Commercial Acquisition Department, Bldg 11, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, Code 59, Simonpietri Dr., Newport, RI 02841-1708

A -- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR SUBMARINE MULTIBAND COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNAS SOL N66604-99-R-2966 DUE 041699 POC W. Hurley, Contracting Officer at (401) 832-1571; FAX (401) 832-4820 WEB: Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport, http://www.npt.nuwc.navy.mil/contract/. E-MAIL: William Hurley, Contracting Officer, hurleyws@npt.nuwc.navy.mil. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWC/NPT) Submarine Electromagnetics Systems Department is conducting exploratory development in the area of advanced antennas for submarines. The objective is to develop antenna systems capable of supporting increased satellite communications (SATCOM) throughput while minimizing exposed detectability. Candidate antenna technologies will be considered for incorporation into new submarine mast antenna concepts. Development of advanced submarine antenna technologies is expected to provide significant payoff for the U.S. Navy by enabling submarines to operate more effectively as members of a Battle Group or Joint Task Force. Improving the data rates supportable by submarines facilitates more timely delivery of large data packages (both to and from subs) and reduces the required exposure time for submarine masts. To achieve improved communications at maximum stealth, advanced antenna approaches are sought which can provide high data rate SATCOM antenna apertures within a limited volume and with low radar cross section (RCS). Approaches that serve multiple bands within a single aperture are desired. It is anticipated that antenna technologies successfully demonstrated in this effort would transition to the development of future submarine communications mast antennas. A Communications at Periscope Depth (Comms at PD) program addressing future submarine antenna requirements is currently planned for funding by the Space and Naval Warfare Center (SPAWAR) PMW-173 beginning in fiscal year 2003. Candidate antenna approaches should meet as many of the following performance goals as possible: 1. Each antenna design must address one or more of the following frequency bands: a. 17.7-21.2 GHz, receive-only, both right-hand and left-hand circular polarization (to support MILSTAR, GBS, and emerging military and commercial broadband downlinks). Support of both polarizations simultaneously is desired, but not required. b. 27.5-31.0 GHz transmit (to support emerging military and commercial broadband uplinks). c. 43.5-45.5 GHz transmit (to support MILSTAR uplink). 1. Antennas must be capable of forming a directive beam (either for transmit or receive) that is steerable up to 60 from the normal of the antenna in any direction. Antenna approaches requiring full mechanical steering of the entire antenna aperture will not be considered. Antenna approaches requiring mechanical motion within the planar aperture will be considered. 2. Antennas must be planar, preferably less than 3" thick. 3. Antenna candidates must provide significantly reduced RCS with respect to a paraboloidal reflector antenna of equivalent aperture. 4. Antennas must be capable of surviving in the submarine environment, including: 1000 psi hydrostatic pressure 9 psi waveslap loading Antenna design and materials must be chosen to resist corrosion and fouling produced by prolonged immersion in seawater Proposed efforts should consist of two phases. Phase one should include design of a full-scale, partial-aperture antenna (such as a subarray), and definition of a high-level approach for implementation on a submarine mast. This phase is expected to be nine to twelve months in duration. Phase two should include manufacture of a partial-aperture antenna (including all associated electronics, power supplies, and control hardware and software), laboratory and environmental tests, and a projection of antenna performance for larger aperture sizes. This phase is also expected to be nine to twelve months in duration. NUWC anticipates that the total funding available for both phases of this effort will be between $1.0M and $1.7M over three fiscal years (FY99, FY00, and FY01). All interested parties should submit full technical and cost proposals (seven and 3 copies respectively) by 2:00 local time, 16 April 99 to the Commercial Acquisition Department, Building 11, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport, Code 5914, Simonpietri Drive, Newport, RI 02841-1708, Attn: Mr. William Hurley, BAA N66604-99-R-2966. All proposals should be unclassified. Technical proposals should include (but not be limited to) information in the following areas: Technical Approach. Provide a description of the technology proposed. If the proposed technology leverages current or previous developments, either for military or commercial applications, then state so here. Describe how the current state of the technology would be adapted to meet submarine requirements. Antenna Performance. Provide a description of the basic performance characteristics of the technology. Performance parameters addressed should include (but not be limited to): frequency of operation, bandwidth, gain (relative to aperture size), effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP, for transmit antennas), gain-to-noise-temperature-ratio (G/T, for receive antennas), beamwidth, maximum scan angle and scan loss. In describing performance in each of these areas, be sure to clearly indicate the aperture shape and area that is assumed. Also, state any assumptions regarding antenna noise temperature in projecting G/T. Antenna Depth/Thickness. The projected size of the proposed antenna should be described. Overall thickness in the dimension perpendicular to the plane of the antenna should be estimated as best as possible. Antenna designs requiring minimal volume are desired. Radar Cross Section (RCS). Describe the proposed approach to minimizing the RCS of the antenna. Also describe how the RCS of the antenna will be characterized (i.e. what types of analysis and/or measurement will be used for evaluation). Submarine Environment. Describe what the proposed approach is to address the submarine environmental constraints outlined above. Provide an indication of how this approach affects the antenna size and performance. Cost Projections. Provide ROM cost estimates of 1) R&D and engineering development costs required to field a prototype antenna, and 2) per unit production costs assuming a production volume of 50 units. A discussion of estimated life-cycle costs should also be included. Assume a 30" by 30" antenna aperture size, and discuss the cost impact of producing larger or smaller units (i.e., to what degree is production cost proportional to antenna area). Interface Requirements. Provide a general description of what the interface requirements are for the proposed antenna technology, including RF, power, control, cooling and mechanical interfaces. Statement of Work. Provide a SOW describing what tasks would specifically be performed under this effort, including cost and schedule information. Past Performance. (1) Provide a list of all (maximum of 20) contracts and subcontracts with a value exceeding $100,000 that are currently in process or have been completed during the past two years. If the maximum is exceeded, list the 20 most current actions. Contracts listed shall include those entered into with Federal, state or local governments as well as commercial customers. Offerors that are newly formed entities without prior contracts should list contracts and subcontracts as required above for all key personnel. Include the following information for each contract and subcontract: Name of contracting activity or commercial firm Contract number Contract type Total contract value Brief narrative (less than 10 lines) describing your involvement in the effort, complexity, objectives achieved, and types of personnel who performed under the contract. List ships or military systems involved, if any. List major subcontractors. Procuring Contracting Officer* and telephone Administrative Contracting Officer*, if different, and telephone Program manager* or COR or and telephone *Or non-Government official with similar duties or rank (2) Describe any quality awards or certifications that indicate the offeror possesses a high-quality process for developing and producing the product or service required. Such awards or certifications include, for example, the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award, the automobile industry's QS 9000, Sematech's SSQA, or ANSI/EIA-599. Identify what segment of the company (one division or the entirecompany) received the award or certification and when it was received. If the award or certification is over three years old, present evidence that the qualifications still apply. (3) Provide similar past performance data for major subcontractors (those performing more than 25% of the effort). Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria: 1) Ability of the proposed technology to meet the stated performance goals, 2) Soundness of technical approach (i.e., likelihood of the proposed technology to produce a valuable product within time and budget constraints), 3) Feasibility and affordability of proposed technology, 4)Past Performance and 5) Total cost and cost realism of the proposed project. Proposal length, exclusive of cost and pricing data and Past Performance, should not exceed 25 pages, including an Executive Summary not to exceed two pages. Proposal format is the choice of the offeror. It is anticipated that one contract award will result from this BAA. However, the government reserves the right to award more than one contract. It is also anticipated that the funding level for phase one would be in the range from $500,000.00 to $700,000.00. The anticipated contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, though other contract types will be considered. The technical point of contact for this announcement is William P. Craig, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, 1176 Howell St., Newport, RI 02841-1708, phone: (401) 832-5470, email: bill_craig@code34.npt.nuwc.navy.mil. Contracting questions should be directed to Mr. William Hurley, at (401) 832-1571. Our department no longer issues solicitations or amendments in paper form. Instead, they may be accessed at our web site http://www.npt.nuwc.navy.mil/contract/. We also provide electronic access in our Bid Room. Estimated RFP release date: 99 Mar 17; SIC Code: 8731. Posted 03/01/99 (W-SN303283). (0060)

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