Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- EXISTING DOMESTIC SMALL SATELLITE BUS SOURCES SOL SS 98-05 DUE 033198 POC Dr. Allan Steinhardt, DARPA/TTO, FAX: (703) 696-2204 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil, http://www.darpa.mil. BACKGROUND: DARPA, along with other Government agencies, is preparing to procure the design, fabrication and on-orbit demonstration of prototypes of a new generation of small, low-cost, low-Earth orbit (LEO) GMTI/SAR radar satellites tailored to support theater warfighter needs ( i.e., the DARPA proposed STARLITE initiative). The purpose of this sources sought announcement is to assess the state of existing domestic only satellite bus capabilities for planning purposes. A sole source announcement for critical risk reduction of the associated spaceborne ESA radar antenna is described in the Commerce Business Daily, Online via GPO Access [http:cbdnet.access.gpo.gov] dated 6 February 1998. TYPE OF SATELLITE BUSES SOUGHT: For the purposes of this announcement, <1000 kg-class satellite buses (without payload) are sought that are agile and reliable. The R & D mission payloads (600-800 kg-class) include the developmental GMTI/SAR radar system with 500 kg-class ESA, a 500 Mbps spaceborne version of the Common Data Link and a data recorder. For the purposes of this announcement, DARPA places a premium on bus maturity. Buses of greatest interest will have been (1) completely designed, (2) completely fabricated and assembled, (3) tested in a space environment, and (4) operating on orbit. Buses that satisfy none of these conditions are of less interest. INFORMATION SOUGHT: For each satellite bus, potential sources are invited to submit the following: (1) Photograph(s) or figure(s) with annotations of key subsystems; (2) Specifications table for each subsystem showing (at least) key performance characteristics, weight, volume, power rqmts, thermal rqmts and level of redundancy; (3) Bus design life and estimated/established MTBF (4) Estimates of the bus attitude and control capability to perform rapid yaw and roll slew and settling sequences of various types with the 8m x 5m ESA; (5) Statement of level of maturity in terms of design, fabrication, assembly, testing and number of vehicles/time in operation on orbit; (6) Existing launch vehicle compatibility and associated quantities per launch. Potential sources are strongly encouraged to be as concise as possible. All of the information sought could be conveyed in 5-7 pages per satellite bus, counting all photographs or figures as one page. WHAT TO SUBMIT: Two original hard copies of information papers, printed on 8 1/2'' x 11'' pages. Submissions cannot be sent by FAX or e-mail. Sources submitting information will not be reimbursed by the Government for any expenses incurred. WHERE TO SUBMIT: Dr. Allan Steinhardt DARPA/TTO, ATTN: SS 98-05, 3701 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. The DARPA point of contact phone number: (703) 696-2331; for additional information, you may contact DARPA's technical support contractor: phone number: (703) 696-2329. WHEN TO SUBMIT: On or before 31 March, 1998. NOTICE REGARDING PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: Submitted material is for planning purposes only. All submitted materials will be held in strictest confidence and will be designated for Government use only. NOTICE REGARDING SOLICITATIONS: This announcement is for information and planning purposes only, and does not constitute a BAA, IFB, or RFP. Nothing in this notice shall be construed as a commitment by the United States Government. (0051)

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