Draft_SOW.docx

Statement of Work (SOW)

“Plasma Science Research” in Support of Code 6700 Plasma Physics Division

Solicitation #: N00173-22-x-xxxx Attachment 1

1 Introduction The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is the corporate research laboratory for the Navy and Marine Corps. The Plasma Physics Division (Code 6700) perform the basic and applied research in areas such as plasma science, computational physics and fluid dynamics, high-performance computer science and engineering, laser and accelerator technologies for a variety of applications for the Navy, DoD, and the US Government. Historically these applications include

(a) Nuclear weapons effects simulation (NWES),

(b) High-brightness flash x-ray radiographic sources (flash x-ray),

(c) Electromagnetic projectile launcher (EML) technologies,

(d) High-energy density laboratory plasmas (HEDLPs),

(e) High-power microwave sources (HPM),

(f) Fundamental space plasma physics (SPP),

(g) Low-temperature plasma physics (LTP),

(h) Ultra-short pulsed (very high power) laser systems (USPLs), and

(i) The development of necessary computational tools, experimental diagnostics, accelerator architectures, and high-power enabling technologies. As mission requirements change and our research takes us to new topic areas, we continue to find novel ways to use plasma science for new applications.

1.1 Background

The Plasma Physics Division is involved in the research, design, development, integration, and testing of pulsed-power-driven radiation sources, plasma-electromagnetic wave interactions in space-surrogate environments, electron- and ion-beam applications, ultra-short pulsed laser systems, and novel diagnostics and pulsed-power architectures for future applications in these areas. Our five Branches advance research in the areas (a)-(i) listed above. We also work closely with the Laboratory for Computational Physics (Code 6040), Electronic Sciences and Technologies (Code 6800), and Space Physics (Code 7600) Divisions at NRL. Work in these areas involves experimental, theoretical, and computational research. Experiments are performed on existing large accelerators/pulsed power drivers within the Plasma Physics Division including Mercury, various scale EM Launchers, Hawk, Gamble II, Space Chamber, MATRICS laser lab, and several smaller systems and test stands located at NRL. We are working toward the development of new facilities at NRL, namely Gamble III and Hawk II; new mission requirements may arise during the period of performance. In addition, the work may involve coordinating experiments at other facilities around the U.S. and around the world. The nature of this applied research requires the rapid design, fabrication, and fielding of experimental equipment, rapid prototyping of diagnostic hardware, and development of computer software for analyzing the experimental results. Theoretical work will include the development and use of analytical and numerical techniques for researching the various problem areas; theory and simulations will be closely tied to the experimental programs as useful validation data from experiments both enables and advances NRL’s high-performance scientific computing, multiphysics, and computational physics endeavors.

1.2 Scope

In support of this research program, the contractor shall perform on-site experimental and theoretical research in pulsed-power physics and engineering, plasma physics, intense laser and charged-particle-beam physics, radiation production and transport, electromagnetic-launcher technology, computational fluid dynamics, production of high-power microwave sources, and the development of new techniques to diagnose and advance these experiments. Tasks performed under this contract shall be undertaken on the facilities within the Plasma Physics Division at facilities owned or operated by NRL’s sponsoring or collaborating organizations (e.g. DOE/NNSA laboratories, DoD facilities and high performance computing (HPC) centers, and even foreign laboratories or facilities) and require the capability of designing, fielding, and operating experiments on such accelerators, pulsed power generators, or unique testing environments. The contractor's theoretical researchers shall work closely with the experimental researchers and shall provide timely analysis and guidance for the experimental research under this contract. The contractor may be asked to perform in these areas with efforts categorized as basic research, application development, documentation development, and transition.

The entire scope of this contract and work performed herein will remain unclassified; however, some topics may have aspects that are export-controlled and the contractor shall have the capability to handle such activities appropriately as controlled unclassified information (CUI). To keep this SOW as openly releasable, specific requirements and details are omitted below and offerors should demonstrate the technical capability to perform tasks in these areas; detailed tasking would be issued with CUI technical direction memoranda.

2.0 Statement of Work

Approximately 15 full-time-equivalents (FTEs) are estimated to be required to work on the following tasks. The tasks to be performed under this contract can be broken into eight main areas related to plasma science applications.

2.1 Radiation Hydrodynamics Research: NRL develops advanced models for laboratory radiation sources that involve Non- Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (NLTE) in High Energy Density (HED) plasmas, a topic that encompasses three critical science components: atomic physics, radiation, and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The NRL approach for the predictive simulation of energetics and spectroscopic diagnostics of NLTE/HED plasmas simultaneously couples these components into an integrated whole. Measurement and modeling of basic atomic, molecular, and optical data such as energy levels, collisional-radiative rates, spectral line shapes, cross-sections for various excitation, and ionization processes are essential for understanding and analyzing all fields of plasma physics, and particularly important for modeling radiation transport and ionization kinetics in HED physics. The need for this data, which is often difficult to measure experimentally, has led to the development of sophisticated computational tools that NRL, with support of specialized contractors, will continue to improve. The plasmas produced in the HED experiments, such as in z pinches, liner implosions, and hohlraums, are neither in Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE) nor in Coronal Equilibrium but are inherently NLTE, time-dependent, and span a wide range of plasma conditions. NRL will look for computational physics support from specialized subject matter experts to incorporate advanced atomic physics models (e.g. doubly excited levels formed by inner-shell excitations and dielectronic capture followed by recombination into their models and develop a full time-dependent NLTE Collisional Radiative (CR) method for ionization balance) into its simulation codes. This work would be focused on unclassified computational resources at NRL and within the Department of Energy. Approximately 1.6 FTE is estimated for this task now and scope may increase over the period of performance.

2.2 High-Energy Density Laboratory Plasmas (HEDLP): Pulsed electrical and laser systems are regularly used for condensing many kilojoules or megajoules of energy into small volumes using various electrical pulse compression techniques, laser inertial confinement fusion (ICF), and novel charged-particle-beam concepts. NRL may require support in areas related to the study of warm dense matter and novel acceleration mechanisms (e.g. collective acceleration). The contractor may be tasked with advancing the basic physics of laser-plasma interactions, laser-plasma instabilities, and matter at high-energy-density by conducting experiments and developing suitable theory and simulations, developing means for mitigating laser-plasma instabilities, developing target designs aimed at achieving robust high performance laser fusion for future ICF facilities, developing and utilizing large-scale radiation-hydrodynamic codes for ICF experiments, and advancing these codes with improved models for non-local heat transport, equation of state, ray tracing, and atomic physics. In addition, support may be required in designing and fielding of new diagnostics for ICF/HEDLP research, advancing the capabilities of the NRL Nike krypton-fluoride (KrF) laser-target facility to conduct-cutting edge HEDLP and ICF research, and exploring the potential of Argon Fluoride (ArF) lasers as a driver for high performance inertial fusion implosions. This work would be focused on Nike and Electra facilities but could also involved work with mega-ampere class pulsed power generators like Gamble II, III, and Hawk. Approximately 0.5 FTE is estimated for this task now and scope may increase over the period of performance.

2.3 Space Plasma Experiments: NRL conducts research to investigate plasma phenomena relevant to the near-Earth space environment. In support of these efforts, the contractor shall perform on-site experimental and theoretical work in space plasma physics in conjunction with Space Chamber Group. Ground-based experimentation is conducted in the large-volume Space Physics Simulation Chamber, a unique device within the DoD for the production of large volume, steady-state, space-like plasmas. With the ability to vary plasma conditions over wide ranges, the simulation of many regions of near-Earth space plasmas is possible. Space Chamber experiments focus on phenomena such as radiation belt dynamics, linear and nonlinear wave-particle interactions, broadband ionospheric ion-cyclotron wave generation, wave and Joule heating of ionospheric plasma, and magnetotail particle and wave dynamics. Spacecraft diagnostic development and space hardware testing/qualification are also performed in the Space Chamber due to its ability to produce ionospheric-like plasma conditions. Smaller-scale devices such as the NRL DUsty Plasma Experiment (DUPLEX) are used to study the effects of charged microparticles in plasmas. The nature of this research requires design, fabrication, testing, computer interfacing, and fielding of experimental hardware. Software development for the acquisition and analysis of experimental data are typically required. Numerical and theoretical investigations are frequently carried out in conjunction with all Space Chamber Group experimentation. Approximately 1 FTE is estimated for this task now and scope may increase over the period of performance.

2.4 Low-Temperature Plasma Research: NRL performs research in the production, characterization, and use of low temperature plasmas and related areas. In support of these efforts, the contractor shall perform on-site experimental and theoretical work in space plasma physics in conjunction with Low-Temperature Plasma Group. The research activities employ the use of numerous diagnostics to fully characterize the plasmas and to understand their interaction with materials, particularly in their use to synthesize and modify materials. The laboratory has several chambers operating under vacuum conditions for low pressure plasma systems as well as several atmospheric pressure plasma systems. A variety of plasma and particle collection diagnostics are used, including Langmuir and RF probes to measure plasma density, plasma potential, electron temperature, and the electron energy distribution; a dual energy analyzer/ quadrupole mass analyzer to interrogate the flux of ions and neutrals at surfaces; and, spectroscopic diagnostics to measure plasma emissions from EUV through IR wavelengths. In materials processing, the research efforts are aimed at developing a comprehensive understanding of plasma-based processing applications ranging from etching to deposition to surface activation of both organic and inorganic materials. While the activities are largely experimental in nature, modeling and analytic theory efforts with collaborators from within the Plasma Physics Division are common. Approximately 1.5 FTE is estimated for this task now and scope may increase over the period of performance.

2.5 Pulsed Power Driven Beam Research: Under this research task, pulsed power generators are used to produce bursts of ionizing radiation in the laboratory. One may use electron- or ion-beams to make x-rays, gamma rays, or neutrons for various DoD applications. One can also use electrons- or ion-beams directly for generating shocks in materials to understand the material properties. This work is primarily experimental in nature but requires intensive pre- and post-experimental analysis as well as long-term development of theoretical and computational models. The contractor shall operate, maintain, design, develop, and optimize pulsed-power systems, generator-to-load coupling and electron powerflow, diode loads, imploding loads, diagnostics, and computational tools to provide the increase radiation yields and hone the temporal waveform or energy spectrum. This work would be focused on Mercury, Hawk, Gamble II, and the new Gamble III facility under construction. Approximately 4.3 FTE is estimated for this task now and scope may increase over the period of performance.

2.6 Development of pulsed power enabling technologies: The contractor will work with NRL to develop new ideas and enabling technologies for the application of pulsed-power technology, ranging from few kilowatt/steady-state to several terawatt/single-pulse. In general, novel applications require reduced size, weight, and cost at higher power and such criteria may take precedence over robustness (i.e. single-use operation). Many applications require pulsed-power systems that can be fired repetitively (ranging from several shots a minute to thousands of shots a second in a burst). Thermal management and fully-automated control of such systems are a primary concern. Finally, novel accelerator architectures that have the potential to reduce the size and cost of pulsed power systems include inductive-energy storage (IES), the linear transformer device (LTD), and inductive voltage adders (IVA). This work will primarily occur on small test-stands in the Plasma Physics Division. Approximately 2.7 FTE is estimated for this task now and scope may increase over the period of performance.

2.7 Radiation and Acceleration Physics Research: NRL uses and develops theoretical, numerical, and experimental techniques to solve basic physics problems and assess potential applications of novel radiation sources, intense laser beams, and charged particle beam accelerators. The Division currently supports a broad range of processes involved with the generation and propagation of intense laser beams and their interaction with materials. Specific research areas include pulsed laser propagation in gases and plasmas, nonlinear optics, laser-induced ionization, free-electron sources of radiation, novel x-ray and γ-ray sources, nuclear material detection, high-gradient accelerators, electron and ion beam transport, high power microwave sources, and microwave interaction with materials. The Contractor shall conduct research on atmospheric propagation of intense laser pulses, high-gradient-laser driven acceleration processes, fundamental plasma and optical physics processes, and electron beam driven radiation sources. This work could be conducted in the MATRICs lab or in other outdoor facilities for testing long-range atmospheric propagation concepts. Approximately 1.2 FTE is estimated for this task now and scope may increase over the period of performance.

2.8 Computational Physics: NRL uses, develops, advances, and maintains a wide-variety of computational tools and software for various DOD applications, discussed above. These activities will address current program needs and sponsor requirements including modeling of laser-matter target physics, turbulent flow in Navy jet engines, contamination cloud migration through city landscapes, shock tube formation in explosives, laser-atmospheric interactions for transport of ultrashort pulse laser through the air, and modeling of x-ray radiation transport in z-pinch plasmas. The Contractor shall create, test, manage, and troubleshoot NRL’s non-standard hardware and software implementations for NRL’s Laboratory for Computational Physics (LCP). This includes assuring access of NRL personnel to on-site and remote computing resources and interoperability between NRL, DOD High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP), and other collaborative entities, within the context of NRL’s research mission and the nonstandard and often unique hardware and software configurations NRL pursues. The Contractor shall maintain and exercise computational fluid dynamics codes in use with NRL’s Laboratory for Computational Physics (LCP) and Plasma Physics Division (PPD), including but not limited to FAST-3D, FAST-CT, JENRE, HYCC, CT-Analyst, FEFLO, TurboWave, LSP, MACH2-TCRE, ATHENA, SAMI3, FLAG, and RAD3d. As needed the Contractor shall maintain and exercise atomic physics codes STA, FAC, and/or HULLAC for the equation-of-state and opacities of various atomic number elements, and perform scientific research on improving the atomic physics in such codes and implement such improvements to the software through new physics models. This task requires a computational physicist, hardware engineer, and an information technology archivist (able to interface with scientists on technical paper writing, archiving, data storage, etc.) Approximately 2.4 FTE is estimated for this task now and scope may increase over the period of performance.

Over a 5 year period, we may expect a very slight increase in level of effort overall but some tasks may become more important while other tasks cease to exist. Sponsors are fickle and so we must be agile and adaptable; we expect the Contractor to remain flexible and able to find qualified personnel quickly when needs arise. For estimation purposes, you may assume 3% inflation and 5% escalation of level-of-effort per year. In the Base Year, we may expect labor categories as shown in the table below.

3 Deliverables, Materials and Travel in Support of SOW In support of tasks and subtasks above, the contractor shall provide the following reports:

The description and delivery frequency of these specific deliverables is detailed in the DD1423.

In support of tasks and subtasks above, the contractor shall take part in regular planning meetings where NRL personnel will define specific needs on a per project basis. As part of the research and development process, the contractor is expected to generate engineering artifacts to include system diagrams, briefing materials, simulation tools, and reports. The artifacts shall be documented via formal peer-reviewed publications, classified reports, and informal technical reports in tabular or graphical form. These will be considered deliverables towards the completion of the contract. Any drawings, schematics, software, and hardware fabricated shall be delivered to the Plasma Physics Division shall become government property at the end of the performance period.

In carrying out the experiments as part of the work outlined above, the contractor shall design, assemble, test, maintain, fabricate, and/or procure any experimental apparatus needed to complete the research. These experimental apparatus pieces may be fabricated by hand or machined and built using standard machine-shop equipment (lathe, milling machine, etc.) available in the Plasma Physics Division within a few days time. Examples include simple diode hardware, diagnostic cables and connectors, diagnostics such as charge collectors and B-dot loops, capacitor banks for driving plasma sources, etc. In general, the Plasma Division at NRL will supply larger experimental and computational facilities as government furnished equipment/property.

Large vacuum hardware, capacitors, lasers, optics and optical stands, power supplies, oscilloscopes, diagnostics, and extraneous equipment ($10k - $100k items) may be procured by the contractor to support work under this contract. Computer equipment for high performance computing ($5k - $100k) needs may be procured by the contractor to support work under this contract. Safety equipment & personnel protective equipment shall be provided for contract staff, as required by Navy and NRL safety policy and procedures. Office supplies to support on-site contractor needs shall be provided by the Contractor. Typically, research programs require approximately 25% of their total budget for such hardware, expendables, materials, supplies, etc. If it is cost advantageous to rent (instead of buy) specialized, niche experimental equipment for short-term needs, the Contractor should discuss this with the COR to better understand immediate needs and provide the best value to the government, e.g. $3000 rental of $50,000 oscilloscopes for a 3 week experiment.

In support of tasks and subtasks above, the contractor shall provide technical support for field exercises. Field exercise support may include travel to research and development sites and may involve on-site system research, development, device remediation, on-site procurements, software system installation, and software system configuration.

In support of tasks and subtasks above, the contractor shall provide agile logistical support for technical meetings. Meeting support may include travel to conference sites, on-site database management, software system configuration, generation of flyers, badges, posters, and other logistics in support of working technical meetings to enable exchange of information with Government sponsors and international colleagues within the tasks outlined in the SOW. Typically, our science programs require <2% of total budget dedicated towards travel costs to support these meetings or remote experimentation.

Contractor personnel will be expected to report their results regularly to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and to the technical community. A high degree of flexibility will be required, allowing the contractor staff to assist government researchers as they efficiently meet the changing requirements of experimental research and sponsor-mandated milestones. Program emphasis may change during the course of the contract, and the contractor must be capable of adjusting to the changes within limits of the scope of the contract.

In support of tasks and subtasks above, the contractor shall ensure safe and secure workplace conditions for their staff as directed by NRL Safety and Security directives.

5 Special Requirements This section describes the special requirements for this effort. The following sub-sections provide details of various considerations on this effort.

5.1 Security Comment by joseph w. schumer: Needs to be reviewed by Security before posting RFP All Contractor personnel who require NRL base access or access to NRL unclassified material and/or unclassified systems shall possess a favorably completed DoD National Agency Check with Law and Credit (NACLC). The Contractor Facility, at the time of award, must be able to acquire facility clearance suitable for supporting this work, as specified in the DD Form 254 (see below). The work for this contract is entirely unclassified however some aspects may be export-controlled/controlled unclassified information (CUI).

The Contractor shall be granted access to unclassified information/CUI necessary for performance of this requirement as specified in the DD Form 254. The Contractor Facility, at the time of award, must be able to acquire facility clearance suitable for supporting this work, as specified in the DD Form 254. All contractor personnel with access to CUI and unclassified information systems, including e-mail, Teams/FlankSpeed, and high-performance computing facilities, require at a minimum a favorably completed DoD National Agency Check with Law and Credit (NACLC). All of the contracted work is unclassified but may include CUI. Uncleared contractor personnel, including foreign nationals, may perform specific tasks on this contract if clearly defined by the COR as not CUI or using only public release information. Comment by joseph w. schumer: What is required for NRL these days for unclassified, on-site contractors performing CUI work? They need badges, CACs, network access but no classified.

5.2 Non-disclosure Agreements

All contractor personnel working on-site at NRL, as part of their performance of the above work and technical contributions towards complete sponsor-driven goals, are required to abide by non-disclosure of data unless officially released via NRL Public Release protocols.

5.3 Consultants, overtime, and interns

As the work load described above the SOW may fluctuate on a monthly basis and new programs may formulate requiring specialized skill sets for a temporary basis, we envision the regular use of senior technical experts (consultants) to be used as necessary to complete the needed work scope.

In addition, experimental work occasionally requires a standard staff of senior technicians to work more than 40 hours in a week to support focused experimental or testing runs on large pulsed power facilities (10-12 hour days, 5-days per week, for 2-3 weeks); in some cases, overtime allowance is a more cost-effective method to accomplish the task, as opposed to hiring an additional full-time employee that is fallow for 80% of the year. Senior technical staff are difficult to find through nationwide searches, and training of a new person may take 3-5 years; as such, we defer to the contractor on how to best accomplish the needed operational work load when focused experiments are on-going. This may include overtime, flying in “consultants”, or rotating technical staff among other work sites. We expect approximately 270 hours “overtime” per year (2 senior technicians, 10-15 hours per week, <3 week period, 3 periods per year).

Last, as NRL seeks to develop the work-force of tomorrow for the DOD, we look to allow and encourage the Contractor to help us facilitate internship opportunities as they arise. Occasionally, NRL’s sponsors provide substantial external funding and ask us to mentor or host interns during the year, usually the summer months. While we utilize the formal internship programs managed by the Navy, these have application timing requirements and limited term appointments. The Contractor shall be asked to help us support STEM internships with flexible year-round hours, expected to host no more than 15 interns per year at 25% time.

6. Period and Place of Performance The period of performance is from the date of contract award through 60 months thereafter. The principal place of performance shall be the Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue. S.W., Washington, DC 20375. Domestic and international travel to support this work is expected. For estimation purposes, 13 person-weeks per year domestic and 3 person-weeks per year international travel are expected (but may be exceeded per evolving mission requirements).

7. Government Furnished Equipment/Data NRL will provide access to and documentation of appropriate NRL hardware and software configurations currently employed by the scientific computing infrastructure, and access to NRL personnel intimately familiar with this infrastructure and responsible for strategic decisions regarding system development.

NRL will provide access to and documentation of appropriate experimental facilities and hardware currently employed by the simulation validation arm of this work, and access to NRL personnel intimately familiar with this infrastructure and responsible for strategic decisions regarding system development.

NRL will provide or coordinate access to appropriate NRL computing platforms on which the software resides and runs, and sufficient computational hours on these platforms to complete the required tasks. NRL LCP&FD will provide network data access for delivering telemetry regarding system status and performance.

For computational physics applications, NRL personnel will provide general initial specifications of input geometry and experimental or operating conditions to be considered, e.g. relevant “input decks”.

For validation experiments, NRL will provide access to various facilities used for collecting data, diagnostic equipment to take validation data, and data acquisition hardware. In some cases, the Contractor may need to procure various data acquisition equipment, specialized diagnostic hardware and radiation shielding, small pulsed power components for sponsor-driven unique experiments. However, in general, NRL facilities have the majority of hardware and equipment necessary.

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