A02.12_Description_of_Requirement_New_Laser[2].pdf

Description of Requirement for

New Laser Interrogator

General Requirements:

The Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is interested in mature fiber-optic sensor interrogators for distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) in the ground and water.

The purpose of this RFQ is to solicit mature laser interrogation technologies that meet operational requirements. Only the laser interrogator is required under this RFQ; specialty sensor cables and processing software systems are not being sought at this time. If multiple respondents propose technologies that fall within this constraint, the technology providing the best value to the government will be selected.

Government personnel will evaluate technical specifications, test documentation, and other materials provided by the respondents to this RFQ to determine if the interrogator unit meets technical requirements. The government will procure two (2) copies of the selected interrogator, with the option to purchase an additional two (2) interrogators as funding becomes available.

The following equipment specifications are necessary in order for ERDC to achieve its mission:

1. Interrogator must be very mature, packaged in a single rack-mount unit, and providing high fidelity ready-to-process time-series data from each sensor zone.

2. Interrogator must be designed to operate on standard single-mode fiber-optic telecommunications cables.

3. Interrogator must provide fully demodulated output (with amplitude and phase) that is consistent across time and across zones for the same applied strain.

4. The interrogator must be able to identify the location of seismic and acoustic disturbances to within 10 meters (maximum zone size). The desired localization capability is to within 5 meters. Interrogators that can localize disturbances with finer resolution will be given priority if all other specifications are equivalent.

5. Optical gain parameters for the laser and photo-detectors must be configurable by a non-expert user. Configuration tools must be provided along with the unit. Fully automated configuration capabilities will be given preference.

6. Modular Design: The unit should be designed with an internal modular design, allowing for quick and easy maintenance for individual modules and components.

7. 100 km range: Each unit should contain an optical module capable of simultaneously interrogating two sensing fibers - each up to 50 km length. This represents 100 km total range for one unit.

8. Quantitative Measurements: The laser interrogator unit should make coherent quantitative measurements over 100 km. Machine learning algorithms should be able to be used reliably on the system.

9. Distributed Architecture: The system should be designed from the outset to be entirely distributed, minimizing downtime and increasing system availability.

10. Laser Safety: The laser interrogator should be a Class 1 laser (eye-safe under all operating conditions), making the system inherently safer for use and increasing the life span of the optical components. This also eliminates the need for costly interlock safety switches and physical keys to operate the equipment.

11. Automatic Setup with integrated OTDR: The system should have an integrated OTDR [Optical Time Domain Reflectometer] capability and automated installation process, simplifying the setup, commissioning and testing stages of system implementation.

Evaluation Data: Responses to this RFQ should include all specifications, test results, and any other data necessary to demonstrate the technical capability of the sensor interrogator.

Data can be from benchtop tests, and preferably will include data from deployed terrestrial and/or maritime sensor cables. The specifications must include a format definition for data that is output from the interrogator. Based on the information provided, ERDC will select the sensor that best meets the requested specifications and will purchase two (2) for further evaluation. If the selected sensors perform as advertised and meet requirements, ERDC will exercise the option to purchase an additional two (2) laser interrogators.

Delivery requirement: Delivery of the units are required to be shipped within ten (10) days from contract award.

Testing after award: The selected sensor will be subjected to a battery of tests that include calibrated source responses (to assess signal fidelity and signal-to-noise ratio) and operational vignettes for threats of interest. A copy of the raw data collected during testing will be provided the vendor for their system. Data will be processed by government personnel for assessing whether the actual interrogator performance meets technical requirements and advertised specifications. The government makes no commitment to release processed data and final test reports.

Specific Service Tasks: There are no specific service tasks

Materials – New Laser Interrogator Two new laser interrogators will be shipped to ERDC upon award of contract. ERDC will leave an option for the purchase of more units.