Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Acoustic Modem Assemblies

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport (NUWC Division Keyport) is soliciting proposals under a broad agency announcement (BAA), N00253-BAA09-03. NUWC Division Keyport is interested in proposals that identify acoustic modem assemblies that may be used in a technologically innovative manner to transmit data and telemetry between a submarine and a fixed platform. Proposals may be accepted, and awards made resulting from this announcement, through 30 Jun 04, addressed to Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport, Acquisition Division, 610 Dowell Street, Keyport WA 98345, Attn: Ms. Monique Klose. This is an unrestricted solicitation. The purpose of this announcement is to investigate innovative commercial technologies and approaches to transmit data and telemetry between a submarine and a fixed platform using acoustic modems. In addition, the Navy is seeking to estab lish a broad base of capable and knowledgeable contractors that may compete for future contracts involving data and telemetry transmission between a submarine and a fixed platform using acoustic modems. Under this broad agency announcement, contracts will be awarded to those contractors who are determined technically acceptable. Proposals must include the following: A technical proposal consisting of no more than two 8 inch x 11 inch pages that details how its technology may be used in the transmission of data and telemetry between a submarine and a fixed platform using acoustic modems. Commercial product brochures may be provided as supplementary information. The technical proposal will be reviewed and evaluated for technical acceptability. Elements considered in determining technical acceptability will be realism and innovation of approach, with an emphasis on a modulation sc heme that allows for a data rate of at least 300 bps in a shallow water environment (600 feet or less), a bit error rate of less than 10 to the -7th power with high SNR, a range of at least 4000 yards, a Doppler capability of at least 5 knots with the capability to modify the modulation scheme to handle 20 knots of Doppler, a transducer with an omni-directional beam pattern, a depth capability of 1000 meters, a transmit/receive frequency greater than 15 kHz and/or a transmit/receive frequency of 25 kHz to 30 kHz (may be satisfied by two different transducer assemblies). Submit pricing information separately, with unit and extended pricing information provided for the lease of each acoustic modem control units that can connect not only to a dunking transducer, but also to another transducer using a BNC connector, and up to 4 each omni-directional, dunking transducers with a 100 meter cable, one pair of which must have a transmit/receive frequency greater than 15 kHz and/or another pair in the 25 kHz to 30 kHz frequency range, on a weekly basis. NUWC Division Keyport anticipates issuing awards on a firm fixed price, bilateral purchase order basis. Initial awards may be placed within 15 days after the issuance date of this announcement. No minimum or maximum number of awards can be guaranteed.