IRFLEX CORP — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N231-011
IRFLEX CORP — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Defense.
Phase I SBIR feasibility signal
- Phase I awards fund proof-of-concept work. For capture teams, they mark early interest from Department of Defense in a technical approach.
- Watch for Phase II follow-ons from the same firm/topic family — that conversion path is where budgets and transition pressure rise.
- Obligated amount $140,000. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Topic code N231-011 links this award to a solicitation family — search the same topic stem for incumbents and recompete timing.
- Amount
- $140,000
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Navy
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Topic
- N231-011
- Solicitation
- 23.1
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- VA
- Period
- 2023-05-16 → 2023-11-20
Description
Phase I work will determine the feasibility of using MWIR-LWIR Additive Manufacturing (AM) process to safely deposit hazardous optical materials for the manufacturing and the refurbishment of MWIR and LWIR optical components. The MWIR-LWIR AM will provide full densification with a smooth optical surface quality, so that minimum post-processing is needed. The new MWIR-LWIR AM process will be tested with infrared nano materials that will be used to produce an optical surface with a flatness of lambda/10, centration of 3 arc minutes, clear aperture diameter of 3”, transmission in the MWIR and LWIR, and athermalized from -54ºC to +90ºC. Analysis of the initial AM prototype testing will identify the technological improvements and reliability challenges to produce the desired optical elements, and propose a plan for how these will be addressed. Phase I effort will provide a preliminary identification of hazards and a cost analysis of MWIR-LWIR AM for optical components versus machining or tooling. Also, initial design specifications and prototype plans to be developed under Phase II will be presented.