Navy to brief industry on ASW and anti-ship acoustic and image signal processing research

WASHINGTON, 28 March 2013. U.S. Navy researches are kicking off a long-term program to develop advanced acoustic and image signal processing for detecting, tracking, and attacking enemy ships and submarines with advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-ship warfare technologies.

The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington has issued a presolicitation (N0002413IWS5A01) for the Research Interests In Advanced Undersea Technologies In The Areas Of Submarine And Surface Ship Acoustic, Imaging, And Combat System Signal Processing program.

Researchers will brief industry on details of the program on 16 April 2013 in Manassas, Va. Briefings will be classified secret. The first phase of the program asks companies to submit white paper proposals no later than 21 March 2014.

The program centers on basic and applied research in imaging; passive/active signal processing; automation, contact management, contact followers, and target motion analysis; information management; embedded training; mission planning; sonar tactical decision aide; intuitive operator interface/operator machine interface (OMI); onboard real time reconstruction tool; torpedo detection, classification, and localization; anti-torpedo defense; electronic warfare; and navigation.

Navy researchers say they plan to test these approaches in system prototypes before moving promising technologies quickly to the fleet through a variety of acquisition programs.

The program will be in two phases. The first phase will invite offerors to submit white papers in each technology area describing technical approach, experience, capabilities, past performance, and cost estimates.

Companies will be invited to participate in the second phase based on their white paper submissions. The second phase will be over a maximum of five-years, and will include maturing the technology and system prototypes for laboratory and at-sea testing.

Industry-day briefings will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 16 April 2013 at Lockheed Martin Corp., Building 102/Management Center, Room K135 9255, in Manassas, Va. Briefings are open only to those with secret clearances. Instructions to register are online at www.neco.navy.mil/synopsis_file/N0002413IWS5A01_2013_IndustryDay_Registration_For_March2013.pdf.

Although white papers will be accepted until 21 March 2014, Navy researches are encouraging industry to submit white papers by mid-May 2013 for each technology area. The Navy intends to complete its review of white papers for each applicable technology area as early as mid-July 2013.

Send white papers by post to Navy Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Wilson care of Cognizant Contracting Activity: Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, ATTN: Code 02524, 1333 Isaac Hull Ave., SE, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC 20376.

For contractual questions or concerns contact Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Wilson by email at [email protected] or by phone at 202-781-0527, or Tracey Carothers by email at [email protected] or by phone at 202-781-0480.

For technical questions contact the Navy's Peter Scala by email at [email protected] or by phone at 202-781-3360.

More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/NAVSEA/NAVSEAHQ/N0002413IWS5A01/listing.html.