SAM #N001641990001

Solicitation for Domestic Alternatives to Critical EO/IR Sensor Materials (CLEAR Program)

This opportunity from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division seeks innovative solutions for the Critical Low-risk Electro-optic Alternatives for Resilience (CLEAR) program. - Agency: NSWC Crane Division, Department of the Navy (NAVSEA) - Objective: Identify and develop domestic alternatives to critical materials used in electro-optic (EO) and infrared (IR) imaging sensors - Focus on materials currently subject to export restrictions (e.g., germanium, gallium, antimony, heavy rare earth elements, tellurium, indium) - Application: EO/IR sensors and cameras operating in SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR spectral bands - Requirement: Research, development, and potential supply of new materials and sensor technologies to ensure supply chain resilience for military imaging systems - No specific OEMs, products, or part numbers are listed; the solicitation is open to all qualified vendors with relevant solutions - Commercial opportunity for material scientists, sensor manufacturers, and R&D organizations specializing in advanced optics and materials - Emphasis on domestic sourcing and innovation to address supply chain vulnerabilities

Description

Electro-optic (EO, VIS) and infrared (IR) video imaging sensors (i.e., cameras) are widely used for situational awareness, surveillance, and targeting. The Department of War (DoW) deploys such cameras in multiple spectral bands, including short-, mid-, and long wave IR, a.k.a. SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR respectively. In IR, especially the MWIR and LWIR spectral bands, germanium has advantageous optical properties such as high index of refraction, higher transmission, and lower dispersion compared to other available materials. Gallium-based materials are also highly used in IR optical components. Since 2023, China has heavily increased regulations on export of critical materials to the United States. Now export licenses are required for germanium, gallium, antimony, heavy rare earth elements, tellurium, indium, and more. Optical components reliant on germanium and gallium are especially costly and availability is critically threatened. It is therefore necessary to establish alternative domestic materials for EO/IR systems. Additional Links:CLEAR RFS

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