Reconfigurable Reprogrammable Read-Out Integrated Circuits (ROICs)

AFRL/RW, the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate, is looking for information and potential sources in the reconfigurable reprogrammable Read-Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) area. RW pursued advanced Read-Out Integrated Circuits (ROICs) for imaging weapons in the early 2000s and one line of investigation that showed promise was "Variable Acuity Superpixel Imagers (VASITM)". For reference material refer to P. L. McCarley, M. A. Massie, J. P. Curzan, "Foveating infrared imaging sensors", Proc. SPIE Vol. 6660A, (2007) p. 6660A 1-14.The goal of this technology was threefold: 1) cover a wide field of view with a large detector array (512 x 512 or greater), 2) maintain the highest possible spatial resolution on multiple targets of interest within the FOV and 3) operate at the highest possible frame rate while minimizing the output data rate. AFRL/RW has not pursued this technology in several years and with the advent of multi-aperture WFOV optics is now interested in current state-of-the-art technologies in the reconfigurable reprogrammable ROIC area. RW is looking for potential sources that have experience with reconfigurable reprogrammable ROICs. The ROICs should be reconfigurable on a frame-by-frame basis at rates up to thousands of hertz. The ROIC should be capable of reading out arbitrary conglomerations of neighboring pixels (superpixels) of varying shapes, allowing for the placement of high resolution "tracking" windows within lower resolution "surveillance" regions, as well as other arbitrary configurations. Our interests include ROICs in the visible and short wave/mid wave/long wave infrared. This is a request for information and potential sources capable of demonstrating relevant experience with current state-of-the-art reconfigurable reprogrammable ROIC technologies. Respondents should have developed functioning prototypes and documented test results. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS NOTICE OR TO OTHERWISE PAY FOR THE INFORMATION SOLICITED. The government is interested in experience in the following areas: a) reconfigurable reprogrammable ROIC design and fabrication capabilities, b) prototype concepts developed in the visible and IR wavebands, and c) documented system test results. Based upon the responses to this notice, an Industry Day may be announced at a later date. This is not a request for proposal and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Any information submitted is voluntary. Responses will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions, possibly in FY15. Responses to this notice shall be mailed to the AFRL Contracting Division, AFRL/RWK, 101 West Eglin Blvd, Bldg 13, Eglin Air Force Base, FL 32542-6810, ATTN: Ms. MiMi Martin, or sent electronically to mimi.martin@eglin.af.mil. Please provide electronic responses with this subject: Reconfigurable Reprogrammable Read-Out Integrated Circuits (ROICs). Responses must be received no later than 3 PM CT on 31 January 2014. For technical questions, please contact Mr. Shawn Goodrich, at 850-882-4244.