MODIFICATION
A -- GEODESIC DOME ARRAY ANTENNA WITH DIGITAL BEAM FORMING FOR DISTRESS ALERTING SATELLITE SERVICE
- Notice Date
- 7/26/2005
- Notice Type
- Modification
- Contracting Office
- ESC/PKR, R&D Contracting, 104 Barksdale, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-1806
- ZIP Code
- 01731-1806
- Solicitation Number
- FA8718-05-R-0001
- Response Due
- 8/5/2005
- Archive Date
- 10/26/2005
- Point of Contact
- Lt Chris McCarney AFRL/SNHA 80 Scott Drive Hanscom AFB, MA 01731 Tel: 781-377-0658, DSN 478 Fax: 781-377-5040, DSN 478 Christopher.McCarney@Hanscom.af.mil; Gary Scalzi AFRL/SNHA 80 Scott Drive Hanscom AFB, MA 01731 Tel: 781-377-0216, DSN 478 Fax: 781-377-5040, DSN 478 Gary.Scalzi@Hanscom.af.mil
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Click Here to E-mail the POC
(john.flaherty@hanscom.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Geodesic Dome Array Antenna with Digital Beam Forming For Distress Alerting Satellite Service General Information This announcement constitutes a Sources Sought Synopsis. The following information is provided to assist the Air Force in conducting market research of industry to identify sources of commercial and manufactured items that meet Air Force requirements. This is neither a request for proposal nor an invitation for bid. There will be no reimbursement for the information provided. AFRL is considering competing select service providers and carries special requirements as defined, but not limited to, selection criteria noted in this synopsis. Please mail or e-mail qualification statements by ***DATE*** to either POC identified below. Description The Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate, Antenna Technology Branch (AFRL/SNHA), Hanscom Research Site (HRS), is seeking capable sources to perform detailed design, implementation and integration tasks, in support of a current design concept, for an outside agency. Anticipated deliverables include a ground-based antenna and all accompanying articles. The technologies and/or technology applications will be considered for system development efforts beginning in Fiscal Year 2006, with an approximated 36 month delivery schedule. Distress Alerting Satellite Service The Distress Alerting Satellite Service (DASS) will be used to provide civilian search and rescue (SAR) personnel with the capability to quickly identify and accurately locate persons in need of rescue services. Some noted aspects of the DASS architecture and Concept of Operations (CONOPS) include: - 406 MHz distress beacon (user segment) - SAR "bent pipe" transponder (space segment) on BPS BLKs IIR/IIF/II constellations - Ground stations receive, process, and distribute distress, alert, and location data from GPS satellites to the SAR network The SAR transponder on each of the GPS satellites is a "bent pipe" repeater that relays the 406 MHz beacon signals to the DASS ground stations via an L-band down link frequency (1544.9MHz). The ground station antenna for DASS must meet following basic specs: - Down link frequency: 1544.8-1545.0 MHz (Center frequency: 1544.9 MHz) - G/T=8 dB/K - Data rate: 15 kbps per beam, 8 beams per site - Satellite payload transmitter: EIRP > 15 dBW over the entire earth - Polarization will be left-hand or right-hand circular (CP) - Antenna will be receive-only. No transmit capability required. Geodesic Dome Array Antenna AFRL/SNHA performed a preliminary ground station antenna architecture study and concluded that a Geodesic Dome Array Antenna (GDAA), with digital beam forming (DBF), is optimal for the DASS. Studies have shown that a single GDAA could accommodate 8 simultaneous beams, in a hemispherical coverage. The GDAA is essentially a spherical array, with curved surfaces approximated by flat facets, or subarrays. Each subarray, in the proposed concept, consists of a multi-layer panel and digital receiver at each element. A typical panel structure is envisioned to have layers for radiating elements, RF calibration, 90 degree hybrids for circular polarization (CP), local oscillator (LO) signals, and power distribution. The digital receivers will primarily consist of a front-end low noise amplifier (LNA) and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. Digital data from each receiver may be processed in one of two ways: (1) Partial processing at the subarray level, to form eight subarray beams, for subsequent combination in a central processor to form the eight GD beams. (2) Complete processing done in a single central processor to form the eight GD beams. In either case each of the eight GD beams will be assigned to a visible GPS satellite by an antenna resource management computer. Detailed DBF parameters will be specifically addressed after potential integrators have been identified. Capabilities & Efforts AFRL seeks integrators that will utilize GPS commercial off the shelf (COTS) components as material solutions where available, while maintaining the ability to manufacture specialized elements (i.e. multi-layer array panels). Due to the short suspense, AFRL will entertain only those providers with previous experience in related (as deemed appropriate by AFRL) antenna fabrication and DBF projects. Responses are highly encouraged by those service providers with mature planar phased array antenna manufacturing technologies and DBF network implementation. The potential effort will include: participating in, planning, and conducting system design, prototype fabrication, testing, and delivery. The efforts may also include, but are not limited to, technology demonstrations, evaluation programs and field exercises; develop test plan documentation; analysis, evaluation, and documentation of technical data. The selected contractor will be expected to provide technical project planning and coordination; prepare and present formal and informal briefings; attend technical meetings for the purpose of providing technical expertise. In addition, the contractor will be expected to develop, maintain, and document an appropriate GDAA cost model. Responses Where applicable and appropriate, white papers should directly compare and contrast capabilities with current COTS items or known developmental efforts with respect to improvements, limitations, weight, size, cost, power density, capacity, duration, dynamic range of performance, ease of production and use. Specific performance data and materials compatibility information should be provided. Any information submitted in response to this synopsis is strictly voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information submitted in response to this announcement. Offerors having the technical skills and capabilities to perform the stated requirement are invited to provide information to contribute to this market survey/sources sought. Interested offerors should address in their written response whether they can fulfill this requirement. Responses shall include the following information: company name, address, point of contact, telephone number, email address, business size and small business status such as disadvantaged, 8(a), HUB Zone, Woman Owned, Minority Owned, and/or Veteran Owned, teaming partners and/or major subcontractors or prime. Responses should address how the Offeror can meet any part or all of the above requirements and should not exceed three (3) pages in total. AFRL will review all submittals to this posting, respond appropriately, and make recommendations regarding ability to serve and perform in the government's recommended capacity. Recommendations will also be made for future capabilities briefings, between government personnel and potential service providers. Such correspondence may include site visits, in order to gain first-hand knowledge of competence. While all responses to a future Request for Proposal will be accepted and reviewed, ARFL does not wish to dissipate resources, both government and contractor. References B. Tomasic et al. "Geodesic Dome Array Antenna for the Distress Alerting Satellite System (DASS), AFRL/SNH white paper to NASA, POC: J. Turtle, 781-377-2051, john.turtle@hanscom.af.mil B. Tomasic, J. Turtle and S. Liu, "The Geodesic Sphere Phased Array Antenna for Satellite Communications and Air/Space Surveillance - Part I," Air Force Research Laboratory Technical Report, AFRL-SN-HS-TR-2004-031. Point of Contact Lt Chris McCarney AFRL/SNHA 80 Scott Drive Hanscom AFB, MA 01731 Tel: 781-377-0658, DSN 478 Fax: 781-377-5040, DSN 478 Christopher.McCarney@Hanscom.af.mil Gary Scalzi AFRL/SNHA 80 Scott Drive Hanscom AFB, MA 01731 Tel: 781-377-0216, DSN 478 Fax: 781-377-5040, DSN 478 Gary.Scalzi@Hanscom.af.mil 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
- SN00854765-W 20050728/050726212057 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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