Eye-safe elastic backscatter (EBS) LIDAR technology

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is faced with a range of challenges in developing capabilities to address the chemical and biological (CB) Counter WMD (CWMD) mission. DTRA's CWMD Test Support Department is tasked with developing and fielding the advanced technologies, methodologies and instrumentation that will be used to test new and emerging WMD defeat capabilities. Technologies are desired that can measure from a standoff distance a wide variety of kinetic release plume characteristics, as well as the associated atmospheric dynamics. Eye-safe elastic backscatter (EBS) LIDAR technology coupled with advanced processing and analysis algorithms are desired that can deliver unique measurements and valuable data to the CWMD test and evaluation community. DTRA is seeking sources to provide existing LIDAR systems that provide the capability to simultaneously detect, map and track chemical, biological and debris aerosol plumes out to ranges of > 5 km, and to derive the vector wind field information by applying advanced motion estimation algorithms to the aerosol features in the plumes and surrounding atmosphere. In addition, real-time assimilation of the aerosol plume and wind data into atmospheric Transport and Dispersion (T&D) models such as the Second-order Closure Integrated PUFF (SCIPUFF) model is required to improve downwind hazard prediction and source term estimation. Finally, the LIDAR system must be capable of being modified to incorporate an active imaging capability that can provide information about the source of the plumes and be applied to other ISR missions. These data and capabilities have not been previously available from a single standoff instrument and they promise to provide new insights into the formation, concentration distribution, transport, dispersion and fate of aerosol plumes. The LIDAR system must meet the following requirements: - Detect, map and track chemical, biological and debris aerosol plumes out to ranges of > 5 km with a line-of-sight spatial resolution of < 5 m. - Derive 2-D horizontal vector wind fields over the entire field-of-regard (FOR) from the aerosol motion in the plumes and/or the surrounding atmosphere using correlation and wavelet-based mathematical techniques. - Provide immediate projections of the forecasted positions of all plumes in the FOR at the end of each scan. Forecast times should be selectable between 1 and 5 minutes into the future. - Cue point sensors on mobile platforms to the forecasted location of the plumes. Categorize/prioritize the plumes for point sensor interrogation. - Assimilate the aerosol plume and wind data into the SCIPUFF T&D model and provide real-time predictions of the plume transport & dispersion for > 30 minutes in the future. Provide source term estimates using the same data. - Interoperate with other remote sensors in a networked sensor environment to provide cueing and receive cueing about potential threat cloud locations. - Fuse aerosol and wind data with data from point sensors and other sensors in the network and provide real-time data products to the Common Operating Picture (COP). Data products provided to the COP shall include (for each plume): o Observed plume boundary and height o Observed plume peak concentration coordinate o Average wind vector across observed plume o Forecasted plume boundary and height o Forecasted plume peak concentration coordinate o "All Clear" condition when no plumes are present. - Ability to be modified to integrate an active imaging mode for ISR applications. - Eye-safe, portable (475 lbs.) with rapid set-up time of between 30-40 minutes. Prospective sources with existing LIDAR systems that have the potential to provide the above required capabilities are requested to provide a detailed description of the system and the current stage of development. If the existing system does not currently provide the above described capabilities, it is requested that the detailed description include an estimated time-line of when the capabilities could be achieved, and a Rough Order of Magnitude of the cost to achieve the capabilities. Responses shall also include the following information: company name, address, point of contact, telephone number, email address, business size and small business status (if applicable), teaming partners and/or major subcontractors. It is requested that capability statements be limited to 4 pages in length. This synopsis is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a request for proposal, and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the government.