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Description

Request for Information (RFI) SN08-45: STATION KEEPING BUOY ENERGY HARVESTING/HARNESSING

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office (STO) Persistent Ocean Surveillance – Station Keeping program (POS-SK) is developing advanced concepts for a new tactical ocean surveillance buoy capable of extracting energy from the local environment for station keeping and long-term persistence.

Based on program at-sea testing, two primary challenges for small station keeping buoys (SKBs) that require novel technologies and concepts are:

• Maintaining a positive energy balance and operating for long periods of time on the open ocean. Technologies that improve the SKB energy balance problem can be categorized as: (1) technologies that more effectively enable the SKB to harvest / harness the available energy; (2) technologies that allow the SKB to operate more efficiently (use less energy); and (3) technologies that allow the SKB to store more energy.
• Surviving high wind and high sea state conditions. Technologies that could improve the SKB operational survivability can be categorized as: (1) technologies for short-term weather event survivability that could improve the chance of the SKB surviving extreme weather events that might otherwise damage or capsize the SKB; and (2) technologies for long term operational reliability.

DARPA desires to investigate component technologies that enable a positive energy balance over an extended period and can survive variable and extreme maritime environments; or system concepts with alternative energy harvesting technologies that maintain a positive energy balance, are robust enough to sustain when ocean conditions are not favorable for an energy harvesting modality (limited solar radiation, no wind, or no waves), and can survive extreme environments. SKB system attributes include:

• SKB endurance: minimum 4 weeks
• Station keeping watch circle: smallest possible while maintaining positive energy balance
• Operate up to Beaufort scale 6 (22 – 27 kts wind; 10 ft waves)
• Survive up to Beaufort scale 10 (48 – 55 kts wind; 30 ft waves)
• Size when stored: Not greater than 1-foot diameter and 8.5 feet long)
• Ocean sensing at depths of 100-400 feet

DARPA is interested in assessing new ideas and concepts in the above areas to support persistence ocean surveillance with station-keeping buoys in anticipation of future investments. Technologies should represent a fundamental change vice incremental improvements over the status quo, based on an appropriate figure of merit. Organizations are invited to submit a white paper (including 1 page with Executive Summary and Key Idea, 1-slide briefing chart with concept graphic, and 3-4 pages with supporting technical discussion) to the contracting office as early as possible, but not later than 21 August 2008. Rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost and development schedule estimates are also suggested.

The government shall use the information provided by the white papers to determine the ultimate scope of the program. White papers will not be returned and no feedback will be provided. White papers should be marked with appropriate proprietary markings and will be maintained for review and then destroyed. The information contained herein is for planning purposes and does not constitute an invitation for bids or a request for proposal. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on this notification or otherwise pay for the information provided.

The government is contemplating holding a workshop to present the progress to date on the current program and provide an opportunity for participants to present technologies that may potentially contribute to addressing the challenges expressed in this RFI. Please indicate in your response if you might be interested in participating in a workshop.

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS

DARPA appreciates responses from all capable and qualified sources. DARPA will employ an electronic upload submission system for responses to this RFI. To respond to this RFI, interested parties must complete an online RFI Cover Sheet for each response, which will include the submitter's name, organization and contact information, as well as the title of their paper. Cover Sheet submissions are made by accessing the URL below: https://www.tfims.darpa.mil/baa

After finalizing the Cover Sheet, a Confirmation screen will appear, along with instructions for uploading your position paper. Submissions must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF and encrypted using Winzip or PKZip with 256-bit AES encryption. An encryption password must be emailed to SN08-45@darpa.mil at the time of submission. See https://www.tfims.darpa.mil/baa/proposer_instructions.pdf for additional encryption information. Note: the word, "PASSWORD", must appear in the subject line of the above email and there are minimum security requirements for establishing the encryption password. Failure to provide the encryption password will result in the submission not being read. Since respondents may encounter heavy traffic on the web server, they SHOULD NOT wait until the day the submissions are due to fill out a coversheet and upload their position paper.

Position papers are limited to six (6) pages in length (not including the cover page). Format specifications include 12-point font, single spaced, single-sided, 8.5" by 11"paper, with 1-inch margins. Each response should address the questions posed above (on page 1) and should be as succinct as possible while at the same time providing actionable insight. Graphics and citations are highly encouraged.

Failure to comply with these submission procedures may result in the position paper not being reviewed.

DISCLAIMERS AND IMPORTANT NOTES

This is an RFI issued solely for information and program planning purposes; this RFI does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or proposal abstracts. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Submission of a position paper, and/or attendance at any subsequent Workshop, is strictly voluntary and is not required to propose to subsequent Broad Agency Announcements (if any) or research solicitations (if any) on this topic. DARPA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this RFI or participating in any subsequent Workshop. NO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RFI RESPONSE. Respondents are advised that DARPA is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. Responses to this RFI do not bind DARPA to any further actions, to include hosting a Workshop or requesting follow-on proposals from vendors responding to this RFI.

Submissions may be reviewed by: the Government (DARPA and partners) and Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) contractors (such as Solers, Inc.).

Technical POC:
Ms. Khine Latt Addressed to:
DARPA/STO, Attn: SN 08-45
Electronic Mail: SN08-45@darpa.mil
Website: http://www.darpa.mil/sto/solicitations/index.html

Contracting Office Address:

3701 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22203-1714

Primary Point of Contact.:

SN08-45@darpa.mil