P07 Area of Interest DEWS CC-CAM.pdf

Area of Interest (AOI) for

DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPON SYSTEM COMMON COMPONENTS CAMERA

Project Number WHSCSO250002 Commercial Solutions Opening HQ0034259WHSCSO AOI Title Directed Energy Weapon System Common Components

Camera DoD Program Office Joint Directed Energy Transition Office Issued by Washington Headquarters Services / Acquisition Directorate Instructions

See the current version of HQ0034259WHSCSO, Section II CSO Procedure b. Phase 1 – Solution Brief

Solution Briefs Due 4:00 PM (ET) on October 10, 2025 Contracting Point of Contact Mary Beth McFann, Agreements Specialist

Mary.b.mcfann.civ@mail.mil Technical Point of Contact Noah Van Zandt noah.van_zandt.1@us.af.mil

Background:

The Joint Directed Energy Transition Office (JDETO) is part of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies. In accordance with the Department of Defense (Department) Directed Energy (DE) Roadmap and other strategic guidance, the JDETO executes a science and technology (S&T) investment portfolio in DE to impact multiple directed energy weapon systems (DEWS) and multiple military missions while complementing specific military service needs. The JDETO’s S&T investments focus heavily on near-term transition opportunities (at the component, sub-system, and system levels) to accelerate the fielding of DEWS.

JDETO investments in advanced components will unlock the potential of DEWS as part of integrated air and missile defense. Certain missions require advances in technical capabilities, producibility, and/or affordability of key components. Once these component advances are made, the high magazine depth, low cost per shot, speed-of-light time-to-target, and other benefits of DEWS will enhance mission effectiveness by increasing the number of incoming threats that can be defeated within allowable time periods, costs, and logistical burdens.

Problem Statement:

The specific component for this Area of Interest (AOI) is a DEWS common component camera (CC-CAM).

The CC-CAM captures images and/or data from targets at long range. It enables several critical functions for DEWS, including target acquisition, tracking, and beam control.

Challenges with cameras for DEWS applications include:

• Very high frame rates

• Extremely low-noise operation

• Precise on-chip shuttering

The Department seeks commercial solutions to develop CC-CAM prototypes that balance capabilities with producibility.

To achieve very high frame rates, extremely low-noise operation, and precise on-chip shuttering (to enable use with pulsed illumination lasers), and to improve producibility, the cameras will require standardized interfaces, components, and manufacturing methods. They should provide shoot-on-the-move capability in operating environments consistent with MIL-STD 810 G for tactical ground vehicles, surface combatant ships, and aircraft, especially the vibration environments. These objectives must be tempered by the ultimate goal of producible cameras that incrementally advance the best-available capabilities over the course of the prototype project.

Solutions must address the following camera attributes.

Specifications or desired values for certain attributes are included when applicable:

• Focal-plane array size (pixels) – at least 256x256 pixels desired

• Frame rate (kHz) – at least 5 kHz desired

• Aggregate noise (e-) – less than 30 electrons desired

• Minimum integration time (ns) – less than 1,000 nanoseconds desired

• Spectral coverage (µm) – at least 1 µm to 1.7 µm desired

• Collection efficiency (%)

• Well depth (e-)

• Extinction ratio (for the on-chip shutter)

• Anti-blooming

• Anti-persistence

• On-the-fly pixel binning options

• Target range resolution (if 3D capable)

• Target depth dynamic range (if 3D capable)

• Size, weight, and power (SWaP) (cm^3, kg, watts)

• Electro-magnetic interference (EMI)

• Temperature range, relative humidity range, vibration, and shock

• Common interface and connector

The objective is for prototypes to incrementally advance the best-available capabilities for the listed attributes. The desired values for listed attributes are flexible if a solution is highly innovative for some but does not meet others. If selected, the Government will collaborate on detailed requirements. The ability to meet with system integrators (Government and stakeholders) to discuss and adapt to their needs is required.

While the ability to provide rapid delivery of incremental improvements of the hardware to meet specifications is highly desirable, the Government understands that camera prototypes can involve lengthy, serial timelines, and will be appropriately flexible with phases and timelines. The Government may request the creation of integrated teams to combine prototypes.

The JDETO anticipates prototype development in three phases whereby CC-CAMs with initial desired capability will be rapidly prototyped, tested, and improved through iterative design revisions, and finally fielded in prototype DEWS. The first phase will be the initial prototype design, build, and test. The second phase will involve rapid design improvements and lessons learned from initial testing to improve key specifications, cost, and manufacturing. The third phase will involve demonstrating reliable and repeatable manufacturing processes with additional units produced with a consistent manufacturing process and quality control.

Upon successful completion of the prototype(s), the Government anticipates a need to transition into production. Pending availability of funding, the Government may work with Army, Navy, and Air Force acquisition program offices and prime integrator partners for follow-on production.

Further, the Government anticipates transitioning the prototype(s) to the DoD Manufacturing Technology Program (DoD ManTech) to further build up the manufacturing and industrial base and increase the Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL).

Special Considerations:

• All work must be completed by U.S.-based resources within facilities capable of meeting Controlled Unclassified Information storage and related cyber security.

• Specification handling required in accordance with DoDI 5200.48, “Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)” March 6, 2020 and key standards such as NIST SP 800-171.

• Embedded software must adhere to Department cyber and information assurance instructions and standards to allow interface with laser weapon systems’ control information systems and software.

If adherence is not achieved sooner, it must be achieved by the completion of Phase 3. The Government will identify and provide specific Department instructions and standards when needed based on the details of the prototype design.

Procedures:

Any award resulting from this AOI shall be in accordance with the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) procedures detailed in HQ0034259WHSCSO. The instructions in the CSO, and any additional instruction as specified in this AOI posting, must be followed. Acceptance of a solution not submitted in accordance with the instructions is at the sole discretion of the WHS/AD Agreements Officer. The Government intends to conduct this AOI in three phases as detailed in the CSO. The Government may issue amendments to this AOI. Companies are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for amendments to this AOI.

AOI Additional Instructions:

Questions must be sent to the Contracting and Technical points of contact on page 1 no later than 4:00 PM (ET) on October 1, 2025. Please be advised that submitted questions and answers may be posted to SAM.gov.

Solution briefs submitted in response to this AOI shall be submitted to the Contracting and Technical points of contact on page 1 by no later than 4:00 PM (ET) on October 10, 2025. The Government may extend the response date by amending this AOI. Companies are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for amendments to this AOI.