Commander, U.S. Army Missile Command, Acquisition Center, Redstone Arsenal, AL, 35898-5280

66 -- VXI SIGNAL GENERATOR/ATTENUATOR CALIBRATION WORK STATION (SIGGEN- A CWS) SOL DAAH01- POC Contact Mr James Christian, 205/876-9222, or Mr Major Facteau, 205/955-8817 Contracting Officer: Ms Dana Holmes, 205/842-7435 (PCF). The U.S. Army Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment (TMDE) Activity (USATA) is responsible for providing measurement, calibration and repair services to the U.S. Army's TMDE. It provides these services via a hierarchical system of 8 Continental US and two Overseas Secondary Reference (S-Level) Laboratories; and a series of approximately 175 mobile Transfer (T-Level) Teams which, depending on the range/parameters of the TMDE to be supported, operate in one or two 5-Ton Trucks equipped with Expansible Van/Shelters. Each T-Level van is equipped with a Calibration Set (CALSET) consisting mainly of Electroni (Meter, Oscilloscope, Counter) Radio Frequency (RF/Microwave (SigGen), and Physical/Mechanical CWSs, as well as a TMDE Repair WS. Approximately 30 of these CALSETs are used in support of Regular Army (Military) weapon system TMDE; the remainder support Civilian Army TMDE calibration and repair requirements. USATA is presently comtemplating a multi-year buy for total replacement of the existing SigGen SWS, deployed at both S- and T-Level. At the same time, USATA is planning for the next generation of field calibration equipment. The military configuration of the next generation, at least, is expected to be an automated, multi-user, multi-tasking system, down-sized and down-weighted for rapid deployment, employing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) open electronic architecture and open software, in particular, VXI. In order to consider all options, a draft specification for a SigGen CWS rendered in VXI open electronic architecture has been developed. The VXI SigGen-A CWS must meet the performance specifications of the present SigGen CWS, which is capable of calibrating essentially all the parameters of the highest-accuracy modern RF/microwave signal generators, sweep generators and synthesized signal generators, in particular, the Hewlett-Packard 8673 Synthesized Generator. Also, it is believed appropriate to include capability to support the Army's attenuator calibration workload (110db, 10 MHz - 18 GHz) in this new SigGen CWS; its acronym, SigGen-A CWS, reflects this additional requirement. Specific concerns include the apparent lack of availability in COTS VXI architecture of: a low-noise-floor, high-quality microwave down-converter (a critical component); a large dynamic range microwave receiver (for an analog approach to SigGen measurement); and an audio signal analyzer (20 Hz - 100 KHz). A questionnaire will be provided with the draft specification to assist the Government in defining the final specification by: assessing the maturity/applicability of COTS VXI technology in the RF and microwave calibration standards arena; and by providing information about the technical capabilities of available products or soon-to-be-available products. All information provided on new products in the offing will be treated as proprietary unless specifically noted to be contrary by the supplier. This survey is intended to assist the Government in defining its final specifications, for at least a military version of the SigGen-A CWS, by providing information concerning the present and 1-2 year projected technical capabilities of the VXI commercial market place. Interested suppliers may request a draft specification and questionnaire by contacting, phone number (205) 876-9222 or address: Director USATA, ATTN: AMSMI-TMDE-ED)J. Christian), Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5400. Required response date for submitting the completed survey is 13 Sep 95. (0195)

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