--SMM Wave Device/System Technical Assistance, Fabrication and Support for the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC), Charlottesville, VA.

The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within 10 days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Govern ment not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive p rocurement. The National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) intends to establish a sole source contract (base year plus four option years). The authority cited is FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agenc y requirements. The purpose of this Contact is to provide the US Army National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC) Expert Radar Signature Solutions (ERADS) Program, and other Department of Defense (DOD) elements, support in identifying, investigating, desig ning, evaluating, installing, fabricating, upgrading, and supplying other engineering assistance for one of a kind advanced submillimeter (SMM) wave devices/systems developed for and being used in the NGIC ERADS Compton Compact Radar Range (CCRR), the inve stigation and evaluation of alternative DOD related SMM wave technologies and applications, and support for designing, fabricating, and assembling modifications, upgrades or enhancements for unique compact range mechanical components. In completing this w ork, the Contractor shall maintain a state of the art level of expertise in all the technical areas required for the continuing advancement and fabrication of SMM wave devices/systems, alternate SMM technologies, and specialized compact range mechanical co mponents needed by NGIC to provide signatures to DOD elements. The contractor shall make recommendations to NGIC as to the applicability of new techniques, mathematical models, materials, devices, Far Infrared (FIR) sources, FIR detectors, FIR technologie s, micro-machining techniques, micro-electro mechanical systems and FIR systems for use in the ERADS CCRR and in related DOD applications. Devices, instruments, detectors, receivers, sources, transceivers, compact range mechanical components, and other re lated systems shall be designed, fabricated, assembled, tested, demonstrated, delivered, installed and made operational in the NGIC ERADS Program compact radar ranges or at other Government identified facilities. ERADS Program and Facilities Support: The Contractor shall conduct the necessary investigations, studies, and reviews, and participate in conferences and meetings to maintain a state of the art level of expertise in all scientific, engineering, and techn ology areas related to SMM wave technologies for radar applications. Particular attention shall be given to SMM wave application of emerging capabilities with FIR sources, devices, sensors, incoherent and coherent transceivers, micro-machining techniques, and micro-electric mechanical components/systems. Based on the information acquired, the Contractor shall identify promising advances and make recommendations to NGIC in these areas. In addition, the Contractor shall provide ERADS Program technical assi stance in installing, maintaining, sustaining and upgrading one of a kind advanced submillimeter wave systems and compact range mechanical systems fabricated for and being used in the NGIC and NGIC Contractor compact radar ranges. In order to sustain a st ate-of-the-art capability for producing SMM wave devices and related technologies in the UVA SMM wave laboratory, the Contractor shall maintain and upgrade on-site Contractor and Government furnished p roperty (GFP). Schottky Diode Technology: The object of this Task is to advance the production of; Schottky barrier advanced point contact and planar diodes, varactor type diodes, and other related devices for use in heterodyne FIR mixers, transmitters an d receivers, sub harmonically pumped receivers, and FIR wave-guide receivers. Each of these areas shall be investigated and evaluated with the ultimate goal of producing more sensitive, stable, and optically isolated FIR devices, assemblies, and receivers for use in the NGIC ERADS Program compact ranges. Related hardware items and equipment along with a reliable supply of proven diodes and associated components shall be developed concurrently to support specific tasks. While requirements are for the 160 GHz -3.0 THz frequency range, emphasis shall be placed on the 1.0-3.0 THz spectrum. Items and systems produced shall be delivered, installed, and demonstrated in the NGIC ERADS Program compact ranges or other Government designated Agencies/Facilities. Sup erconducting Device Fir Technology: The object of this Task is to investigate, evaluate and advance the fabrication of superconducting materials, junctions, and devices; integration and testing of these new devices as superconducting FIR direct detectors/ systems; and, integration and testing of these same devices as superconducting heterodyne FIR receiver components/systems. Prototype receiver components shall be designed, fabricated, characterized, and tested. The final prototype components or modules s hall be delivered, installed, and demonstrated in a NGIC ERADS Program test bed radar system. The applicability of using superconducting devices for advanced FIR radar systems shall be investigated and evaluated with the ultimate goal of producing more se nsitive lower noise FIR receivers for use in the NGIC ERADS Project radars. While requirements are for the 160 GHz -3.0 THz frequency range, emphasis shall be placed on the 1.0-3.0 THz spectrum. Alternative SMM Wave Technologies And Applications: The Co ntractor shall investigate, design, assemble, characterize and test, components and subassemblies based on existing and emerging alternative SMM wave technologies for potential operation as high-power millimeter wave driver amplifiers in the ERADS Program GHz and THz operational and test-bed systems. Promising solid state systems, such as FIR spectrum lasers, shall be evaluated for output frequency, power, stability, purity, and other spectral characteristics necessary for assembling a transmitter for us e as either a primary FIR radiation source or a local oscillator. Solid state system based transmitters shall be investigate and evaluated, and if promising, designed, fabricated, assembled, and tested, at Government specified frequencies in the FIR spect rum, and be delivered and installed in a NGIC ERADS Program test bed radar system. While requirements are for the 160 GHz -3.0 THz frequency range, emphasis shall be placed on the 1.0-3.0 THz spectrum. SMM Wave Support Systems: The Contractor shall inves tigate, study, design, fabricate, characterize, test, and demonstrate prototype state-of-the-art directly related systems/capabilities/technologies required to support the continued upgrades and enhancements needed for advancing SMM wave radar transceivers and subsystems for applications in the ERADS Program radars. Advancements in micro-machining capabilities and/or techniques required for the design and fabrication of ERADS Program radar components such as waveguides, structures for integrated circuits, and supports for focal plane arrays shall be investigated, designed, characterized, fabricated, tested and demonstrated. Advancements in Micro-Electro Mechanical Systems, (MEMS) shall be investigated, designed, characterized, fabricated, tested and demons trated as potential THz 'switches and tuners' for use in ERADS Program radar components for enhancing transceiver performance and THz focal plane imaging array fabrication. Special emphasis shall be placed on systems for applications in the frequency range 1.0-3.0 THz. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. The capability statements shall include specific and detailed technical documentation to support capability claims. All inquiries from responsive, interested parties will be considered. I nformation received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely with in the discretion of the Government. No telephone inquires will be accepted; however inquires may be submitted by email to anamaria.boner.army.mil Closing date/time 21 July 2006, 4:00 p.m. (e.s.t.)