SOURCES SOUGHT
12 -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/MARKET SURVEY for new Cooperative Engagement Capabilities (CEC) Common Array Block (CAB) Family of Antennas (FoA)
- Notice Date
- 11/15/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 334511
— Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- N00024 NAVAL SEA SYSTEMS COMMAND, DC 1333 Isaac Hull Avenue S.E. Washington Navy Yard, DC
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- N0002411R5207
- Response Due
- 12/31/2010
- Archive Date
- 11/15/2011
- Point of Contact
- Richard Chandler, 202-781-0760
- E-Mail Address
-
Trobaugh,
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- BACKGROUND: CEC is a high bandwidth, fire control communications network, linking surface ships, E2C and E2D aircraft, USA JLENS Aerostats and USMC ground nodes to pass high quality radar targeting information. Directional, active phased array antennas are utilized to communicate between systems using a Time Division Pair-wise Access (TDPA) technique. The current antenna systems use 1990 ™s technologies, are experiencing some obsolescence issues, and are expensive to build. Also, there is minimal hardware commonality between the different antennas currently in use. The Integrated Warfare System (IWS) program office for CEC Program Executive Office, Program Management Office (PMO) for CEC, PEO IWS 6.0 and Marine Corps Systems Command seek to leverage new Gallium Nitride (GaN) Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) technologies and develop common antenna building blocks for use in multiple antenna designs for the primary purpose of improving affordability. The intent of this RFI is to gather the information from industry to determine potential sources for the design and development of the CAB solution. The initial thrust of the development will be for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Common Array Block-Expeditionary (CAB-E) antenna and the United States Navy (USN) Common Array Block-Ship antenna (CAB-S). Future efforts will consider extension of the Common Array Block Modules to Airborne applications in a USN Common Array Block-Air (CAB-A) design. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: The basic building block for these antennas will be a Transmit/Receive (T/R) MMIC, which will be provided by the government in sample quantities. This T/R MMIC is currently being designed and built via a separate contract. This T/R MMIC is GaN on Silicon Carbide (SiC) technology. Included in the T/R MMIC are the power amp (~15 W up to CW duty), Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), 6-bit phase shifter, 6-bit attenuator and gain blocks. Circulator and limiter functionality are not included in the T/R MMIC. There are plans to add level shifters on chip for control inputs. Shift registers to allow a serial control interface are planned be added later. The predicted size of the chip is 7 x 3.5 mm. The contractor for the antenna designs will provide inputs for the MMIC second foundry spin. It is envisioned that the contractor will utilize the T/R MMIC and develop a multi-channel T/R module as one of the common building blocks for the FoA. The contractor will be responsible for defining the remaining common subsystems for the CAB FoA. It is understood that the enclosures and the packaging will be different for the different platforms, but maximizing use of common components while minimizing non-common subsystems is a requirement. In addition to common array blocks for the design, the antenna will need to be extensible/scalable for potential future enhancements. These may include: Multiple beams on transmit Pattern nulling on receive Dynamic aperture allocation If a Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued, the antenna specifications for each platform will be provided as part of the RFP process. Salient characteristics of the antenna systems will include: Transmit EIRP (low, medium and high power levels) Receive gain and noise figure Sidelobe levels and beamwidth VSWR Omni receive mode BIT and BITE Size and weight Ambient air cooled Reliability, maintainability Marine and ground mobile environments This RFI is seeking innovative concepts and technologies for the next-generation of CEC shipboard and expeditionary antennas. These antennas will be required to be low-cost and built with a common set of subassemblies that would also be scalable to other configurations. The shipboard antenna will be required to meet existing platform interface requirements necessitating a 4-face planar array configuration. The expeditionary antenna will be mast mounted and must meet USMC mobility requirements. Both antennas will be required to communicate with existing antennas systems and meet existing performance requirements. These antennas are required to be ambient air cooled. The antennas will also be required to interface with the CEC signal data processor (SDP) for control, BIT/BITE and RF (via fiber optic). Respondents are asked to identify their specific experience in the development of active phased array antenna systems. Of particular interest is experience in the areas of low-cost fabrication techniques, integration of bare-die RF MMICs, EMI/EMC management, Radar Cross Section (RCS) signature suppression, reliability, mixed signal PCB design and thermal management. The Government would have Government Purpose Rights (GPR) to all Data relating to all items, components or processes produced under this effort and at least partially funded by the Government. Additionally, the Government would also like to have GPR to any other Data relating to the antenna design that the Government deems necessary for design and manufacture of the antenna. Furthermore, the Government would also like to obtain licenses to all intellectual property used in the design and manufacture of the antenna so as to allow the Government unconstrained use of the intellectual property. RESPONSES: Responses may be submitted in hard copy or electronic format. A security clearance is required for this work effort, so only vendors possessing a minimum of a Secret Clearance should submit a response to this RFI. Recommended page limit for responses is 25 pages and must include: A) Industry Points of Contact (POC): one for technical and one for contractual issues to include name, position, telephone and email of each. B) General system description of concepts. C) Prior experience with MMICs and active arrays including synopses of previous projects. D) Description of production and test capabilities. E) Description of key personnel involved in the design and development of the product. SUMMARY: This market research will be managed by the Naval Sea Systems Command. The results of this RFI (and upon requested vendor-submitted materials) will be provided to the U.S. Government agencies as required or necessary. Mailed responses to this RFI must be received on or before Dec 31, 2010 at Naval Sea Systems Command, Attn: Richard Chandler, PEO IWS 6B4, 1333 Isaac Hull Ave SE, Bldg 197, 1W2095, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. 20376. Electronic responses should be sent to richard.w.chandler@navy.mil. All questions should be in writing to the Point of Contact provided. The Government may elect to conduct one-on-one discussions with industry based on its analysis of the RFI responses, the quality of submission, and the level and specification of the information provided. Please note that this RFI is for market research only and that the Government is under no obligation to conduct these sessions. The information provided in responses to this RFI will be used to support on-going CEC initiatives within DoD and may or may not ultimately result in the Government developing and issuing a RFP for respondents. The above information is provided for information only and is not a Request for Proposal or announcement of a solicitation. This Request for Information is not constituted as a commitment by the Government to issue a contract or order. The Government will not pay for any effort expended or any material provided in response to this announcement nor will the Government return any data provided.
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