Enduring HEL Qs and As_Final.xlsx

XLSX spreadsheet 19 KB Posted Aug 6, 2024

Attached to: Broad Agency Announcement - Special Topic, Enduring Directed Energy
Solicitation number: W50RAJ24S0001-EnduringDE
Issued by: Department of the Army

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Written by GovTribe AI · Aug 6, 2024

This document is a Q&A related to a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) from the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) for Enduring Directed Energy systems. The key details are:

The RCCTO is seeking industry white papers in response to the BAA Special Notice to develop a high energy laser (HEL) weapon system capable of defeating Groups 1-3 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The system must demonstrate lethality, interoperability, sustainability, and producibility requirements. White papers are due by August 7, 2024. The government plans to select a single prime contractor in Q1 FY26 for a production OTA to deliver up to 20 HEL systems. The resulting system must be representative of the final production configuration and achieve TRL 7 by Q3 FY26. The government will provide interface control documents and government-furnished equipment. System integration, cybersecurity, and environmental testing requirements are detailed. The government plans to conduct a series of test events starting in Q1 FY25 to demonstrate system performance. Pricing information is required with the white paper submission.

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Sheet1

	No.	Industry Day & BAA Questions from Industry	RCCTO Response
	1	During the Industry Day presentations, multiple briefers mentioned a 3QFY25 down select to a single vendor, with movement to a pOTA for 10 (plus an optional 10 additional) systems. However, the RFWP states that timeline for down select is 3QFY26. Also, the milestone dates appear to have shifted by a quarter.	The Special Announcement to the BAA includes the latest information. RCCTO will select a prime contractor by 1QFY26 to award a production contract in 3QFY26.
	2	Can you please confirm the timing of down select and milestone dates in an update to the subject request for white paper?	The Industry Day information is the latest and most current information. RCCTO will select a single vendor in 3QFY25. RCCTO will update the RFWP accordingly.
	3	Please provide the turbulence level and transmission condition assumptions on Chart 13 “Lethal Irradiance at Range” of the industry day charts.	The following parameters will be utilized within HELCoMES to indicate expected system performance.
o	The USG will use HEL Consolidated Modeling and Engagement Simulation (HELCoMES) to prove the vendor's design can provide a 1kW/cm2 peak irradiance (or 0.6 kW/cm2 average irradiance) in a 10 cm diameter bucket at a 4 km slant range during a 50% WSMR day at 30 degrees elevation with system height at 2 meters Above Ground Level (AGL). Vendors shall provide system design parameters necessary for HELCoMES, to include: (reference slide 14 of the E-HEL Industry Day briefing)
	4	The instructions are not clear on funding for the Phase 1 and are not clear on what types of cost the Government will pay for the Phase 1 effort (except that the Government will not pay for design costs). Will the Government purchase the test prototype? Will the Government pay for contractor test support?	The USG does not anticipate owning the prototype at the end of Phase 1. The USG anticipates contractor test support will be required at the USG test events and will be an allowable cost. The USG encourages maximum cost share during Phase 1.
	5	If a contractor has an on-going prototyping effort funded by the RCCTO, and results from that prototype’s planned test program will produce comparable test data on a similar time frame at required power levels for the Enduring DE program, is an additional hardware prototype actually required? Can that contractor qualify for the Phase 2 downselect competition based on those test results? It seems that from the perspective of best use of both Government and Industry funding that leveraging existing programs to determine requirements and capability is in the best interest of the Government.	To be eligible for follow-on production under Phase 2 for this requirement the vendor must successfully complete a Phase 1 prototype project.

6	Who will operate the Phase 1 test asset during Phase 1 testing?	The prototype system developed for Phase I will be operated by the system developer for all test events. Soliders feedback will be incorportated as soon as possible.
7	What is the contract type assumed for Phase 1?	A FFP Prototype OTA (pOTA) is planned for Phase I
8	What is the contract type assumed for Phase 2?	A CPFF Production OTA is planned for Phase II
9	Who bears the risk of loss during testing?	The USG intends for the vendor to own the test asset throughout Phase 1 and assume performance risk and risk of loss during testing.
10	To ensure SWaP compliance, the JLTV ICDs are required during whitepaper development. Can the RCCTO provide ICDs for the M1279, M1280 and JLTV-T platforms?	Due to the aggressive schedule, vehicle ICDs will be provided to the selected vendors following the submission of the whitepapers. The USG prefers a JLTV-like or class of vehicle. However, trade studies showing potential benefits gained from integrating on bigger platforms will be considered.

The following specifications for the JLTV Utility Variant should be used as a guide to determine maximum weight.

Size: Length 83"; Width 91.2" Payload capacity: up to 5,100 lbs payload (2-door) Towing capacity: up to 7,500 pounds.

Electrical system: 24-volt electrical system with dual alternators.

Communications: Advanced communications systems and situational awareness tools.

11	Noting similar threat sets (GRP 1-3 UAS), is this effort a replacement for DE M-SHORAD or is it complementary of that effort?	Enduring DE and DE-MSHORAD are supporting two different requirements. Enduring DE is a C-UAS system and assumed to support the Army's C-UAS BTRY fielding. The Government may choose to leverage subsystems or ancillary technologies utilized by DE M-SHORAD or other existing RCCTO prototypes.
12	Is it expected that the prototype that is demonstrated during the anticipated effort has precisely the same functional and performance characteristics as the production units that are to be ordered? In other words, are prototype demonstrations that have the salient characteristics of the eventual production units, but perhaps at lower power and greater SWAP, sufficient to meet the objective TRLs of the initial effort?	The resuting system solution at the end of Phase I is required to be representative of the production system solution for Phase II.
13	The required SWaP constraints of a palletized system versus that of a JLTV-mounted system are significantly different. Is it required that the palletized prototype system meet the JLTV SWaP requirements or that there be an engineering path from the palletized configuration to the JLTV configuration?	The Government prefers a solution that supports both a mobile and fixed capability.

	14	What are the nominal atmospheric transmission and turbulence models used in the presentation of the lethality chart on slide 13 of the industry day briefing?	The following parameters will be utilized within HELCoMES to indicate expected system performance.
o	The USG will use HEL Consolidated Modeling and Engagement Simulation (HELCoMES) to prove the vendor's design can provide a 1kW/cm2 peak irradiance (or 0.6 kW/cm2 average irradiance) in a 10 cm diameter bucket at a 4 km slant range during a 50% WSMR day at 30 degrees elevation with system height at 2 meters Above Ground Level (AGL). Vendors shall provide system design parameters necessary for HELCoMES, to include: (reference slide 14 of the E-HEL Industry Day briefing)
	15	On slide 13 of the industry day briefing, the lethal irradiance at range shown was reported to be for a fairly high elevation angle (approx. 30 degrees). Lethal irradiance for the same system at lower elevations will be significantly decreased (as will the detectability and visibility of the incoming target). Please provide additional information as to the required lethal range as a function of elevation angle (or target AGL).	The following parameters will be utilized within HELCoMES to indicate expected system performance.
o	The USG will use HEL Consolidated Modeling and Engagement Simulation (HELCoMES) to prove the vendor's design can provide a 1kW/cm2 peak irradiance (or 0.6 kW/cm2 average irradiance) in a 10 cm diameter bucket at a 4 km slant range during a 50% WSMR day at 30 degrees elevation with system height at 2 meters Above Ground Level (AGL). Vendors shall provide system design parameters necessary for HELCoMES, to include: (reference slide 14 of the E-HEL Industry Day briefing)
	16	Slide 16 of the industry day briefing indicates “Expected sensor suite will include KuRFS radar; all hand-offs will occur via FAAD C2”. It also indicates dynamic HEL tests which would require full JLDSS integration. This would anticipate that the prototype system has been integrated with the government systems very shortly after contract award. How will such integration be facilitated so soon after contract award?	The Government is confident that potential selected systems can support rapid integration requirements.
	17	Slide 16 of the industry day briefing seems to indicate dynamic tests at high power. Would such demonstrations be permitted using a surrogate low-power laser system anticipating later scaling up in power?	No surrogates will be permitted.
	18	Slide 18 refers to “Measure power of the HEL SUT”. What is “HEL SUT”?	High Energy Laser (HEL) System Under Test (SUT)
	19	Slide 20 says “Weapon system’s ability to retarget to a subsequent target and be on aimpoint in less than a second.” Please provide the parameters of the maximum angular separation between the initial target and the subsequent target in evaluating this requirement.	See response to question 3.
	20	A vendor requested the CAD model for the JLTV for our WP Submittal.	Due to the aggressive schedule, vehicle CAD models will be provided to the selected vendors following whitepaper submission.
	21	Multiple requests were received requesting a list of Industries that were in attendance on E-HEL Industry Day	RCCTO provided the following list via email to all addresses listed on the Indsutry Day Tracker on 24 JUL 2024

EO Solutions BlueHalo (A-Tech LLC)

DRS

The Charles Stark "Draper" Laboratory, Inc Lockheed Martin / Aculight

RADA TECHNOLOGIES LLC

Sentry View Systems MIT Lincoln Laboratory HII Mission Technologies nLIGHT Utron Kinetics Boeing Raytheon MZA Associates Corporation

General Dynamics Land Systems

KORD

Honeywell - Rocky Research General Atomics Oshkosh Defense

MITRE

Parsons CFD Research Corporation Leidos EOS Defense Systems Frequency Solutions, Inc Rafael Systems Global Sustainment

	22	Multiple requests for the RCCTO SETA Corporate NDA POCs	RCCTO Contracts added an attachment to the BAA on SAM.gov and E-HEL sent an email notifying all Industry Day attendees to check for the attachment update to the BAA on SAM.gov on 24 JUL 2024. (reference tab "RCCTO SETA NDA POCs" contained in this workbook)
	23	Ref RFWP: Does the cover page count against the 15 page limit? I thought I read the cover page doesn't count against the 15 page limit	No, the cover page does not count against the page limit.
	24	Ref Industry Day Discussion: Will the Phase 1 OTA contract type be CPFF? Will the Phase 2 OTA contract award be FFP?	A FFP Prototype OTA (pOTA) is planned for Phase I and a CPFF Production OTA is planned for Phase II.
	25	Ref RFWP: Please confirm the Lethality evaluation criteria is more important than Producibility, which is more important that Interoperability, which is more important than Sustainability.	The order of importance for criteria is: Sustainability, Producibility, Lethality, and Interoperability.
	26	Ref RFWP: Please confirm the if the subfactors under each evaluation criteria are evenly weighted. If not, please provide the weightings of the subfactors.	The USG will evaluate the technical solution based on: Sustainability, Producibility, Lethality, and Interoperability (in descending order of importance). The USG does not anticipate weighting the bullets under each criterion. The USG will revise the special announcement to clearly note the order of importance of the criteria.
	27	Ref Industry Day Discussion: Please confirm the proposal is not considered in the evaluation critera to select vendors for Phase 1	Potential Phase 1 vendors will be selected based on their White Paper submission, due 14 AUG.
	28	Ref Industry Day Discussion: Does RCCTO plan on releasing a Request for Proposal? If yes, will the RFP only be released to vendors down selected for the Phase 1 OTA?	Yes, RCCTO intends to issue the Request for Proposals to selected vendors.
	29	Ref RFWP: Please confirm the "arctic" is defined by MIL-STD-810, method 502.7, Cold (C2); "desert" is deinfed by MIL-STD-810, method 501.7, hot Dry (A1).	Confirmed.
	30	Ref RFWP: Due to the significant change in direction from the previous industry day, will the govement extend the submittal date to allow industry to hold the teaming conversations and provide comprehensive white paper and ROM responses.	The USG revised the WP submission date to 14 August 24.
	31	Ref RFWP: Will the governement be providing the HELCOMES modeling parameters to support the white paper submissions? If so, what date?	"The following parameters will be utilized within HELCoMES to indicate expected system performance.
o	The USG will use HEL Consolidated Modeling and Engagement Simulation (HELCoMES) to prove the vendor's design can provide a 1kW/cm2 peak irradiance (or 0.6 kW/cm2 average irradiance) in a 10 cm diameter bucket at a 4 km slant range during a 50% WSMR day at 30 degrees elevation with system height at 2 meters Above Ground Level (AGL). Vendors shall provide system design parameters necessary for HELCoMES, to include: (reference slide 14 of the E-HEL Industry Day briefing)"
	32	Ref RFWP: Please confirm the government will be responsible for the physical integration of the FAAD C2, onboard sensors, radios, Integrated Recording Appliance and JLDSS on to the government furnished platform. The vendor is responsible for the integration of the pallet onto the government furnished platform and all applicable connections to the FAAD C2, onboard sensors, radios, IRA and JLDSS.	The Government has no plans to be a system or subsystem integrator. The Government will furnish specific equipment and required ICDs as stated during Industry Day.
	33	In the announcement, it says "the white paper format shall be in accordance with (IAW) instructions found in the White Paper Submission section of this document", which articulates a 3 page executive summary and 10 page technical summary.

However, the instructions further down on the Enduring Directed Energy topic page say "Submissions shall be unclassified and limited to 15 one-sided 8.5" x 11" pages and 11 font Arial size with one-inch margins; line spacing shall be set at no less than a single space."

Is the executive summary format in the primary BAA required for this Enduring Directed Energy white paper submission?	The Government prefers an Executive Summary but will consider all White Papers within the 15-page limit.
	34	Reading through the BAA more specifically the "Sustainability" & "Producibility" of the requested Energy weapon systems. Are businesses allowed to submit White Papers with partial solutions, more specifically Energy Storage for systems like this that use batteries?	Given the number of subsystems and integration effort involved in a Laser Weapon System, the Government prefers a teaming arrangement among Industry partners, utilizing a prime to sub relationship. The Government will evaluate all White Papers on the merits of the Special Announcement to the BAA. The USG will find partial solutions to be unacceptable for the requirement.
	35	What is the expected system configuration for the sensor and lethality characteristics test 1QFY25? Should it be the final configuration, or are surrogate elements with identical performance acceptable? For example, surrogate power and thermal module.	Configuration is flexible based on system state at the time of test. A sensor alone can be discussed to mount and sense the target, or a full BDA and tracker can be presented to sense the target. Lethality characteristics for the first test will be, if ready and available, a beam characterization shot on a target board and a HEL penetration on a standardized steel plate. Goal is to provide the opportunity early to view the target and early test system performance.
	36	How close must the system in the field test be to the final system? Are the demo's interim system elements with larger size and weight acceptable, assuming the field system will comply with the requirements?	The resuting system solution at the end of Phase I is required to be representative of the production system solution for Phase II.
	37	How strict is the SWAP requirement to fit a JLTV class platform? How open is the user to a larger platform (cougar or FMTV class)? If a higher performance system could be delivered.	The USG prefers a JLTV-like or class of vehicle. However, trade studies showing potential benefits gained from integrating on bigger platforms will be considered.
	38	If the TRL is expected to be 7 by the end of 3QFY26, is it correct that the systems-assessed TRL 6 are acceptable for the demo?	Yes, systems assessed TRL 6 are acceptable for the demo.
	39	Does the “close loop aimpoint maintenance while engaging with HEL” mean active bore sighting during the engagement or also the correction of atmospheric effects with adaptive optics?	Ideally, both. adaptive optics will help form the beam so that the peak intensity will move closest to the center of the beam tube; the active bore sight correction (akin to dither) will move the beam spot at the target plane nearest to the ideal aimpoint; i.e., optimum hit spot regardless of turbulence or gimbal internal alignment errors plus any target motion.
	40	Can you publish a table of lethality requirements for Groups 1, 2, and 3 UAS, each separately?	We cannot provide the lethality requirement for Groups 1-3 UASs; the compilation of data has varying classification levels IAW, the DoD DEWS SCG, and the HEL-TTDD SCG and cannot be provided in this forum.
	41	Is cross-service utility/interoperability a consideration with regard to modularity (as a systems design/pillars concept)?	Yes, a cross-service utility/interoperability with respect to modularity and capability will be considered.
	42	Operationally, what are the anticipated on vs. recharge/recover time-duty cycle?	We are not providing operational requirements at this time. The USG is looking for industry to provide their HEL system capabilities.
	43	Is on-the-move engagement a requirement?	No, on-the-move engagement is not a requirement.
	44	Are there any space/weight allocations?	The USG prefers a JLTV-like or class of vehicle. However, trade studies showing potential benefits gained from integrating on bigger platforms will be considered.

The following specifications for the JLTV Utility Variant should be used as a guide to determine maximum weight.

Size: Length 83"; Width 91.2" Payload capacity: up to 5,100 lbs payload (2-door) Towing capacity: up to 7,500 pounds.

Electrical system: 24-volt electrical system with dual alternators.

Communications: Advanced communications systems and situational awareness tools.

45 Is the USG looking for something different than what is currently being developed or under contract with RCCTO? Yes. Enduring HEL is focused on moving beyond prototyping to production ready systems.

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated Aug 6, 2024.