N00173-24-S-BA01 Amendment 0004.pdf

Amendment 0004 – September 30, 2025

NRL BAA Announcement #N00173-24-S-BA01 Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Basic and Applied Scientific

Research

The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for acceptance of White Papers and revise Appendix 1 in it’s entirety as follows:

APPENDIX 1 – RESEARCH DESCRIPTION - SUMMARY TOPICS

II. Detailed information about the funding opportunity

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is the Navy's corporate laboratory. NRL conducts basic and applied research for the Navy in a variety of scientific and technical disciplines. The basic research program is driven by perceptions about future requirements of the Navy.

The Navy's operational effectiveness depends on its ability to keep pace with rapidly developing technologies. NRL contributes to this requirement by conducting research in the following areas, organized into NRL'S three research directorates and Naval Center for Space Technology:

Systems Directorate Code 5000 Materials Science and Component Technology Directorate Code 6000 Ocean and Atmospheric Science and Technology Directorate Code 7000 Naval Center for Space Technology Code 8000

A. SYSTEMS DIRECTORATE - CODE 5000

53-24-01 - HIGH FREQUENCY RADAR

The Systems Section of the Advanced Radar Branch of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) conducts research and development in concepts and techniques for using high frequency (3 MHz to 30 MHz) radar to meet U.S. Navy mission requirements. Focus is on high frequency electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering (sky-wave and surface wave), radar system performance forecasting, radar system testing, radar data transfer, signal processing methodologies, spread Doppler clutter mitigation and use of the radar return to classify targets.

Additional information on this new type of radar is available in the "Radar Handbook", 3rd edition, edited by M. I. Skolnik, pp. 20.1 – 20.83, McGraw-Hill, 2008 and in “Applications of high-frequency radar,” Radio Science, Vol. 33, No. 4, Pages 1045-1054, July-August 1998.

Address White Papers (WP) to nrl_5324_baa@us.navy.mil. Allow one month before requesting confirmation of receipt of WP, if confirmation is desired. Substantive contact should not take place prior to evaluation of a WP by NRL. If necessary, NRL will initiate substantive contact.

53-24-01C - HIGH FREQUENCY RADAR (CLASSIFIED)

The Systems Section of the Advanced Radar Branch of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) conducts research and development in concepts and techniques for using high frequency (3 MHz to 30 MHz) radar to meet U.S. Navy mission requirements. Focus is on high frequency electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering (sky-wave and surface wave), radar system performance forecasting, radar system testing, radar data transfer, signal processing methodologies, spread Doppler clutter mitigation and use of the radar return to classify targets.

Additional information on this new type of radar is available in Chapter 20 of the "Radar Handbook", edited by M. I. Skolnik, McGraw-Hill, 2008 and in “Applications of high-frequency radar,” Radio Science, Vol. 33, No. 4, Pages 1045-1054, July-August 1998.

In order to provide a clear understanding of all aspects of the proposed program, classified proposals are acceptable. If the offeror is proposing to perform research in a classified area, indicate the level of classification of the organization, the Principal Investigator and all the proposed personnel, and the agency that issued the clearance; if a formal (classified) proposal is requested by NRL, an unclassified executive summary should accompany the proposal.

**CLASSIFIED SUBMISSIONS**

Contact nrl_proposals@us.navy.mil for instructions on how to submit classified white papers and Proposals.

53-24-02 - LOW-COST WIDEBAND ANTENNA ARRAY TECHNOLOGIES

mailto:nrl_5324_baa@us.navy.mil mailto:nrl_proposals@us.navy.mil

The RADAR Division of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is interested in research which will help reduce the cost of ultra-wide bandwidth multi-functional phased array antennas for communication and radar systems. To this end, NRL welcomes proposals that address the following areas:

1) New element design concepts, array architectures, feed components and construction processes that make it more affordable to manufacture large array apertures by a factor of 5 or more.

2) Techniques that reduce the number of radiating elements and/or feeding components while maintaining ultra-wide bandwidth, i.e. thinning, interleaving, or element scaling techniques.

3) Low-profile ultra-wide bandwidth array designs. This could include abstracted element types or apertures that are on the order of one-half a wavelength thick at the highest frequency of operation and/or can be printed on a single layer such as a thin substrate or potentially the (curved) surface of vehicle.

Proposals should address the value added by contrasting the proposed approach with conventional techniques and technology. This may be done by direct comparison or by a parametric analysis of sufficient depth to assess the benefits of the proposed approach.

Address White Papers (WP) to nrl_5300_baa@us.navy.mil. Allow one month before requesting

53-24-03 - ADVANCED COMPUTATIONAL ELECTROMAGNETICS

The Radar Division of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is interested in research that will lead to the accurate and timely analysis of CEM problems that are beyond the capability of the current state of the art computational methods to solve. The emphasis is on simulation of RADAR and antenna systems, but can be generalized to large electromagnetic structures that are multi-scale in nature – i.e. sub-wavelength features within systems that are many thousands of wavelengths in size. Proposals should address the following topics:

1) The ability to model with high-fidelity as well as visualize/manipulate electromagnetic objects having details on the order of fractions of a wavelength within composite systems that are several hundred to many thousands of wavelengths in size.

Emphasis on innovative techniques for high-fidelity simulations and visualizations of RF circuits, antennas, antenna arrays and large EMI/EMC sensitive systems.

2) Techniques/algorithms that reduce the condition number of very large systems of mailto:nrl_5300_baa@us.navy.mil equations.

3) Methods to reduce the number of data points needed for full/accurate characterization of a system over broad frequency ranges or scan/incidence angles.

Address White Papers (WP) to nrl_5300_baa@us.navy.mil. Allow one month before requesting

55-24-01 - INFORMATION AND DECISION SCIENCES

The Information and Decision Sciences Branch of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is seeking proposals for innovative research and development in information technology. Current and anticipated areas of research focus include:

1) Virtual simulations and mixed reality systems that support operational uses, situational awareness, and training, for both kinetic and non-kinetic missions. Application areas include mobile augmented reality, virtual or mixed training environments, and interactive and automated dismounted infantry simulation and training. Research topics include information visualization techniques, adaptive user interfaces, avatar control, distributed collaboration, training effectiveness evaluation, novel assessment techniques, adaptive training, and simulation fidelity. In all cases, NRL is interested in human factors evaluations, usability-based methodologies to quantify the costs and benefits of design choices, understanding how system fidelity and training objectives interact, and expressing results in terms of improvements in the field or in live exercises.

2) Systems to support comprehension assessment and complexity analysis of visual data representations. Current work focuses on validation of queries and measuring the contribution of graph components to complexity and their effect on comprehension.

Other research topics include multi-variate representations, statistical analysis techniques, and coordinated data views. In all cases, NRL is interested in human factors evaluations, new visualization metaphors, and measuring or assessing information overload.

3) Human Systems Integration research involving the following topics: real time physiological and behavioral measures of warfighter cognitive workload; new interfaces and interaction techniques for supervising unmanned systems; methods for training small unit decision making; new approaches for predicting and scheduling team member's tasking to enhance performance; evaluating different strategies for cross-culture trust generation.

4) Information management technologies that maximize the effectiveness of an enterprise (e.g., military operations) by improving its ability to act upon information that is produced and consumed within the enterprise and/or externally. Technologies that are of particular interest include: data management and exploitation technologies that apply mailto:nrl_5300_baa@us.navy.mil emerging mathematics and machine learning techniques to improve processing of large amounts of data. Of particular interest is the optimization of the collection and processing of multimodal sensor data in real-time at the tactical edge. Also of interest are assistive technologies that aid decision makers in the understanding of information and how it impacts expected mission outcomes in terms of cost, risk, and expected outcomes.

Furthermore, tools that reduce barriers to effective information use by providing intelligent notifications, mediation, access control, and persistence services; tools to assess information quality and suitability; tools that support autonomous information discovery from both open systems and DoD infrastructure to provide decision makers with the most comprehensive and up-to-date situational awareness on the battlefield. The topic is interested in decision sciences research that supports understanding, modeling, prototyping and evaluating effective systems that discover, process, disseminate, visualize and present information in support of military decision making. The following topics are also of interest: identification and assessment of the essential characteristics of decision-making processes within the C4I application domain; identification of techniques/methods and related tools for improving the decision processes.

5) Research and applications of multi-agent and multi-robot systems, reinforcement learning, game theory, and related technologies for enhancing decision support capabilities in adversarial environments. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, new techniques for multi-agent decision making, coordination and teamwork to perform tasks in contested, denied, asymmetric and unstructured environments, reinforcement learning in multi-player games and real-time strategy games, multi-agent cooperation and teamwork in ad-hoc, dynamic and open environments, and mixed-initiative interactions (e.g., human-agent collaboration). Operational domains of interest include, but not limited to, improving maritime domain awareness, improving human interaction with autonomous systems, and threat detection mitigation and response for cyber security and cyber-warfare applications. Applications of generative AI and large multi-model models (LMMs) for solving problems related to the aforementioned topics is also an area of interest.

6) Parallel and distributed simulation technology. The emphasis is on advanced Modeling and Simulation (M&S) architectures, particularly for distributed systems. The latter includes classical cluster and shared memory architectures, as well as geographically distributed large-scale simulations. Areas of current interest include the formal description of math and physics-based models for building “composable” systems, natural environmental effects servers for M&S architectures, and web-based DoD technology.

7) Human Performance Research involving the following topics: basic cognition (e.g., memory, attention); human factors and applied cognition (e.g., human-computer interaction, automation, physiological assessment); manpower and personnel (e.g., selection, classification, assessment); training and education; data science, psychometrics, and measurement (e.g., data modeling, advanced analytic tools).

Address White Papers (WP) to nrl_code_5580_baa@us.navy.mil. Allow one month before requesting confirmation of receipt of WP, if confirmation is desired. Substantive contact should not take place prior to evaluation of a WP by NRL. If necessary, NRL will initiate substantive contact.

55-24-02 - MATHEMATICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HIGH ASSURANCE COMPUTING

(This may require a DD 254 at the TS level due to investigation requirements – depending on access required, duties and deliverables.)

The Formal Methods Section (Code 5543) of the Naval Research Laboratory’s Center for High Assurance Computer Systems is seeking white papers for innovative research in the mathematics underlying security and high assurance computing.

Current and anticipated areas of research focus include:

1) Cryptographic Protocol Design and Analysis – We are interested in the analysis of security protocols for security and performance. Design of new protocols, together with their analysis, is also of interest. Analysis techniques may include formal methods, mathematical analysis, simulation, and experimental evaluation.

2) Traffic security – We are interested in the design and analysis of traffic-secure communications. One challenge of interest is metadata protection, including protecting the source and recipient identities, the type and purpose of communications, traffic volume, and the existence of certain communications. Another problem of interest is the authentication of network data, including of addresses, routes, and keys. A third issue of concern is evading communication blocking. Approaches of interest include network protocols, distributed systems, applied cryptography, and machine learning. Key criteria for proposed solutions are security, performance, and usability. Techniques can be based on mathematical analysis, simulation, experimentation, and measurement. Measurement efforts to provide datasets for designing and evaluating solutions are of particular interest..

3) Hidden Communication – We are interested in the design and analysis of hidden and covert means of communication. Emphasis will be placed on means for accomplishing, detecting, and preventing such hidden communication, and metrics and methods for the evaluating their effectiveness. Techniques can be based on mathematical and/or logical analysis, simulation, and/or experimentation.

4) Mathematical and Logical Analysis of Distributed Systems – We are interested in mathematics and logics, which are integrated with design methodologies for producing secure distributed systems. Emphasis will be placed on hardware-software codesign, distributed architectures, and programming methodologies. The formal apparatus will include non-standard logics (modal, substructural, etc.), category theory, domain theory, mailto:nrl_code_5580_baa@us.navy.mil

Shannon information theory, and structures that relate these elements in an elegant and coherent manner.

Address White Papers (WP) to nrl_5543_info@us.navy.mil. Allow one month before requesting

55-24-03 - HIGH ASSURANCE ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING

access required, duties and deliverables.)

The Center for High Assurance Computer Systems of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is seeking white papers for innovative research, advanced system concepts and security architectures, and the development of prototypes, new analysis tools and techniques in the areas of information assurance (IA), cyber security, software engineering, mobile system security, and real-time systems. Current and anticipated areas of research focus include:

1) Cryptographic Technologies – We are interested in the development of advanced cryptographic technologies for the Cryptographic Modernization Initiative (CMI). This includes software-based cryptography, FPGA-based cryptography, interoperability specifications for cryptographic waveforms, authentication algorithms, software defined radio architectures, dispensable cryptographic devices for the tactical edge, and modeling and emulation of high speed cryptographic techniques.

2) Key Distribution Technologies – We are interested in the research and development of net-centric key distribution systems (e.g., Key Management Infrastructure). We are additionally interested in novel key management architectures and techniques, such as key net broadcast, group key concepts, quantum cryptography for COMSEC and key distribution, and integrated key/mission planning.

3) IA Enabling Technologies – We are interested in innovative solutions and technologies that include network threat visualization, secure BIOS, secure hardware platforms, secure root of trust, trusted execution flow and data filtering frameworks, security enhanced and trusted Operating System development (e.g., SELinux policy development), and design, verification, and analysis of secure network protocols as well as the study of their effects on computer systems and network traffic.

4) Guarding Solutions – We are interested in the research and development of high assurance Cross Domain guards to support assured information sharing and security policy enforcement across disparate enclaves or domains. We are additionally interested in the research and development of secure gateway technology and new analysis tools and techniques for enabling remote monitoring, administration, and configuration of such security devices.

5) Security Architectures – We are interested in the design and development of security architectures for enterprise and tactical systems, with a particular interest in identity management and access control solutions. We are additionally interested in data protection mechanisms and vulnerability assessment methods.

6) Software Security – We are interested in innovative solutions and developing practical approaches that apply and enhance security to software execution environments.

Emphasis will be placed on security monitoring and flexible software configuration to enhance survivability. Techniques, tools, and solutions for autonomous cyber responses and automated testing methods are also of interest.

7) Cyber Defense - We are interested in the research and development of high assurance network security architectures and solutions (e.g., components, toolkits, equipment, software, and systems). We are interested in the development of tools and solutions for security orchestration, automation, and response. Of particular interest is emphasis on providing a holistic view of network health and status across enterprise, tactical, and industrial control domains; aggregating data feeds from diverse sources; and optimization of monitoring and response in software defined networks. Additionally, we are interested in development of tools, techniques, and solutions for network intrusion detection, as well as visualization capabilities to display situational awareness dynamically and visually. We are interested in the development of machine learning models of operator and adversary behaviors leading to improved situational awareness and automated course of action analysis. Emphasis on making model-based behavioral anomaly detection actionable by human network defenders is of particular interest.

8) Malicious Code Analysis - We are interested in developing methods, tools, solutions for malicious code analysis, reverse code engineering, and other anti-forensic/anti-reversing techniques. The customization and maintenance of malware analysis tools, the application of knowledge of malicious code trends and concepts, and diverse reporting capabilities, such as compilation of malware research findings and identification of unique malware characteristics are also of interest. Additionally, we are interested in approaches for scrutinizing of coding techniques, language usage/proficiency, and file format properties to identify the level of code sophistication and potential origin. We are interested in the development of machine learning models of executable software that recognize indicators of threat, vulnerability, and compromise.

9) Cyber Assured Missions – We are interested in research and development of tools and techniques to identify mission workflows, milestones, artifacts, and requirements through observation of cyber activities. Emphasis is placed on enabling mission continuity across the contested cyber battlespace. We are interested in the development of tools, techniques, and solutions including cyber deception, resilience, and maneuver.

Additionally, we are interested in development of machine learning models of mission requirements, resources, and risks. Emphasis on cyber battle damage assessment and course of action selection is of particular interest.

10) Software Assurance – We are interested in the development of mathematically based methods, models, algorithms, and theories for assuring software system properties such as safety, security, functional correctness, timing, and fault-tolerance. Emphasis will be placed on formal modeling and formal verification techniques for cyber-physical systems, assurance of systems using machine learning (ML) and other AI approaches, binary analysis, requirements elicitation, and run-time verification.

11) Assured Autonomy – We are interested in techniques for assuring the correct and safe operation of autonomous platforms. We are particularly interested in novel security concepts and security architectures for assuring the behavior of software throughout the platform life-cycle.

12) Tactical Zero Trust – We are interested in technologies that, in part or in whole, enable a zero-trust methodology for tactical network environments. Important characteristics of tactical networks that should be accounted for include non-Internet Protocol-based communication protocols, decentralized control and data flows, and low size, weight, and power constraints.

13) Autonomous Cyber Operations – We are interested in research and enabling technologies for automating the planning, coordination, execution, and assessment of cyberspace operations.

Address White Papers (WP) to nrl_5540_info@us.navy.mil . Allow one month before

55-24-04 - ADVANCED NAVAL NETWORK SOLUTIONS

access required, duties and deliverables.)

The Networks and Communications Systems Branch of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is seeking White Papers for innovative research and development in information technology;

specifically, relatively mature technology (TRL 6 and higher) for Naval Network and Communications Solutions. Current areas of research focus include:

1) Software Waveforms. Implementation of complex waveforms (such as TTNT, HNW, SDA T0, and unmanned platform Control Station Algorithms)) hosted on CPCI/CMOSS cards, as part of a systems level, heterogeneous networking capability. Ensure linkage to ONR funded Enabling Capabilities (EC’s) in Advanced Tactical Data Links (ATDLES) and SATCOM mitigation. Solutions may be IP or non-IP based.

2) Advanced Tactical Edge Solutions. Demonstrate candidate technologies for next generation Tactical Communications Links. Integrated, systems level solutions to Ad- Hoc Naval Tactical Edge Mobile Area Networks and candidate protocol stacks/application layer toolkits, with connectivity of up to 30 nodes, including air, ground and sea platforms.

3) Spectrum Diversity. Identify integrated, wireless, heterogeneous solutions for network connectivity between afloat and airborne platforms (e.g., ships, aircraft, and UAV’s), to include Line of Sight (LOS) solutions. Also, identify and implement advanced waveforms to maximize bandwidth at various ranges to achieve the best signal surpluses, and include in possible solutions improved apertures, maximized efficiency of legacy communications links, UAV communications relays, and wireless connectivity for tactical users. Optical as well as RF solutions at a variety of frequency bands are encouraged.

4) SATCOM Mitigation. Integrate technological solutions for overcoming the loss or over-subscription of SATCOM connectivity between (a) deployed units in an Expeditionary or Carrier Strike groups (ESG or CSG; respectively), and (b) connectivity reachback ashore from deployed ESG/CSG in any given geographic area of responsibility. Solutions must be exportable, scalable, and relevant in any geographic maritime environment in which an ESG or CSG might operate, and must include compatible, tactical edge connectivity and services. Particular interest exists in solutions that can be hosted on small- to medium-UAVs, and in other airborne relays.

5) PODs. Integrate candidate communications, Optical and/or RF, payloads (e.g., Sea

Lancet, SRP, etc.) into small airborne PODs, using currently available airframe modifications and POR technology, for both unmanned and manned platforms, conforming to NAVAIR standards and size, weight and power (SWAP) requirements.

Include receivers, apertures, and payload.

Address White Papers to NRL_Code_5520_BAA@us.navy.mil. Allow one month before requesting confirmation of receipt of White Paper, if confirmation is desired. Substantive contact should not take place prior to evaluation of a White Paper by NRL. If necessary, NRL will initiate substantive contact.

55-24-05 - FEDERATED, DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING/NETWORK

INFRASTRUCTURE

access required, duties and deliverables.)

The Center for Computational Science of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is interested in receiving proposals in emerging scalable leading edge technologies relevant to high performance (HP) distributed supercomputing, wide area networking and visualization, and data collaboration technology for High End Computing (HEC). Research involves work in scaling single-image large memory supercomputer processing for scientific problems undertaken as part of the NRL, ONR and High Performance Computing Modernization Office programs; research is ongoing in the areas of exascale computing, infrastructure virtualization, collaboratory and conferencing environments; streaming multi-gigabit multimedia network technology while providing E2E QoS guarantees; federated, distributed technology for multi-petabyte scale file systems; prototype environments for the design of scalable, object oriented multimedia databases for near-realtime access, archival and retrieval; and stream and compression technology for transmission of progressive motion and/or high resolution imagery.

Sensors and Processing Algorithms: Recent advances in very high resolution sensors with collocated energy-efficient processors continue to mount challenges to various dynamic metrics of agile, adaptive and comprehensive processing of sensor data across C4ISR networks with embedded computing distributed across these networks: at the sensor, at the archives and near the end-user. Large scale data-analytic solutions in the areas multisource information fusion, mailto:NRL_Code_5520_BAA@us.navy.mil persistent video analytics, content characterization and retrieval based on dynamic content features are now being recast from the perspective of near-real-time high performance computing networks. Algorithm development aimed at C4ISR networks using adaptively taskable sensors in size weight and power (SWAP) constrained computing environments are also of interest.

Innovative sensing inside latency- and bandwidth-challenged degraded, actively contested and/or urban environments requires new approaches. Video analytics that extract content dynamics, situation awareness, 3D structure of rich scenes, and exploit geospatial information including 3D point clouds, terrain maps, multi-sensor motion imagery, etc. are of interest.

High End Computing and Communications: The research objective is to investigate and develop innovative approaches and techniques that have the potential to create superior revolutionary rather than evolutionary advances in computing, communications, display and information infrastructures and tools. In addition to software and emerging hardware advances, NRL seeks new methodologies for interconnecting energy-efficient heterogeneous systems through high speed network technologies that over time have the potential to scale to terabit flows; all-optical amplified wavelength division networking and optical burst switching technology; high performance stream access to remote assets over commercial networks; leading edge flow routing architectures capable of end-to-end streams with QoS guarantees; and information assurance and encryption technologies and tools for the above. Alternatives to von Neumann architectures are of interest.

Advanced Resilient Networks: Computer networks have become ubiquitous with the requirements for resiliency ever increasing. Advancements in survivable, reconfigurable and self-repairable network protocols in adverse and unreliable environments is critical to the Department of Defense (DoD). This includes land-based communications, line-of-sight wireless (LOS RF and Optical) communications and beyond line-of-sight (BLOS RF and Optical), and seaborne/airborne/space-borne communications nodes/relays. Of interest are both reliable and deterministic traditional networks, along with ad-hoc tactical edge networks with 10’s to 100’s of nodes.

Address White Papers (WP) to baa@cmf.nrl.navy.mil. Allow one month before requesting

56-24-01 - OPTICAL SCIENCES R&D

Optical Science Division of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is seeking proposals for innovative research supporting ongoing programs within the Optical Sciences Division related to a wide variety of topics in the following areas:

1) The development of innovative new techniques which support laser countermeasures against laser guided or laser aided threats, such as laser beamrider missiles, laser designators, and laser rangefinders.

mailto:baa@cmf.nrl.navy.mil

2) The development of countermeasure technology and countermeasure techniques against advanced anti-air and anti-ship imaging infrared seekers. Offerors must also have background in the use of modeling and simulation tools for imaging seekers to conduct countermeasure research.

3) Fabrication of optical fibers that transmit infrared (IR) radiation, especially chalcogenide and heavy-metal oxide glass fibers; processing techniques for making IR fibers;

purification of glass starting materials; novel crucible fiber drawing techniques; specialty fibers for chemical sensor applications and techniques for making chemical sensors.

Development of ruggedized, vibration-resistant and athermal cables and connectors for middle wavelength IR (MWIR) fibers for use with high power mid-IR lasers. New technologies for making IR fiber switches to work with mid-IR lasers as well as technology for fabrication of IR fiber couplers, filters and splitters.

4) Fabrication of domes, aspherical optics and large (≥ 20 inch) diameter windows with high transmission across UV-Visible and infrared wavelengths. Technologies are sought that utilize environmentally rugged materials (glasses, ceramics or poly/single crystals) and produce defect-free optics with wide band anti-reflection coatings.

5) Development and fabrication of specialty thin film structures leveraging plasmonics, metamaterials and waveguide technology to enable novel devices including non-mechanical beam steering from the UV to LWIR. Fiber optic sensors for detecting acoustic, magnetic and electric fields, rotation rate, strain, temperature, pressure, chemical, and other parameters. Novel interrogation, multiplexing, demultiplexing and modulation/demodulation techniques using frequency, wavelength and time division, or other techniques to increase sensor count per fiber, decrease electronic demodulation power requirements, and provide all-optical signal processing, and lower total system cost are desired. In addition, methods are sought for improving fiber sensor performance, packaging, deployment, and survivability of these systems in a variety of environments.

Low phase noise laser sources that feature very good isolation from ambient effects to improve overall optical system performance are desired. Low power, high bandwidth, signal-processing components with automatic signal detection to fill current technology gaps for autonomous sensors are of interest. Robust, agile, advanced automation tools that are able to detect, classify and track selected targets of interest acoustically, using data from fixed and mobile arrays and generate automated contact reports are desired to reduce manpower requirements associated with sonar operator tasks.

6) High frequency data transfer networks using fiber optics; signal processing in fiber optic links; optical-microwave delay lines for gigahertz signal transmission, high frequency directly modulated diodes and external modulators, and high-speed detectors. Fiber devices such as amplifiers, fiber lasers, super-luminescent fibers, and phase shifters; laser diodes that meet military specifications and can operate in the multigigabit/s range;

harmonic generation and mixing using laser diodes; nonlinear effects that impact fiber optic links such as soliton propagation, Brillouin scattering, and four-wave mixing.

Integrated optical devices for sensors, optical-microwave delay lines, signal processing, networks, digital or analog communication links.

7) Glass and processing techniques for nanochannel glass technology and holey fibers;

specialty glasses and fibers for sensor applications and nuclear radiation hardness; optical fibers with high mechanical strength, survivable coatings, and low bending loss.

8) Novel optical particles or nanorods that exhibit unique optical properties (transmission, absorption, chirality, spectral signature, etc.) in VIS, SWIR, MWIR and/or LWIR.

9) Narrow linewidth lasers for coherent detection; multi-spectral lidar technology; single-photon lidar technology; pulsed solid state blue-green lasers

10) Algorithms for wavefront sensing phase and/or image reconstruction; compressive sensing algorithms for electro-optic applications; computational imaging algorithms to design optical hardware.

11) Photonic band-gap materials; optical properties of materials and coatings; narrow band gap superlattices; quantum wells, wires and dots; bioconjugated quantum dots to probe cellular and environmental behavior; novel nanostructures; the interaction of light with single microdroplets; development of real-time in-situ optical instrumentation to detect bioaerosols, including single particles on-the-fly; novel materials or concepts to protect eyes and sensors against intense laser radiation;

12) Development of type II “W” mid-IR lasers and quantum cascade lasers; other MWIR laser and amplifier devices that increase brightness and power; organic light emitting sources and optoelectronics; slow light studies; nonlinear optical probes such as Fast CARS; and development of condition-based sensors for fluid monitoring.

13) Electro-optical, visible, infrared, multi spectral and hyperspectral technologies used in systems for reconnaissance and surveillance of air, ocean, and ground targets, from space, air, surface and subsurface platforms; high-speed digital optical/RF communications in a tactical environment, including architectural issues; algorithmic development, including digital image and signal processing algorithms for target detection and tracking; the measurement and theory of optical signatures of air and ocean targets; the acquisition, and characterization and simulation of large-area background imagery; atmospheric propagation effects relevant to missile warning, laser countermeasures, and imaging;

electro-optical sensor technology including efficient high-speed photo-detectors, focal plane arrays and signal processing; electro-optical components; digital holography and electronic shutters; signal processing and data compression for multi-color electro-optical and infrared sensors; multi sensor/data fusion and exploitation; neural network processing and electronics particularly applicable to electro-optical sensors; advanced data compression techniques and electronics for very large area visible, infrared, and multi spectral.

Address White Papers (WP) to NRL_OptSci_BAA@us.navy.mil. Allow one month before mailto:NRL_OptSci_BAA@us.navy.mil

57-24-01 - ELECTROMAGNETIC TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH

AND DEVELOPMENT

The U.S. Navy is interested in exploring the use of High Power Electromagnetic techniques and technologies for purposes including anti-ship missile defense (ASMD), engine stopping, counter improvised explosive devices, and command and control warfare (C2W). Proposals that incorporate NRL capabilities are encouraged. Proposals for research and development into High Power Electromagnetic techniques and technologies may include, but are not be limited to:

1) Wideband (narrow-pulse) HPM sources. The sources of interest range from compact, lightweight devices that may be conventionally or explosively driven to larger, higher power devices that are suitable for shipboard installation.

2) Narrowband HPM sources. The sources of interest are generally high duty, relatively long pulse transmitters. Very high peak power, high average power, and high efficiency are all desirable.

3) Innovative conventional and non-conventional HPM based electronic attack (EA) techniques and systems including anti-missile defense applications, special operations, engine stopping, counter improvised explosive devices, command applications and C2W applications.

4) The use of RF transmission and backscatter to identify, determine properties, and/or locate potential threat devices.

5) Interactions of lasers with materials and electronics. Particular interest in femtosecond laser technology and atmospheric propagation.

6) Methods and technology for defending Naval systems from high power Electromagnetic attack.

7) RF countermeasure techniques and technologies for anti-ship missile defense.

8) Modeling and simulation ranging from device level simulation to campaign models that explore the utility of high power electromagnetic weapons.

9) Nearfield effects, sources, and antennas.

10) Ultrashort pulse technologies.

11) Directed Energy Prototype development.

12) Synergisms between Directed Energy, Conventional Electronic Warfare, and Kinetic defense systems for land and sea.

13) Electromagnetic energy effects on cells and organisms.

14) RF effects on biological materials

NRL more favorably will consider proposals offering initial increments comprised of short term studies (6-8 man-months) which then can be used to decide if the research deserves further investment.

NRL is also is interested in proposals for work leading towards prototype development.

Address White Papers (WP) to nrl_5745_baa_hpem@us.navy.mil. Any specific security questions should be addressed in advance of proposal submission via separate discussion. Allow one month before requesting confirmation of receipt of WP, if confirmation is desired.

Substantive contact should not take place prior to evaluation of a WP by NRL. If necessary, NRL will initiate substantive contact.

57-24-02 - SHIPBOARD ELECTRONIC WARFARE

The Surface Electronic Warfare Systems Branch (SEWS) of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) conducts research and development of Electronic Warfare (EW) systems directed toward the protection of Navy ships. The Branch mission includes the development of EW system and subsystem requirements; development, analysis and evaluation of shipboard ECM systems, subsystems with and components; threat assessments; and development of EW operational tactics and concepts.

The Surface EW Systems Branch is interested in receiving proposals for research and development into all of its mission areas. Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

1) Signal Detection and Processing

The trend in threat emitter characteristics is toward lower power emitters with highly agile parameters, including pulse to pulse frequency variation and random or semi random pulse repetition frequency (PRF). These emitter characteristics may include parameter variations using identifiable sequences or random parameter variations. EW systems must be able to detect, de-interleave, sort, and measure intra-pulse and pulse-train parameters to classify and associate EA techniques with these agile emitters in a dense electromagnetic (EM) environment. Key research areas include:

• Detection and direction finding of LPI signals in a complex EM environment, including associated microwave receiver, antenna component, and system technologies that provide wide bandwidth and high sensitivity.

• Sorting and deinterleaving of frequency and PRI agile emitters in a complex EM environment.

• Pulse-to-pulse feature extraction for real time signal processing.

• Pulse and emitter measurements and derived pulse train measurements that provide parameters to improve emitter classification with minimal ambiguities.

2) Electronic Attack (EA) Technique Generation

Countering advanced threat systems will require innovative conventional and non-conventional ECM techniques and EA technique generators for application in all phases of the battle timeline including surveillance, targeting, acquisition, and terminal phases. In addition countering advanced threats requires a coherent technique generation which includes the ability to capture, store, and process threat pulses received in a complex EM environment. Key research areas include:

• Broadband, high dynamic range Digital Radio Frequency Memories (DRFMs).

• Finite Impulse Response (FIR) Filters.

• ECM techniques against Low Probability of Intercept (LPI) radars.

• Counter-targeting ECM techniques systems for battle force defense.

3) Advanced ECM transmitters

Increased threat capability and increasing threat density will require the development of new transmitter technology with expanded frequency coverage and multiple threat handling capability. Key research areas include:

• Millimeter-wave EW transmitter concepts and technologies.

• Broadband, multiple-simultaneous-beam antenna technology.

• Multifunction aperture designs and technology.

• Very wideband electronic countermeasures (ECM) technologies and components, including amplifiers (tubes, solid state, and hybrids), power combiners, filters, and other discrete devices.

4) Sensor Integration

Future EW systems will need to operate in a distributed, networked environment in order to provide effective capability against advanced threats in complex EM environment. Key research areas include:

• Shipboard sensor fusion techniques;

• Intra-ship information fusion/association techniques;

• Timely/near real-time EW effectiveness measurement technology.

• Distributed, networked battle force concepts, techniques and systems.

5) System Concept & Embarkable Prototype development and demonstration

The effective transition from research to operational use requires the demonstration of advanced technology in an operationally relevant environment in a manner that is consistent with how it would be deployed. The Surface EW Systems Branch has developed a standard interface that can rapidly and easily support the demonstration of advanced EW capability in a relevant shipboard environment. It allows for the integration and demonstration of signal detection and process technologies, EA Technique Generation technologies, Advanced ECM transmitter technologies, and Sensor Integration technologies into a field demonstrable (i.e. Embarkable Prototype) system. Key research areas include:

• Analysis tools for developing and assessing EW Concepts

• Methodologies/tools for assessing and quantifying countermeasure capability/effectiveness against current and projected threats.

• Technologies that facilitate rapid deployment, upgrade, and support of Advanced EW capability on Naval combatants.

NRL more favorably will consider proposals offering initial increments comprised of short-term studies (6-8man-months) which then can be used to decide if the research deserves further investment.

Address White Papers (WP) to nrl_5740_proposals@us.navy.mil. Allow one month before requesting confirmation of receipt of Initial Proposal, if confirmation is desired. Substantive contact should not take place prior to evaluation of an Initial Proposal by NRL. If necessary, NRL will initiate substantive contact.

B. MATERIALS SCIENCE AND COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE

CODE 6000

60-24-01 - HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING ON MASSIVELY PARALLEL

ARCHITECTURES

The Laboratories for Computational Physics and Fluid Dynamics (LCP&FD) of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) conduct research and development supporting the national initiative in high performance computing. Advanced algorithms, codes and licensable software are developed for commodity systems and for the newest massively parallel architectures.

Research is pursued in the fields of compressible and incompressible fluid dynamics, reactive flows, fluid/structure interaction including submarine and aerospace applications, atmospheric and solar geophysics, magneto-plasma dynamics, fire modeling, engine modeling and molecular dynamics. We are interested in receiving proposals for basic scientific research and development directed toward increasing knowledge or understanding pertaining to our on-going programs in the following topics:

1) Novel modeling and simulation of complex combustion systems involving multi-phase mailto:nrl_5740_proposals@us.navy.mil fuel (including alternate and synthetic fuels) injection such as droplets, sprays and particulate matter in a gaseous background. Also innovative development, integration and maintenance of an environment for efficient approaches to the massively parallel processing of detailed chemical kinetics mechanisms and the development of simplified chemistry models (for conventional and alternate fuels) for inclusion in multidimensional simulations of flames, fire and detonations.

2) Innovative characterization of sound generation and investigation of methods to increase fuel-air mixing, reduce noise and pollution from jet engines burning current and future alternate fuels (including bio-derived and synthetic fuels) using direct and large eddy simulation techniques and supporting data for validation.

3) Novel numerical modeling for large scale studies with general boundary conditions, modeling of local phenomena in multidimensional magnetofluids, innovative many-body simulation models for plasma phenomena.

4) New radiation transport and equation of state models for inclusion in highly parallelized and vectorized hydrodynamic simulation codes which address astrophysical and laboratory plasmas, in which the effects of radiation transport and non-ideal equations of state are relevant.

5) Novel techniques for structured and unstructured grid-based unsteady flow solvers for complex, three-dimensional flows. This research would also address parallel load balancing and adaptive refinement and re-meshing for unsteady flows. CAD interfaces with grid generators and unsteady flow solvers for multiple moving surfaces and bodies in relative motion, bodies in and near a free surface, and bodies in turbulent separating flows are also sought.

6) Development and application of efficient Flux Corrected Transport (FCT) methods for

Graphical Processing Units and other computational coprocessors.

7) Development, validation and application of techniques for complex multi-phase flows and development of innovative techniques for the simulation of low Reynolds number flows through complex geometries.

8) Innovative modeling of elastic-plastic flows and flow interactions with solid deformable boundaries. This includes shock loading in sand and/or explosive effects on deformable bodies.

9) Development of innovative and efficient numerical techniques, analysis and experiments for the simulation and validation of the performance and operation of continuous and pulsed detonation engines.

10) Development, application, validation, and accreditation of numerical simulation models needed to support decisions in protection of buildings, facilities, cities and/or military platforms from the threat of chemical/biological incidents and blasts.

11) Development and application of scalable methodologies for urban geometry and feature extraction from LIDAR and remote sensing data.

12) Development and application of numerical simulation models, including visualization techniques, to investigate complex unsteady viscous flows associated with bio-fluidic systems and devices as well as artificial bio-mimetic vehicles and systems.

Address White Papers (WP) to Code 6040, by email to 6040whitepapers@nrl.navy.mil. Allow one month before requesting confirmation of receipt of WP, if confirmation is desired.

Substantive contact should not take place prior to evaluation of a WP by NRL. If necessary, NRL will initiate substantive contact.

61-24-01 - ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE, CONVERSION AND

COMMAND/CONTROL

The Alternative Energy Section (Code 6113) of the Chemical Dynamics and Diagnostics Branch of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is interested in receiving proposals for the improvement of power/energy sources for U.S. military missions, with a focus on electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems such as batteries and fuel cells. The NRL seeks innovate concepts to promote electrification, command & control energy, and supply chain resilience of emerging energy technologies. Proposals will be considered on topics ranging from materials discovery and development through systems integration. Energy storage and conversion materials, components, cells and system level developments and advancement are requested.

Address White Papers (WP) to NRL_6100_PowerEnergyBAA@us.navy.mil. Allow one month before requesting confirmation of receipt of WP, if confirmation is desired. Substantive contact should not take place prior to evaluation of a WP by NRL.