N231-034 TITLE: Open Architecture Telemetry First Level Multiplexer with Array Power Distribution

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): General Warfighting Requirements (GWR); Microelectronics

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a single Open Architecture Telemetry (OAT) component which combines the functionality of an OAT First Level Multiplexer (FLM) with the array power distribution component (power shunt).

DESCRIPTION: Towed acoustic receive arrays provide powerful insight into the undersea environment and the natural and man-made entities that exist under the surface of the ocean. Towed arrays are populated with hydrophones, and when there is increased hydrophone density in the towed array, it is possible to achieve a higher resolution understanding of the ocean environment. However, the resolution with which a towed array can measure the undersea environment is limited by the number of data channels in the array. The number of data channels is limited by the available data bandwidth and amount of power that can be utilized throughout the array.

The Navy has developed open architecture telemetry (OAT) to reduce Navy reliance on proprietary hardware vendors. This open architecture approach allows other vendors to participate in refinement of key design elements of Navy towed acoustic receive arrays.

To expand this open architecture approach beyond the current state of the art, the Navy seeks to develop an FLM independent of the channels themselves. By multiplexing the sensor data onto a separate high speed backbone, data can be transmitted at increased rates to enable a multi-fold increase in the number of individual sensor elements a towed array can use for a given cable design.

Multiplexing the hydrophone data transmitted in the array can only improve towed array resolution if the individual hydrophones and telemetry components can be powered, a capability that is beyond the current state of the art. Therefore, development of a power distribution system, or power shunt that can provide power to an increased number of individual hydrophones and their telemetry components with which the towed array is populated will also be necessary. Combining the FLM and shunt into a single package would reduce the overall footprint of telemetry components, providing additional space for sensing capabilities.

Towed arrays and their component parts must survive the range of environmental conditions to which the towed array might be subjected. The FLM will survive being towed under the conditions described in MIL-STD-167-1A.

The elements of the FLM and power shunt design that exist within the towed array itself must not interfere with the flow over the towed array, indicating that the dimensions of such elements of an OAT telemetry should be smaller than approximately 1" in diameter. Further, the FLM and power shunt design must not significantly increase the likelihood of array breakage while stowed or during deployment and retrieval.

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. Owned and Operated with no Foreign Influence as defined by DOD 5220.22-M, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency (DCSA), formerly the Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances, in order to perform on advanced phases of this contract as set forth by DSS and NAVSEA in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material IAW DoD 5220.22-M during the advance phases of this contract.

All DoD Information Systems (IS) and Platform Information Technology (PIT) systems will be categorized in accordance with Committee on National Security Systems Instruction (CNSSI) 1253, implemented using a corresponding set of security controls from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-53, and evaluated using assessment procedures from NIST SP 800-53A and DoD-specific (KS) (Information Assurance Technical Authority (IATA) Standards and Tools).

The Contractor shall support the Assessment and Authorization (A&A) of the system. The Contractor shall support the government�s efforts to obtain an Authorization to Operate (ATO) in accordance with DoDI 8500.01 Cybersecurity, DoDI 8510.01 Risk Management Framework (RMF) for DoD Information Technology (IT), NIST SP 800-53, NAVSEA 9400.2-M (October 2016), and business rules set by the NAVSEA Echelon II and the Functional Authorizing Official (FAO). The Contractor shall design the tool to their proposed RMF Security Controls necessary to obtain A&A. The Contractor shall provide technical support and design material for RMF assessment and authorization in accordance with NAVSEA Instruction 9400.2-M by delivering OQE and documentation to support assessment and authorization package development.

Contractor Information Systems Security Requirements. The Contractor shall implement the security requirements set forth in the clause entitled DFARS 252.204-7012, "Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting," and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171.

PHASE I: Develop a concept for OAT FLM with a power distribution system or power shunt and show it meets the parameters of the Description. Demonstrate the concept can feasibly meet the parameters through analysis and modeling. The Phase I feasibility demonstration and associated analysis should support a reasonable expectation that the technology could meet the performance parameters in the Description and provide reasonable expectation that additional sensor hydrophones could be accommodated. The Phase I Option, if exercised, will include the initial design specifications and capabilities description to build a prototype solution in Phase II.

PHASE II: Develop and deliver a prototype system that would be tested in a controlled body of water, such as the deep waters of Lake Pend Oreille near Bayview, Idaho. Additional testing of prototypes to support analyses of FLM and power shunt survivability in the ocean environment will also be conducted by the company to support a decision on the part of the Navy.

It is possible that the work under this effort will be classified under Phase II (see Description section for details).

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Support the Navy in transitioning the technology for Navy use. Work with Navy subject matter experts to develop designs that would perform as desired when integrated with the other open architecture telemetry elements, towed array hydrophones, and towed array physical form factor. In the event the Navy determines that the designs are appropriate for incorporation into the OAT system, the Navy will refine system requirements and either levy the improved requirement on prime contractors producing towed arrays or will purchase prototypes and low rate initial production (LRIP) units from the company.

Potential dual use of the FLM and power shunt would be for arrays used in oil and gas exploration and other environmental sensing applications.

REFERENCES:

1.       Wang, Ruixue. "A Low Power 8 to 1 Analog Multiplexer for Bio-signal Acquisition System with A Function of Amplification," Master�s thesis, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, 2016. https://curve.carleton.ca/system/files/etd/88679474-7bcd-436e-8551-e62864841f7a/etd_pdf/07c773744089fc1a27fa019f0eab2891/wang-alowpower8to1analogmultiplexerforbiosignal.pdf

2.       "MFTA: The US Navy�s New Towed Array for Naval Detection." Defense Industry Daily, 23 September 2019. https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/mfta-the-us-navys-new-towed-array-for-naval-detection-04956

 

KEYWORDS: First level multiplexer. FLM; power distribution; power shunt; towed acoustic receive array; open architecture telemetry; OAT; increased hydrophone density

---