENT TO DARPA-SN-24-75@darpa.mil.

To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. If proprietary information is submitted, it must be appropriately and specifically marked. It is the submitter’s responsibility to clearly define to the Government what is considered proprietary data. Any proprietary information should clearly be labeled as “Proprietary.”

DARPA will not publicly disclose proprietary information obtained as a result of the RFI. To the full extent that it is protected pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act and other laws and regulations, information identified by a respondent as "Proprietary" will be appropriately controlled. Submissions may be reviewed by Government personnel and support contractors bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements.

Responses to this RFI will not be returned.

Respondents are advised that DARPA is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. Responses to this RFI do not bind DARPA to any further actions.

Point of Contact:

DARPA/TTO

DARPA-SN-24-75@darpa.mil