Solicitation Number:

BAA-08-07-RIKA

Notice Type:

Presolicitation

Synopsis:

NAICS CODE: 541712 FEDERAL AGENCY NAME: Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Rome Research Site, AFRL/Sensors Directorate, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514 TITLE: Special Capabilities in Information and Surveillance (SCIS) ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Initial announcement FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: BAA 08-07-RIKA CFDA Number: 12.800 DATES: It is recommended that white papers be received by the following dates to maximize the possibility of award: FY 08 should be submitted by 12 June 2008; FY 09 by 1 March 2009; FY 10 by 1 March 2010; FY 11 by 1 March 2011 and; FY 12 by 1 March 2012. White papers will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on 30 September 2012, but it is less likely that funding will be available in each respective fiscal year after the dates cited. FORMAL PROPOSALS ARE NOT BEING REQUESTED AT THIS TIME. See Section IV of this announcement for further details. I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Sensors Directorate Rome, NY is soliciting white papers under this BAA for the performance of research, development, design, and testing that directly supports its core mission. This includes Space and Near-Space Sensors and Systems; Strategic and Tactical Networks; Information Assurance; Counter Underground Facilities; Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Defense; Small Unit Operations; Maritime Operations; and Core Strategic Technologies. Research supporting any of AFRL s broad mission objectives identified above may be submitted under this BAA. Topic areas of specific interest include, but are not limited to, the following. I. Space and Near-Space Sensors and Systems a. Active damping and smart materials for precision control of space structures; b. Concepts for space systems, sensors, structures, components and materials; c. Concepts supporting affordable access and thus proliferation of high-performance space sensors and systems; d. Extremely large space apertures and structures, including large space structures that have extremely small payload volumes (e.g., rigidized inflatables, isogrid composites, etc.); e. Global tailored tactical surveillance; f. High performance micro- and picosat systems; g. Large distributed array remote sensing systems, both space based and ground based for space object location and identification; h. Lightweight and low-mass active/passive membranes; i. Next generation power generation systems including electrodynamic and momentum tethers, advanced solar systems, and others; j. Next generation space technologies & systems; k. Novel space-based sensor modalities and systems; l. Novel systems and enabling technologies for high-resolution, deep sub-canopy surveillance; m. Remote optical sensing technologies; n. Technologies supporting next-generation tactical space operations including rapid access, SSA, protection, servicing, robust anti-jam SATCOM, and persistent tactical grade sensing approaches; o. Wide-area urban tracking architectures; p. Space environmental awareness and space weather forecasting; q. Temporary systems to quickly duplicate the mission capabilities of damaged satellites; r. Manufacturing technologies for the development of large space apertures; s. Intruder proximity detection by measurement of field perturbations; II. Strategic and Tactical Networks a. 100Gbps free space optical communication system; b. Applications, architecture, control and management, and hardware systems for multi-terabit, fiber-optic core, edge and mobile-platform networks; c. Approaches to inter-connect wave-division multiplexed backbone communications infrastructures with IP-based metropolitan networks (may include route discovery/distribution and new addressing schemes); d. Approaches to make tactical networks auto-configuring for both voice and data with the goal of reducing the manpower requirements (may include the complete replacement of IP as the underlying data protocol); e. Distributed, grid, and networked computing systems; f. Hybrid passive/active radar systems that are agile over available bandwidth; g. Information and communication technologies to enable "power to the edge" for air, land, space and maritime systems; h. Innovative urban sensing systems and networked architectures; i. Miniature, low power sensors and networks; j. Network centric warfare, including novel approaches to the development, implementation, and control of networked weapons systems; k. Network storage and caching protocols for reducing long-haul communications loads; l. New approaches to self-forming, wireless, mesh networks of over 10,000 devices with high throughput (at least 50 Mbps across the network between two end-points). This may include work on multiple frequencies, graph partitioning, and sub-net allocations; m. Novel approaches for the development, implementation and control of heterogeneous networks of human decision makers and human-operated or autonomous sensors and weapons; n. Novel approaches to effect collaboration among human decision makers in heterogeneous, coalition environments; o. Novel approaches to monitor, visualize and recommend alternative courses-of-action in the management and defense of massive, heterogeneous wide-area networks (5 million nodes); p. Robust wireless military communication network architecture and system technology to enable graceful degradation under cross-layer fixes; q. Signature reduction (low probability of detection/intercept); r. Size-weight-power reduced soldier electronics and communications devices; s. Networking protocols for UV/optical communication; t. Sensing and communication applications in high multipath urban environments; III. Information Assurance a. Autonomous protection or reconstitution of large network environments from cyber attacks; b. Computer forensic and software protection technologies; c. Developing secure systems from untrusted components; d. Quantum Key Distribution and Quantum Data Encryption across a long-haul fiber optic network e. Low-cost military grade encryption mechanisms / devices; f. Novel approaches to derive confidence of identity of remote information, users, processes, and devices in dynamic, untrusted, networked environments; g. Novel approaches to measure, compare, and assess alternative information operations tools and effects; h. Novel approaches to quantify binary code security; i. Novel methods to deter cyber adversaries; j. Novel microprocessor/computing architectures to support secure computing; k. Trustworthy computing in mobile environments; l. Wide area network firewalls and proxies, capable of dealing with asymmetric data flows and speeds in excess of 5Gbps; m. Distributed multi-static sensor networks; IV. Counter Underground Facilities a. Close-in and standoff sensor concepts; b. Determining structural layout or locations of specific vulnerabilities; c. Development and demonstration of technologies to find unknown facilities, on both strategic and tactical timelines; d. Identification of facility function; e. Monitoring pace of activity; f. Enhancing post-attack bomb damage assessment (BDA); g. Exploitation algorithms and signal processing; h. Exploitation of novel observables or substantially improved methods of detecting/analyzing observables, including active source methods; i. Improved communications across rugged terrain among assets, and for exfiltration uplinks; j. Improved deployable ground and airborne sensors; k. New methods for characterizing activities associated with tunnels and caves, to include small and unimproved sites, in both urban and rural areas; l. New methods for sensor and system modeling; m. Large geophysical inversions of multi-source data; V. Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Defense a. Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and environmental sensors and deconflict; b. Defense against chemical, biological, and radiological weapons; c. Sensing approaches for material identification; d. Collection technology for atmospheric, terrestrial, and marine samples; e. Automated chemical analysis of trace materials; f. Devices and methods for managing biological heat stress; g. Proximate sensing using cellular automata; h. Passive transducers to enhance remote detection of trace chemicals; VI. Small Unit Operations a. Advanced explosives for special operations; b. Advanced sighting systems for tactical operations; c. Detection of indirectly fired mortars and RPGs; d. Direction finding capabilities for urban applications; e. GPS-free guidance and navigation; f. Low-cost (

Contracting Office Address:

AFRL/Information Directorate 26 Electronic Parkway
Rome, New York 13441-4514

Primary Point of Contact.: