SOO - G - MultiSpectrum Detection - 06022021.pdf

Multi-spectrum Laser Detection Statement of Objectives

June 2021 Science and Technology Directorate Department of Homeland Security

DISTRIBUTION NOTICE: Further dissemination only as directed by DHS Office of Policy DESTRUCTION NOTICE: Destroy by any method that will prevent disclosure of contents or reconstruction of the document.

Multi-spectrum Laser Eyewear

Contents

1.0 Problem Statement

2.0 Purpose and Scope

3.0 Background Environment

3.1 Mission Scenarios

3.2 Current Technology Shortfalls and Threats

4.0 Potential Solution Attributes

4.1 Concept of Operations (ConOps)

4.2 Additional Capabilities

5.0 Solution Capabilities and Requirements

5.1 Must Have Requirements

5.2 Desirable Capabilities or Characteristics

6.0 System Support

6.1 Contractual Requirements

6.1.1 Period and Place of Performance

6.1.2 System Affordability

6.1.3 Regulatory/Legal Requirements

6.1.4 Contract Deliverables

6.2 Solution Support

6.2.1 Support Concept ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.

6.2.2 Training

6.2.3 Other Considerations ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

6.2.4 Storage and Maintenance

1.0 Problem Statement

First responders, particularly law enforcement officers responding to civil unrest situations, need a multi-spectrum laser detection capability. Currently, there is no viable solution that allows officers to detect the presence or engagement of lasers that can be initiated from multiple light spectrums including red, blue, green, and infrared. Further, all officers do not have access to laser protection equipment or may require multiple pieces of equipment for varying laser types. This places officers in the position of being under attack from lasers while they are unaware and unprotected. There have been instances of permanent eye injury to officers from laser attacks.

2.0 Purpose and Scope

The proposed solution shall leverage existing and new technologies to provide officers with a system that will detect multi-spectrum lasers and/or infrared light as they perform their duties. The solution shall be operable by a single officer and should also be able to not only detect the presence of lasers but detect the source of the laser so that mitigation and enforcement actions can be taken.

The scope of this solution shall extend to violent mission environments (e.g., civil unrest), but may also extend to everyday use. In addition to laser detection, durability is a major factor in that contact with grueling environmental conditions, such as high temperatures and exposure to damaging hazards (e.g., chemical irritants and projectiles), will not compromise the integrity and performance of the solution. The solution shall be reusable up to a reasonable life in relation to the price point.

3.0 Background Environment

During civil unrest incidents across the country in 2020, law enforcement officers were often the targets of a variety of physical threats, to include laser attacks (primarily handheld) from citizens with commercial products. Lasers pointed at officers’ eyes impact their ability to successfully and safely perform their duties, and infrared light from lasers can cause permanent damage to the eyes.

Currently, all officers do not have access to laser protection equipment or may require multiple pieces of equipment for varying laser types. Officers do not have the time to retrieve or activate special equipment when a laser threat is present, and therefore must be protected in all situations and conditions. Current eyewear protection options are often incompatible with other equipment, such as gas masks. Current options often obstruct visual acuity at night as well as in dark or smoky conditions and are akin to ‘wearing sunglasses at night.’ Any laser-protective eyewear must also be impact resistant and offer protection from eye-irritant chemical mists, as officers commonly encounter in civil unrest circumstances. Due to the listed constraints a system that will detect the presence and use of lasers, as well as the source of the threat, is of critical importance to law enforcement.

3.1 Mission Scenarios

This SOO is developed with law enforcement in mind, but can extend to other responder missions, including tactical response, firefighting, emergency medical care, technical rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, disaster response, and others. Multi-spectrum laser detection will enable first responders to perform their required missions without having to switch between different types of laser-specific protection and without sacrificing safety (e.g., switching from impact protection to laser protection).

3.2 Current Technology Shortfalls and Threats

Officers need a detection capability for full-spectrum laser threats with a source location component. We were unable to identify solutions expressly marketed for this use case or that meet all the parameters identified by the FRRG, but we did determine that relevant laser detection technology is being employed and developed for other use cases. Additionally, a solicitation by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for solutions addressing a similar use case for combat troops indicates that DARPA experts believe such a solution is technically feasible and validates the lack of existing technologies to fully meet the needs of this use case.

As lasers are an emergent threat and any protection capabilities are new, there are many unknowns regarding the threat and shortfalls of current technology. It is unknown how current laser protections stand up in extreme temperatures (e.g., fires, explosions), against chemical irritants or direct impacts, as well as general durability and lifespan therefor a detection system will provide additional safeguards for first responders.

4.0 Potential Solution Attributes

4.1 Concept of Operations (ConOps)

The CONOPs for the multi-spectrum laser detection solution will be nearly indistinguishable from current operations while providing increased protection from laser threats. Officers need to rapid, near real time, warning of laser attacks, while they continue to conduct normal operations. When employed, laser detection must be able to accompany static as well as mobile officers while detecting the presence and location of laser threats.

4.2 Additional Capabilities

Future applications may include optional mounting capabilities such as on vehicles or helicopters.

5.0 Solution Capabilities and Requirements

5.1 Must Have Requirements (Key Performance Parameters, KPP’s) Must-Have Requirements shall include:

1. Detection capability to scan a crowd and locate laser use. Desired capabilities include one technology for lasers and a second capability for infrared, unless a single technology can detect both.

2. Detect multiple types and spectrums of laser threats (e.g. blue, green, IR, etc.)

3. Identify the strength and type of threat (e.g., Will the threat cause damage? Does the threat warrant criminal charges?)

4. Detect threats from at least 200 yards

5. Identify multiple threats and/or perpetrators

6. Ability to detect at day and night

7. Ability to detect in all types of weather (e.g., hot, cold, wet, dry)

8. Operable by a single person

9. Must be durable, reusable, and scratch-resistant

10. Must be able to be decontaminated and cleaned

5.2 Desirable Capabilities or Characteristics

In addition to the must have requirements reported in subsection 5.1, there are performance and/or system standards that exceed the proposed solution requirements:

1. Easy to carry/access

a. An app or GUI interface

2. Easy to read and interpret in loud, distracting environments

6.0 System Support

6.1 Contractual Requirements

6.1.1 Period and Place of Performance

The length of time of the contract shall be between 12-18 months and shall not exceed the latter. All developmental activities will be performed at the contractor-designated site(s). DHS may require the contractor to perform critical design reviews and/or product presentations at DHS-specified locations.

6.1.2 System Affordability

First responders’ budgets are limited and should be taken into consideration when developing and determining a price per unit cost model. Ideally, the solution will be standard issue to individuals across agencies, therefore the solution must be affordable to every officer. Departments should not have to rely on grants to subsidize laser protection equipment.

6.1.3 Regulatory/Legal Requirements

• Industry standard as applicable

• ANSI as applicable

6.1.4 Contract Deliverables

The contractor shall provide at least 5 prototypes systems/solutions for DHS at the end of the effort.

Specific unit requirements, as well as cost and complexity, will depend on the nature of the developed solution, for example pieces of eyewear versus rolls of film.

6.2 Solution Support

6.2.1 Support Concept

6.2.2 Training

Training information as required shall be provided on any specialized equipment, and shall include how to properly store, clean, deploy, and maintain the basic ensemble/unit. Any specialty requirements of personnel conducting maintenance, storage, extraction, or delivery will be identified including certification requirements. Training material shall be available initially in hard-copy, and subsequently in soft-copy format.

6.2.3 Other Considerations

Human Interface Requirements: The target user includes law enforcement that respond to incidents in crowd environments where they have to address individuals and small groups engaged in criminal activity occurring near protected First Amendment activity, and/or disperse a crowd in the event of a dispersal order not being followed. Its size should be deployable by a single officer on foot.

Logistics and Readiness: The solution developed under this award is envisioned as either a new piece of equipment or an improved version of current offerings. It should also be cost effective so that emergency responders from a wide variety of jurisdictions will be able to afford it.

6.2.4 Storage and Maintenance

The contractor shall identify all necessary storage and maintenance requirements for the proposed solution including: the required maintenance schedule, identification of the specific components of the ensemble that requires the maintenance, the type of maintenance required, and whether the maintenance can be performed in the field by operational personnel or if it will be required to be returned to the manufacturer for the required maintenance.

Physical solutions including PPE, shall include all special laundering instructions, including recommendations for frequency of laundering, should also be provided if required. Laundering recommendations should be viable and cost-effective for First Responders and First Responder agencies and should ideally be able to be performed “in house.”