CALL 0009-Fiber Laser Module For Airborne Coherent Beam Combined Laser With Ultra Light Thermal System (LSD)-Directed Energy Technology Experimentation Research (DETER) Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) Open Announcement

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
NAICS Code & Small Business Size: The NAICS Code for this acquisition is 541715 Research and Technology in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). The small business size standard is 1,000 employees.
 

Federal Agency Name: Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Directed Energy Directorate, Laser Division (RDL)

ARA Title: Directed Energy Technology Experimentation Research (DETER)

ARA Number: FA9451-21-S-0001

Call Title: Fiber Laser Module for Airborne Coherent Beam Combined Laser with Ultra-Light Thermal System

Call Announcement Number: FA9451-21-S-0001 Call 0009

Call Type: Closed Two-Step Call where white papers and proposal submittals shall be due within specified periods. However, the Government retains the right to collapse the white paper/Two- Step process into a One-Step process and to make an award directly from white paper(s) received if the situation warrants, and the white paper(s) contain sufficient technical detail to do a full technical proposal evaluation.

DETER Topic Areas: Directed Energy (DE) Sources

Purpose of Issuing Call: The Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate Laser Division (AFRL/RDL) is seeking white papers which could potentially result in a single award to fulfill the requirements of the Fiber Laser Module for Airborne Coherent Beam Combined Laser with Ultra-Light Thermal System program. It is anticipated that a single award will be issued and that the award will be made pursuant one of the following authorities:
10 U.S.C. § 4023 “Procurement for Experimental Purposes,”
10 U.S.C. § 4022 “Other Transaction for Prototype Projects,” or
Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

CALL SPECIFIC INFORMATION: Unless otherwise stated in this call, all requirements listed within the basic ARA announcement are considered applicable. Offerors should monitor the SAM.gov website at https://sam.gov/content/home / for amendments to this call or the DETER ARA.

II. OVERVIEW
The primary objective of this effort is to design, develop and test the next generation fiber laser module (FLM) and beam combiner compatible with an airborne, coherently beam combined high energy laser system with an ultra-compact thermal management system (TMS). AFRL/RDL’s Laser Subsystem Development Program (LSD) is chartered to develop and build a 150kW class high energy laser subsystem for integration onto an airborne platform, in particular, within the form factor of the laser subsystem of the Self- Protect High Energy Laser Demonstration (SHiELD) system and to consider how the scale High Energy Laser (HEL) power up to 300kW. As coherent beam combining and advanced thermal architectures are both higher risk and higher reward, the LSD program is seeking to advance the maturity of both approaches through the development of an ultra-low Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) FLM consisting of multiple fiber laser amplifiers, with integrated thermal management, along with a coherent beam combiner for use in an airborne, coherently combined HEL.

III. Statement of Objective/Needs (ATTACHMENT 1-LSD SOO)
The Awardee will work with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop performance and packaging requirements for the devices. Specifically, the FLM should consist of multiple fiber laser amplifiers laid out in a modular package, of which multiple can be built and integrated, and the beams of which combined in the coherent beam combiner. The FLM and TMS designs should be traceable to a 150kW airborne laser subsystem. The coherent beam combiner should be capable of combining up to a total of 150kW output power, but also support combining the outputs from a single FLM in order to demonstrate beam combination. The FLM, TMS, and beam combiner should be designed in such a manner that their joint size and weight are approximately 3kg/kW and 3L/kW, for a 150kW laser capable of operating for 30 s (seconds). The Government understands there are inefficiencies with regards to the size and weight when only building a single module, and the contractor may derive the requirements for size and weight of a single FLM and associated TMS so long as they support the required metrics for the 150kW laser.
The Awardee will perform analysis and testing to demonstrate the item will meet performance requirements and will assist AFRL in developing an independent test procedure for an independent evaluation at a Government facility. The Awardee will deliver the integrated FLM and TMS, beam combiner, and any associated hardware required to run the device in a laboratory environment, to include any auxiliary equipment required to operate the laser and recharge the thermal management system. The Awardee will also deliver to AFRL final “as built” design documentation of the FLM, TMS, and beam combiner. This document must include operation, installation, and preventive maintenance instructions. Required data includes safety considerations, interconnection diagrams, logical diagrams, operating procedures, parts and components list, test print list, and normal operating parameters.

The technical goals of this effort are as follows:

a) The Awardee will develop and build a co-designed, integrated, flight qualifiable FLM and TMS for a coherently combined HEL subsystem consisting of multiple fiber laser amplifiers. The design should support a 150kW class HEL using this FLM/TMS technology with size and weight metrics of 3kg/kW and 3L/kW, with a 30 second nominal thermal magazine.

b) The Awardee will develop and build a flight qualifiable coherent beam combiner capable of operating up to 150kW, which also supports the 3kg/kW and 3L/kW figures for a 150kW class laser. The beam combiner should also be able to combine the outputs of a single FLM.

c) The Awardee will perform analysis and testing to demonstrate the FLM meets performance requirements under environmental conditions relevant to a military aircraft.

d) The Awardee will perform systems engineering and requirements derivation in collaboration with the Government.

e) The contractor will provide the following CDRL items: See Attachment 2 – Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL)

Government Points of Contact – TECHNICAL
Primary: Kevin B. Hewett, Program Manager, AFRL/RDL
(505) 263-2684, kevin.hewett@us.af.mil

Government Points of Contact – CONTRACTING
Billy G. Sherrod, Agreements/Contracting Officer,AFRL/RDKL
(505) 980-6553, billy.sherrod@us.af.mil

Shaylyn Price, Contract Specialist, AFRL/RDKL
(505) 238-6988, shaylyn.price.1@us.af.mil

***PLEASE SEE ATTACHED FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS FOR COMPLETE DETAILS REGARDING LSD Call 0009***