TO: ALL Potential Respondents

SUBJECT: Request for Information on Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Technology Insertion Opportunities for Future Sensors

1. The Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Directorate of Development Planning (XR), Los Angeles Air Force Base, California is requesting information for relevant technology developments for OPIR components and subsystems needed to support technology insertion opportunities and enhancements for future OPIR sensors. This request is another element of ongoing market research to define potential materiel solutions to support Department of Defense (DoD) and National Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) initiatives. This market research is in direct support of the Joint OPIR Integrated Space Trade (JOIST) study being co-led by the Executive Agent for Space and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center Developmental Planning Division is soliciting for inputs on development projects. Please note: An Industry Day was held at the end of September 2011 in support of this same study effort that solicited information onwhole sensor technologies, constellations, and architecture alternatives; as described in Solicitation 11-84. Responses to that solicitation should not be resubmitted.

2. The focus of this effort is to identify advanced technologies that are either:
1) at TRL/MRL levels (5 to 7 +) which could be sufficiently matured for incorporation into the next generation of OPIR system designs slated for launch from 2017-2022, or
2) at TRL/MRL levels (3 to 5) that could be matured and incorporated into OPIR system designs that would be launched from 2022-2030.
Interested respondents should provide relevant materials to summarize the technology, its maturity, how it will contribute to future OPIR systems/applications and address capabilities defined in the OPIR Enterprise Initial Capabilities Document (lCD). Specifically, the Government would like to understand the potential technologies, current TRL and MRL, space qualification needs, and what R&D investment would be necessary to mature the technology to at least a TRL and MRL of 6 in two-to-five years.

3. Specific areas of focus include:

a) Advanced OPIR Component Technologies. OPIR component technologies of interest are meant to improve or replace a component, collection of components, or subsystem in an OPIR sensor design concept which may or may not have been realized to date in an actual system. Examples include focal plane arrays (FPA), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), cryocoolers, optical materials (rad hard glasses, filters, optical coatings), line of sight (LOS) stabilization technologies such as fiber optic gyros, fine steering mirrors, inertial reference unit (IRU) techniques, radiation resistant and radiation hardened optics, electronics, processors, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), on-orbit processing (processors, algorithms), innovative exploitation of OPIR phenomenology, and thermal control.
b) Space vehicle technologies/components/subsystems applicable to OPIR sensors. Space vehicle technologies/components/subsystems are technologies that cover the gamut of components and subsystems needed to support a space-based OPIR sensor and might address the need for light weight structures, power, propulsion, data recording, internal communications, pointing & tracking, and so forth.
c) Space-to-ground communications hardware. software and algorithms that address OPIR data transfer. Space-to-ground communications technologies address the cost of processing, compressing, encrypting and transmitting OPIR wideband data as well as assure downlink robustness

The Government encourages respondents to leverage analysis and work conducted in previous OPIR efforts. All materials must be properly marked to identify specific proprietary or export controlled material information. Materials may be classified up to the SCI level. Please submit classified materials through the classified network included with the POC information. All unclassified materials can be sent through regular e-mail. Contact the POC if you require special arrangements to submit classified responses.

4. To facilitate evaluation, SMC/XR requests interested industry respondents to complete a template describing their proposed technologies and submit no more than 30 pages. Contact the SMC/XR POC listed below to obtain an electronic copy of the template. Please provide contractual and technical points of contact including phone numbers and email addresses.

Response Information
This request is for industry market research, budgetary and planning estimation purposes only. The Government will not award a contract on the basis of this market survey or responses received. The Government intends to use Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA), University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) and National Laboratory (NL) support to assist in the review of the materials. All Government, FFRDC, SETA, UARC and NL personnel will sign appropriate non-disclosure forms.
Please be advised that the Government will not pay for costs associated with the preparation of the requested materials. The Government may contact a respondent for more information or clarification purposes. The Government does not commit to contacting a respondent or providing any feedback on a response. Respondents to this request should stipulate any assumptions used in the development of their presentation. No extensions to the schedule are foreseen. Responses from small and small disadvantaged businesses are encouraged.
This RFI is unrestricted and encourages responses from all responsible contractors independent of size. Additionally, responses from small business and small, disadvantaged business firms are highly encouraged. Firms responding should indicate if they are a small business, a socially and economically disadvantaged business, 8(a) firms, historically black colleges or universities, and minority institutions. The NAICS 541712 size standard (1,000 employees) is applicable to the subcategory for "Space Vehicles and Guided Missiles, their Propulsion Units, their Propulsion Units Parts, and their Auxiliary Equipment and Parts.

All responses are to be provided using the government provided template. Submit the responses to the appropriate level email. Responses are due by 1700 PST on 12 December 11.

Submissions of RFI should be sent to:
 Primary: Richard Williamson, SETA Support, SMC/XRD, (310) 653-9277; unclassified e-mail: [email protected]; classified e-mail: [email protected]
 Alternate: Capt Edward Beckett, OPIR DP Lead, SMC/XRD, (310) 653-9216, unclassified email: [email protected]; classified email [email protected]

Contracting Points of Contact

 Mr. Joseph Simonds, Director of Contracts, SMC/XRC, (310) 653-9072, [email protected]
 Miss Erin Orthmeyer, Acquisition Analyst, SMC/XRC, (310) 659-9679, [email protected]

Sincerely,

Joseph Simonds
Director of Contracts, SMC/XR