Airborne Shortwave Hyperspectral Imaging System

A PRIMARY GOAL OF THIS RFI IS TO DETERMINE HOW NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY WILL PROCEED WITH A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) ANTICIPATED TO BE RELEASED IN MAY 2011. NRL is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to determine the general availability of an Airborne SWIR Hyperspectral Imaging System. The SWIR hyperspectral imager system will be used to produce hyperspectral images of continuous swaths of the ground from an aircraft platform. One possible implementation of such a system would be a pushbroom imager consisting of foreoptics imaging the scene onto a slit, a system to provide spectral dispersion, a focal plane array, and a computer for control and data acquisition; however, the contractor may supply any system meeting the requirements and specifications set out in this document. The imager must be capable of imaging while looking in the nadir direction from an aircraft, and shall not require ground motion compensation. The required Ground Sample Distance (GSD), defined as the projection of one hyperspectral pixel (or equivalently one geometrical IFOV) onto the ground, must be 2 meters (m) square from an altitude of 2000 m. A goal is the ability to reconfigure the system to achieve 1 m square GSD from an altitude of 2000 m. The required cross-track swath width must be 320 pixels (640 pixels goal), and the required continuous imaging time must be 15 minutes. The spectral range must include 900 to 2500 nm, with a goal of additional coverage outside this range. The hyperspectral data must be reported in 10 - 2 nanometer (nm) wide (or smaller), contiguous spectral bins over the entire spectral range. The imager must not use any expendable cryogenic liquid or a mechanical crycooler. Requirements, goals, and other specifications are listed in Table 1. Note that keystone and spectral smile are defined using Figure 1. Keystone, the change in optical magnification with wavelength, must be less than 0.1 pixel. Spectral smile, defined as a change in dispersion with position, must be no more than 2 nm. Definitions: - A pixel is defined as a physical pixel on the focal plan array (FPA). - A binned pixel is defined by the smallest spatial and spectral sample, typically obtained using on-chip or off-chip binning of the FPA pixels (this could be 1'1 pixel but is expected to be 1'2 or 1'3 pixels). - IFOV- instantaneous field of view corresponding to a given GSD - FOV- entire cross-track field of view A complete set of specifications can be viewed by clicking on the link at the bottom of this narrative. Any proprietary information submitted will be protected if appropriately marked. All responses are to be provided on company letterhead and limited to thirty pages and must contain the following information: a capability statement which includes information on the type of technology used, pricing information, service history, Technological Readiness Level (TRL) if not a fielded system, and a delivery schedule. In their response, vendors should clearly mark any information that is proprietary. Pricing and delivery information should be based on the assumption that a purchase will be made in the fourth quarter of FY-2011. Responses are due by May 6, 2011. Both e-mail and mail submittals will be accepted and must be submitted in Microsoft Office format. Please send email responses to the Contract Specialist, Marilyn Clark at marilyn.clark@nrlssc.navy.mil . Mail responses should be sent to: NRL Contracting Office, Code 3235, Bldg 1008, Room 209, Attn: Marilyn Clark, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529. All packages submitted electronically or by electronic media shall be free of any computer virus. If a virus is found, the package will be destroyed and a replacement will be requested, which must be provided within three days after notification. NOTE: This Request for Information is for planning purposes only and is issued in accordance with FAR Clause 52.215-3. No solicitation document exists at this time. Issuance of this Notice does not constitute any obligation on the part of the Government to procure these items or to issue a solicitation. In addition, the Government is under no obligation to pay for information submitted in response to this RFI, and responses to this notice cannot be accepted as offers. Any information that the vendor considers proprietary should be clearly marked as such. This solicitation and other business opportunities for NRL are available at our website http://heron.nrl.navy.mil/contracts/listsource.htm.