Directed Energy Technology Experimentation Research (DETER) Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) Open Announcement

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is soliciting white papers and proposals for the Directed Energy Technology Experimentation Research (DETER) Advanced Research Announcement (ARA) Open Announcement. The goal of this announcement is to perform research and development, modeling and simulation, design, component/subsystem, prototype risk reduction, fabrication/purchase, assembly, integration, and testing of directed energy source components and systems. The announcement covers nine topic areas, including directed energy sources, acquisition tracking pointing and beam control systems, DE weapon systems, DE effects testing, modeling simulation and analysis, wargaming, innovative space domain awareness, experiments testing and demonstrations, and laboratory materials supplies and services in support of experimentation. Some key points of this opportunity include: * The announcement is open, and calls may be issued under this announcement for discrete requirements. * White papers and proposals should address how the proposed effort provides benefits to national defense and a strategy for verifying those intended benefits. * The proposed solutions should be innovative and substantially improve national defense capabilities across the domains of directed energy. * The Government anticipates that a mix of contract/instrument types will be used throughout the life of this ARA, including cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost, firm fixed price, other transaction authority, and grants. * The estimated program cost has an unrestricted ceiling, but individual calls may provide an estimated program value or funding profile for planning purposes. * The Air Force anticipates awarding multiple awards for this announcement, and there is no limit on the number of awards that may be made to an individual Offeror.