Contracting
Office Address
Other Defense Agencies, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Contracts
Management Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA, 22203-1714
Description
NANO-COMPOSITE OPTICAL CERAMICS (NCOC) SOL BAA 06-19, Addendum 3, DUE: 08/03/06.
TECHNICAL POC: Ms Sharon Beermann-Curtin, DARPA, Ph: (571) 218-4935, Email: baa06-19@darpa.mil;
URL: www.darpa.mil/dso. Website Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dso0619.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, SCOPE AND FUNDING
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) seeks concept white papers
and subsequent proposals for innovative approaches that enable revolutionary
advances in material science and processes that result in high performance Nano-Composite
Optical Ceramic (NCOC) infrared windows. It is envisioned that the use of new
nano-composite materials incorporating improved strength and improved optical
properties as well as new innovative processing and shape forming techniques
will bring revolutionary operational capabilities at a reduced cost. The NCOC
program is interested in developing two technology areas. In technology area
one infrared windows with increased performance over sapphire in the 3-5 um regime
will be developed. In technology area two infrared windows with improved performance
over zinc sulfide in the 3-12 um region will be developed. An offeror may propose
in both technology area one or technology area two but must submit a separate
proposal for each area. Offerors with novel material concepts but who do not
have the facilities needed to produce the required deliverables may submit a
white paper for evaluation and before trying to find a teaming partner. Theoretical
studies to predict the material grain size required to meet optical scatter requirements
may be proposed as part of each technology area effort.
The program is structured into two phases phase I and phase II with specific
technical goals for each phase in each technology area as noted herein. Satisfactory
attainment of the goals for phase I will be one determining factor in the decision
to proceed to phase II. The government reserves the right to fund no proposals
under this BAA addendum.
BACKGROUND
Infrared seekers used for the guidance of high velocity missiles require protective
domes or windows made from materials which exhibit a combination of good optical
properties, such as high transmittance at useful wavelengths (3-5 and 8-12 um),
and excellent mechanical and thermal properties, such as high strength (at operational
temperatures) and thermal shock resistance. The most durable current material
for midwave (3-5 um) infrared seekers is sapphire. While sapphire is an excellent
material, it suffers from a number of deficiencies in both optical and mechanical
properties that limit the range of applications where it can be used. For example,
while transmittance is good across the entire 3-5 um band, emissivity at elevated
temperatures experienced in flight impose a practical limit of 3-4 um. Moreover,
sapphire is opaque in the long wave (8-12 um) range. Mechanically, sapphire suffers
an extreme loss of c-axis compressive strength with increasing temperature, with
only 5 percent of its room temperature value remaining at 600 degrees C. Another
problem with sapphire is that the single crystal nature of the material limits
the size and shape of the dome that can be achieved at reasonable cost. Large
windows or aerodynamic dome shapes are prohibitively expensive.
Some of these problems can be largely mitigated by utilizing polycrystalline
materials in place of sapphire (single crystal Al2O3). Such ceramic domes will
not experience drastic degradation of mechanical properties at elevated temperature
(500-1000 degrees C). A ceramic (polycrystalline) dome with large dimensions
and/or aerodynamic shape can be fabricated to near net shape eliminating some
of the costly grinding. Moreover, the aerodynamic shape reduces the thermal load
on the dome and mitigates the effects of particle impact.
Achieving required optical properties from a polycrystalline material places
severe limitations on grain size. Non-cubic single phase materials must have
sub-micron grains (typically 300-400 nm or less), while composite materials will
need a grain size that is an order of magnitude smaller. The actual required
microstructure will depend on the indexes of refraction of the constituent phases.
The fabrication of fully dense, optically transparent ceramic nano-composites
will challenge the current state of the art in ceramic processing.
The use of aerodynamic nano-composite domes alone will not address the usable
transmission range of sapphire. Increasing the range of usable wavelengths for
midwave infrared windows from 4 um to 5 um will require the use of a material
which does not contain a large fraction of Al2O3. Current long wave infrared
materials (e.g. ZnS) have poor mechanical properties. This mechanical deficiency
may be mitigated by the development of nano-composites with superior strength
and toughness. Fabrication of a 3-12 um dome material with mechanical properties
similar to those of sapphire will be extremely challenging.
DESCRIPTION
I. Technology Area One: Develop a material and processes required to make infrared
windows and aerodynamically shaped domes with optical and mechanical capabilities
that exceed those of single crystal sapphire for midwave infrared (3-5 um) operation.
Phase I goals are to achieve midwave infrared optical transmission comparable
to that of spinel with mechanical properties comparable to those of sapphire.
Phase II goals are to decrease optical scatter and to increase mechanical and
thermal shock capabilities to exceed those of sapphire. Phase I deliverables
will be polished disks. Phase II deliverables will be polished disks, polished
hemispheric domes, and polished aerodynamically shaped domes.
Deliverables:
Phase I: Ten 75-mm-diameter times 2-mm-thick optically polished disks
Phase II: Ten 75-mm-diameter times 2-mm-thick optically polished disks
Five 75-mm-diameter times 2-mm-thick optically polished hemispheric domes.
Three optically polished tangent ogive shape domes. Geometry and dimensions will
be determined by mutual agreement with the Government. Nose tip will be cut off.
Example 1: 127 mm diameter times 190 mm height times 4 mm thick
Example 2: 75 mm diameter times 112 mm height times 2 mm thick
Technology Area One Metrics:
Phase I:
(A) Absorption coefficient: Less than or equal to 0.1 cm ^(-1)
(B) Infrared optical scatter: Less than or equal to 2 percent
(C) Strength at 600 degrees C: 600 MPa
(D,E) Hardness: 2200 kg/squared mm
(F) Thermal shock resistance: ----
(G) Sand erosion resistance: ----
(H) Water drop fracture threshold velocity: ----
Phase II:
(A) Absorption coefficient: Less than or equal to 0.1 cm^(-1)
(B) Infrared optical scatter: Less than or equal to 0.5 percent
(C) Strength at 600 degrees C: 1200 MPa
(D,E) Hardness: 2200 kg/squared mm
(F) Thermal shock resistance: Less than or equal to 2x sapphire
(G) Sand erosion resistance: Less than or equal to 2x sapphire
(H) Water drop fracture threshold velocity: Less than or equal to 2x sapphire
A) Average absorption coefficient over the wavelength range 3-5 um
B) Total integrated optical scatter in forward hemisphere at 3.39 um
C) Ring-on-ring biaxial flexure test with 38-mm-diameter times 2-mm-thick disk
tested with 16-mm-diameter load ring and 32-mm-diameter support ring. Measure
average strength for at least 10 disks
D) Microindentation with 0.5-1 kg load
E) Hardness is a surrogate for sand and rain erosion resistance. A material that
can be demonstrated to have sand erosion resistance and water drop fracture threshold
velocity comparable to those of sapphire (not 2x sapphire) meets the goals of
phase I, regardless of its hardness.
F) R prime less than or equal to 9 kW per m. R? prime is the Hasselman mild thermal
shock figure of merit with strength, Poisson?s ratio, thermal conductivity, thermal
expansion coefficient, and Young?s modulus measured at 20 degrees C.
G) Material removal rate (mg material loss/kg sand) by blowing sand measured
under conditions set by mutual agreement with the Government.
Example: 149-177 um diameter sand at normal incidence at 75 m per s at a loading
of 300 mg sand per cm to the second
H) Single drop impact of 3 mm diameter water drop on 3 mm thick times 19 mm diameter
disk at normal incidence at Marshall Space Flight Center test facility
II. Technology Area Two: Develop a material and processes required to make infrared
windows and aerodynamically shaped domes with low absorption and low scatter
in the 3-12 um wavelength region, but with much greater mechanical and thermal
shock capabilities than those of standard grade zinc sulfide. The material must
maintain its low optical absorption up to at least 600 degrees C. Thermal shock
resistance should be twice as great as that of standard zinc sulfide. Sand erosion
resistance should be at least as great as that of polycrystalline spinel. The
waterjet damage threshold velocity shall be at least as great as that of hot
pressed polycrystalline magnesium fluoride.
Deliverables:
Phase I: Ten 75-mm-diameter times 2-mm-thick optically polished disks
Phase II: Ten 75-mm-diameter times 2-mm-thick optically polished disks
Five 75-mm-diameter times 2-mm-thick optically polished hemispheric domes.
Three optically polished tangent ogive shape domes. Geometry and dimensions will
be determined by mutual agreement with the Government. Nose tip will be cut off.
Example 1: 127 mm diameter times 190 mm height times 4 mm thick
Example 2: 75 mm diameter times 112 mm height times 2 mm thick
Property Goals:
Phase I:
(A) Absorption coefficient: Less than or equal to 0.1 cm ^(-1)
(B) Infrared optical scatter: Less than or equal to 2 percent
(C) Strength at 20 degrees C: 300 MPa
(D) Hardness: 600 kg per squared mm
(E) Thermal shock resistance: ----
(F) Sand erosion resistance: ----
(G) Waterjet damage threshold velocity: ----
Phase II
(A) Absorption coefficient: Less than or equal to 0.1 cm^(-1)
(B) Infrared optical scatter: Less than or equal to 0.5 percent
(C) Strength at 20 degrees C: 500 MPa
(D) Hardness: 600 kg per squared mm
(E) Thermal shock resistance: Less than or equal to 2x standard ZnS
(F) Sand erosion resistance: Less than or equal to spinel
(G) Waterjet damage threshold velocity: Less than or equal to magnesium
A) Average absorption coefficient over the wavelength ranges 3-5 and 8-10 um.
Low absorption must be maintained up to at least 600 degrees C
B) Total integrated optical scatter in forward hemisphere at 3.39 and 10.6 um
C) Ring-on-ring biaxial flexure test with 38-mm-diameter times 2-mm-thick disk
tested with 16-mm-diameter load ring and 32-mm-diameter support ring. Measure
average strength for at least 10 disks
D) Microindentation with 0.5-1 kg load
E) R prime less than or equal to 5 kW per m. R? prime is the Hasselman mild thermal
shock figure of merit with strength, Poissons ratio, thermal conductivity, thermal
expansion coefficient, and Young?s modulus measured at 20 degrees C
F) Material removal rate (mg material loss/kg sand) by blowing sand measured
under conditions set by mutual agreement with the Government.
Example: 75-90 um diameter sand at normal incidence at 150 m per s at a loading
of 300 mg sand per cm to the second.
G) Single-impact threshold velocity is the velocity at which ring fracture is
first visible with microscopic inspection at a magnification of 50 times. The
waterjet would typically be created with a 0.8-mm-diameter nozzle.
Proposal Process
White Paper and Full Proposal Deadlines - White papers will be accepted until
Monday, June 5, 2006 NO LATER THAN 4:00 PM ET. All white papers will be reviewed
no later than Monday, June 19, 2006, and recommendations for full proposals will
be provided at that time. Full proposals will be due Thursday, Aug 3, 2006 NO
LATER THAN 4:00 PM ET. White papers and proposals submitted by fax will not be
accepted. All full proposal submissions will be evaluated regardless of the disposition
of the white paper.
White Paper Guidelines
White papers of 8 pages or less will be reviewed for the purpose of recommending
the submission of full proposals. The white paper must include the following
sections:
1) Notional concept for development of the material and evidence that the proposed
approach will be successful. This should include an explanation of the process
for shape forming and the process being proposed to render the material transparent
in the desired wavelengths.
2) A clear definition of the compositions being proposed or an explanation of
how the selection will be made. This should include a description of the microstructure
that needs to be achieved (e.g., grain size) and an explanation of why the proposed
microstructure is desired.
3) A first-order prediction of the expected material properties due to the materials
and processes being proposed.
4) A brief outline of the research plan including schedules.
5) A brief overview of the proposed team and its relevant expertise.
6) An estimate of the budget for the phase I effort and for the phase II effort.
Full Proposal Guidelines
Guidelines for full proposal submission can be found in BAA06-19. The technical
sections of the full proposal must include:
1) Description of the concept for development of the material including an explanation
of the process for shape forming and the process being proposed to render the
material transparent in the desired wavelengths.
2) A clear definition of compositions being proposed or an explanation of how
the selection will be made. This should include a description of the microstructure
that needs to be achieved (e.g., grain size) and an explanation of why the proposed
microstructure is desired.
3) A prediction of the expected material properties due to the materials and
processes being proposed.
4) A detailed research plan that includes experimental measurement of the properties
of the infrared window being proposed.
5) Quantified technical and schedule milestones for phase I and for phase II.
Evaluation of the proposals will be in accordance with BAA06-19. For general
administrative questions, please refer to the original FEDBIZOPPS solicitation,
BAA06-19, of February 8, 2006.
Evaluation of Proposals
Evaluation of the proposals will be in accordance with BAA06-19. For general
administrative questions, please refer to the original FEDBIZOPPS solicitation,
BAA06-19, of February 8, 2006. http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm.
The government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the
proposals received in response to this BAA.
Address for Proposal Submission:
DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA06-19, Addendum 3
3701 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203-1714
Web address for Proposal Submission: http://www.sainc.com/dso0619/.
General Information
In all correspondence, reference BAA06-19, Addendum 3.
Technical Point of Contact
Sharon Beermann-Curtin, DARPA/MTO; Phone: (571) 218-4935; Email: Sharon.beermann-curtin@darpa.mil
Point of Contact
Brett Giroir, Deputy Director, DSO, Phone (571) 218-4224, Fax (571) 218-4553,
Email: Brett.giroir@darpa.mil
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION AND DEADLINES
Proposals may be submitted and received at any time until the final proposal
deadline of 4:00 PM ET Thursday, August 3, 2006. Proposals will be evaluated
against the criteria set forth in this solicitation, and the proposer will be
notified either that: (1) the proposal has been selected for funding, or (2)
the proposal has not been selected for funding. Proposers may elect to have their
proposal withdrawn from consideration at any time during the evaluation process.
If a formal request is not made, DARPA will assume that continued evaluation
is desired. One copy of each proposal that is not selected for funding will be
retained for administrative purposes.
The government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the
proposals received in response to this announcement. The government also reserves
the right to fund proposals in phases with options for continued work at the
end of one or more of the phases. Proposals identified for funding may result
in a procurement contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or "Other Transaction," depending
upon the nature of the work proposed, the required degree of interaction between
parties, and other factors. The proposer must submit a separate list of all technical
data or computer software that will be furnished to the Government with other
than unlimited rights (see DFARS Part 227).
OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION FOR PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
Teaming and Team Composition
Teaming is encouraged, especially when interdisciplinary approaches to a problem
are required. Proposals may include, or be led by, foreign firms and/or personnel
provided all export control laws and U.S. national security requirements are
adhered to in the conduct of the effort and that the work relating to the foreign
firm or personnel is unclassified. The onus of understanding and complying with
export control rests with the proposer, not the government.
Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Historically Black Colleges and Universities
(HBCUs), and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposals and
join others in submitting proposals. However, no portion of this BAA will be
set aside for Small Disadvantaged Businesses, HBCU, and MI participation due
to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of this research
for exclusive competition among these entities.
Awards made under this BAA are subject to the provisions of the FAR Subpart 9.5,
Organizational Conflicts of Interest. Consequently, all proposers and proposed
subcontractors must, therefore, affirm whether they are providing scientific,
engineering and technical assistance (SETA) or similar support to any DARPA technical
office(s) through an active contract or subcontract. All affirmations must state
which office(s) the proposer supports, and identify the prime contract numbers.
Affirmations should be furnished at the time of proposal submission. All facts
relevant to the existence or potential existence of organizational conflicts
of interest, as that term is defined at FAR 9.501, must be disclosed. The disclosure
shall include a description of the action the proposer has taken or proposes
to take to avoid, neutralize or mitigate such conflict.
Technology Transition
Proposals that have currently identifiable commercial or military end-product
are strongly encouraged to engage commercial and military end-users and commercial
manufacturers. The engagement of these communities also helps ensure that the
various technologies being developed will be commercially viable (cost effective,
manufacturability, etc.) and available to the military. Thus, proposals are strongly
encouraged to include/involve the user-community that intends to bring the technology
to practice as a result of this research. This relationship encourages the participation
of researchers, end-users and manufacturers as collective contributors to the
technology definition, implementation, and performance evaluation.
Proprietary Information
All proprietary information should be marked on both the white paper and the
full proposal. It is the policy of DARPA to treat all proposals as competitive
information and to disclose their contents only for the purpose of evaluation.
Standard proprietary disclaimers notwithstanding, proposals may be reviewed by
non-Government technical experts who have signed a nondisclosure agreement with
DARPA, unless the specific phrase TO BE REVIEWED BY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ONLY
appears on the cover sheet. In any case, personnel under exclusive contract with
DARPA who have completed the appropriate nondisclosure agreements will handle
the proposals for administrative purposes.
Guidance for Classified Information and Data
The Government anticipates that proposals submitted under a BAA will be unclassified.
In the event that a proposer chooses to submit a classified proposal, the following
information is applicable.
Proposals and white papers may contain classified information or data (up to
the level of Top Secret/SCI). HOWEVER, DO NOT SEND CLASSIFIED WHITE PAPERS OR
FULL PROPOSALS BY EMAIL OR VIA ONLINE SUBMISSION SYSTEMS. Proposers that intend
to include classified information or data in their proposals should contact DARPA
security at (571) 218-4842 (or alternatively, the point-of-contact for this BAA)
for guidance and direction in advance of proposal preparation. Proposers must
have existing approved capabilities (personnel and facilities) to perform research
and development at the classification level they propose. Security Classification
guidance on DD Form 254 will not be provided at this time since DARPA is soliciting
ideas only. After reviewing the incoming proposals, if a determination is made
that the award instrument may result in access to classified information, a DD
Form 254 will be issued and attached as part of the award. Proposers choosing
to submit a classified proposal must first receive permission from the Original
Classification Authority to use their information in applying to this BAA. An
applicable classification guide should be submitted to ensure that the proposal
is protected appropriately. For instructions on submitting Classified White Papers
or Full Proposals, contact Security & Intelligence Directorate (SID) Classification
Management at (571) 218-4842.
Research Involving Human Use
Proposals selected for funding are required to comply with provisions of the
Common Rule (32 CFR 219) on the protection of human subjects in research (http://www.dtic.mil/biosys/downloads/32cfr219.pdf)
and the DoD Directive 3216.2 (http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/html2/d32162x.htm).
All proposals that involve the use of human subjects are required to include
documentation of their ability to follow Federal guidelines for the protection
of human subjects. This includes, but is not limited to, protocol approval mechanisms,
approved Institutional Review Boards (IRB), and Federal Wide Assurances. These
requirements are based on expected human use issues sometime during the entire
length of the proposed effort. For proposals involving greater than minimal risk
to human subjects within the first year of the project, performers must provide
evidence of protocol submission to a federally approved IRB at the time of final
proposal submission to DARPA. For proposals that are forecasted to involve greater
than minimal risk after the first year, a discussion on how and when the proposer
will comply with submission to a federally approved IRB needs to be provided
in the submission. More information on applicable Federal regulations can be
found at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Human Research
Protections website (http://www.dhhs.gov/ohrp/).
ADMINISTRATION
Mailing address for submission of white papers or full proposals (except classified
proposals):
DARPA/DSO, ATTN: BAA06-19
3701 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203-1714
Point of Contact
Brett Giroir, Deputy Director, DSO, Phone (571) 218-4224, Fax (571) 218-4553,
Email bgiroir@darpa.mil
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