Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contract Management Directorate (CMD), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- MEMS BASED TUNABLE/SWITCHABLE X-BAND FILTER TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM SOL RFP MDA972-00-R-0004 DUE 082500 POC Dr. John K. Smith, Facsimile: (703) 516-7360 WEB: click here for the solicitation website, http://www.darpa.mil/SPO/solicitations/rfp00-0004/index.htm. E-MAIL: click here for all contractual and technical questions, rfp00-0004@darpa.mil. DARPA is soliciting proposals for the development of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Switch (MEMS) based designs, technologies, and fabrication techniques that can be applied to the production of miniature, low-cost, tunable/switchable X-band filters. Both tunable/switchable band reject and tunable/switchable band pass filters are required. Potential applications are those that allow an X-band radar system to operate in a quasi-CW mode by transmitting signals in one frequency band while simultaneously listening on other frequency bands. These filters are to be tunable/switchable over 9 -- 11 GHz (8-12 Ghz goal) and have an instantaneous bandwidth of 100 -200 MHz. Switchable means that the filters can be designed to be switched between a finite number of different sub-bands, to be not less than 5. In addition, there should be a "filter bypass" channel that removes the filter(s) from the RF path and permits full RF band operation. These filters are to be designed as "absorptive" filters rather than "reflective". Hence, they should present a low input Voltage Standingwave Ratio (VSWR), as indicated below, over the entire operating frequency band, regardless of the particular band to which they have been tuned/switched. DARPA intends this to be a two-phase program. This solicitation is for PHASE I only. The performer(s) in PHASE II will be downselected from those participating in the preceding effort. No separate PHASE II solicitation is anticipated. The phases and tasks associated with the MEMS Based Tunable X-Band Filter Technology Program are as follows: PHASE I (FY00-01) -- Concept Development and Proof of Concept In addition to designing a conceptual pair of filters, the selected vendors must show their ability to build hardware (including packaging) that matches prediction, especially in the areas of isolation, VSWR, and loss. PHASE I participants will be expected to address these issues through the following tasking. Task 1 -- Develop design concepts for MEMS based X-band tunable/switchable band pass and band reject filters. Design specifications are: Band pass filter Operating frequency range (defined as lower band edge of lowest filter band to upper edge of highest filter band) > 8.5 11.5 Ghz (goal 8 12 Ghz) 1 dB bandwidth 100 -- 200 MHz In band loss < 1 dB In band ripple over central 50% of band: amplitude < 0.3 dB (< 0.1 dB goal) phase < 2.0 deg (< 0.6 deg goal) Stop band rejection > 50 dB at frequencies 500 MHz from band edge Input VSWR (at 50 ohms) < 1.5 (over full tuning range) Tuning/switching time <10us Power handling 1 W average (goal, 10 W peak, 2 W average) Number of channels 3 minimum, See Note 1 below Band reject filter Operating frequency range (defined as lower band edge of lowest filter band to upper edge of highest filter band) > 8.5 11.5 Ghz (goal 8 12 Ghz) 3dB bandwidth 100 -- 200 MHz In band loss > 50 dB Out of band loss < 1 dB at frequencies 500 MHz from band edge Out of band ripple: amplitude < 0.3 dB (< 0.1 dB goal) phase < 2.0 deg(< 0.6 deg goal) Input VSWR (at 50 ohms) < 1.5 (over full tuning range) Tuning time <10us Power handling 0.5 W average (goal, 2 W average) Number of channels 3 minimum, See Note 1 below NOTE 1: Both the band pass and band reject filters should be designed around matching center frequency-to-center frequencies (channels) over the design operating frequency range. Preference in the Phase II down selection will be given to filter designs which support a larger number of channels. NOTE 2: Both filter types should be designed with a bypass option that permits RF signals to pass through the filter over the entire design operating range with a loss not to exceed 0.5 dB. Task 2 -- Based on the concept designs developed in Task 1, perform high fidelity simulations and analyses to show the projected performance of these conceptual filter designs. These simulations should show the tunable/switchable frequency range of operation and the simulated performance at each frequency band within. These simulations should be of sufficient fidelity to address all of the RF specifications given above, except for the tuning time. Task 3 -- Based on the concept designs developed in Task 1, develop a packaging concept for these filters that is compatible with inclusion in a large, switchable dual-polarized X-band phased array antenna system having half wavelength elemental spacing in both dimensions and a requirement to house both filters at each element. A desired packaging goal is to be able to incorporate four tunable/switchable filters (two of each type) into a single module that can be used in conjunction with a fully dual polarized X-band phased array without the need to switch between polarizations. In support of this task, the Government intends to make additional design information regarding the X-band array concept available at the kickoff of the PHASE I effort. Task 4 -- Fabricate two operational packaged prototypes of both filter types, based on the concepts developed under Tasks 1 and 3. Perform measurements to show that the measured filter performance for each filter type is in good agreement with the predictions made in Task 3. Use these measurements to refine analytical models, as required. Where the measured performance has failed to achieve the design goals, show design changes required to achieve filter specifications for both types of filters in their final packaged form, with supportive results from the revised simulations and modeling. Task 5 -- Develop a plan for determining the long-term reliability of these filters over > 10 billion operating cycles, taking advantage of reliability testing that may have been performed on other programs. Task 6 -- Produce a technical and cost proposal for PHASE II. (Task 6 will be a deliverable under the PHASE I contracted effort; however, it should be shown as part of the PHASE I SOW and program plan.) PHASE II (FY01-02) Fabrication and Testing Task 1 -- Iterate the packaged filter designs produced in PHASE II to meet the required specifications and produce > 50 functional MEM tunable/switchable X-band filter prototypes of each type, based on the concept designs developed in PHASE I. These are to be fully packaged units that are compatible with eventual insertion into a X-band phased array antenna system having half wavelength elemental spacing in both dimensions and a requirement to house both filters at each antenna element. (It is desired that these filters will be packaged within the same module.) Task 2 -- Perform measurements on these filters to show that they meet the design goals of PHASE I. Task 3 -- Required Option -- (This is to be a separate option in the PHASE II proposal.) Implement the reliability testing program proposed in PHASE I and use the results of this program to make projections of the reliability of these filters over the required design life. This reliability testing program is to be performed on a sufficient number of prototype filters that the projections are statistically meaningful. The number of units produced should be sufficient to support both the reliability testing and Task 1. This solicitation is intended to solicit a wide range of ideas and concepts; however, potential bidders must be capable of addressing all of the PHASE I -- II tasks as required during the course of the program. For this reason, potential bidders are encouraged to form teams, if required, to enable them to address all PHASE I-II tasks. In Section 2 (Organization and Personnel) of the PHASE I technical proposal, bidders must describe the organization or team that is capable of supporting all phases of this effort, as well as the role of the team members. PHASE I proposals may be submitted at any time between the date of this announcement and the closing date of this RFP. PHASE I awards will be based on the results of the PHASE I proposal evaluation and the availability of funds. It is expected that PHASE I efforts will have a period of performance not exceeding nine (9) months and no PHASE I award will exceed $250,000. DARPA reserves the right to make multiple awards for all phases of this effort, subject to the availability of funds. These awards may be incrementally funded. Proposals for the PHASE II effort will ONLY be solicited from the PHASE I performer(s) as part of their current effort. DARPA does not intend to conduct any additional solicitations for the PHASE II effort. DARPA will award PHASE II efforts based on proposals submitted for this phase, the results of PHASE I, and availability of funds. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDANCE -- Full proposals are to be prepared as web structures that will be submitted on a single CD-ROM. Detailed instructions for the preparation of PHASE I proposals can be found in Section L of the model contract for this solicitation at http://www.darpa.mil/SPO/solicitations/rfp00-0004/contract.pdf. PROPOSALS -- The PHASE I proposal must contain the following four sections ONLY: (1) Technical Approach; (2) Organization and Personnel; (3) Statement of Work and Program Plan; and (4) Cost Proposal. BASIS FORAWARD -- PHASE I proposals shall be evaluated against the following criteria, in order of importance: (1) overall scientific and technical merit; (2) the qualifications of the proposer to perform the work (including a description of the team -- if a team is required -- which has been assembled to address all phases of this program); (3) the ability of the Program Plan to address the objectives of the proposed technical solution; and (4) the realism of the proposed cost relative to the work to be performed. No other evaluation criteria will be used. Failure to submit proposals in the format described above may be considered grounds for declaring a proposal non-responsive. Non-responsive proposals will not be reviewed. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION -- Ten copies of the CD-ROM containing the full PHASE I proposal must be received before the proposal deadline. All proposals shall be sent to: DARPA RFP MDA972-00-R-0004, Mail Room, 3701 N FAIRFAX DR ARLINGTON VA 22203. PROPOSAL DEADLINE: PHASE I proposals are due by 1500 Local Time, 25 August 2000. OTHER INFORMATION -- Information for Offerors can be found in Section L of the model contract at http://www.darpa.mil/SPO/solicitations/rfp00-0004/contract.pdf. DARPA reserves the right to award Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts for any, all, part, or none of the proposals received. Non-government advisors, who have signed appropriate non-disclosure and conflict of interest statements, may assist in the evaluation and review process. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposals and join others in submitting proposals. No portion of this RFP will be set aside for HBCU and MI participation due to the impracticality of reserving discrete or severable areas of research within the topic areas for this RFP. If required, proposers should apply the restrictive notice prescribed in the provision at FAR 52.215-12, Restriction on Disclosure and Use of Data, to trade secrets or privileged commercial and financial information contained in their proposals or abstracts. Technical POC: Dr. John K. Smith, Program Manager, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Special Projects Office, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714, Facsimile: (703) 516-7360, E-mail: jksmith@darpa.mil (E-mail contact is preferred). Contractual POC: DARPA, Contracts Management Office (CMO), ATTN.: Kristen Numrych, 3701 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203-1714. ALL technical or contractual questions regarding this solicitation must be e-mailed to rfp00-0004@darpa.mil or faxed to (703) 516-7360, ATTN.: RFP MDA972-00-R-0004. Refer to FAQ file for an answer. The solicitation web site is: http://www.darpa.mil/SPO/solicitations/rfp00-0004/index.htm. RFP MDA972-00-R-0004, CBD Announcement, and FAQ file are accessible from this site. Posted 07/10/00 (W-SN472794). (0192)

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