Sensors Technology APL Research Contract (STARC)

The Air Force requires advances in pervasive sensors across the electromagnetic spectrum - from Direct-Current (DC) to light - for next-generation sensing, electronic warfare and communication systems for air, space and cyber. The  Air Force Research Laboratory's Sensors Directorate (AFRL/RY) supports the warfighter by ensuring unequaled reconnaissance, surveillance, precision engagement, and electronic warfare capabilities for America's Air and Space Forces by developing, demonstrating and transitioning advanced sensors and sensor technologies. These technologies  will  enable continued U.S. war-fighting dominance across the entire electromagnetic  spectrum.
To fulfill its mission and realize its vision of ensuring and maintaining America's Air and Space superiority with revolutionary sensor technology, AFRL/RY requires system engineering and research, development, testing, and experimentation (RDT&E) expertise from trusted sources. The JHU/APL is one of a small number of organizations that possesses unique capabilities essential  to  our  national  defense, and therefore, has been designated by the DoD as a UARC.
Under the contemplated acquisition the effort to be provided will maintain an essential Air Force (AFRL/RY) capability provided by an educational institution to research, develop, demonstrate, and transition advanced sensors and sensor technology for use in reconnaissance, surveillance, precision engagement, and electronic warfare.  This effort includes the research, design, and development of prototype Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Electronic Warfare (EW) sensor systems, subsystems, and components to conduct experiments for the purpose of analysis evaluation and development of new sensor capabilities.  The effort will provide unbiased RDT&E of new and advanced sensor technology and shall be responsive to the needs of Department of the Air Force (DAF), Major Commands (MAJCOMs), Weapon System Program Offices (SPOs), and AFRL.

The primary objective of this program is to provide research, development, testing, evaluation, qualification, integration and transition of sensor technology across the electromagnetic spectrum from a trusted source. AFRL/RY requires a contractual vehicle that will fulfill a gap in the ability to obtain a quick response to meet evolving requirements for systems engineering and RDT&E in the RY Core Technical Competency (CTC) areas of:
1.    Radio Frequency (RF) sensing
2.    Electro-optical (EO) sensing
3.    Spectrum Warfare
4.    Trusted and Resilient Mission Systems
5.    Multi-domain Sensing Autonomy
6.    Enabling Sensor Devices / Components
This acquisition will also support the ability to perform independent verification and validation (IV&V) of sensor technology under development utilizing a wide variety of data sources and proprietary contractor information.   A UARC is able to provide these unique capabilities. The UARC Management Plan (dated July 2010) and the DoD UARCs Engagement Guide (dated April 2013) state that UARCs maintain a strategic relationship with DoD sponsors.

In order to support its mission, RY requires the following capabilities:
A. Evaluation of the quantitative performance of complex sensor systems including strategic and tactical battlespace management command and control (BMC2), ISR, Communications, and EW sensor systems and collect and/or analyze requisite data as appropriate to evaluate alternate and modified systems. 
B.  Research, design, development, and prototype ISR and EW sensor systems, subsystems, and components to conduct experiments for the purpose of analysis, evaluation and development of new sensor capabilities.  
C.  Researching, developing, and evaluating, and assessing demonstration models an command, control, and communication systems that attain an integrated sensor system capability by coordinating warfare systems.  
D.  Modeling, simulating, and conducting operations analysis using verification and validation to determine mission effectiveness and performance assessment of current, planned, and proposed sensor systems. 
E.  Developing, testing, evaluating, and analyzing systems for DoD missions related technology.  
 
The cost of the program is estimated to be $49.9M.  Customer funding will be primarily RDT&E 3600 and a minimal amount of O&M 3400 funding or equivalent from other Services and Agencies.  Use of 3400 funds will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may be used if deemed appropriate by Finance, the Contracting Officer, and Legal Counsel.  Funding is based on current planned programs, roadmaps, and historical data. AFRL intends to market the capability, so there may be potential for additional outside funding beyond the anticipated budget forecast. 
 
The overall period of performance for this effort will be seven (7) years, with a five (5) year ordering period, from date of contract award. Deliverables include AFRL applicable research and/or technology development in the form of technical reports, presentations, algorithms, annual reviews, and/or hardware system integration/deployment. Specific deliverables will be determined with each task order awarded. 

Awarded contract FA8650-21-D-1008 to unknown vendor for unknown amount on 2021-04-13.