B -- Variable Laser Eye/Sensor Protection technology

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION DRAWING PACKAGE AVAILABLE. This is a request for information only as defined in FAR 15.201(e). The government does not presently intend to award a contract, but wants to obtain information on engineering support for the development, fabrication, and test of variable laser-protective transparencies for planning purposes. This is a request for information only. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Air Expeditionary Force Battlelab (AEFB) is planning to conduct an initiative that will evaluate the feasibility and advantage of Variable Laser Eye/Sensor Protection technology. The envisioned system should utilize - light valve technology to provide rapidly adjustable protection for electro-optical sensors and personnel against threats posed by laser designators and ranging devices. Given that capability, Combat Air Forces could ensure mission accomplishment in a battlefield laser threat environment with the additional benefit of force protection at deployed locations. The AEFB is primarily interested in Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) products that could be adapted for this purpose. The AEFB is seeking information from industry representatives who would be interested in providing engineering and fabrication support to produce and certify an operational prototype item for this initiative demonstration. The objectives of this initiative include demonstrating a transparency constructed with Suspended Particle Device technology that can absorb, diffuse, or reflect laser light sufficiently to prevent injury to the eyes of personnel or damage to electro-optical devices, i.e. Charge Coupled Devices. The transparency would protect against laser energy in the visible spectrum to far infrared spectrum, ideally wavelengths from .4 microns to 11 microns. While incorporated into personnel protection systems, such as crew visors, goggles, or vehicle/aircraft transparencies, the technology should be controllable by the users or by automatic means, (i.e. photovoltaic sensors) across the visible spectrum. The system should also allow full color, unimpeded field of view in ambient lighting and while activated against laser energy. The system should operate from either alternating or direct current, offer low power consumption, adjust uniformly and instantaneously, be durable, flexible, and withstand a temperature range of -40C to 100C. Request information be submitted NO LATER THAN 27 April 2003 to Capt. Patrick Sullivan, Air Expeditionary Force Battlelab, 360 Gunfighter Ave, Suite 1, Mountain Home AFB, ID 83648. Capt. Sullivan can be reached at +1 (555) 000-0000. Please provide a rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimate for conducting this initiative. A formal solicitation MAY NOT BE ISSUED as a result of this RFI. Information provided may or may not be included in a formal solicitation. The USAF will not release any information marked with a Proprietary legend, received in response to this RFI to any firms, agencies, or individuals outside the USAF without written permission in accordance with the legend.