Broad Agency Announcement for Commercial Acoustic MOdem Assemblies

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport (NUWC Division Keyport) is soliciting proposals under a broad agency announcement (BAA), N00253-BAA01-03. NUWC Division Keyport is interested in proposals that identify commercial acoustic modem assemblies that may be used in a technologically innovative manner to transmit data and telemetry between an underwater vehicle (submarine or AUV) and another platform. For consideration, proposals in response to this BAA shall be received by 31 March 2003, 1500 hours Pacific Time, 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 an underwater vehicle (submarine o r AUV) and another platform using commercial acoustic modems. In addition, the Navy is seeking to establish a broad base of capable and knowledgeable contractors that may compete for future contracts involving data and telemetry transmission between an underwater vehicle (submarine or AUV) and another platform using commercial 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 an underwater vehicle (submarine or AUV) and another platform using commercial acoustic modems. Commercial product brochures may be provided as supplementary information. The technical proposal will b e 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 scheme 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, 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 transmit/receive frequency greater than 15 kHz and a transmit/receive frequency of 25 kHz to 30 kHz (may be satisfied by two different transducer assemblies), and a depth capability of 1000 meters. Submit pricing information separately, with unit and extended pricing information provided for the lease of 2 each acoustic modem control units that can not only connect to a dunking transducer, but also can connect 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 be in the 25 kHz to 30 kHz frequency range and the other which must have a transmit/receive frequency greater than 15 kHz, on a weekly basis. It is anticipated that any purchase order issued as a result of this announcement will include a base period of one week's lease, with options for up to three additional weeks lease. NUWC Division Keyport anticipates awarding up to a maximum of $25K in awards, issued on a firm fixed price, bilateral purchase order basis. An initial award is expected to be in place by 1 April 03, in order to support initial proofing of concept tests. Proposals may be accepted, and awards made resulting from this announc ement, through 30 May 03. No minimum or maximum number of awards can be guaranteed.