Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER)
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- HR001123S0004
- Agency
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Place of performance
- United States
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency seeks proposals to develop and demonstrate a high-altitude optical relay system through its Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay program. DARPA desires the creation of novel optical technologies integrated into three airborne relay nodes hosted on existing platforms to transmit energy from a ground laser up to 60,000 feet altitude and back to a ground receiver 200 kilometers away. Proposals must detail approaches to redirecting, correcting wavefront distortions of, and harvesting energy from an optical beam and should leverage existing and emerging technologies in an innovative low-cost design. Proposals are due December 22, 2022 and will be evaluated based on technical merit, feasibility, and overall effectiveness in achieving program goals. A pre-proposal teleconference was held October 25, 2022 and questions are due November 16, 2022.
There is no set-aside designation for this opportunity. Relevant NAICS codes include 336413 (Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing), 541330 (Engineering Services), and 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences). Potential contractors include Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing given their experience providing services to DARPA. Phase 1 is expected to last 20 months with options to extend and future phases will demonstrate a node and multi-node system. Multiple awards are anticipated as either procurement contracts or Other Transaction agreements.
Notice text
4 versions
Update #4 · Latest ·
Amendment 11-16-22: Adds Proposal Question and Answers
Amendment 11-03-22: Adds the CUI Guide under attachments.
DARPA envisions the POWER program performers will create novel integrations of optical technologies to create an airborne relay capable of redirection, wavefront correction, and energy harvesting of optical beams. A final demonstration will use three airborne relay nodes hosted by existing platforms, to transmit energy from a ground source laser up to high altitude for long-range efficiency, and back down to a ground receiver 200 kilometers away. It is envisioned that the platforms will be operating at or around 60,000 feet to minimize atmospheric losses and enhance relay survivability. Efficient and precise redirection is necessary to avoid platform thermal challenges and to ensure the relayed beam effectively illuminates the desired target. To account for degradation of beam quality as the beam transits atmospheric disturbances, the relay must be able to correct the optical wavefront as needed to achieve system efficiency goals. Finally, the relays must be able to selectively harvest energy from the optical beam to provide on-board auxiliary power and thereby demonstrate necessary characteristics for future indefinitely persistent relay platforms. Proposals that leverage existing and emerging optical technologies in a novel way to achieve program goals in an effective low size, weight, power, and cost package are encouraged.
Update #3 ·
Amendment 11-3-22: Adds the CUI Guide under attachments.
DARPA envisions the POWER program performers will create novel integrations of optical technologies to create an airborne relay capable of redirection, wavefront correction, and energy harvesting of optical beams. A final demonstration will use three airborne relay nodes hosted by existing platforms, to transmit energy from a ground source laser up to high altitude for long-range efficiency, and back down to a ground receiver 200 kilometers away. It is envisioned that the platforms will be operating at or around 60,000 feet to minimize atmospheric losses and enhance relay survivability. Efficient and precise redirection is necessary to avoid platform thermal challenges and to ensure the relayed beam effectively illuminates the desired target. To account for degradation of beam quality as the beam transits atmospheric disturbances, the relay must be able to correct the optical wavefront as needed to achieve system efficiency goals. Finally, the relays must be able to selectively harvest energy from the optical beam to provide on-board auxiliary power and thereby demonstrate necessary characteristics for future indefinitely persistent relay platforms. Proposals that leverage existing and emerging optical technologies in a novel way to achieve program goals in an effective low size, weight, power, and cost package are encouraged.
Update #2 ·
*Amendment to add Proposers Day Slide*
DARPA envisions the POWER program performers will create novel integrations of optical technologies to create an airborne relay capable of redirection, wavefront correction, and energy harvesting of optical beams. A final demonstration will use three airborne relay nodes hosted by existing platforms, to transmit energy from a ground source laser up to high altitude for long-range efficiency, and back down to a ground receiver 200 kilometers away. It is envisioned that the platforms will be operating at or around 60,000 feet to minimize atmospheric losses and enhance relay survivability. Efficient and precise redirection is necessary to avoid platform thermal challenges and to ensure the relayed beam effectively illuminates the desired target. To account for degradation of beam quality as the beam transits atmospheric disturbances, the relay must be able to correct the optical wavefront as needed to achieve system efficiency goals. Finally, the relays must be able to selectively harvest energy from the optical beam to provide on-board auxiliary power and thereby demonstrate necessary characteristics for future indefinitely persistent relay platforms. Proposals that leverage existing and emerging optical technologies in a novel way to achieve program goals in an effective low size, weight, power, and cost package are encouraged.
Update #1 ·
DARPA envisions the POWER program performers will create novel integrations of optical technologies to create an airborne relay capable of redirection, wavefront correction, and energy harvesting of optical beams. A final demonstration will use three airborne relay nodes hosted by existing platforms, to transmit energy from a ground source laser up to high altitude for long-range efficiency, and back down to a ground receiver 200 kilometers away. It is envisioned that the platforms will be operating at or around 60,000 feet to minimize atmospheric losses and enhance relay survivability. Efficient and precise redirection is necessary to avoid platform thermal challenges and to ensure the relayed beam effectively illuminates the desired target. To account for degradation of beam quality as the beam transits atmospheric disturbances, the relay must be able to correct the optical wavefront as needed to achieve system efficiency goals. Finally, the relays must be able to selectively harvest energy from the optical beam to provide on-board auxiliary power and thereby demonstrate necessary characteristics for future indefinitely persistent relay platforms. Proposals that leverage existing and emerging optical technologies in a novel way to achieve program goals in an effective low size, weight, power, and cost package are encouraged.
Attachments
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| POWER_Question and Answer.pdf | ||
| DARPA_POWER_CUI_Guide_final_signed.pdf | ||
| DARPA POWER Proposers Day Slides.pptx | PPTX presentation | |
| HR001123S0004.pdf |
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