[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28305-28306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12932]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Solicitation for a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement 
for the Transfer and Use of a Unique Infrared Laser

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Research, Development, 
and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) announces its intent to enter into a 
Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) and seeks 
inquiries and proposals from potential partners. The goal of this CRADA 
will be the transfer of a one-of-a-kind infrared laser from AMRDEC to 
the partner's facilities and the cooperative demonstration of a new 
remote sensing methodology using this laser.

DATES: Preliminary inquiries and comments from potential partners must 
be received by August 1, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit inquiries and comments to U.S. Army RDECOM AMRDEC, 
ATTN: RDMR-CST (ORTA), 5400 Fowler Road, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898 
([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the proposed agreement, the Army's 
AMRDEC plans to collaborate with a single academic or industrial 
partner. Together, the AMRDEC and its CRADA partner will explore and 
demonstrate the new trace gas remote sensing methodology based on 
infrared/terahertz double resonance spectroscopy, as described in the 
cited references below.
    The double resonance technique requires a specially designed 
infrared laser that produces powerful (100 mJ) short pulses (100 ps) of 
wavelength tunable radiation (9-11 microns). A laser that uniquely 
matches those requirements was fabricated by STI Optronics, Inc. as 
part of a DARPA-funded Phase II SBIR contract and delivered to AMRDEC 
in 2014.
    The CRADA partner must have the resources to package, ship, and 
install this laser in its facilities and operate it in partnership with 
AMRDEC to demonstrate the double resonance spectroscopic technique in 
either a simulated atmospheric chamber containing a trace gas and/or in 
an actual outdoor laser test range in which a trace gas may be safely 
released and detected.
    Ideally, the partner will have a history of performing laboratory 
and/or outdoor spectroscopic sensing and will have the necessary 
infrastructure and expertise to operate this laser safely and reliably. 
As necessary, the partner should be prepared to elicit funding from 
other sources to support this project and may anticipate active support 
from AMRDEC in the preparation of such proposals.
    AMRDEC, with its CRADA partner, will create a structured and 
collaborative environment to advance concepts and technologies for this 
experimental proof of concept demonstration. The desired products of 
the proposed collaboration are a successful demonstration of the double 
resonance technique using this laser and quantitative validation of the 
performance predicted in the cited references. When the CRADA ends, the 
partner will retain ownership of the laser, which may be used for other 
applications during and after the CRADA period.
    The AMRDEC's contributions under the proposed CRADA will include:
    (1) Scientific expertise in foundational molecular spectroscopy and 
the double resonance technique developed by its researchers and 
collaborators;
    (2) Access to AMRDEC's laboratories and facilities where molecular 
spectroscopic research is performed;
    (3) Cooperation with the partner as they package, ship, and install 
the laser at the partner's facility; and
    (4) Cooperation in the preparation of proposals and mentoring of 
researchers new to aspects of the proposed project.
    The non-Federal party's contributions under the proposed CRADA will 
include:
    (1) Making arrangements and providing funding to package and ship 
the laser from AMRDEC facilities and install the laser at the partner's 
facility;
    (2) Expert operation and maintenance of this unique laser in 
support of the proof-of-concept demonstration of this double resonance 
technique as well as other applications of the laser based on the 
partner's unique expertise;
    (3) Joint publications and/or patents and/or demonstration hardware 
as well as sharing of the accumulated intellectual property through the 
terms specified in the CRADA; and
    (4) Writing and submitting research proposals for funding of this 
project to external sponsors, with the full support of AMRDEC.
    AMRDEC reserves the right to select for its CRADA partner one or 
none of the proposals in response to this notice. AMRDEC will provide 
no funding for reimbursement of proposal development costs. Proposals 
(or any other material) submitted in response to this notice will not 
be returned. Proposals submitted are expected to be unclassified and 
have no more than 4 single-sided pages (excluding cover page and 
resumes). AMRDEC will select proposals at its sole discretion on the 
basis of:
    (1) How well they communicate an understanding of, and ability to 
meet, the proposed CRADA's goal; and
    (2) How well they address the following criteria:
    (a) Technical capability to satisfy the non-Federal party's 
described contributions;
    (b) Resources available for satisfying the non-Federal party's 
described contributions; and
    (c) Technical expertise/understanding of infrared lasers, ultrafast 
laser spectroscopy, molecular spectroscopy, and remote sensing, as well 
as the necessary infrastructure to support a collaborative research 
project.
    This is a technology transfer/development effort. AMRDEC has no 
plans to procure the technology. Proposals should clearly discuss how 
the concepts and technologies developed will be supported for the 
duration of the CRADA and outline plans to use the laser and the 
jointly

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developed capabilities after the CRADA ends.
    Special consideration will be given to universities and small 
business firms/consortia, and preference will be given to partners 
located in the U.S.
    The deadline for submitting proposals is August 15, 2017, and the 
selected partner will be announced by September 1, 2017.

References

(1) Elizabeth A. Tanner, Dane J. Phillips, Christopher M. Persons, 
Frank C. De Lucia, Henry O. Everitt, ``Infrared/Terahertz Double 
Resonance Spectroscopy for Remote Chemical Sensing,'' Physical 
Review-Applied 2, 054016 (2014).
(2) D.J. Phillips, E.A. Tanner, F.C. De Lucia, and H.O. Everitt, 
``Infrared/Terahertz Double Resonance Spectroscopy of CH3F and CH3Cl 
at Atmospheric Pressure,'' Physical Review A 85, 052507 (2012). Also 
ArXiv 1202.0595.
(3) F.C. De Lucia, D.T. Petkie, and H.O. Everitt, ``A Double 
Resonance Approach to Submillimeter/Terahertz Remote Sensing at 
Atmospheric Pressure'', IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 45, 163 (2009).

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2017-12932 Filed 6-20-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-03-P