POWER_Question and Answer.pdf

DARPA Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) Question and Answers

High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF) Range Q: Will optical design (at least conceptual) of HELSTF be made available to proposers? Is the HELSTF light source polarized?

A: Further information on HELSTF characteristics may be available by contacting the facility. HELSTF has multiple systems available, and proposers are encouraged to coordinate directly with HELSTF for options. Submit a request for HELSTF contact information to HR001123S0004@darpa.mil and we will reply with a HELSTF point of contact.

Q: What is the operating wavelength of the available ground laser in White Sands?

A: Nominally 1.03 - 1.08 microns, depending on which system is used for the demonstration. Further information on HELSTF characteristics may be available by contacting the facility. HELSTF has multiple systems available, and proposers are encouraged to coordinate directly with HELSTF for options. Submit a request for HELSTF contact information to HR001123S0004@darpa.mil and we will reply with a HELSTF point of contact.

Q: What is the laser beam quality (M2 if available)?

A: Beam quality is M2<1.5

Global Hawk Aircraft Q: What is the expected speed of the Global Hawk for the demo?

A: The Global Hawks that are available for use have a cruise speed of 310 knots indicated air speed (KIAS) at 60kft when in a clean wing design (no pod). 310 KIAS is a design point, and not indicative of an upper or lower limit. Limits for each aircraft will be dependent on the specific configuration. There is no prescribed speed for the demos; it will be up to the performer to best determine the concept of operations for their system.

Q: Is the choice of demonstration platform left to the individual teams?

A: Yes, the choice of platform is left to the individual teams. The Government plans to make RQ-4 Global Hawks available as a baseline platform for the POWER program demonstrations, should that fit with a performer’s proposed approach. Teams are free to propose alternative platforms; but proposals should explain the rationale for their selection.

Q: Please define/quantify "high-altitude" in the phrase high-altitude platform on page 9? The BAA says "3) Compatible with operations at high altitude (60kft or higher) to minimize atmospheric losses." Does this demand Phase 2 and Phase 3 testing at 60k or only showing scalability?

A: We expect the Phase 2 and Phase 3 final demos will be conducted at or above 60k ft to fully characterize the link. Earlier risk reduction activities could be conducted at lower altitudes, and/or in ground tests that demonstrate scalability.

Q: Are Government assets (HELSTF, Global Hawks, etc.) no cost Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) for proposal purposes? Mods required to vehicle?

A: The recommended range and baseline RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft are no cost GFE. Modifications to the Global Hawk that are proposed by performers and accepted by the Government will be completed by the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), and those costs will be paid by the Government.

Proposers that intend to leverage other ranges or aircraft should provide Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) costs for these alternatives, which will be considered on a case by case basis. Proposers will provide the systems engineering and coordination to ensure effective integration with GFE.

Q: If a platform other than the Global Hawk is recommended and utilized in the program, what platform costs will be provided as Government Furnished Equipment/Information (GFE/GFI) in lieu of the Global Hawk? For example: interface definition and delivery, platform integration support, test planning and operational costs.

A: Aircraft selections other than the Global Hawks provided by TRMC SkyRange will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and must be substantiated as a viable platform for the POWER demonstration. If the aircraft are owned by a Government organization, DARPA may seek to create a Government agreement to facilitate their use by the program. If the proposer selects a commercial aircraft provider for use in the demonstration, then it will be funded through the proposal. Proposers should provide a ROM cost in their full proposal. Proposers should supply technical rationale for the use of an alternative platform and show that it is advantageous for the Government.

Q: Assuming the Global Hawk platform is utilized for the demonstration. What data and models on the flight control system and structural properties of the Global Hawk will be provided to the awardee?

A: Available models of Global Hawk systems will be available as GFI upon request, noting that the Global Hawks owned and operated by TRMC SkyRange have been modified to accommodate a variety of payloads. Generic Global Hawk models may not perfectly match test asset configurations. As such, all requests for information should be coordinated through the Government team.

Q: Assuming the Global Hawk platform is utilized for the demonstration. Will Northrop Grumman Corp be on direct contract to the Government to provide support? If so, what will their scope be?

A: As the cognizant organization, TRMC Skyrange will allocate funding and resources as necessary to support integration and test for POWER program demonstrations. Accordingly, DARPA does not plan to contract directly with commercial performers for support of the Global Hawk Platform associated with POWER program demonstrations.

POWER Technical Characteristics Q: Will a proposal for the 5kw ground receiver be taken into consideration?

A: No. The goal of the POWER program is to design and demonstrate airborne optical energy relays. The performers are expected to validate performance of a demonstration system capable of meeting all of the POWER key program metrics which include “10kW of laser energy delivered to final ground node if using a 50kW source laser (assuming 50% conversion efficiency this equates to the program goal of 5kW of electric power, ground receiver or measurement device will be provided by the Government team)”.

While a 5kW receiver is outside of the scope for this program, it is not out of scope for the overarching energy web. Performers may wish to consider other potential funding opportunities for such development, including Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF) calls which can be found at oecif.org.

Q: Is a high efficiency DC-DC converter for energy harvesting within the scope of the program?

A: A high efficiency DC-DC converter for energy harvesting could be considered within the scope of the program if appropriately integrated with other components responsible for redirecting and correcting optical beams. DARPA expects that novel component technologies and/or novel integrations of existing state-of-the-art components will be necessary in order to achieve all POWER objectives. A high efficiency DC-DC converter is potentially an important component in a demonstration relay system.

Q: How many “hops” required in demo?

A: Phase 2 requires a beam from the ground node, up to an aerial node and back down to a ground node, as shown in Figure 5 of the HR001123S0004 BAA. Phase 3 requires a beam from a ground node, up to an aerial node, to a second aerial node, to a third aerial node, then back down to a ground node (total of 3 airborne nodes), as described in the key program metrics in Section 1.C and notionally depicted in Figure 6 of the BAA.

Q: What is the technology readiness level (TRL) that DARPA is looking for in this POWER BAA? Is the funding for technologies that are already in development or could a prototype proposal be awarded funding?

A: The BAA is for proposals of a flight-worthy demonstration system for the purposes of Research & Development. Novel approaches to key subsystems are welcome; but the proposal should clearly articulate a technology maturation plan for the lower TRL components/subsystems and show a path to achieving program milestones within the projected timeline.

Q: How important is scatter in a security sense? To what level is scatter permitted. Is this driven by personnel protection and/or hardware detection and safety driven?

A: The POWER Program is not providing requirements for scatter from a security perspective.

Performers will work together with HELSTF Range safety to determine specific limits on reflections and scatter for safety and equipment protection.

Q: Please define/quantify "low loss" in the phrase low loss optics.

A: Proposers should characterize their link budgets for their proposed system to ensure their approach can meet the POWER program key program metrics, as described in the BAA. Low loss optics need to have sufficient efficiency to achieve system-level performance goals. Depending on design choices, that particular percentage number will vary. Each link budget then will define component goals. A strong proposal will show approaches that support achieving those performance metrics.

Q: What is the operating wavelength range and maximum efficiency wavelength of the photovoltaic panel at the receive side?

A: The photovoltaic panel at the receiver side is not part of the POWER development effort. For the purpose of the POWER demonstration we expect to measure 10 kW of incident optical energy at the ground receive node at any wavelength to meet the program goals. A successful POWER demonstration could be completed with a simple instrumented panel. If representative compatible PV panels are available at the time of the test, we may use this as an opportunity to validate those designs.

Q: Is it required that all scope and tasks, including the development and design of a “complete” flight payload system, of POWER Program Phase 1, as described in the BAA, be included in the proposer’s submission in order to be compliant? Does a “complete” demonstration system (payload) that performs all critical functions with an integrated design and packaging of all subsystems and interfaces need to be proposed or does the opportunity exist for the Government to provide technology insertions into a proposer’s system design.

A: A complete design solution is requested for award eligibility. The Government has no plans for providing any tech insertions to this program. For performers lacking a solution to provide all critical functions, it is highly encouraged that they enter into a teaming arrangement that enables them to reach all key functionality of the POWER Demonstration system and program metrics.

Optimized Air Platform Conceptual Design Q: What is the range of air speeds, including minimum and maximum, expected for the optimized high-altitude relay conceptual design?

A: Airspeed is an important factor to trade within the conceptual design and there is not a set requirement. Platforms with higher speed will likely require more energy to stay aloft; but will be able to more quickly reconstitute the network if a node needs to be replaced. Within the Phase 1 conceptual design effort, this trade space should be explored before selecting a particular design point. Novel approaches that optimize resilience and efficiency while minimizing platform cost will be evaluated based on expected network level impact.

Q: Please define/quantify "higher speed" in the phrase higher speed air platform on page 9.

A: The phrase, “it is expected that a higher speed air platform will require more harvested energy which decreases relay power throughput but increases the range of environments where the platform could operate and decreases reconstitution time if a node is lost” is not intended to characterize a specific class of aircraft. The sentence is articulating a trade space between: energy storage; relay throughput;

and air platform performance (including a range of higher and lower speeds).

POWER Programmatic Q: Do we need a ROM cost for abstract? If yes, which phase?

A: The abstract should only include Sections I (Administrative) and II (Summary of Proposal) of Volume I, Technical and Management Proposal. A Rough Order Magnitude (ROM) cost is not required in the abstract. A Phase 2 ROM cost is required for the full proposal submission.

Q: How many Phase 1 awards are anticipated?

A: Multiple awards are anticipated. The amount of resources made available under this BAA will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds.

Q: What are we writing proposals for?

A: Interested proposers should prepare full proposals in accordance with the proposal format instructions detailed under Section II.B and IV of the BAA to address Phase 1 (including options) and a detailed ROM and SOW for Phase 2. The ROM will be for planning purposes only and not be considered as part of the evaluation process, nor will it be binding for Phase 2 proposals.

Q: Will DARPA down select to a reduced number of participants at Phase 2 and/or Phase 3 stages? Or will DARPA carry multiple teams/architectures through completion of Phase 3?

A: DARPA anticipates separate and open BAAs for Phases 2 and 3. This leaves open the possibility of new performers in these future phases, in which proposals will need to provide evidence of appropriate system maturity. DARPA does not have a set number of expected performers going into future phases;

this future decision will be informed by available funds and credibility of proposals.

Q: Will DARPA consider partial solutions such as an enabling component or concept that requires risk mitigation to assess viability?

A: All proposals should describe complete solutions to the POWER concept. Each proposed system should be able to redirect incoming energy, correct wavefront aberrations at each node, and have throttleable energy harvesting for ownship power use. For performers specializing in a single area and not a complete solution, it is highly recommended to enter into a teaming arrangement enabling a complete integrated system. Solutions requiring risk mitigation are viable as long as there is a clear path to achieving program milestones and metrics articulated in the proposal.

Miscellaneous Q: Can final reports of Energy Web Dominance seedlings be provided?

A: Final reports and results from seedlings can be provided on request within the bounds of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) distribution limits. This includes previously mentioned data from Draper Labs. Submit your request to HR001123S0004@darpa.mil and we will work with you to provide a secure transfer.

Q: We did not hear from any of the big primes in attendance today. How are small companies going to be considered as primes for the POWER program? Is there a small business set aside?

A: Performers of all sizes are encouraged to team in order to develop innovative proposals that fully address the program goals. There is not a small business set aside within the POWER program specifically, but it is expected that there will be future SBIR opportunities related to the energy web dominance framework.