High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft

All Points of contact remain the same; this amendment only updates the email address for Janice Olson janice.olson@mda.mil . Missile Defense Agency High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aircraft Request for Information (RFI) 1. General Information The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Advanced Technology Directorate is interested in industry's capability to provide a High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft in the 2023 timeframe. A HALE aircraft with greater payload capacity is needed to carry a high energy laser system payload to high altitudes to mature Boost Phase Intercept (BPI). The results of this RFI will inform future program options for maturing BPI technology and capability following the current Low Power Laser Demonstrator (LPLD) effort. Proposed aircraft should be able to maintain continuous positive ground control and are expected to operate from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii and Edwards AFB in California. Unmanned platforms are highly desired; however, manned concepts will be considered with appropriate justification. In parallel with ongoing BPI technology maturation and demonstration projects, BMDS capability requirements for an airborne high energy laser BPI capability are being developed. Based on analysis to date, Paragraph 2.a below describes the ideal platform characteristics to enable robust BPI capability. MDA is interested in far-term platform approaches to meet the full performance of Paragraph 2.a and mid-term solutions that demonstrate significant progress toward achieving these performance parameters. Concepts that do not meet these parameters are requested to include future options for improving performance, where applicable. Under this BAA/RFI, multiple White Papers and/or proposals at differing levels of capability and/or risk are acceptable. Contractors are encouraged to include information on alternate uses and potential commercialization for proposed aircraft designs along with potential Government and/or non-Government co-sponsors. Areas such as cost, life-cycle affordability, and further commercialization will be important considerations in evaluating future concepts and for any forthcoming acquisitions. 2. Parameters of Interest - a. Performance Parameters - i. On-station altitude of greater than 63,000 ft - ii. Flight endurance of greater than 36 hrs on-station (plus flight time for notional 3,000 km transit to station) - iii. Flight cruise speed of less than Mach 0.45 at on-station altitude - iv. Payload capacity of at least 5,000 lbs and as much as 12,500 lbs - v. Power available for the payload of at least 140 kW and as much as 280 kW for greater than 30 minutes with no loss in platform altitude - vi. Support a 1 to 2 meter aperture optical payload - vii. Low vibration at altitude: angular displacements of less than 50 - rad - viii. Maintain continuous positive ground control - b. Supporting Data - i. Technology Readiness Levels, delivery schedules, cost, and life-cycle affordability - ii. Co-sponsor and/or subcontractor information - iii. Further commercialization of proposed aircraft concept(s) - iv. Flight envelopes and profiles - v. Available aircraft flight test data that support performance expectations - vi. Platform vibration analysis for the operational environment - vii. Trade-off analyses - viii. Assumed flight CONOPS - ix. Command and Control CONOPS - x. Any special provisions, handling procedures, etc. that have an impact on CONOPS - c. Aircraft Hardware Specification - i. Engine type, fuel type, and associated handling procedures - ii. Power generation and/or energy storage systems - iii. Wing geometry information such as configuration, span, and area - iv. Weight information such as empty weight, fuel weight, and maximum takeoff weight - v. Communication capabilities such as communications suite, accessible communication bands, bandwidth limitations, physical location limitations, beyond-line-of-sight data transmission and control, and any associated CONOPS 3. Responses Respondents to this BAA/RFI are invited to prepare and submit, no later than August 16, 2017, the following: - a. Executive Summary that includes: - i. Company Name - ii. Point of Contact - iii. Address - iv. Telephone Number - v. E-mail Address - vi. DUNS Number - vii. CAGE code and/or Tax ID Number - viii. Business Size Standard and applicable NAICS Codes - b. Response Papers (not to exceed fifteen (15) pages) that shall address the parameters and information described in Para 2. - c. Respondents are asked to address their submissions to Mr. Marshall Everett, (256) 450-4894, or via e-mail at marshall.everett@mda.mil. 4. Requested Information - a. This BAA/RFI does not constitute a solicitation or request for proposal and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses will not be treated as proposals, nor will they be used in the evaluation of responses to any future formal Request for Proposal. The Government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. MDA does not intend to pay for the information solicited and will not reimburse any costs associated with responding to this RFI. At the time of this notice, no current year appropriated funds are available for any acquisition under this synopsis. Eligibility in participating in a future acquisition does not depend upon a response to this notice. - b. Proprietary information is not sought by MDA. If such information is submitted, it must clearly be marked "proprietary" on every sheet containing such information, and the proprietary information must be segregated to the maximum extent practicable from other portions of the response. Any such attachments shall be considered as part of the White Paper and, therefore, shall be subject to the page limit denoted in Para 3.b. Respondents are responsible for adequately marking proprietary material in their response. The Government may/intend to use third party, non-Government support personnel as subject matter experts in the review of responses received, including the review of any marked or unmarked proprietary information provided. Appropriate non-disclosure agreements will be executed between the third party, non-Government support personnel and the Government. A submission of a response to this RFI constitutes the Respondent's acknowledgment and agreement that the information provided in the response, including any marked or unmarked proprietary or source selection information, may be disclosed to these third party, non-Government support personnel. 5. Questions Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to the points of contact listed below: Primary Technical Representative: Dr. Joe Bonometti joseph.bonometti@mda.mil Secondary Technical Representative: Marshall Everett marshall.everett@mda.mil