Request for Information -- Proximate Chemical Agent Detector (PCAD)

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Research and Development, RD, Chemical and Biological Technologies directorate in support of the JPEO-CBD, JPM CBRN Sensors directorate is seeking information from respondents who possess sensor technologies that are able to rapidly detect and/or scan for trace levels of various liquid or solid chemicals of concern to include: explosives, chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, and pharmaceutical based agents. This device will support military operations for the department of defense and the interagency with a non-contact system capable of interrogating a hazard of concern from 1 meter or greater distance from the system. The sensor technologies are expected to need additional S&T development before advance development. The sensors must: • Operate in areas of varying light intensities and conditions (i.e. daylight and low light conditions) • Detect on various surface types (porous and non-porous) • Low false alarm rate • Few to no consumables • Not energize chemicals • Detect in 60 seconds or less • 95% or better accuracy to identify target • Hand-held • Inform operator of hazard in real time Additional preferred features of a sensor include ability to identify chemicals of concern through glass (clear and/or amber) containers and discriminate targets from known interferents, like cleaning materials. Preferred sensor technologies will have low size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements: weigh 10 lbs. or less and run on 4 hours or longer battery power. From an operational standpoint, the PCAD technology must provide, at a minimum, the following capabilities: trace detection at standoff distances (> 1 meter), hazard identification, intrinsic safety, and operation under any light conditions (indoor/outdoor). Additional options to be considered for a stand-off detector: Trace detection refers to an alert to a non-visible hazard but does not necessarily require identification of the hazard; a visible alert to a hazard should include audible and vibrational in addition to visible alerts; consider Dismounted Sensitive Site Assessment (SSA) missions and Dismounted Zone and Area Reconnaissance missions; Weigh < 10 lbs.; 1 m2 scan area; Operate on COTS batteries; Operate in MOPP 4 ; and is Robotic integration compatible. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide Standoff Detection. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Respondents shall provide a brief description on how they plan to develop or advance existing sensors for trace, standoff detection as well as any anticipated technical parameters of their product (or conceptual product). Validation can include historical, literature data or relationship with current DOD researchers. Validation can also include investment from interagency past programs.