The RFI form to submit is further down on this page.
The American Center for Optics Manufacturing (AmeriCOM) Defense Precision Optics Consortium (DPOC) is seeking information from industry and academia to assist with the identification of areas or technologies within precision optics manufacturing that present significant challenges to manufacturers. This information will be used to develop a research and development (R&D) agenda for upcoming funding allocation.
This is a request for information only and responses are not accepted as official proposals.
AmeriCOM has two primary purposes. The first is to eliminate the national shortage of qualified optics technicians by partnering with community colleges to create a national network of precision optics training programs based on the Optical Systems Training program currently running at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY.
The second purpose is to create an industry-led cooperative with government and academia focused on continuous improvement to drive the development of optics manufacturing systems. This program will implement advances critical to the defense industry and provide optics manufacturers with next generation capabilities. This is similar to the work that the Center for Optics Manufacturing (COM) performed from 1990-2004, which resulted in the development and implementation of now-widely-used technologies such as deterministic micro-grinding and magnetorheological finishing. AmeriCOM plans to use a similar industry-led model to solve pervasive defense industrial base needs regarding next-generation manufacturing systems.
This request for information is relevant to the second purpose described above. To ensure that the work and funding AmeriCOM provides is in line with what would provide the greatest benefit to the precision optics industrial base, AmeriCOM requests information from precision optics manufacturers and academic researchers across the country.
The U.S. Department of Defense has identified two areas of specific interest for precision optics R&D: directed energy systems and hypersonic systems. AmeriCOM has also identified other areas of interest related to manufacturing and design challenges currently ubiquitous in the industry. These are listed below and are intended to generate ideas for potential topics, rather than to limit ideas to these specific systems.
Topics submitted may be selected for further evaluation and/or funding by AmeriCOM. Selection criteria will include at least the breadth of the impact of the solution to the problem, the risk of success, the likely duration of the development of a solution and the expected cost. It is expected that the AmeriCOM research portfolio will include a mixture of short term, quick result and long term, high reward, higher risk projects. Extra consideration will be given to topics that are consistent with an industrial team-based approach and that have an identified DoD program as a target for implementation.
For context in a later request for proposal phase – a phased approach will be preferred, starting with a Phase 1 feasibility demonstration. If Phase 1 is successful, it may be followed by a Phase 2 for further development of the concept. While not a specific limit, it is expected that Phase 1 projects will be scoped to group around awards of $150,000 and take approximately 6-9 months to complete. Larger awards may be considered, if justified by their scope and potential.
RFI responses need not be limited to the phased approach model. For industry RFI submissions, the near-term implementation path (post the feasibility demonstration) of the concept in industry must be considered and discussed in some detail.
Responses to this RFI inquiry are intended to be short explanations of the potential R&D topics of most interest to your organization. There is no limit to the number of topics you may respond to, though no more than 1-3 is preferred. It is requested that responses be less than 1 page. An example response template is provided below, though responding organizations may format differently if more/different information is pertinent. Responses longer than the requested 1 page format risk delay in their evaluation. The RFI will remain open until further notice.
Please respond via the form below.
In accepting and responding to this RFI, vendors agree to the following conditions, under USA law:
Each party recognizes and agrees that Confidential Information has been compiled, created and maintained by special effort and expense of the other party.
Each party recognizes and agrees that disclosing or disseminating Confidential Information to a third party may have a materially adverse effect on the other party and agrees not to disclose or disseminate the Confidential Information to any third party. Except as necessary to perform its obligations described in this document, each party shall not use, reproduce, or draw upon the Confidential Information or circulate it within its own organization.
AmeriCOM will not disclose the individual responses to this RFI to third parties except as needed to perform its obligations as described in this document. Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received in this request that is marked “Proprietary” will be handled accordingly. At this time, it is not possible for us to accept classified information.