Space Environment Technologies and Science (SETS) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

DEPT OF DEFENSE · DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE · AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND · AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY · FA9453 AFRL RVK is soliciting Space Environment Technologies and Science (SETS) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). Solicitation number FA9453-23-R-X001. Classified under NAICS 541715 — Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology). Product/service code AC12 — R&D- DEFENSE SYSTEM: AIRCRAFT (APPLIED RESEARCH/EXPLORATORY DEVELOPMENT). Place of performance: NM, USA. Responses are due by 18 December 2028 06:59 UTC. Posted on SAM.gov, the US federal contract opportunities system; registration is required to bid.

SPACE ENVIRONMENT TECHNOLOGIES AND SCIENCE (SETS) BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT 18 December 2023

NAICS: 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

FEDERAL AGENCY: Air Force Research Laboratory, Geospace Environment Impacts and Applications Branch, 3550 Aberdeen Avenue SE, Kirtland AFB, NM 87117.

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT TITLE: Space Environment Technologies and Science (SETS) Program

BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: Closed BAA with Calls, One-Step or Two-Step

PROPOSAL DUE DATE AND TIME: This BAA will remain for a period of 8 years from the date of publication. NO PROPOSALS OR WHITE PAPERS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED AGAINST THIS BASELINE BAA. Proposal or white paper due dates and times will be specified in each Call. Proposals or white papers received after the due date and time specified in the Call shall be governed by the provisions of FAR 52.215-1(c)(3). It should be noted that Air Force observes strict emailing security procedures. These email security procedures are NOT considered an interruption of normal Government processes, and proposals or white papers received after the above stated date and time because of security delays will be considered “late”.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Statement of Objectives: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Warfare Directorate (RJ) formerly Space Vehicles Directorate (RV) Geospace Technologies Division (RJB) Geospace Environment Impacts and Applications Program is seeking sources capable of supporting the program’s research in space and environmental impacts technologies. Additionally, the program is interested in understanding and quantifying the impact of the space environment on Department of Defense and national security systems and in achieving a capability to specify, predict, mitigate, and exploit the effects of the space environment that can disrupt or degrade operational systems. Topics of particular interest include advanced environmental observing systems and specification and prediction models of solar activity, ionospheric conditions, magnetospheric activity, thermosphere, satellite drag and the reentry environment, cislunar environment, effects on communication, command, and control systems; effects on positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems; effects on radar systems, and effects on spacecraft. Sources that enable future operational systems to meet performance, reliability, maintainability, supportability, and affordability goals, or which enhance performance or significantly reduce cost, schedule, or risk of existing technologies, are of particular interest. The Space Environment Technologies and Science (SETS) Program encompasses 5 technical areas which may be used in any combination per Call. These technical areas are as follows:

Topic Areas:

Solar, Solar Wind, and Ionospheric Effects The focus is to improve specification and prediction models of ionospheric conditions and phenomena that impact radio frequency signals such as for communications, PNT, and radar systems. Develop and couple advanced solar models with other space environment models such as ionospheric models to improve prediction capabilities. Develop novel approaches to and improve space- and ground-based solar, heliospheric, ionospheric, and magnetospheric instrumentation/data necessary to drive the models. Determine detailed association between environmental conditions and specific impacts on space systems and services. Characterize occurrences of specific environmental effects on space systems and services. Model the dynamics of the equatorial, subauroral, auroral, and polar ionosphere including small scale and irregular structure. Research and development of active experiment techniques, devices, delivery systems, diagnostics, models, and systems impacts. Thermosphere, Satellite Drag and the Reentry Environment The focus is to develop empirical and physics-based models, sensors, and data products to accurately specify and forecast the neutral atmosphere and satellite drag to identify space objects that orbit the Earth, to provide precision orbit determination and prediction, including reentry predictions, to assess the likelihood of collisions. Plasma Physics and Chemistry The focus is to investigate a variety of plasma states, from collisional to magnetized, as well as a variety of compositions, including typical atmospheric species as well as exotic neutral and ionized species and their reactions. Investigate plasma chemistry as related to the fundamentals of catalysis and energetic materials.

Particle Effects and Radiation Belt Environment

The focus is to specify and predict effects of charged particles on space operations. Improve models of the fluxes of radiation belt and plasma particles in  space for use in space system design, mission planning, and other applications of climatological specification. Improve models and analysis of spacecraft charging. Conduct laboratory work in materials and interactions with the environment. Analyze space effects experiment results such as those from the DSX mission. Multi-phenomenology monitoring to provide asymmetric force advantage in sensing, assessment, and attribution of threats and hazards. Develop novel technologies to protect low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites from the effects of high-altitude nuclear explosions (HANE). Investigate radio waves, specifically very low frequency, propagation in the radiation belt environment. Advance understanding of the interplay between waves and particles that underlie radiation belt dynamics, enabling better specification, forecasting, and mitigation. Cislunar Environment The focus is to develop models, sensors, and data products to accurately specify and forecast the Cislunar plasma and radiation environment in order to support the design and operation of vehicles in the cislunar environment depending upon orbit. Investigate environmental phenomenology of the Near-lunar environment including the radiation and plasma environment in the lunar wake as well as dust fountaining. Deliverable Items: Hardware, software, or data will be identified at the Call level. The following data deliverables are representative of the types of data that may be required: Final Scientific and Technical Reports Hardware created Software Created Significant End Items Monthly or Quarterly Status/Financial Reports Monthly or Quarterly Technical Reports Computer Program Documentation/Software User Manuals Computer Program/Software source code Presentation Materials Patent Reports Prototypes. Data deliverables are subject to negotiations on each individual award.

Schedule: The period of performance will be stated in the Call

Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI): Organizational Conflict of Interest, if applicable, will be determined and addressed at the Call level.

System for Award Management (SAM): Unless an exemption in FAR 4.1102 applies, all offerors must:

Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to submitting a white paper or proposal Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during the active award Provide its Unique Entity Identification number in each application or proposal it submits to the agency On-line registration instructions can be accessed from the SAM home page at www.sam.gov. Potential offerors that are notified to be eligible for an award must submit annual Electronic Representations and Certifications via the System for Award Management (SAM) website. These FAR and DFARS level representations and certifications are required in addition to the representations and certifications included in each Call. Before submitting the Electronic Representations and Certifications, contractors must be registered in the Systems for Award Management (SAM) Database. PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHMENT 1, FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN THE FULL TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT.