Opportunity Information: Apply for BAA 09 11 PKM CALL5
Apply for BAA 09 11 PKM CALL5
- The Air Force Research Lab in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Directed Energy Materials Program CALL 5 High Power Microwave Windows Second Category Window" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800 Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 4, 2009 and posted on Feb 3, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 13, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- Foreign participation is not allowed. Small businesses are encouraged to propose on all or any part of this solicitation.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Directed Energy Materials Program is an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) run out of the Materials and Manufacturing Technology Directorate, Survivability and Sensor Materials Division (AFRL/RXPS) at Wright-Patterson AFB. It is structured as an open-ended, two-year BAA that AFRL uses to release specific "Calls" requesting technical and cost proposals tied to directed-energy materials challenges. The larger program spans materials for high energy laser (HEL) systems, high power microwave (HPM) systems, and mid-infrared laser source and laser development, with an emphasis on practical technology advances that improve performance, durability, and manufacturability for operational systems.
Within the overall program, CALL 5 focuses on High Power Microwave Windows, specifically a "Second Category Window" used in HPM systems. These second-category windowed systems are described as operating with relatively short, very high power pulses (on the order of hundreds of megawatts) lasting a few hundred nanoseconds, and they typically operate near 1 GHz. A central technical problem driving the call is catastrophic window failure caused by electric-field-induced avalanche breakdown, which effectively caps the maximum achievable power. AFRL is looking for approaches that raise the power-handling capability by addressing the breakdown physics, the window design, and the surrounding RF and mechanical environment that can trigger or worsen failure.
A key part of the technical approach AFRL is signaling is the need for strong modeling and engineering of not only the dielectric window itself, but also the mounting hardware and the electromagnetic transitions from the waveguide into the window region. The announcement highlights multifactor-related initiating conditions as a concern, meaning the geometry and surface conditions around the window must be designed to avoid electron multiplication phenomena that can seed breakdown. Along the same lines, the design is expected to minimize stray "seed" electrons in the window area that originate from the source during operation, since those electrons can initiate avalanche processes and drive rapid failure at these field levels.
The window development tasks called out include optimizing the dielectric window material in combination with nearby metallic components, plus any low-emission coatings or other surface treatments intended to reduce field emission and secondary electron effects. In addition to the materials and coatings, AFRL is also explicitly interested in the practical build side: construction and assembly details, conditioning protocols, and operating procedures that reduce extrinsic sources of field emission and prevent recontamination of cleaned or treated surfaces. This reflects a typical HPM window reality that performance is often limited by surface condition and contamination control as much as bulk material properties.
Mechanical and platform constraints are also part of the requirement set. The output window must be strong enough to withstand a three-atmosphere pressure differential, indicating the design must balance RF performance with real structural margins. The call also notes that future platforms will require the weight and volume of all components, including the output windows, to be minimized to the greatest practical extent, so proposals that only improve power handling but are overly heavy, bulky, or impractical to integrate would be less aligned with the stated direction.
From a contracting and schedule standpoint, AFRL anticipates multiple awards (the posting lists an expected awards count of 2 for this opportunity entry), with varying dollar values depending on the call and proposed scope. Periods of performance are expected to be about 36 months, plus roughly 3 additional months for final reporting, and the CALL 5 task area is described as requiring a total of three years of technical effort. The BAA framework means AFRL issues calls either sequentially or concurrently, and once a call is posted, offerors typically have 30 to 45 calendar days (as specified in the call) to submit technical and cost proposals. Proposals outside the specified window are not reviewed and are returned, with late receipt governed by FAR 52.215-1(c)(3). The government also reserves the right to make no award under any call.
Eligibility is described as unrestricted in the sense that many entity types can apply, but foreign participation is not allowed. Small businesses are specifically encouraged to propose, either on the full effort or portions of it. The funding instrument types listed include cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts, and the activity category is science and technology and other R&D under CFDA 12.800 (Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program). No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated.
For points of contact, technical questions are directed to William Mitchell at Wright-Patterson AFB (William.Mitchell@wpafb.af.mil, 937-255-9583). Contracting support contacts are also provided for access issues and negotiation, including Scott Savory (Contracting Officer) and Gail Nyikon (Contract Negotiator).
Directed Energy Materials Program (AFRL BAA) - Call 5 (High Power Microwave Windows) FAQs
1) What is the Directed Energy Materials Program?
The Directed Energy Materials Program is an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) run by the Materials and Manufacturing Technology Directorate, Survivability and Sensor Materials Division (AFRL/RXPS) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It is used to solicit proposals addressing directed-energy materials challenges.
2) How is this opportunity structured?
This is an open-ended, two-year BAA framework that AFRL uses to release specific "Calls." Each call requests technical and cost proposals tied to a defined challenge area. AFRL may issue calls sequentially or concurrently.
3) What is the focus of Call 5?
Call 5 focuses on High Power Microwave (HPM) Windows, specifically a "Second Category Window" used in HPM systems.
4) What are "second-category window" operating conditions as described in the call?
These systems operate with relatively short, very high power pulses (on the order of hundreds of megawatts) lasting a few hundred nanoseconds, and they typically operate near 1 GHz.
5) What technical problem is driving this call?
The central challenge is catastrophic window failure caused by electric-field-induced avalanche breakdown, which caps the maximum achievable power. AFRL is seeking approaches that increase power-handling capability by addressing breakdown physics, window design, and the surrounding RF and mechanical environment that can trigger or worsen failure.
6) What kinds of solution approaches does AFRL appear to be looking for?
The announcement emphasizes strong modeling and engineering of the full window region, including the dielectric window, mounting hardware, and electromagnetic transitions from the waveguide into the window region. The intent is to reduce initiating conditions that can seed breakdown and lead to failure at extreme field levels.
7) Why does the surrounding geometry and hardware matter for window breakdown?
AFRL flags "multifactor-related initiating conditions" as a concern, meaning the geometry and surface conditions around the window can promote electron multiplication phenomena that seed avalanche breakdown. As a result, the mounting and transition region are considered part of the technical solution, not just the dielectric itself.
8) What is meant by minimizing "seed electrons" in the window area?
The call notes that stray electrons originating from the source during operation can initiate avalanche processes and drive rapid failure. Designs are expected to reduce the presence of these seed electrons in the window region.
9) What development tasks are explicitly called out?
Tasks include optimizing the dielectric window material in combination with nearby metallic components, and considering low-emission coatings or other surface treatments aimed at reducing field emission and secondary electron effects.
10) Does the call care about manufacturing, assembly, and handling details?
Yes. AFRL explicitly highlights practical build considerations such as construction and assembly details, conditioning protocols, and operating procedures that reduce extrinsic field emission sources and prevent recontamination of cleaned or treated surfaces.
11) Is window performance mainly a bulk material issue or a surface/contamination issue?
The call reflects the reality that HPM window performance is often limited by surface condition and contamination control as much as (or more than) bulk material properties. That is why surface treatments, cleanliness, and recontamination prevention are emphasized.
12) Are there mechanical constraints for the window design?
Yes. The output window must be strong enough to withstand a three-atmosphere pressure differential, which means proposals must balance RF performance with structural margins.
13) Are there weight and volume constraints?
Yes. The call states that future platforms will require minimizing the weight and volume of all components, including output windows, to the greatest practical extent. Solutions that improve power handling but are overly heavy, bulky, or impractical to integrate are less aligned with this direction.
14) How long is the expected period of performance?
Periods of performance are expected to be about 36 months, plus roughly 3 additional months for final reporting. The Call 5 task area is described as requiring a total of three years of technical effort.
15) How many awards does AFRL expect to make?
The opportunity entry lists an expected award count of 2, and AFRL anticipates multiple awards with varying dollar values depending on the call and proposed scope.
16) What types of funding instruments may be used?
The listed instrument types include cooperative agreements, grants, and procurement contracts.
17) What is the program category and CFDA number?
The activity category is science and technology and other R&D under CFDA 12.800 (Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program).
18) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated in the provided information.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted in the sense that many entity types can apply, but foreign participation is not allowed. Small businesses are specifically encouraged to propose, either on the full effort or portions of it.
20) How does proposal submission work under this BAA?
AFRL issues specific calls under the BAA. Once a call is posted, offerors typically have 30 to 45 calendar days (as specified in the call) to submit technical and cost proposals.
21) What happens if a proposal is submitted late?
Proposals outside the specified submission window are not reviewed and are returned. Late receipt is governed by FAR 52.215-1(c)(3).
22) Can AFRL decide not to make an award?
Yes. The government reserves the right to make no award under any call.
23) Who should be contacted for technical questions?
Technical questions are directed to William Mitchell at Wright-Patterson AFB: William.Mitchell@wpafb.af.mil, 937-255-9583.
24) Who are the contracting points of contact?
Contracting support contacts are provided for access issues and negotiation, including Scott Savory (Contracting Officer) and Gail Nyikon (Contract Negotiator).
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