A Request for Information (RFI) for Aircraft Survivability Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) Projects

AIRCRAFT SURVIVABILITY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST & EVALUATION (RDT&E) PROJECTS I. INTRODUCTION This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) for planning purposes (FAR 15.201(e) as part of a market survey led by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). This is NOT a Request for Proposals. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME. The Joint Aircraft Survivability Program Office (JASPO) is seeking information about industry's research and development efforts for aircraft survivability. These industry efforts are of significant interest to the Joint Aircraft Survivability Program (JASP) community in planning for future JASP projects to assess industry capability to meet Government technology goals in this area. This RFI is being issued prior to our annual project proposal call to US Government (USG) agencies to allow time for coordination between respondents to this RFI and potential FY14 project proposals submitted by USG agencies. This notice is part of the Government's on-going market research to understand industry's current capabilities. The information below is not specific Government requirements as contemplated by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) but are areas of general interest to allow industry to better inform the Government as to industry's present efforts as those efforts relate to aircraft survivability. II. BACKGROUND Originally chartered as the Joint Technical Coordinating Group for Aircraft Survivability (JTCG/AS), the JASP has been actively pursuing technologies to support aircraft survivability and coordinate aircraft related survivability issues between the Services for over 30 years. The JASP is a Government funded program reporting to the Office of Secretary of Defense/Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (OSD/DOT&E) and chartered by the Services aviation systems commands. The day-to-day operation of the JASP is under the direction of the Joint Aircraft Survivability Program Office (JASPO). JASP is a tri-Service program whose mission is to achieve increased affordability, readiness, and effectiveness of aircraft through the joint coordination and development of survivability (susceptibility and vulnerability reduction) technologies and assessment methodologies. Annually, JASP issues a call to USG agencies for research efforts and funds approximately $3M in new start projects and $6M in continuing projects. JASP projects typically last 1-3 years and receive between $100-200K per year with a potential maximum funding level of $500K per year. A key tenant of the JASP program is the leveraging of JASP funding with funding from other sources and applicability of our projects to more than a single platform. JASP issues its call for Government proposals via e-mail directly to USG agencies. JASP does not directly fund contractor efforts but provides funding to USG agencies for project management and contracting, thus the requirement for US government sponsorship. Subsequent Government requests for proposals issued by USG agencies will describe the Government requirements which the contractor proposal submissions must address along with proposal submission requirements and basis for selection of competitive contractor proposals. Consequently, this notice is not a request for submission of proposals, but strictly informational. Contractors may elect to and are encouraged to directly contact appropriate USG agencies for sponsorship at any time. III. SPECIFIC AREAS OF INTEREST The JASP research interests are organized into three subgroups: Susceptibility Reduction, Vulnerability Reduction and Survivability Assessment (Modeling & Simulation). The JASP is interested in industry research initiatives that will enhance the combat survivability of both manned and unmanned aircraft. Its principal focus is Science and Technology (S&T) for advanced technology/component development and demonstration RDT&E (6.3) as well as improving the JASP's modeling and simulation tool set. Of particular interest are technologies with a near-term focus (less than 2 years) addressing immediate aircraft and occupant survivability concerns and requirements emerging from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Other areas of interest are listed below by subgroup category: Susceptibility Reduction Advanced development proof-of-design concepts are sought that will offer clear, quantifiable benefits in reducing the probability of military aircraft being hit by enemy fire. Such concepts should lead to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of at least 5 or 6 and may range from ideas for improving operational suitability of existing susceptibility reduction systems (cost and weight reduction, increased reliability) to ideas for entirely new capabilities. Potential ideas should provide the greatest benefit for implementing integrated aircraft survivability equipment and synergizing of multi-purpose/use technologies to optimize space, weight, and power (SWAP). Additional emphasis should be placed on the system to reduce aircrew workload. Descriptions of research efforts from across the spectrum of susceptibility reduction technologies are invited (e.g., Infra-Red (IR) visual, ultra-violet, acoustic, etc.) but the JASP has particular interest in the following: - Technologies or concepts that, if developed successfully, would significantly benefit operational units in the near-term by solving an immediate need or capability gap. Some examples include: o RPG/Small Arms Fire Countermeasures o Multi-Spectral Data Fusion o UAS Countermeasures o Threat Exploitation o Improved Countermeasures Dispensing Techniques - Technologies that improve survivability through increased Situational Awareness (SA). Some examples include: o Hostile Fire Indication/Detection (HFI/D) o Integrated ASE o Threat Geolocation - Technologies or concepts that will defeat current and future generation EO/IR guided threats. Some examples include: o MANPADS/SAMs/AAMs Warning Systems Improvements o Multi-Spectral Flares and/or other Countermeasures Improvements o Cognitive EO/IR Techniques Implementation/Integration o Multi-Spectral and/or Improved Flares - Technologies or concepts that will counter advanced RF coherent, parameter-agile threats. Some examples include: o Advanced radars and passive radars countermeasures and/or exploitation. o DRFM EA/EP o Cognitive Electronic Techniques Implementation/Integration o Improved Chaff Vulnerability Reduction Emphasis should be on technologies/techniques that increase an aircraft's capability to withstand the man-made hostile aviation environment (holistic approach to threat tolerance or aircraft hardening). A balance between technologies/techniques that are breakthrough in nature (with potentially high risk, high payoff gains within longer timeframes), and technologies/techniques that are mature enough to transition into near-term, fieldable systems is desired. It is imperative that any advantages gained in vulnerability reduction do not come at the expense of platform SWAP (size, weight and power). In addition to the hit tolerance and aircraft hardening aspects of vulnerability reduction, added importance should be on technologies/techniques that reduce fatalities and injuries due to crash, hard landings, and egress. Vulnerability reduction areas of emphasis include, but are not limited to: - Opaque and transparent ballistic protection systems - Fuel and hydraulic fluid containment protection (leakage mitigation) for tanks and lines - Fire suppression/extinguishing systems (passive and active) - Crew and passenger casualty (injury and fatality) reduction - Damage tolerant & repairable subsystems - Advanced materials development - Engine (jet and turboshaft) vulnerability reduction technologies and concepts - MANPADS and Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) damage effects mitigation - High energy laser weapon or other emerging threat defense - Optimize and maximize test data collection for modeling and simulation enhancement and validation/verification (V&V) Survivability Assessment Improve the capability and credibility of Government-owned survivability M&S, focusing on M&S residing in the Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center (SURVIAC). Other M&S providing capabilities beyond those of the SURVIAC are also of interest, and will be considered on a case by case basis. ? CAPABILITY: - Tools that can evaluate/predict flying qualities of damaged aircraft to the point of controlled or uncontrolled landing including the resulting accelerations. Simple methods to predict structural loads and resultant deformations in aircraft crash situations that are survivable by the occupants. - Robust air to air engagement capability in Radio Frequency (RF) and millimeter wave frequency including signature prediction and generation, countermeasure effectiveness and environmental effects modeling to include helicopter rotor dynamics. - Vulnerability phenomena of conventional, unconventional and asymmetric threats - Geometric target modeling and interrogation techniques. - High energy laser weapon effects modeling from both the shooter's and target's perspectives. ? CREDIBILITY: - Confirm/increase credibility of SURVIAC models based on open-air range data or other authoritative data - Better understanding of assumptions and limitations of survivability models leading to recommendations for future investment strategies ? USABILITY: - Projects that enhance the user interfaces of JASP Modeling and Simulation (M&S) tools to reduce errors or enhance the ability to verify the code. ? SURVIVABILITY DESIGN TRADEOFFs - Consideration will be given to codes and processes that make it easier to make tradeoffs across the entire survivability spectrum, particularly in terms of susceptibility reduction technologies and vulnerability reduction technologies. IV. SUBMISSION OF PROJECT IDEAS This announcement is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) but rather a Request for Information (RFI) on your current survivability research and development efforts and other ideas that may be of interest to the JASP. This will be the only JASP request for survivability information prior to the project proposals call to USG agencies in September 2012. A decision not to submit an informational paper in response to this RFI does not preclude participation in subsequent requests for proposals issued by USG agencies in support of the JASP. The JASPO will review submitted responses for compatibility with the JASP mission and at their discretion, contact the submitter for further information. If an idea is deemed of sufficient interest to the Government, the requirement may be procured by an appropriate USG agency through a competitive announcement publicized in accordance with the requirements of the FAR. ? SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS All proprietary material in the submission package shall be clearly identified and will be treated in the strictest confidence. Submissions are limited to US companies and must be unclassified. Submissions are not to exceed twelve (12) pages using your preferred format. Submissions shall be sent electronically (MS Word, PDF or MS PowerPoint format) to kyujin.choi@navy.mil by 5:00 p.m. on 31 August 2012. Confirmation of receipt is recommended for electronic submission. IF THE PACKAGE IS GREATER THAN 5MB, A ZIP FORMAT IS REQUIRED. The Government is not liable for any costs associated with submissions or any subsequent requests for project proposals or briefings. This is a RFI and not a RFP. Therefore the Government makes no guarantees that a RFP for your capability will be issued at a later date. If there are any questions regarding this RFI, please contact Ms. Dorothy Hurley at (301) 737-2916 or via email at Dorothy.Hurley@navy.mil or Ms. Mindi Stann at (301) 737-2982 or via email at Melinda.Stann@navy.mil.