SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- ADVANCED ANTENNA TECHNOLOGY REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
- Notice Date
- 3/27/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- ESC/MCK, 50 Griffiss Street, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-1620
- ZIP Code
- 01731-1620
- Solicitation Number
- F19628-03-R-0047
- Archive Date
- 7/25/2003
- Point of Contact
- Mr. Bill Donaldson, Contracting Officer, 781-271-6091
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Click Here to E-mail the POC
(bill.donaldson@hanscom.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Advanced Antenna Technology Request for Information This is a request for information (RFI) and not a solicitation. INTRODUCTION: The Government is requesting information from companies working on multiple beam antenna designs suitable for high data rate airborne satellite and Line of Sight communication applications. The Government is interested in receiving information from antenna systems vendors as well as key component vendors whose technology is useful in the development of multiple beam antennas. The purpose of this RFI is to gather information to be used in determining development requirements of an airborne wideband antenna. SCOPE: The AF is seeking a scaleable, low profile airborne wideband antenna solution suitable for high data rate airborne satellite and Line of Sight communication applications. It is desirable that this wideband antenna system be capable of operating simultaneously in EHF and either commercial or military Ka and/or Ku frequency bands. Key issues of interest include antenna producibility, scaleability, and cost. The AF user community has overwhelmingly stated the need for simultaneous high data rate connectivity to multiple satellites or LOS receivers. However, companies should understand that although operational needs exist, firm technical requirements for an advanced airborne wideband antenna have not been defined. Technical requirements will evolve and will be influenced by the availability, maturity and cost of technology; "cost as an independent variable" and "cost of ownership" are significant drivers. The Government will use the information gathered in response to this RFI to gain an understanding of potential approaches to development of an airborne wideband antenna system. The Government seeks to understand the current state of the art in higher frequency array design for communications, as well as future planned development or needed developments and how they might apply to a scaleable airborne wideband antenna system. The Government seeks to solicit the interest of vendors, organizations and/or consortia with EHF/ Ku/ Ka band expertise in one or more of the following areas: 1. Multiple, simultaneous, independently steerable beam antennas for EHF, Ka and possibly Ku bands of operation. The envisioned antenna system includes transmit and receive capability, with an emphasis on scaleable architectures. 2. Enabling antenna technology and/ or fabrication (i.e., HDI, multilayered manufacturing processes, etc.) 3. Thermal analysis and thermal management strategies of antenna structures 4. Application of digital signal processing techniques to beam formation 5. Antenna component technology, such as phase shifters, amplifiers, true time delay, etc. OBJECTIVE SYSTEM: Low profile (approximate 3 to 5 inch height) scalable (modular), multi-beam, multi-band antenna to achieve an EIRP of 55-60 dBw (EHF) and a G/T of 8-11 dB/K (EHF) within an approximate 3 to 4 sq. ft. footprint DATA SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: To achieve the Objective System the Government requests that interested companies provide an information package. The technical areas of interest/ concern are listed below. Use it as a guideline to formulate your reply, addressing areas that are pertinent to your technology: 1. Statement of interest, either as a Prime- or a Sub-contractor/ partner/ team member. 2. Description of qualification: Projects Products Applicable experience including development and integration of similar airborne qualified antennas 3. Definition of existing architecture, architecture integration challenges, and related critical manufacturing processes. 4. Definition of antenna size, number of simultaneous beams, and the associated impact on the architecture and manufacturing approach, element spacing and scan range, lattice, LNA noise figure, phase shifter # of bits and losses, power amplifier design, power added efficiency, and output power. 5. Recommendations on how to make the design suitable for operation on Navy, as well as Air Force, platforms (shipboard and airborne) in order to increase the production volume. 6. Identification of how the antenna can be adapted to a scaleable architecture. (Discuss a minimum replaceable unit concept versus alternative approaches. In addition, discuss whether the antenna architecture lends itself to component upgrades over time.) 7. Identification of process and component cost drivers and methodologies for lowering costs. 8. Identification of key technologies that are not mature or advancements that can be leveraged to improve the technology. 9. Description of thermal management design/ strategy. 10. Identification of multiple beam control technology and maturity, beam update rate, beam pointing accuracy, sidelobe control, and pattern coverage when the antenna system is located on the platform. (Highlight performance concerns in these areas.) 11. Description of antenna installation and impact on various airborne platforms. 12. Discussion of the use of a digital interface, and the possible implementation of signal processing techniques for beam adaptation. 13. Description of antenna axial ratio performance and scan losses as a function of scan angle. POINT OF CONTACT: Responses to this RFI are due to Mr. Bill Donaldson by 3:00 PM EST on 25 April 2003. If Classified Information is to be included in response to this request, please notify Mr. Donaldson at least three days prior to submission. Respondents should identify their company's name, address, telephone number, point of contact, and whether they are a large or small business. Proprietary information should be clearly marked. Responses should include 4 paper copies and an electronic file. The electronic file should be in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) or otherwise compatible with the Microsoft Office 2000 suite of software. All copies should be delivered simultaneously to the following address: ESC/MCK MITRE Bldg "D" 50 Griffiss Street Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-1620 (Attn: Mr. Bill Donaldson) INDUSTRY DAYS: Industry Days will be scheduled on 14 - 16 May 2003 at the MITRE facility, Bedford MA, to discuss Government needs and objectives. Follow-up one-on-one sessions will be conducted that same week with those companies expressing interest. These one-on-one sessions will be time limited to between two and four hours, depending on the number of interested companies. Requests for a one-on-one session should be made no later than 3:00 PM EST on 30 April 2003 to: Mr. Bill Donaldson, phone: 781-271-6091, email: bill.donaldson@hanscom.af.mil; or Ms. Janice Sullivan, phone: 781-271-5485, email: janice.sullivan@hanscom.af.mil. Alternatively, requests for a one-on-one session may be mailed to the address listed above. Additional Industry Day attendee information will be posted at the Hanscom AFB electronic bulletin board website (www.herbb.hanscom.af.mil). Please refer any questions regarding this RFI to Mr. Bill Donaldson. The information received will not obligate the Government in any manner nor will the Government reimburse contractors for any costs associated with submittal of the requested information. This request does not constitute an Invitation For Bid or a Request for Proposal, nor should it be considered as a commitment on the part of the Government. See Note 26.
- Web Link
-
ESC Business Opportunities Web Page
(http://www.herbb.hanscom.af.mil)
- Place of Performance
- Address: N/A
- Zip Code: N/A
- Country: N/A
- Zip Code: N/A
- Record
- SN00289299-W 20030329/030327213349 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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