A -- AFFORDABLE LARGE ARRAYS

Notice Date

September 5, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL -- Wright Research Site, Det 1 AFRL/PK Bldg 167, Area B, 2310 8th Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433-7801

ZIP Code

45433-7801

Solicitation Number

PRDA-01-20-SNK

Response Due

October 22, 2001

Point of Contact

Susan Southers, Contract Negotiator, Phone (937) 656-9828, Email Susan.Southers@wpafb.af.mil -- Kevin Riley, Contracting Officer, Phone (937) 255-5762, Email kevin.riley@wpafb.af.mil

Description

Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensor Directorate, RF Sensor Technology Division (AFRL/SNR) solicits research proposals on Affordable Large Arrays. Innovative approaches for the production of large-scale, light weight (3-5 kg/m?) active array antennas using highly efficient low elemental power density (10mW-1W) and low cost Transmit and Receive (T/R) cells (a goal of ? $10 per element when in large-scale production) are being sought. Current approaches demand high power at the T/R module level for high power-aperture products. These performance demands increase the cost and prime power consumption of the aperture, limiting their use in large ground-based arrays, space-borne and Aerostat or High Altitude Airship applications. In an effort to reduce cost and power consumption as the aperture size grows, the power and cost per element must be significantly reduced. Therefore the goal of the Affordable Large Arrays Program is to maximize the power-aperture product performance, given limited prime power, cost, and weight budgets. Potential solutions should incorporate innovative concepts including active and/or passive components, and structural materials and concepts, which allow the antenna system to occupy a large physical volume while limiting prime power consumption. Specific solutions may incorporate, but are not limited to the following materials: Silicon (Si), Indium Phosphide (InP), Silicon on Insulator (SOI), Silicon Germanium, or Gallium Arsenide (GaAs). Compatibility of these component technologies with current and future aperture assembly is important. The offeror should consider X-Band to be the RF frequency range of choice. The Program will develop and deliver a minimum of 10 T/R cells with an appropriate test fixture. Using the test fixture, the 10 T/R cells will be evaluated and may also be independently tested and evaluated by the government. The most important goals for T/R cell performance are to achieve low cost and high efficiency. Interested offerors may view and/or download the full PRDA solicitation by accessing the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps) homepage at http://www.eps.gov/. Direct questions to the Contracting point of contact identified in the announcement.=20

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLWRS/PRDA-01-20-SNK/listing.htm l)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010907/ASOL002.HTM (D-248 SN50W8Y1)