Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22217-5660

A -- ADVANCED MULTIFUNCTION RF SYSTEMS (AMRFS) SOL N00014- POC Ms. Glynis Fisher, ONR 251 (703) 696-2602. BAA 96-023. The following BAA on Advanced Multifunction RF Systems (AMRFS), as it appears below and in the Commerce Business Daily (CBD), cross references the printed Office of Naval Research (ONR) Guide to Programs which is dated January 1996. The Office of Naval Research (ONR 31) with the technical support of a joint laboratory committee (NRL( NRaD, NSWC and NAWC) is interested in devising, developing, and demonstrating system concepts and technologies to enable the integration of RF systems that will achieve greater combat effectiveness at an affordable cost. Specifically, ONR is interested in developing a phased approach to multifunction RF systems that will have common technology applicable to ship and air based platforms, such as SC-21, CV-X, E-2C, JSF, and F/A-18E/F. In support of this BAA, industry day was held on September 11th, 1996 at ONR. U.S. Navy ships and aircraft have large numbers of antennas, each performing unique functions. The number of autonomous arrays will continue to increase since new systems/capabilities are presently being developed. Since real-estate on-board these platforms is currently at a premium, growth of new arrays, i.e., new capabilities are impractical. It is anticipated that multifunction systems will mitigate the real-estate problem while providing the following payoffs: (1) flexibility in resource allocation, (2) reduced life cycle cost through equipment commonality, (3) for shipboard application, enhanced topside design with reduced topside weight, moment, volume, and number of antennas, (4) improved survivability, (5) signature reduction (6) electromagnetic compatibility (6) growth of combat capability and accommodation of legacy systems, (7) maintenance of original RF system performance with reduced or eliminated blockage, and (8) reduced hand-off time between functions with more ability to integrate functions. In fiscal year 1995, ONR and the joint laboratory committee initiated the Advanced Multifunction RF Systems (AMRFS) program to explore current and future technologies and system concepts that will enable the development and demonstration of shipboard and airborne multifunction RF systems. The ultimate AMRFS program goal is to reduce the number of antennas on ships and aircraft by developing and optimum set of antennas/arrays that can perform a multitude of RF functions. This system should include radar, electronic warfare (EW), and communication functions performing independently, sequentially and/or simultaneously, at current performance levels or greater. A final report describing several system concepts was produced from the AMRFS joint laboratory team and represents a departure point for this BAA. A copy of this report can be sent upon request. The purpose of this AMRFS BAA is to develop a concept for the system and a robust testbed that can demonstrate key stressing multifunction RF modes and technologies. The approach for this effort should (1) identify shipboard and airborne system concepts and the required technologies to implement each concept; (2) identify RF functions to be initially demonstrated; (3) produce a plan to devise, develop, and demonstrate multifunction concepts through an open system testbed architecture (4) identify novel, state-of-the-art, and enabling technologies for the more difficult concepts; (5) produce a plan to integrate and validate new technologies in the testbed; and (6) identify technologies and concepts necessary to achieve higher level of integration. The overall concept study of this effort should examine radar, EW, and communications systems functions across all RF bands. The overall system should be designed to handle the most stressing functions while selecting a key set of functions/modes for the testbed. As a minimum, the initial testbed configuration should address at least one mode from radar, active and passive electronic warfare, and communications functions. The testbed concept should specifically address functions that operate in the C through Ku-bands for ship and air based applications. In addition, it should be designed such that it can support the integration of hardware components and simulated representations of unproven or notional hardware elements. Furthermore, it should be a phased/stepped approach to handle different levels of integration difficulties to incorporate advancements in emerging technologies which would enable an ever increasing number of functions/capabilities. The use and consideration of emerging technologies resulting from DoD, ONR and others sponsored research and development programs is desired. Responses should include but not be limited to a description or system concepts; a definition of enabling technologies along with their associated cost and risk; a discussion of critical issues such as antenna designs, isolation, transmit and receive modules, beamformer architecture, power supply, integrated sensor/signal processor, and resource management. This system should not simply repackage existing systems using current technologies but rather innovative and novel ways to achieve multifunction capability. Interested offerors must initially submit a white paper, an original and ten copies, which should be a synopsis of the planned proposal. The white paper should not exceed 20 pages and should be submitted any time during the first 20 days from date of CBD announcement. The white paper should also include rough cost estimates. Those submitting the most promising proposed studies will be invited, through official ONR notification, to submit a full proposal. The period of performance of this initial study effort is expected to be approximately nine months. ONR anticipates making up to three research and development awards based upon the evaluated proposals, contingent upon the availability of funds. Funding for each award is expected to be between $500,000 to $750,000. This notice constitutes ONR's Broad Agency Announcement as contemplated in FAR 6.102(d)(2). No Request For Proposal (RFP), solicitation or other announcement of this opportunity will be made. The technical point of contact for this BAA at ONR is Ms. Mun-Won C. Fenton, ONR 313. All questions or comments concerning this BAA should be sent to the following E-mail addresses (E-mail to both addresses): fentonmc%am5@mr.nawcad.navy.mil & fentonm@onrhq.onr.navy.mil or via fax (703)696-1331. (0275)

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