Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF APRIL 23, 2017 FBO #5630
SOURCES SOUGHT

58 -- Beyond Line-of-Sight Communications Aperture Development for Tactical Aircraft

Notice Date

4/21/2017
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

NAICS

541712 — Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
 

Contracting Office

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFLCMC/PK - WPAFB (includes PZ, WL, WW, WI, WN, WK, LP, WF, WK), 2275 D Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 45433-7218, United States
 

ZIP Code

45433-7218
 

Solicitation Number

AFTENCAP-17-0001
 

Point of Contact

William T. Smith, Phone: 9372552479, Lt Col Christopher Bradley, Phone: (719) 567-0488
 

E-Mail Address

william.smith.11@us.af.mil, christopher.bradley@us.af.mil
(william.smith.11@us.af.mil, christopher.bradley@us.af.mil)
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

Request for Information Date: 21 April 21, 2017 RFI# AFTENCAP-17-0001 Title: Beyond Line-of-Sight Communications Aperture Development for Tactical Aircraft THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NOTICE ONLY. This RFI is for informational and planning purposes only and it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government for any actual procurement of materials, machinery, or services. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI are solely at the responding parties' expense. Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response. The Government will not be liable for, or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly marked and clearly identified. Proprietary information received in response to this sources sought will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable Government regulations. PURPOSE In accordance with Part 10 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation the U.S. Government (USG) is issuing this RFI in an effort to understand market availability and identify industry sources capable of providing a prototype conformal wide-band Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) aperture needed to share data between National and Tactical systems using beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications systems. It is anticipated that new, cost-effective aperture capability needs to be developed that can ideally support multiple waveforms, wide-band frequency coverage, smaller form factors and reduced power/cooling requirements as well as maintain the potential to be compatible with the low-observable (LO) characteristics of host platforms. This new aperture capability is expected to require transmit and/or receive capabilities in portions of the Super High Frequency (SHF) and Extremely High Frequency (EHF) bands. BACKGROUND The Department of Defense (DoD) and Joint Services are working to increase versatility and agility across the range of military operations in order to meet national objectives. T o support those objectives, the Air Force Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (AF TENCAP) office is investigating low cost innovative approaches to enhance cross-domain synergy and improve data and information sharing between National and Tactical systems. In order to exploit advantages inherent in each of those domains, more automated processes and communication paths are required to provide an improved exchange of data. The objective is to turn multiple streams of data into high quality information that can be used to support enhanced decision making at both the tactical and strategic level. AF TENCAP is working various projects to improve sharing of data across domains. The overarching goal for this RFI is to assess the potential to improve communications capability specifically between National systems and 5 th generation Tactical platforms through a wide-band transmit and receive aperture for use with BLOS communications systems. This RFI is for informational and planning purposes only and it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. However, responses to this RFI will inform USG planning for a prospective development program to advance the maturity of apertures needed to share data between National and Tactical systems using beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications systems. REQUESTED INFORMATION The focus of this RFI is to seek information regarding possible methods and technologies to accelerate the development and provide a prototype conformal AESA aperture array and electronics that can demonstrate transmit and/or receive capabilities across the K, Ka and Q frequency bands. Interested responders should also identify their capabilities to extend the bandwidth of the aperture system beyond those listed (down to the Ku band) within reasonable cost and technical constraints. Ultimately, information gleaned from this RFI may be used to assess how to accelerate the development of a prototype aperture that can meet approximate requirements of a tactical LO platform in order to support more agile future communications capabilities. Respondents should specifically focus on providing information on any capability development related to the following seven main topics: •1. Aperture Design and Electronics Development Provide information regarding a prototype transmit/receive aperture that demonstrates wide-band capability and a path towards significantly reduced production costs with enhanced manufacturability. •· Ways to incorporate new electronic component designs if required to achieve an increased level of electronics integration and enhanced manufacturability •· Information on electronics to control the array across the proposed frequency bands •· Information on potential electronics needed to support the wide-band frequency capability of the array in order to interface with a software defined radio system or open architecture Communications Navigation and Identification (CNI) systems •· Ways to incorporate design features in order to reduce aperture and electronics costs •· Ways to incorporate design features in order to reduce size, weight and power requirements •2. Development of Transmit/Receive Aperture Array that could be compatible with installation on LO Platforms Provide information regarding development of array elements that could support conformal installation on a curved surface of a representative low observable tactical aircraft. •· Define ways to manufacture a prototype broadband aperture where the array can conform to the outside mold line of a vehicle and retain the signature characteristics of the host platform while maintaining the desired performance requirements of the antenna •3. System Demonstration options for a proposed Transmit/Receive Aperture Provide information on how to conduct a system demonstration to assess key performance parameters. •· Information on how the conformal array might be integrated and tested with a terminal to verify the terminal-to-antenna interface as well as key performance factors such as the ability to close a defined link, gain, bit error rate, positional tracking, power consumption, scan volume, data rates, and frequency agility •· Information on how developmental/test hardware could be leveraged to simulate the desired waveforms •4. Options for modeling or simulating the performance of the Aperture System Provide information on how to model, simulate or evaluate the aperture performance. •· General evaluation of the expected performance of the wide frequency band array •· RF pattern performance, antenna gain-to-noise-temperature (G/T), positional tracking capability, frequency agility •· Evaluating LO radar cross section (RCS) performance when installed on a platform •· Cooling and power requirements while in operation •5. Transmit Aperture Design and Electronics Development (if separate from receive) Provide information on the development of prototype AESA transmit apertures (if not integrated with the receive elements) that, when combined with the receive elements, would close the link for a BLOS communications system and demonstrate a path towards significantly reduced production costs and enhanced manufacturability. •· Define ways to incorporate circuit and electronic component designs to achieve a higher level of electronics integration and enhance manufacturability •· Information on potential electronic sub-system designs to control the transmit array across the various frequency bands •6. System Recommendations to include unique or proprietary options to meet the desired capabilities proposed for this array Provide information on company specific recommendations or proprietary capabilities that can meet or exceed the general characteristics defined below. •· Information on timelines, Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and approximate SWAP requirements should be included. •7. Process for obtaining approval to operate on the SATCOM systems of interest Provide information on the expected process required to obtain approval to connect to the SATCOM systems listed in the next section based on the TRL of their technology. •· Information on timelines for approval, qualification or certification processes required by Army Forces Strategic Command (ARSTRAT), or other agencies, to allow the aperture to be used with the SATCOM systems of interest The general characteristics for the desired aperture are listed below. •1. Receive Frequency Capability and Data Rate •· Approximately 18 to 50 GHz. Please include specifics if a wider bandwidth is possible, especially down to 12 GHz (Ku band) •· Potential for receive aperture to scan full frequency band when not in use for specific communications purposes •· Approximate receive data rates of 1 to 2Mb/Sec (higher if SWAP permits) •2. Transmit Frequency Capability and Data Rate •· Directional Transmit in specific frequency bands, full bandwidth transmit not required. •· Transmit in the following bands: 20 to 22 GHz, 26 to 31 GHz and portions of Q band. •· Approximate transmit data rate of 1 to 2Mb/Sec (higher if SWAP permits) •· Transmit/receive data rates may be asymmetric •3. Polarization and scan angle •· Polarization as required by communications system/systems in use •· Scan Angle up to approximately 70° (or higher if able) •4. The prototype system will look to demonstrate compatibility with frequency bands and waveforms used on the following systems •· MILSTAR/AEHF (Advanced Extremely High Frequency) •· WGS (Wideband Global SATCOM) •· GBS (Global Broadcast System) - Receive only •· IFDL (Intra-flight Data Link) •· MADL (Multifunction Advanced Data Link) •5. Connectivity •· The objective would be to have a simultaneous connection to one BLOS system and one tactical data link or multiple communications networks based on mission requirements. •· The aperture system would be reconfigurable for the desired communications or data links electronically •6. Size, Weight and Power •· Approximate aperture volume space: 18"W x 18"L x 5"D •· Curvature required on final application (not necessary on an initial prototype) •· Conformal installation with the ability to meet LO signature requirements •· Power and cooling: standard tactical aircraft power sources, liquid cooling may be available GUIDANCE FOR RESPONSES Responses must be submitted via e-mail in Microsoft Word or PDF format. The Government requests that the main body of the responses be no greater than 15 pages, with a maximum of 20 pages of attachments. In addition, a cover page may be included to describe the Responders experience in the areas of interest described above. Request that the RFI response be submitted by COB 30 June 2017. Responses received after this closing date may not be considered in the Government's analyses. Responses may be provided at classification levels up to and including TS//SAR/SCI. All responders to this RFI, regardless of classification, must notify Mr. William T. Smith via unclassified e-mail at william.smith.11@us.af.mil. PLEASE ANNOTATE THE RFI NUMBER, DATE AND TITLE IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR E-MAIL RESPONSE. Responses to this RFI are requested to be submitted to: Mr. William T. Smith AFLCMC/WINK AF TENCAP Contracting Officer 2640 Loop Road West, Bldg. 556, Room 010 Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7106 Phone: (937) 255-2479 Unclassified email: william.smith.11@us.af.mil SIPRNET: william.t.smith28.gov@mail.smil.mil JWICS: william.smith@af.ic.gov Should the response be classified Special Access Required (SAR) please seek additional guidance and direction for submittal from Lt Col Christopher Bradley at christopher.bradley@us.af.mil, phone: (719) 567-0488. If interested in responding to this RFI and have questions, AF TENCAP will host an optional question and answer session on 25 May 2017 at 24 Talon Way, Building 24, Schriever AFB, CO 80912. Please communicate your intentions to attend to Lt Col Christopher Bradley, christopher.bradley@us.af.mil, phone: (719) 567-0488 by 17 May. If planning to attend, individuals will also need to send a Visit Request (VR) for the meeting to AF TENCAP via the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS) using SMO Code FD1SFLFJ6. List the Security POC as "USAFWC Security", (719)567-0202. Lt Col Bradley should be listed as the Technical POC. Additional instructions for SAP accesses can be provided by Lt Col Bradley upon request. Submission of Proprietary Information Caution : The government appreciates that interested firms may not be able to respond to this RFI without disclosing information deemed to be "proprietary." Ensure that responses with Proprietary information are marked properly. Data submitted in response to this RFI may be reviewed by Department of Defense (DoD) personnel and DoD Advisory & Assistance Services (A&AS) contractor and Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) employees. It is the responsibility of the Respondents to clearly mark submitted information with appropriate restrictive markings. All members of the government/contractor response evaluation team are obligated to protect information to the maximum extent permitted as required by Title I of the Economic Espionage Act of 1996, 18 U.S.C. 1831-1839, and other applicable statutes and regulations. All support contractor members are required to protect the information by the terms of their contracts. The Government has also determined that the support contractor personnel have no organizational conflicts of interest that could adversely affect protection of the information. All Government, DoD A&AS contractor, and FFRDC personnel reviewing RFI responses will have signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use and protection from unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information as described in 41 U.S.C. 2101-2107. Be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. The responses by be forwarded to other Government entities in consideration for applicability to other programs.
 

Web Link

FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/ASC/AFTENCAP-17-0001/listing.html)
 

Place of Performance

Address: 24 Talon Way, Building 24, Schriever, AFB, CO 80912, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80912, United States

Zip Code: 80912
 

Record

SN04481675-W 20170423/170421235112-8c2a319113779317a90355ce258d0032 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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