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FAQs: Dual Mode Detector Ensemble (DUDE) - DARPA BAA 08-49

What is the DUDE opportunity (DARPA BAA 08-49)?

Dual Mode Detector Ensemble (DUDE) is a DARPA Microsystems Technology Office research solicitation focused on advancing day/night sight technology by developing a compact, integrated rifle sight that performs well in both daylight and low/no-light conditions.

What problem is DUDE trying to solve?

The program aims to move beyond current rifle sight approaches by enabling a smaller, more capable day/night sight through true integration of sensors and optics, rather than relying on incremental improvements or simply combining separate components.

What is the technical concept DARPA is seeking?

DARPA is seeking a tightly integrated system that combines two sensing modalities into a single, compact day/night focal plane and pairs that with advanced compact optical approaches (including flat optics of the kind demonstrated under DARPA's MONTAGE program).

What are the two sensing modalities DUDE wants to integrate?

The solicitation describes integrating (1) an uncooled long-wave infrared (LWIR) detector for thermal imaging and (2) a second sensor operating in the visible through short-wave infrared (VNS) region for conventional and low-light imaging.

What wavelength band is specified for the LWIR thermal detector?

The LWIR detector is described as operating in the 8-12 micron band.

What wavelength range is covered by the visible through short-wave infrared (VNS) sensor?

The VNS sensor is described as operating roughly from 0.4 to 1.6 microns, spanning visible through near-IR and short-wave IR.

Is DARPA looking for two separate sensors placed side-by-side?

No. The solicitation emphasizes that proposals should go beyond simply placing two sensors next to each other. The technical thrust is true integration of the day/night focal plane and integration with compact optical approaches.

Does the solicitation allow proposals that focus only on one sensor?

Yes. DARPA states it will also consider proposals focused only on the VNS sensor portion, which allows teams to propose strong visible/NIR/SWIR innovations without necessarily proposing the full dual-band LWIR+VNS solution.

Are incremental improvements to existing products responsive to this BAA?

No. The BAA explicitly rules out work that is mainly evolutionary or incremental relative to the state of the art. DARPA is signaling it expects a meaningful technical leap, new architectures, or enabling breakthroughs.

What types of innovations does DARPA appear to be encouraging?

Based on the notice language, DARPA is encouraging advances such as new architectures and enabling breakthroughs in integration, packaging, focal plane concepts, or optical design, especially approaches that support a compact rifle-mounted day/night sight.

What is the intended end use or form factor discussed in the announcement?

The described end goal is a smaller, more capable day/night sight suitable for rifle-mounted use, enabled by novel sensor/optics integration.

Which DARPA office is associated with this solicitation?

The opportunity is described as a DARPA Microsystems Technology Office research solicitation.

What is the significance of the MONTAGE program reference?

The solicitation specifically references flat optics previously demonstrated under DARPA's MONTAGE program as an example of the kind of advanced compact optical approach relevant to DUDE.

What changed in this modification to the original announcement?

This notice is a modification to the original announcement that (1) clarifies technical goals and objectives (with clarifications marked in an attached conforming BAA document) and (2) extends the due date for full proposals.

What is the full proposal deadline under this modification?

The updated full proposal deadline is 12:00 PM Eastern Time on Monday, August 25, 2008.

What was the previous full proposal due date before it was extended?

The modification states the full proposal deadline was extended from August 18, 2008 to August 25, 2008.

The BAA shows an original closing date in 2009. Which date matters for submitting under this modification?

The overall opportunity lists an original closing date of July 3, 2009 for the BAA itself, but the emphasized actionable date in this modification is the August 25, 2008 full proposal due date.

What type of funding is this categorized as?

The announcement is categorized as discretionary funding.

What award instruments might DARPA use for this opportunity?

The notice indicates DARPA may use multiple instrument types depending on the work and government needs, including cooperative agreements, grants, other transactions, or procurement contracts.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The listing indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is generally open to any type of applicant organization, subject to any additional eligibility notes in the full text of the BAA.

What CFDA number is associated with this solicitation?

The solicitation is associated with CFDA 12.910, titled Research and Technology Development.

What is the best email address for administrative questions about BAA 08-49?

DARPA directed administrative correspondence and questions to BAA08-49@darpa.mil.

Who should be contacted if there are problems accessing the full announcement electronically?

The notice provides an alternate point of contact for access issues: Stuart Horn, ATTN DARPA BAA 08-49, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, phone (571) 218-4271, fax (703) 741-0086.

What is DARPA emphasizing overall in DUDE?

DUDE is positioned as a technology-advancement effort focused on materially shrinking and improving a rifle sight by integrating uncooled thermal LWIR sensing with visible-to-SWIR imaging and pairing that integration with compact, flat-optic approaches. The solicitation encourages ambitious system-level integration concepts and discourages routine refinements.