The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/VS) is seeking input from private industry to support acquisition planning for the FY 2003 Distinguished Space Industry Fellows Program, which commences October 2002. The information received in response to this Request for Information (RFI) will assist AFRL/VS to identify technical topics in which private industry has an interest in establishing collaborative, on-site cost-share research or other technical presence through participation in the Distinguished Space Industry Fellows Program (DSIF). The DSIF Program is offered by AFRL/VS to facilitate long-term and improved understanding between the government space technology community, private industry, academia, and other government organizations. The DSIF Program invites scientists and other technical experts from industry to participate through a competitive selection process to conduct specific, pre-negotiated, technology research or developmental efforts at an AFRL/VS facility for a period of one year. The scientific studies and experimentation undertaken by DSIF Fellows are directed toward advancing state-of-the-art in specific space technologies and is not related to the development of a specific weapon system or a specific hardware development effort. A DSIF Fellow remains a company employee of his or her sponsoring organization while participating in this program and returns to the company at the end of a one-year tenure. The DSIF Program potentially offers technical interchange opportunities. This interchange includes visits to facilities of other government and non-government members of the space technology community for the purpose of providing the DSIF Fellows with insight into technology priorities of the government space technology enterprise. In response to this RFI, private industry may suggest opportunities for technical interchange visits intended to further the objectives of fostering future AFRL, industry, academia, and other government and non-government laboratory collaboration and partnership building. AFRL/VS topics that may be of interest to companies considering nomination of one or more of their employees for participation in the FY 2003 DSIF program include, but are not limited to the following. Respondents to this RFI are invited to suggest additional topics:Space Computing and Sensing -- the broad application of computational devices and sensors to space systems including microelectronics, nanoelectronics and nanotechnology, sensors/detectors, optics (including deformable optics, inflatable optics, and optical correction), MEMs, mixed-signal circuitry, reconfigurable/adaptive/self-repairing circuits, the software that controls [re]configuration and operation, advanced packaging concepts for space applications, tracking; related radiation effects; related simulation and modeling; and radiation effects mitigation on space computing and optical devices; Power Generation and Conditioning, Energy Storage and Projection -- all aspects of distributed power generation, power conditioning, and energy storage and distribution, thin-film photovoltaics, as well as thermal cells, photocells, and photosynthetic devices, fuel cells and chemical power generation, power electronics and smart power, laser transmission and absorption, directed RF energy transmission and absorption, and related simulation and modeling; Spacecraft Architectures and Manufacturing Technology -- all aspects of current and emerging spacecraft architectures as well as the manufacturing technology used in constructing existing and envisioned spacecraft and constellations including nano- and microsatellites and their utilization for broad class of missions together with on-orbit servicing, rapid deployment, surveillance, satellite constellation autonomy and reconfigurability for multi-mission operations. Flexible and reconfigurable architectures along with formation flying and other distributed spacecraft architectures are included as are passive protection schemes, spacecraft materials, passive vibration control, spacecraft components, and related simulation and modeling; Communication and Networking -- vehicle integration and operational aspects of inter- and intra-spacecraft communication and data transfer including wired communications, wireless RF communication, optical communications, communication/networking protocols, telephonic/paging/subscription services, navigation, filters and waveform generation, anti-jamming and anti-spoofing protocols and devices, as well as related simulation and modeling; Controls for Launch, Propulsion, Attitude and Vibration -- all aspects of controls for launch, propulsion, active vibration control, and attitude/maneuvering. As new spacecraft architectures and launch approaches emerge, control electronics able to withstand the rigors of harsh space environments will become increasingly important. This topic includes electronic technologies needed to perform various control tasks during launch, throughout the mission, and the safe, reliable return to earth of manned and unmanned spacecraft including single stage-to-orbit vehicles, payload management and multi-use, low cost and multi-mission bus with specific focus on small, experiment-based payloads as well as the integration for broad class of launch systems, and related simulation and modeling; Space Environment Awareness and Modeling -- all aspects of space environment analysis including measurement and integration of adverse effects of the space environment both natural and manmade, creation and maintenance of space environment models, space weather forecasting, effects of space environment on spacecraft, mitigation of space environment effects on materials and spacecraft components, transmissivity and atmospheric turbulence. Information provided by companies in response to this RFI is intended to give the Air Force an understanding of the range of technical areas and projects that would invite consideration by industry to participate in the AFRL/VS DSIF Program. Responses should include respondent?s full contact information and business or industry affiliation. Written responses or dialog with respondents clearly indicated as competition-sensitive or proprietary will be handled appropriately. Proprietary information should be identified as such on each page. Interested parties should reply no later than 30 days from the posting of this RFI. Firms responding are requested to indicate whether they are, or are not, a small business, a small disadvantaged business, a women-owned business, an intra-government organization, a large business, or an education/non-profit organization. The size standard is 1,000 employees, NAICS 541710. This synopsis is a Request for Information only and does not constitute a commitment on the part of the Government to purchase or acquire systems or services. The Government will not reimburse response preparation expenses for this effort or pay for information requested herein. If you have any questions, please direct them to Dr. Nancy Soper, Office Chief Scientist for AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, via telephone
+1 (555) 000-0000. Responses to this RFI should be submitted via email to both Dr Fender and to Geraldine Duran (
contact@example.gov) or mail responses in hard copy or on a diskette in Microsoft Word format to: Dr Janet Fender, AFRL/VS, Bldg 472, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776, and to Geraldine Duran, Det 8, AFRL/PKVS, 2251 Maxwell Ave SE, Bldg 426, Room 131 Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773.
