A -- Laboratory and At-Sea Based Acoustic Techniques Studies

The Naval Research Laboratory has a requirement for research and development support related to laboratory-based and at-sea acoustic technique studies involving invention, development, implementation and upgrade of a number of acoustic measurement techniques and facilities. The tasks include model, measure and exploit acoustic, physical acoustic and structural acoustic phenomena, apply the resulting models to target recognition and detection problems, sound diagnosis and control systems, fault detection and identification systems, and the new sensor and processing devices and to evaluate and implement new techniques for sensing, producing, computing, processing, displaying and understanding underwater and in-air acoustic signals resulting from a wide variety of sound-fluid-structure interactions and mechanical vibrations of high-Q oscillator structures. Additionally, this research will be conducted for the purpose of integration into a number of major structural acoustic pool, mechanical dynamics, AUV and other at-sea measurement systems and computational facilities at the Naval Research Laboratory. The research and engineering areas include sound-structure-fluid interactions; fiber optic sensing telemetry and processing; nearfield acoustic holography; robotic conformal scanning technology; finite element/boundary element and Kirchhoff numerical/analytical modeling; advanced sonar signal processing; acoustic and structural intensity; vibration, scattering and radiation of complex shell and plate structures; laboratory based acoustic measurement systems; and computer science. Additional research areas include nanomechanics; finite-element/infinite element methods; inverse scattering; target recognition, detection and identification. Support is required for the following task areas: (1) upgrades and improvements to acoustic laboratories and programs; (2) integrated sound and vibration sources and pressure/vibration sensors; (3) physical scale modeling; (4) non-contact motion measurement techniques; (5) software development, testing and demonstration, (6) measurement of acousto-elastic, acousto-magnetic, acousto-electic and acousto-optic material properties, (7) testing of new formalisms; (8) data visualization techniques; (9) evaluation of classification and identification algorithms and concepts; (10) Active control of structural acoustic and structural dynamic phenomena, (11) investigation of fiber optic sensor and telemetry technology; (12) wireless sensor array techniques; (13) perform engineering efforts during scuba exercises; (14) micro-nano structures studies; (15) order-adaptive finite-element/boundary-element (FE/BE model; (16) properly instrumented AUVs for acoustic studies; (17) new at-sea measurement technologies and systems; (18) technology transfer; (19) software development; (21) documentation and training. A cost-plus-fixed-fee type contract is anticipated as a result of this solicitation. The acquisition will be processed as a full and open competition. A detailed statement of work, personnel qualifications, and contract data requirements will be included in the solicitation package. The anticipated period of performance for any resulting contract will be one year with four potential option years. NRL uses Electronic Commerce (EC) to issue RFPs and amendments to RFPs. This solicitation and any amendments to it will be available via the Internet at the URL address provided below approximately fifteen (15) days after publication of this announcement. Printed copies of this RFP will not be provided. LINKURL: http://heron.nrl.navy.mil/contracts/home.htm See numbered note 26.