SOCOM FY10.1 SBIR Solicitation Topics

UNITED STATES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND

SBIR FY10.1 Proposal Submission

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) seeks small businesses with strong research and development capabilities to pursue and commercialize technologies needed by Special Operations Forces. The USSOCOM Program Executive Officers (PEOs) submitted the topics and all topics are expected to transition to an acquisition Program of Record or Concept of Operation. Additional information on the USSOCOM SBIR Program can be found on www.socomsbir.com.

Phase I and Phase II Proposal Submission: USSOCOM will only accept proposals for the topics included in this solicitation and selects and funds only those proposals considered to be superior.

Potential offerors shall submit all Phase I and Phase II proposals in accordance with the DoD Program Solicitation at www.dodsbir.net/solicitation. All proposals must include the following documents: a cover sheet, a technical proposal and a cost proposal. The proposal submission, exclusive of the Company Commercialization Report and the Cost Form shall not exceed 25 pages. Reviewers will be directed not to read pages in excess of the 25 page limit.

Offerors must complete the cost proposal using the cost proposal form posted on the USSOCOM section of the www.dodsbir.net/solicitation site.

Unless otherwise specified in the Phase I topic write-up, all firms shall include as part of the Phase I proposal transportation costs to travel to Tampa, Florida for two separate meetings. The first travel requirement shall be the Phase I Kick-Off meeting and the second travel requirement shall be for the Phase I Out-Brief Meeting. USSOCOM typically allows four (4) hours for each meeting to ensure the firm and USSOCOM have sufficient time to ask questions and to clarify the way forward with the feasibility study. The Principal Investigator and all other representatives needed to discuss the firm's technology pursuit shall attend the Phase I Kick-Off and Out-Brief meetings. The location of the Phase II Kick-Off and Out-Brief meetings will be specified in the Phase II Statement of Objectives.

All proposal information must be received electronically via the DOD SBIR/STTR Submission site. To submit, proceed to http://www.dodsbir.net/submission. Once registered, a firm must prepare (and update) their Company Commercialization Report Data, prepare (and edit) Proposal Cover Sheets, complete the Cost Proposal form, and upload corresponding Technical Proposal(s).

Paper copies will be deemed to be non-responsive and will not be considered. A complete electronic submission is required for proposal evaluation. An electronic signature is not required on the proposal. The DoD SBIR/STTR Submission site will present a confirmation page when a technical proposal file upload has been received. The upload will be available for viewing on the site within an hour. It is in your best interest to review the upload to ensure the server received the complete, readable file.

For additional information about electronic proposal submission, including uploading your technical proposal, refer to the instructions in the solicitation and the on-line help area of the DoD SBIR/STTR Submission site, or call the DoD SBIR/STTR Help Desk at 1-866-SBIRHLP (1-866-724-7457).

USSOCOM does not participate in the Fast Track Program nor does it have a Phase II Enhancement Program.

Site Visits: Site visits will not be permitted during the pre-release and open stages of the solicitation.

Security: All of the topics in the solicitation are UNCLASSIFIED and only UNCLASSIFIED proposals will be accepted.

Communications with USSOCOM: During the pre-release period of this solicitation, any technical inquiries must be submitted in writing through SOCOMSBIR@brtrc.com. All requests must include the topic number in the subject line of the e-mail. During the solicitation open period, all questions must be submitted through the SBIR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS) at www.dodsbir.net/SITIS. See Section 1.5c of the DoD solicitation instructions for additional information.

During the source selection period, e-mail is the only method of communication that will be used by the Government Contracting Officer to notify the submitter/proposer if they have or have not been selected for an award.

Phase I Awards: USSOCOM’s SBIR Program is small compared to the other participating DoD agencies and on average awards three (3) Phase I contracts per topic. The maximum amount of SBIR funding for a Phase I award is $100,000 and the period of performance is six (6) months. USSOCOM does not include options in the resulting Phase I SBIR contracts. Phase I SBIR contracts are Firm Fixed Price contracts.

USSOCOM conducts a formal source selection process to determine which firms should be awarded Phase I SBIR contracts. USSOCOM evaluates Phase I proposals using the below evaluation criteria listed in descending order of importance:

1) The soundness, technical merit, and innovation of the proposed approach and its incremental progress toward topic or subtopic solution.

2) The qualifications of the proposed principal/key investigators, supporting staff, and consultants. Qualifications include not only the ability to perform the research and development but also the ability to commercialize the results.

3) The potential for commercial (Government or private sector) application and the benefits expected to accrue from this commercialization.

Phase II Awards: USSOCOM generally awards one (1) follow-on Phase II contract should the feasibility study favorably conclude that further development will result in a technology that is suitable for its intended use. No Phase II SBIR contract will be awarded if the feasibility study concludes otherwise. A Phase II proposal is awarded with a period of performance of less than 24 months and at a cost between $750,000 to $1 million. USSOCOM may elect to increase the Phase II award amount when it is deemed to be in its best interests. Proposals should be based on realistic cost and time estimates and not on the maximum time (months) and dollars. In preparing the proposal, firms should consider that workload and operational tempo will preclude extensive access to Government and military personnel beyond established periodic reviews.

USSOCOM invites firms to participate in a Phase II technology pursuit using the same evaluation criteria as the Phase I award decision. The Federal Acquisition Regulation mandate to compete federal procurements is satisfied during the Phase I source selection process.

For Phase II, no separate solicitation will be issued and no unsolicited proposals will be accepted. Only those firms that were awarded Phase I contracts, and have successfully executed their Phase I efforts, will be invited to submit a Phase II proposal. Invitations to submit Phase II proposals will be released at the end of the Phase I period of performance. Due to limited funding, USSOCOM reserves the right to limit awards under any topic.

USSOCOM invites Phase II proposal submissions and conducts the ensuing Phase II evaluations using the below evaluation criteria listed in descending order of importance:

1) The soundness, technical merit, and innovation of the proposed approach and its incremental progress toward topic or subtopic solution.

3) The potential for commercial (Government or private sector) application and the benefits expected to accrue from this commercialization.

Phase III Awards: Public Law 111-84, Public Law 106-554, Public Law111-10, Public Law 111-43, Public Law 111-66 and the 2002 Small Business Innovation Research Program Policy Directive (Directive) provide for protection of SBIR data rights under SBIR Phase III awards. Per the Directive, a Phase III SBIR award is any work that derives from, extends or logically concludes effort(s) performed under prior SBIR funding agreements, but is funded by sources other than the SBIR Program. Thus, any contract or grant where the technology is the same as, derived from, or evolved from a Phase I or a Phase II SBIR/STTR contract and awarded to the company which was awarded the Phase I/II SBIR is a Phase III SBIR contract. This covers any contract/grant issued as a follow-on Phase III SBIR award or any contract/grant award issued as a result of a competitive process where the awardee was an SBIR firm that developed the technology as a result of a Phase I or Phase II SBIR. The Navy will give SBIR Phase III status to any award that falls within the above-mentioned description, which includes according SBIR Data Rights to any noncommercial technical data and/or noncommercial computer software delivered in Phase III that was developed under SBIR Phase I/II effort(s). The government’s prime contractors and/or their subcontractors shall follow the same guidelines as above and ensure that companies operating on behalf of the Navy protect the rights of the SBIR company.

USE OF NON-GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL: All proprietary material should be clearly marked and will be held in strict confidence. Restrictive notices notwithstanding, proposals may be handled for administrative purposes by a support contractor that is bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Input on technical aspects of the proposals may be solicited by USSOCOM from non-Government consultants and advisors who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Non-Government personnel will not establish final assessments of risk, rate, or rank offerors' proposals. These advisors are expressly prohibited from competing for BAA awards. All administrative support contractors, consultants and advisors having access to any proprietary data will certify that they will not disclose any information pertaining to this announcement, including any submission, the identity of any submitters, or any other information relative to this BAA, and shall certify that they have no financial interest in any submission evaluated. Submissions and information received in response to this BAA constitutes the offeror’s permission to disclose that information to administrative support contractors and non-government consultants and advisors.

U.S. Citizen Status: As part of the Phase I proposal, the offeror shall verify the US citizen status of each employee that will participate in the technology effort.

Foreign Nationals: The definition of a foreign national is included in Section 2.15 of the DoD SBIR solicitation. Consistent with Section 3.5.b (7) of the DoD solicitation instructions, the offeror shall identify all foreign nationals expected to be involved on the USSOCOM Phase I or Phase II effort to include the foreign national’s country of origin and their level of involvement (identify specific tasks) each would accomplish. The offeror shall identify all foreign nationals in the appropriate section of the proposal. USSOCOM SBIR Program oftentimes pursues technologies that require firms to complete the Department of Defense Contract Security Classification Specification (DD Form 254) to protect sensitive Government Furnished Property and Government Furnished Information during the Phase II period of performance. Offerors must ensure that individuals dedicated to participate in these USSOCOM technology pursuits have or are not barred from obtaining a personnel security clearance. USSOCOM may not award a Phase I SBIR contract to a firm whose personnel cannot obtain a security clearance.

International Traffic in Arms Regulation: The identification of foreign national involvement in a USSOCOM SBIR topic is also needed to determine if a firm is ineligible for award on a USSOCOM ITAR designated topic. A firm employing a foreign national(s) on a USSOCOM ITAR topic must possess an export license to receive a SBIR Phase I or Phase II contract.

Inquiries concerning the USSOCOM SBIR Program should be addressed to Shawn.Patterson@socom.mil.

SOCOM SBIR 10.1 Topic Index

SOCOM10-001 Free Swimming Special Operations Forces Diver Protection System Providing

Laceration, Abrasion, and Puncture Protection

SOCOM10-002 Lightweight, Small Volume, CO2 Removal Technology for Underwater Breathing

Apparatus (UBA) and Undersea Platforms

SOCOM10-003 Compact, Covert Periscope with 360 Degree Simultaneous Day/Night Coverage

SOCOM10-004 Solid State Environmental and Equipment Cooling Technology

SOCOM10-005 High Speed Combatant Craft Automated Ride Control

SOCOM10-006 Micro Weather Sensor (MWS)

SOCOM10-007 Clean, Green, ChemBio Defense/Fire Retardant Process Using Nanotechnology

SOCOM10-008 Micro Combat ID (MID)

SOCOM SBIR 10.1 Topic Descriptions

SOCOM10-001 TITLE: Free Swimming Special Operations Forces Diver Protection System Providing

Laceration, Abrasion, and Puncture Protection

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: SDV, Shallow Water Combat Submersible

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Development of a lightweight abrasion and puncture resistant dry suit system that can be worn by a free swimming Special Operations Forces (SOF) diver. System needs to meet Approved for Navy Use (ANU) and Special Operations Force Carry-on requirements. System needs to be able to be used with closed circuit Underwater Breathing Apparatus’s (UBAs) and Full Face Masks. The suit must be close fitting, yet allow sufficient maneuverability for a free-swimming diver and it must allow continuous operations from water to land, and at a minimum, be fairly easy to don/divest. The suit must be capable of accommodating various sharp object threat levels, offering deployment versatility under various operational scenarios. It must provide adequate protection from sharp and/or stinging objects, reducing laceration, puncture, and abrasion threats, both on land and in water. New materials and fabrication techniques may be required.

DESCRIPTION: SOF divers may be required to undertake missions which require multi-threat protection, both in water and on land. These missions require new multi-threat, protective technologies. These “swim skin” technologies may take the form of a liner or layer to be used with current free swim suit technologies, but may also be a stand alone, integrated protection system. The protection system should provide laceration, puncture, and abrasion resistance. Mission objectives may involve difficult ingress/egress scenarios, which while executing can introduce marine-borne sharp object threats (stinging marine life, coral, rock, and shark) and/or personnel threats (knife, spear, etc) which can compromise current suit technology. Various materials are sought which can provide protection under these CONOPS (Concept of Operations), to reduce mission compromise and/or delay/defeat of said mission. Materials may require special weaving techniques, and may require integration of multiple materials to provide unique resistance capabilities to above mentioned threats.

PHASE I: Investigate the design of a system capable of protecting a diver under the above multi-threat mission scenarios, while allowing the diver agility sufficient to swim and maneuver. Document how the system would operate, any technical issues, the material selection, the manufacturing process, and the estimated protection. Phase I should provide several test “swatches” of various materials for testing under simulated threat conditions.

PHASE II: Design, develop, and document functional prototype system capable of providing protection for a diver under the above mentioned threat scenarios. Fabricate operational prototype and conduct unmanned and/or manned laboratory testing, simulating various marine and land threat levels, including testing to quantify diver maneuverability.

PHASE III: The contractor shall complete the transition of the technology to allow its use by Naval Special Warfare divers. The transition method for the technology at the conclusion of the SBIR project is for the technology to be tested and demonstrated in an operational environment. The Navy will conduct additional testing to obtain ANU approval. It is then anticipated that the fleet would commercially procure suits as required. These suits could also be used by other military divers and by the commercial diving industry.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Heavier, bulky, protective garments with motion restrictive inserts and/or chain mail protection are presently used while diving under the above mentioned threat conditions. A low-weight, low-restriction protection system that will provide adequate protection against both marine and land based laceration, puncture, and abrasion threats, while allowing greatly increased freedom of motion, will have wide commercial utility.

REFERENCES:

1. ASTM F1790, Standard Test Method for Cut Resistance of materials used in protective clothing. http://www.astm.org/Standards/F1790.htm

2. ASTM F1342, Standard Test Method for Protective Clothing Material Resistance to Puncture, http://www.astm.org/Standards/F1342.htm

KEYWORDS: Diving Threats; Sharp Object: Protection; Free-Swimming; Garment; SWCS

SOCOM10-002 TITLE: Lightweight, Small Volume, CO2 Removal Technology for Underwater

Breathing Apparatus (UBA) and Undersea Platforms

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes, Battlespace, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Shallow Water Combat Submersible, Joint Multi Mission Submarine

OBJECTIVE: Develop a lightweight, small volume scrubber that significantly reduces the size, complexity, and maintenance of closed circuit recycling breathing apparatus scrubbers without decreasing duration or increasing breathing resistance.

DESCRIPTION: Combat Swimmers primarily utilize the Mk 25 and the Mk 16 Underwater Breathing Apparatuses (UBA) for operations in most mission areas. Both of these UBAs are Closed Circuit recycling Rebreathers (CCR) that utilize a chemical scrubber (CaOH) to remove Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from the breathing loop. These UBAs perform at the required operating depth and meet most requirements, however, the scrubber technology has not changed in 50 years. Current UBAs have the following characteristics: Mk 25 absorbent weighs 5.8 lbs (~2.9 liters); Mk 16 absorbent weighs 8 lbs (~4 liters); both UBAs are neutrally buoyant in sea water; both systems utilize common commercial and recreational scrubber technology. Undersea platforms such as the Advanced Swimmer Delivery System (ASDS) utilize the same scrubber technology, however, on a larger scale. New manned submersible programs, SWCS and JMMS, require longer duration missions and thus stretch current scrubber technology to meet mission requirements. For the UBAs, the ratio of CO2 volume (in standard atmospheres) absorbed to absorbent volume (VRCO2) at 21oC for each of these systems is VRCO2=120. These UBAs however, also remove less CO2 as a function of colder temperatures. This topic will seek CO2 removal technologies that deliver equivalent volumes of breathable gas in a design that is significantly smaller in volume than current technologies, while delivering equivalent volumes of breathable gas; and demonstrates equivalent or decreased breathing resistance as current systems when used in temperatures ranging from -2°C to +41°C.

PHASE I: Investigate CO2 scrubber technology or technologies that can be utilized in UBA and a design solution that meets the initial requirements of decreased volume with equivalent or enhanced performance as existing systems. This includes material specifications and specific technology advances that will allow decreased volume of scrubbers.

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a prototype system in a Mk25 or Mk16 UBA. Conduct testing in a diving environment to prove feasibility of the prototype.

PHASE III DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: This technology will have application across all military systems that utilize CO2 scrubbers, for UBAs, manned submersibles, and hyperbaric systems. This technology also has applications in civilian diving and hyperbaric systems as well as recreational diving systems and equipment.

REFERENCES: None

KEYWORDS: Scrubber, hyperbaric, Underwater Breathing Apparatus (UBA), Closed-Circuit Rebreather (CCR)

SOCOM10-003 TITLE: Compact, Covert Periscope with 360 Degree Simultaneous Day/Night Coverage

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Electronics, Battlespace

OBJECTIVE: Develop a very lightweight, compact, low visibility and low radar cross-section camera system capable of providing instantaneous 360 degree imaging of the surrounding area, day or night.

DESCRIPTION: Undersea Special Operations Forces (SOF) vehicles require the ability to perform surveillance of coastlines, merchant and other shipping, while remaining submerged and undetected. These systems currently utilize periscopes with integrated cameras; however, these periscopes do not provide the capability to instantaneously capture a 360 degree image of the surrounding area to identify surface, air and shoreline threats.

This solicitation seeks novel sensors and electronics designs capable of integration into a very small (<1 cu ft), very lightweight (<2 lbs), and minimally detectable (i.e. minimal visual and radar cross-section) total periscope system. Significant R&D is required in developing a high resolution color video, low light level standard definition video (LLLTV) and shortwave infrared video (SWIR) system that can be packaged in the very small volume of a total periscope system while preventing distortion of the images. The new sensor system must be able to provide a progressive scan image with a resolution of 400 horizontal TV lines per picture height (HTVL/PH) at 0.004 lux (threshold) and 570 HTVL/PH at 0.04 lux (objective). A usable picture of 25 HTVL/PH at 0.005 lux, free of any obstructions, is desired for the new sensor system. The field of view (FOV) for the sensor system shall have a minimum view coverage of 43.6 degrees vertical with a zoom window of 4.6 degrees vertical by 5.7 degrees horizontal, with a response time for FOV change of less than 1 second. The new sensor system should have a continuous focus range from 40 feet to infinity in air that supports these resolution requirements. All three sensors shall be par focal in all fields of view, have automatic exposure and gain functions, operate at minimum 30 frames per second and signal to noise ratio of 60 dB, not be damaged during inadvertent exposure of 10 seconds to direct sunlight and have ability to recover within 5 seconds of such exposure. Additionally, a controllable sun filter with optical density of 5.0 is desired, while a technique to control blooming and trail artifacts in the image due to bright objects in the field of view is required. It is desired the sensor system be capable of training the elevation central line of sight from -45 degrees down to +90 degrees up relative to the horizontal line of sight. The elevation mechanism should be capable of elevation rates up to 45 degrees per second, and acceleration rates up to 115 degrees per second squared, with an over-slew less than 0.25 degrees. Additionally, the LLLTV portion of the sensor suite is desired to be capable of operating in scene brightnesses up to 0.0001 candles per square meter and output a useable image under moonless, partially overcast nighttime conditions near 0.00003 candles per square meter. The SWIR aspect of the system should produce at a minimum an image of 320x256 pixels with less than or equal to 25 micron pixel pitch with 100 percent fill factor, in a spectral range of 0.9 to 1.8 microns, and a noise equivalent irradiance less than 0.00000003 photons per centimeter squared per second. This new sensor system must be contained within the total periscope system volume and be powered by the total periscope system available nominal ungrounded source of 28 VDC (that may vary between 24 and 32 Vdc).

The total periscope system should support coatings of water repellant agents capable of withstanding immersion at significant depths for extended periods without degradation and that are resistive of befouling growth. For the purposes of this effort only, assume the camera system must withstand seawater at pressures up to 1,000 PSI (threshold) and 1,100 PSI (objective). This periscope package should be able to withstand rainfall at rates up to 1 inch per hour, and withstand snow and ice loading of 7.5 lbs per square foot. The total periscope system should provide its own sensors and controls for stabilization of plus or minus 1 degree elevation axis for a maximum periscope movement of plus or minus 10 degrees at a rate of plus or minus 6 degrees per second. Light transmittance through the periscope system housing shall be a minimum of 60 percent. Video output from the periscope system should at a minimum adhere to the RS-170A standard. Images resulting from the sensor suite should be provided as panaromic digital images that include a method to determine the relative and absolute bearing of objects of interest. The maximum envelope dimensions for the total periscope system shall not exceed a 11.5 inch maximum diameter and 6.0 feet maximum length, with a housing that will fit within the 5.5 inch maximum bore inside the periscope mast.

PHASE I: Perform basic R&D to investigate a sensor system and associated electronics that will meet the requirements as prescribed and enable 360 degree coverage to be instantly obtained without significant threat of detection, or distortion of the generated images while adhering to the power and footprint requirements. Conduct a feasibility demonstration of proposed innovative new sensor system design concepts in a laboratory environment. Demonstrate by engineering analysis that the electronics and design concepts are scalable, producible and can withstand seawater at pressures up to the limits listed above. Analyze these designs based on factors including reliability, efficiency, weight, EMI considerations, size, and predicted cycle life.

PHASE II: Implement and verify the design and concepts from Phase I in complete periscope system that meets the requirements prescribed. Develop associated operator display electronics and processing software. Develop and build prototype periscope system and conduct proof-of-concept testing in a laboratory environment. This testing should include long term pressure and temperature cycle testing, and reliability testing. Develop final Engineering Development Model (EDM), including both the new sensor system and all associated operator display hardware and software, capable of being installed shipboard during Phase III.

Vendors shall submit a business plan for the commercialization of the technology developed under this topic. The Small Business Administration''s web site www.sba.gov provides guidance, examples, and contact information for assistance.

PHASE III: Conduct shipboard testing and suitability analysis of the EDM systems, including shock and vibration testing for Navy combatant use. Validate sensitivity and reliability of EDM system in a true at-sea environment. Develop commercialization, and transition plans for full-scale shipboard implementation. Develop technical and user manuals, end-user training programs, logistics/ repair support plans, and troubleshooting and repair guides. Conduct initial end-user training and operator certification.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: This 360 camera system would have applicability to any manned or unmanned submersible program (commercial or military), as well as any air, sea or space applications where weight is at a premium.

REFERENCES: None

KEYWORDS: 360 degree, periscope, thermal, optics, stealth, camera

SOCOM10-004 TITLE: Solid State Environmental and Equipment Cooling Technology

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes, Electronics, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: ASDS

OBJECTIVE: Develop a novel waste heat transfer and elimination system capable of eliminating waste heat from all the electronics and operators onboard combatant submersibles that utilizes solid state electronic components, and minimizes requirements for moving parts and specialized refrigerants.

DESCRIPTION: Small combatant submersibles such as the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) contain a significant amount of electronics (motor controllers, displays, navigation equipment, etc.) that produce a significant amount of waste heat. Additionally, the heat produced by the operators adds to the heat load within the submersible. Current the ASDS has a conventional environmental control unit that uses a compressor and refrigerant to cool water, that in turn cools the electronics via cold plates, and the air via spot coolers.

The program has had significant reliability issues with this type of environmental control unit. Most of these problems can be traced to the requirement to have a specialized refrigerant (i.e. other than pure water), and all of the associated pumps, etc. required to circulate that refrigerant. Since the atmosphere onboard these submersibles is fully enclosed and recycled, a leak of this refrigerant might represent a health risk to the operators as well. Finally, all of the moving equipment associated with typical compressor and refrigerant based cooling systems adds to noise in the submersible, and may also increase radiated noise to the environment (leading to increased risk of detection of these clandestine assets).

This solicitation seeks novel new heat thermal management technologies that minimize the requirement for any moving parts and for any type of specialized liquid refrigerant (other than pure water). The system must be able to efficiently transfer and eliminate the waste heat from all of the electronics onboard the submersible, as well as maintain the temperature of the atmosphere in the submersible within an (operator controlled) range for comfort, and to maximize the mission readiness of the operators. The system must be able to:

1) Supply a minimum of 18,000 BTU/HR (threshold) and 20,000 BTU/HR (objective) cooling capacity to the existing Air Conditioning Loop (that provides a circulating 70/30 water/propylene glycol fluid mixture maintained at a constant temperature of 35 degrees Fahrenheit).

2) Operate in sea water temperatures (external to the pressure vessel) of between 29 F and 95 F. The unit shall also be able to be subjected to non-operating temperatures between 0 F and 140 F without damage to any component.

3) Operate on DC power. The input power (via a silver zinc battery) is 3500 watts at an input voltage range of 204 to 330VDC, with a nominal voltage of 240VDC.

4) Provide a Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) of at least 6800 hours.

5) Minimize Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI). As a design goal, the equipment should be designed using standard practices to minimize emissions and susceptibility using the criteria of references 1 and 2.

6) Have a maximum envelope of 16 inches diameter by 36.75 inches in length, including any integral mounting bed required. This system is intended to be housed in the enclosures furnished and described in references 3 through 7.

7) Weigh less than 150 lbs.

PHASE I: Perform basic R&D to investigate innovative materials, thermocouple and electronic design that may be capable of transferring the heat load described above. Conduct a feasibility demonstration of proposed innovative new materials and/or design concepts in a laboratory environment. Demonstrate by engineering analysis that the materials and design concepts are scalable, and will be able to be scaled up to handle the above described heat loads, while not exceeding the size and weight limits also described above. Analyze potential system designs based on factors listed above, including reliability, efficiency, weight, EMI considerations, size, and predicted service life.

PHASE II: Implement and verify the design and concepts from Phase I in full-size, laboratory system, including the solid-state components and a simulated water-glycol loop with a representative heat source. Develop prototype electronic control system to accurately regulate the temperatures in the cooling loop. Build prototype, and conduct proof-of-concept testing in a laboratory environment. This testing should include long term cycle testing and reliability testing to assess the efficiency and reliability of the new design. Validate efficiency and heat transfer capacity of prototype systems. Develop final Engineering Development Model (EDM) capable of being installed shipboard.

PHASE III: Conduct shipboard testing and suitability analysis of the EDM cooling system, including shock and vibration, testing for Navy combatant use. Validate reliability and efficiency of EDM system in a true at-sea environment. Develop commercialization, and transition plans for full-scale shipboard implementation. Develop technical and user manuals, end-user training programs, logistics/ repair support plans, and troubleshooting and repair guides. Conduct initial end-user training and operator certification

DUAL USE APPLICATION: This technology will be applicable in any environment where large scale cooling needs to be accurately and efficiently controlled, without requiring many moving parts or specialized, environmentally questionable refrigerants. This might include the airline and space industries, or large-scale commercial industrial applications.

REFERENCES:

1. MIL-STD-461 Electromagnetic Emission and Susceptibility Requirements for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference

2. MIL-STD-462 Test Method Standards for Measurement of Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics

3. 6391049 End Cap, Aft ECU Pressure Housing

4. 6391046 Bottle Environmental Conditioning Unit Pressure Housing

5. 6391042 End Cap, Forward ECU Pressure Housing

6. 6394540 Environmental Conditioning Bottle Assembly

7. 6393874 Heat Exchanger Assembly, Condenser

KEYWORDS: solid-state, cooling, peltier, thermocouple, submersible

SOCOM10-005 TITLE: High Speed Combatant Craft Automated Ride Control

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors, Electronics

OBJECTIVE: Design and build a lightweight, automated ride control system that will model and predict craft motion in seas, in order to dynamically adjust craft systems including trim tabs and propulsion vector, for the purpose of significantly improving ride in elevated seas on high speed water craft.

DESCRIPTION: Navigating in elevated seas results in extreme accelerations (shock) and rotations (pitch and roll) to both craft and crew, degrading craft reliability and causing injuries. Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewmen attributed 95% of their injuries to special boat operations; 33.6% of injuries were to the lower back. High speed monohulls that are less than 120 feet are highly susceptible to these forces that cause injuries due to their size and the speeds they attain. Forward prediction of wave patterns on water craft at all sea states has been a challenge. Automatically reacting to such sea states is at high speeds on these water craft is an even greater challenge that would yield a wide range of benefits to all water crafts including: improved craft ride, reduced crew injuries, greatly improved night time operations, improved the situational awareness, reduced crew fatigue during long transits, and improved stability during maneuvers such as vessel boardings conducted at planing speeds.

Highly advanced ride control systems may sense wave patterns using radio frequencies to predict craft ride and set ride control systems. Currently, no system exist to predict sea states and automatically control the water craft based on this modeling. An Automated Ride Control system should be capable of concurrent monitoring of water craft performance parameters and provide instantaneous corrections to control surfaces. Measurements of heading, acceleration, pitch, and roll could be read by sensor and processed to dynamically direct systems such as propulsion vector, throttle, and trim tabs to reduce craft shock, pitch, and roll.

Scenarios for Automated Ride Control include vessel boardings conducted at speed, where the coxswain manually adjusts systems such as the trim tabs to compensate for the rolling motion of the craft caused when passengers move from one side of the craft to the other. The Automated Ride Control system shall automatically stabilize these motions. Other examples include high speeds in elevated seas, where the system shall dynamically adjust propulsion vector and trim tabs to achieve the best ride.

PHASE I: Determine the feasibility of an automated ride control system for high speed naval watercraft Prove feasibility of predicting sea states and using that model to dynamically manage naval high speed water craft control surfaces.

PHASE II: Develop a prototype automated ride control system designed to dynamically manage control surfaces and propulsion system in order to mitigate shock and unwanted water craft movement. Demonstrate a prototype system in an open water environment. Conduct testing to prove feasibility over a range of sea state operating conditions.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: This system could be used in a broad range of military and civilian high speed water craft applications, where shock and motion mitigation are desired.

REFERENCES:

1. Couser, P., (2000). Seakeeping Analysis for Preliminary Design, Formation Design Systems.

KEYWORDS: Shock mitigation, high speed combatant craft, high speed water craft, acceleration, pitch, yaw, and roll, sea state modeling, automatic controls, seakeeping

SOCOM10-006 TITLE: Micro Weather Sensor (MWS)

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Materials/Processes, Sensors, Electronics, Battlespace

OBJECTIVE: Design and build system that gives live, day or night feeds of visibility via a 360 degree picture of the surrounding area in all weather conditions and altitudes to measure current weather mounted on micro unmanned air vehicles or ground based standalone situations. A sensor/communications package that allows it to Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) and transmit collected information directly to aircraft. A system that communicates in a language that easily is used by the current and future C2 systems to allow a data overlay of collected information. When used as a static system, has the ability to be camouflaged for the environment it is being place in with an anti-tampering warning/system. A system that collects from and transmits to aircraft that passes over to provide more fidelity in its reporting.

DESCRIPTION: This system will provide smaller, higher power efficiency and lighter than current weather sensors. The system will weight no more than 90 grams and be able to measure temperature, dew point, pressure altitude, barometric pressure, density altitude, wind velocity, wind direction, cloud height, and visibility. The system will be as accurate as current larger fielded systems but packaged small enough to fly on micro UAS or hand held modes. Data output will be compliant with user defined XML and graphical user interface will be defined by the user community to enable human overrides to the data for increased accuracy. The system will be powered off of low power DC power sources that are suitable for field and tactical use.

PHASE I: The system will have the ability to automatically collect weather data from remote sensors and transmit data to C2 elements. The hand emplaced variant will be small and lightweight enough to be carried to an area of operations by a SOF operator/team. System will have the ability to report weather information (location, time, wind direction and speed, 360 degree horizontal visibility to beyond 4800 meters, sky condition and cloud heights, temperature and dewpoint, barometric pressure, measure precipitation water equivalent amounts, report peak wind direction and speed from the past hour and provide warning of potential CBRN contamination) at the sensor site and operators may have the ability to remotely control the sensor. In addition, weather sensors will be easy to use and maintain to enable training and assisting foreign weather operations.

PHASE II: In addition to phase I, the transmissions will be secure and undetectable. The sensors will be networked to common C2 systems utilizing common messaging formats (METAR) and data feeds. Resultant information can be instantaneously provided and exchanged with weather forces, other operators, planners, staff commanders and global weather databases via visual displays (map overlays using common C2 mapping/tracking systems) and alphanumeric displays. System will collect horizontal visibility to 10,000 meters and provide CBRN collection to detect basic agents/radiological information with less than 20% false positive (objective is zero false positives). System will operate for 90 days without servicing.

PHASE III DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: In addition to phase I and II, system sensors will collect key upper air information to a minimum of 10,000 feet (wind direction and speed, temperature, humidity and CBRN aloft). System will be camouflaged in multispectum. System sensors will network between themselves to self-heal/resolve communications issues. Sensors can communicate with properly equipped polling stations (satellites, aircraft, unmanned air/ground systems, ground mobility systems, dismounted operators, etc.) when entering the sensor area of operations. System automatically reports severe environmental condition as a warning/notice to C2 and weather elements, regardless programmed of reporting cycle. Remotely employed systems capable of repositioning to location to maximize collection, the self set-up and begin collection.

REFERENCES:

1. AFMAN 15-111, Attachment 2

2. AFSOC Deficiency 0355, Automatically Collect & Transmit Weather Observations in Deep Battlespace

3. Air Force Weather Agency, Operational Requirements Document (ORD), USAF 001-94-I/II/III-C, OBSERVING SYSTEM - 21st CENTURY (OS21)

4. BAE Systems. 6 Carlton Gardens, London, SW1Y 5AD, United Kingdom. Sensor Systems http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/ss_tes_atc_senssys.html

KEYWORDS: micro weather technology, sensors, software, network sensor, remote weather sensor

SOCOM10-007 TITLE: Clean, Green, ChemBio Defense/Fire Retardant Process Using Nanotechnology

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Chemical/Bio Defense, Materials/Processes

OBJECTIVE: Explore/develop the potential of metal hydroxide nanoplatelet technology as a universal, environmentally friendly, nontoxic fire retardant neutralization option for countering CB warfare threats on two fronts: (1) as a prophylactic pre-treatment and post-exposure treatment on aircraft/vehicle interiors and exteriors including electronics and sensitive equipment; and (2) as a fire retardant through impregnating or blending nanoplatelets into fibers of conventional and military protective clothing materials.

DESCRIPTION: Nanoplatelets created of metal hydroxides, present entirely new and previously unknown morphologies/properties and are a virtually unstudied field of material science. The intended use of metal hydroxide nanoplatelets is for surface and fabric treatments. Existing CB defense technologies for decontaminating/neutralizing threat agents may damage sensitive equipment and create significant environmental, as well as logistical and operational burdens, on the mobility and utility of military assets. The process for creating nanoplatelets is an entirely clean and green process whereby all by-products are profitably and readily recycled as raw materials in other industries. Hydroxides of magnesium, gold, silver, and zinc have been shown to be safe to humans in their normal state or as a food supplement. Nanoplatelets may have the capability to decontaminate/neutralize CB agents both passively and actively. While the high efficiency destructive adsorption of biological materials by oxide nanoparticles has been reported in literature, nanoplatelets have never before been available until recently. This effort would evaluate the mechanism and effectiveness of different nanoplatelet morphologies (shapes and sizes) against a full array of micro-organisms (i.e., spore forms, bacteria, fungi, viruses) and also assess the effect of environmental factors on nanoplatelet biocidal effectiveness as an antimicrobial. Ongoing research is demonstrating that magnesium hydroxide nanoplatelets are a powerful antimicrobial and can be readily customized as needed to avoid the problem associated with drug-resistant mutants (e.g., MERSA) inevitably created with the use of conventional antibiotics. This effort would research the mechanism by which nanoplatelets neutralize chemical threats to mitigate agent threats on surfaces and clothing fibers while also providing the additional quality of fire retardancy. As magnesium hydroxide is a well know fire retardant, magnesium hydroxide nanoplatelets may be infused into the fabric to make materials, which are otherwise flammable, more fire resistant.

PHASE I: In Phase I of this SBIR we are seeking a verifiable, cost-effective approach using metal hydroxide nanoplatelet technology to developing: (1) a clean and green universal decontamination/neutralization of CB agents; and (2) a fire retardant capability in clothing fibers.

PHASE II: In Phase II of this SBIR we are seeking the demonstration of the clean, green, and nontoxic capability of metal hydroxide nanoplatelets: (1) in the decontaminating/neutralizing of chemical agents and as a powerful antimicrobial capable of removing the threat of mutant strains; and (2) to provide off-the-shelf conventional and CB protective clothing/utility uniforms the qualities of fire retardancy without regard to laundering cycles.

PHASE III DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: This process could be applied to protect, and make safer, a broad and diverse range of institutional settings (i.e., military, medical/dental, gyms/spas, food industry, and virtually any commercial or public venue) from most chemical threats and probably all biological threats. With nanoplatelet technology, it is possible to quickly design and economically produce an infinite variety of “cleaners” (liquid, powders, etc.) to be rotated in and out of a cleaning schedule to eliminate the production of MRSA and other drug resistant super bugs, and prevent mutant bacteria that survived a previous cleaning cycle from persisting; and in food packaging industry as a bactericide in packages, trays, and containers. At the same time it has dual-use quality as a standard fire retardant in all fabrics (clothing, furniture, bedding, etc.) Finally, mitigation efforts for CB contamination could be vastly simplified in office buildings or facilities such as the Brentwood post office since nanoplatelet treatments are non-toxic, non-corrosive, green, and safe to use.

REFERENCES:

1. Klabunde et al., "Nanoscale Metal Oxides as Destructive Adsorbents. New Surface Chemistry and Environmental Applications," Fine Particles Sci. and Tech., 691–706, Kluwer Academic Publishers (Netherlands) (1996).

2. Gupta, Piyush P. et. al., “Transformation of nanocrystalline MgO pellets in Reaction With 1-chlorobutane,” AIChE J, 50, 2004, 3195–3205.

3. Koper et al., "Destructive Adsorption of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons on Ultrafine (Nanoscale) Particles of Calcium Oxide," Chem. Mater., 5 (4), 1993, 500–05.

4. Meyer, D.E., Wood, K., Bachas, L.G., Bhattacharyya, D., “Degradation of Chlorinated Organics by Membrane-Immobilized Nanosized metals,” Environmental Progress, 23(3), 2004, 232–42

5. Medine, Gavin M., Zaikovskii, Vladimir; Klabunde, Kenneth J., “Synthesis and Adsorption Properties of Intimately Intermingled Mixed Metal Oxide Nanoparticles,” Journal of Materials Chemistry, 14, 2004, 757–63

6. Li et al., “Adsorption and Decomposition of Organophosphorus Compounds on Nanoscale Metal Oxide Particles. In Situ GC-MS Studies of Pulsed Microreactions over Magnesium Oxide,” Chem. Mater., 4 (2), 1992, 323–30.

7. Li et al., “Destructive Adsorption of Chlorinated Benzenes on Ultrafine (Nanoscale) Particles of Magnesium Oxide and Calcium Oxide," Environ. Sci. Tech., 28(7), 1994, 1248–53.

8. Koper et al., “Destructive Adsorption of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons on Ultrafine (Nanoscale) Particles of Calcium Oxide. 3. Chloroform, Trichloroethene, and Tetrachloroethene,” Chem. Mater., 9 (11), 1997, 2481–85.

9. Rajagopalan et al., “Nanocrystalline Metal Oxides as Destructive Adsorbents for Organophosphorus Compounds at Ambient Temperatures,” Chemistry—A European Journal, 8 (11), 2002, 2602–07

KEYWORDS: ChemBio, CB protection, CB decontamination/neutralization, CB defense, nanoplatelets, nanotechnology, fire retardant, antimicrobial, metal hydroxides.

SOCOM10-008 TITLE: Micro Combat ID (MID)

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes, Sensors, Battlespace

OBJECTIVE: Develop a combat ID system that will be body worn and visible to all forms of signal aircraft targeting pods and ground based imaging sensors. The system should be used day and night to identify the personnel wearing the system in conjunction with his mission gear.

DESCRIPTION: Various forms of aircraft sensors are used to identify forces on the ground. There is a need for a visual system to identify ground forces that is smaller, lighter, and more power efficiency than current combat ID capability. The system should interoperate with all overhead targeting pods. The system will be used day and night to mark (0-3NM and greater if possible) the wearer of the system by overhead platforms sensors. The system will provide interfaces that can mount or integrate in to new or existing devices (helmets, shoulder patches, packs or armor. The system will be powered off of DC power sources that are suitable for field and tactical use.

PHASE I: Develop a system use case and design that is producible and provide modeling and simulation to describe a prototype phase. The system will be interoperable with aircraft (AH-64 targeting pod, SNIPER and Lightning targeting pod) targeting pod sensor or laser spot tracker at the desired ranges minimum 3 nautical miles threshold 12 nautical miles objective. The capability will be small light weight (weight similar to current combat ID devices) or lighter weight than current devices worn by dismounted users. The size will not hinder operations and safe use by the wearer. If the system is powered the system will use consumer power that is safe to transport on aircraft and commercial carry on or checked luggage. The systems wavelength and power will not be a hazard to human eyesight unprotected on magnified at a distance of 2 inches or greater (Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance 2”). The system will operate at global operating temperatures and conditions (MIL-STD 810F with objective of 66’ sea water unprotected and ready to operate immediately, and MIL-STD461E operation in an electromagnetic condition). The system will have the ability to turn on and off if active emissions are used. Provide sketches or solid works model drawings and models that human factors and phase II prototype effort can model and improve on. System should be capable of safely mounting on clothing, load bearing gear and armor. System shall not create a snag hazard for parachuting operations. System shall be capable of operating in positive and negative pressures experienced in military freefall operations (35,000 feet MSL with rapid compression down to sea level while functioning properly).

PHASE II: Develop and prototype a system capable of realistic demonstration and testing over extended feasibility and use case development. Provide a operational prototype that can demonstrate interoperability with aircraft sensors at operational ranges. Access to flight tests will be the responsibility of the government. Ground testing and lab testing will be the responsibility of the developer. Phase II will refine and develop 3 working prototypes that will demonstrate the performance and validate modeling and simulation of optical and power design.

PHASE III DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The system will be used in the global environment during the conduct of a broad range of military activities. The system will advance the state of the art for micro electronics, thermal markers, possibly coded laser technology (if laser is used), thermal diode and improve power efficiency.

REFERENCES:

1. Airborne tracking resolution requirements for urban vehicles. Aaron L. Robinson, Brian Miller, Phil Richardson, and Chun Ra Proc. SPIE 6941, 69410R (2008).

2. Flight test capabilities for real-time multiple target detection and tracking for airborne surveillance and maritime domain awareness. Brian A. Gorin and Allen Waxman. Proc. SPIE 6945, 69450Z (2008).

3. M. A. Maiorov, I. E. Trofimov, C. Schnitzler, S. Hambücker, “High-brightness laser diode modules for Yb and Er fiber lasers”, Laser Source Technology for Defense and Security IV, ed. by M. Dubinskii, G. L. Wood, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6952, 69520A, (2008).

4. Sutton, M.A., McNeil, S.R., Helm, J.D., Chao, Y.J. "Advances in Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Computer Vision". Photomechanics, Topics Appl. Phys. 77, 323-372. 2000.

5. Chu, T.C., Ranson, W.F., Sutton, M.A., Peters, W.H., "Applications of Digital Image Correlation Techniques to Experimental Mechanics". Experimental Mechanics. September 1998.

KEYWORDS: micro laser technology, imagers, optics, vision systems, vertical cavity laser, Sensors, material sciences, thermal diodes, room temperature advanced materials