Att 4 ATI BAA Supplemental Request for Laser Component.pdf

Approved for public release 12-MDA-6601 (14 Mar 12)

Attachment 4

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY (MDA/DV)

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ON THE LASER

COMPONENT

OF THE BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM

8 February 2012

Supplemental Information on the Laser Component of the Ballistic Missile Defense System

1. Background. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is responsible for developing a Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), integrating land, sea, air, and space-based assets to defend the United States, friends and allies, and deployed forces from ballistic missile attack. The Agency’s Airborne Laser Test Bed and its predecessor, the Airborne Laser Laboratory dramatically demonstrated the promise of lasers in fulfilling a spectrum of missile defense functions as an integral component of a ballistic missile defense architecture. As we examine the next step in directed energy research and development, the Agency is exploring high-altitude platform options, candidate laser systems, key enabling technologies, and prototype demonstration concepts leading to an affordable next generation, airborne laser system.

2. Synopsis. MDA requests white papers from competent U.S. entities which include, but are not limited to: industry, national laboratories, universities, and university-affiliated research and development centers. The primary areas MDA is considering include: new technology, architecture, framework or concepts that significantly improve performance for a next generation, airborne, directed energy component of the ballistic missile defense architecture and characterization of the high-altitude, low-mach environment for high power laser propagation and platform operation. Mission areas of interest include, but are not limited to, tracking ranging, discrimination and early intercept.

The intended timeframe for concept definition, development, experimentation, testing, and demonstration of selected concepts is FY12 to FY20 with an emphasis on a mid-power (200kW-class) airborne prototype demonstration in the FY17 timeframe.

3. Description. Provide separate white papers for one or more of the following topics

(paragraphs a. through h.):

a. High-Altitude Low-Mach Platform Concepts. Provide concepts for a high-altitude directed energy platform for missile defense. Concepts should be cost-effective from both a development and life cycle standpoint. Preferred solutions should operate at 55 – 65 thousand feet at low mach for 3 days and have a payload capacity of 5 – 10 thousand lbs. Platform concepts should include, but are not limited to:

i. Development phase of platform

ii. Additional development, integration and test activities required to meet nominal requirements

iii. Platform concept of operations

iv. Trade-offs among altitude, airspeed, endurance, and payload capacity

v. Power and thermal management

vi. Affordability, maintainability and reliability

b. Candidate High Power Laser. Provide concepts for developing a compact, efficient mid-power (200 kW-class) and high power (MW-class) laser system.

Descriptions of technology and/or concepts should include, but are not limited to:

i. Demonstrated performance (Average power output, Electrical-to-Optical efficiency, Beam Quality (power in a diffraction limited bucket) and Laser Run Time

ii. System Description to include power and thermal management

iii. Scalability: Ability and schedule to scale the technology for greater power output

iv. Additional development, integration and test activities/timeline required to deliver both mid-power and high-power systems

v. Affordability, maintainability and reliability

c. Directed Energy Technology. Enabling technologies of interest for laser systems include, but are not limited to: beam control; local and target loop jitter control; laser pump sources; adaptive optics; acquisition/tracking/pointing; contamination control and mitigation; substrates and optical coatings; power management concepts; high bandwidth, high sensitivity, low noise sensors; and thermal management concepts.

The description of technology and/or concepts should include discussion on improvement over existing technology or improvement in affordability, maintainability and reliability.

d. High-Altitude Atmospheric Modeling and Simulation. Describe the current state of atmospheric models and empirical data sets for laser propagation through the atmosphere between 40 – 100 thousand feet. Assess gaps in the current state of knowledge for high-altitude laser propagation, including the assumptions used in current atmospheric models. Parameters of interest are extinction and optical turbulence for wavelengths to include, but not limited to: 0.795, 1.03, and 1.06 microns and the effects specific wavelengths contribute to fluence delivery on target.

Power levels of interest are from kW-class lasers for tracking to MW-class lasers for early intercept.

e. High-Altitude Atmospheric Effects. Describe the effects of high-altitude, low Mach number flight environments on laser propagation performance through the atmosphere, to include, but not limited to jitter, boundary layer effects and the need, if any, for atmospheric compensation. Catalog gaps in the current state of knowledge, including the assumptions used in current models. Describe a series of in-flight experiments to validate existing data and atmospheric models and to fill in knowledge gaps. Testing should support variations in range and elevation angle.

Parameters of interest are extinction and optical turbulence for wavelengths to include, but not limited to: 0.795, 1.03 and 1.06 microns.

f. Near-Term Characterization Experiments. Describe a series of ground and/or high-altitude, low mach number tests to sequentially buy down the risk associated with fielding a high power laser platform for missile defense applications to include, but not limited to: low aero-optical and vibration disturbances; local platform jitter, acquisition and tracking of BMDS targets of interest; and incremental demonstration of high-altitude directed energy system capabilities.

g. High Altitude Directed Energy Targets. Provide concepts for low cost targets for laser strehl, pointing, and jitter measurement of a beam propagated from a high altitude platform. Target concepts are required for both tracking and weapons-class lasers. Reusability is highly desirable. Describe the concept, maturity of any non-off-the-shelf technologies required and the timeline for development and test.

h. Directed Energy Prototype System Demonstrations. Provide concepts for demonstrating laser systems on a high-altitude platform for missile defense applications. Of particular interest is a 200kW-class laser system effects capability demonstration against BMDS targets of interest (FY17 goal). Concepts should include, but are not limited to:

i. Concept description (Pod mounted or integrated approach)

ii. Development, integration and test activities leading to a capability demonstration

iii. Test/targets requirements/assumptions

iv. Interoperability with other BMDS architecture components requirements/assumptions

v. Residual mission capability

vi. Scalability to MW-class future system

4. Government Furnished Information. Any technical data furnished by the Government in response to topic inquiries is in an "as is" condition without any warranty as to its accuracy, completeness, or adequacy. The respondents shall use this technical data at their own risk.

The Government assumes no responsibility for such furnished data/documentation nor will the Government have any liability for a respondent's response should such data/documentation prove to be inaccurate, incomplete, or otherwise defective.

5. Responses:

a. Respondents may submit responses for individual topics as called for in Paragraph

3. Responses should be provided via the MDA ATI BAA, HQ0147-11-ATI-BAA, utilizing the submission instructions included in the announcement.

b. Responses are expected to consist of an unclassified white paper and a classified addendum, as required. Responses should be classified no higher than collateral SECRET and should identify areas which might be subject to data limits or restrictions. Unclassified white paper submissions shall not exceed 10 pages in length. If all required information in the requested format can be provided in fewer pages, the responder may take the difference in the page count and apply them to their classified submission. The classified addendum shall not exceed 10 pages in length. The total page count for both submissions (unclassified and classified) shall not exceed 20 pages in length.

Unclassified white papers shall be submitted to:

Ms. Janice Olson

MDA/DACV

Bldg 5222 Martin Road Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898

c. Classified Addendums: Classified documentation (up to collateral SECRET) shall be prepared for shipment in accordance with the current National Industrial Security Program Operation Manual (NISPOM), DOD 5220.22-M. Section 5-401 found here:

www.dss.mil/isp/odaa/documents/nispom2006-5220.pdf.

i. The BMDS Security Classification Guide (SCG) is available to and must be used by those interested parties submitting classified responses.

ii. A request for the SCG must be submitted via email to David.Prentice@Kirtland.af.mil.

iii. In order to receive the SCG or any classified Government Furnished

Information, a facility clearance of no less than "SECRET" is required. A DD Form 254 will be issued with classified information. All requests must include the following:

1. Verification of facility clearance level; (either copy of DSS approval letter and/or company cage code).

2. Verification that the company has storage capability to the "SECRET" level.

3. Verification that the respondent understands that the data provided may NOT be duplicated and must be destroyed upon completion of BAA activities IAW the NISPOM.

4. Physical Address where classified data should be sent along with responsible points of contact and phone numbers. Identify whether or not classified fed-x packages may be sent to the physical address provided. Alternatively, identify a classified email address to which the document may be provided.

iv. Contact MDA/DVLS for specific classification instructions for any situation whereby no clear Security Classification Guide (SCG) direction is available or known, and the proposer believes the work, if successful, would merit classification due to either technical and/or quantitative performance, or capabilities. The proposer must possess all required personnel security clearances, facility clearances and other infrastructure requirements necessary to conduct/perform such classified work. If supporting classified data/information exists, please indicate that fact in the unclassified portion of the White Paper response.

No classified information is to be submitted to the contracting office. All classified information must be marked accordingly and submitted to:

MDA/DVLS

Attn: Mr. David Prentice 1350 Wyoming Blvd SE; Building 20200 Kirtland AFB, NM 87117

d. Export Controlled Data. Export-controlled technical data will likely be involved.

Therefore, please include a completed DD Form 2345, Military Critical Technical Data Agreement, with certification number and expiration date, along with each submission. The US/Canada Joint Certification Program (JCP) allows access to such data, in order to facilitate meaningful information exchanges that could contain unclassified technical data disclosing military critical technology with military or space application that is under the control or in the possession of the U.S.

Department of Defense (DoD). (Note: See http://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp/ for information regarding this program and form. The U.S./Canada Joint Certification Program normally returns an approved and signed certified form, which includes a certification number and expiration date within 5 days of receipt). If unable to complete the form as a qualified US/Canada contractor, please submit a statement explaining why export-controlled technical data is not needed in the work.

The Offeror/Proposer is expected to ensure that the efforts of foreign participants do not either directly or indirectly compromise the laws of the United States, nor its security interests. As such, the offeror/proposer should carefully consider the roles and responsibilities of foreign participants as they pursue teaming arrangements.

6. Marking. Submissions must comply with the instructions set forth in the BAA, HQ0147-11- ATI-BAA. Potential sources are responsible for adequately marking propriety information contained in their response. Any proprietary information MUST be marked as such on a page-by-page basis. The Government intends to use third party, non-Government (contractor) support personnel as subject matter experts in the review of responses received, including the review of any marked or unmarked proprietary information provided.

Appropriate non-disclosure agreements have been executed between the third party, non- Government (contractor) support personnel and the Government and are on file with the Government. A submission of a response to the BAA constitutes the respondent's acknowledgement and agreement that the information provided in the response, including any marked or unmarked proprietary or source selection information, may be disclosed to these third party, non-Government (contractor) support personnel.

7. Points of Contact (POC):

a. Unclassified Submissions:

Ms. Janice Olson, MDA/DACV janice.olson@mda.mil

(256) 450-4330

b. Classified Submissions:

David Prentice David.Prentice@Kirtland.af.mil

(505) 846-7690

c. Technical Questions:

Dr Steve Lamberson Steve.Lamberson@kirtland.af.mil

(505) 853-6939

Lt Col Keith Jones Keith.Jones@kirtland.af.mil

(505) 846-0412

d. Security Questions:

David Prentice David.Prentice@Kirtland.af.mil

(505) 846-7690