Fuze Technology Research Sources Sought

Title of Announcement: Fuze Technology Research Sources Sought Research and Development (R&D) sources are sought for the Sub-millimeter Wave Imaging Fuze Technology (SWIFT) Exploratory Development project which intends to develop and demonstrate a breadboard imaging fuze sensor. The objective of this program will be to design an active imaging fuze sensor architecture that is nose mounted on a weapon airframe with a diameter ranging from 3 to 7 inches. This fuze sensor is intended to detect airborne or surface targets of interest; determine the range, range rate, and location of the target with respect to the airframe's coordinate system; and declare the aimpoint on the target for use by an electrically aimed kill mechanism. The goals for this sensor are to detect the target, locate its centroid, and declare an aimpoint at sufficient distance for invoking the kill mechanism. Although active radar components have been demonstrated up to 800 GHz, this effort intends to limit the choices of operating frequency to those that can be supported by commercially available test equipment. The purpose of this sources sought is to determine what capabilities exist in Industry to design, fabricate and evaluate the SWIFT concept. Technologies of interest include sources, modulators, mixers, antenna arrays, radar architectures, algorithms, clutter measurements, target measurements, synthetic scene generation software, etc; that could be used to realize the SWIFT concept. Anticipated tasks of this effort are as follows: concept refinement, concept simulation, breadboard fabrication, limited signature measurements, and limited dynamic field testing for simulation validation. The period of performance for this effort is anticipated to be 36 months. At this time we are requesting for agency consideration, information/qualification packages from all responsible sources that reflect their interest, capability to perform design and development of this next generation active imaging fuze sensor concept, and relevant firm/personnel background. Submit information/qualification package to AFRL/RWK, Attention: Connie Homan/Laura Klepper, 101 West Eglin Boulevard (Bldg 13), Suite 337, Eglin AFB, FL 32542-6810, and reference RWK-RFI-09-001. Firms will be evaluated on their experience, personnel, and facilities. Responses to this synopsis must be received within 30 days from the date of publication. Respondents to this notice will not be notified of the results of the evaluation of information submitted. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only. It does not constitute an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or Request for Proposal (RFP), and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Firms responding to this synopsis should state the size and/or category of their firm for NAICS Code 541712 (500 people).