RFP 421909 - Amendment No. 2 19Jul24.pdf

Property and Procurement Management Division

Building 1005S P.O. Box 5000

Upton, NY 11973-5000

Date: 07/19/2024

AMENDMENT NO. 2

to

Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 421909

For

591 MHz RF Amplifier Systems

GENERAL: This Amendment No. 2 is to amend Request for Proposal RFP No. 421909 as follows.

1. Incorporate Attachment A – Clarification Questions and Answers dated July 19, 2024, into RFP No. 421909 by reference.

All other terms, conditions, and provisions of this RFP shall remain unchanged.

Material, work, and workmanship, except where specified otherwise in this Amendment shall conform to all requirements of Contract Documents and become a part thereof.

Please confirm receipt of this Amendment No. 2 via email to the following.

Bill Koncelik wkoncelik@bnl.gov

(631) 344-5281 mailto:wkoncelik@bnl.gov

Attachment A

RFP No. 421909

Clarification Questions and Answers

July 19, 2024

1. Can BNL confirm that the power available at both BNL and JLAB is 3-phase +

Neutral + Ground (480v/60Hz)?

Answer: Yes, 3-phase + Neutral + Ground. 480 Vac, 60Hz

See attached diagram for reference.

480Y/277V with a neutral to ground with a low resistance in the neutral to ground

2. Requirement 3.9.1: Switching the RF Input faster than 100ns will destroy the LDMOS by triggering the parasitic bipolar. We suggest using a RF switch that has ~300ns switching time.

Is a RF Switch with ~300 ns switching time acceptable?

Answer: Yes, up to 500ns would be fine.

3. Could BNL provide space availability and limitations for both the BNL testing facility and the JLAB facility? As much detail including utility hookups, heights of ducts and doorways etc. are requested.

Answer: There are currently no limitations on space or size. The facility will be designed around the equipment. The rack height without waveguide structures should not exceed 7ft.

4. Electrical safety field evaluation

Within the bullet point “Electrical safety” of Section 3.6 in SOW (EIC-RFS-SOW-

010), it states;

For electrical equipment, material, and systems which are not NRTL listed, the Supplier shall determine the equipment to be safe for its intended use and shall receive a field evaluation from a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory.

Currently, there are 21 Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL) in the

US. Can we choose a testing laboratory by our own as long as the testing laboratory is any of those?

Answer: Yes

5. Zero halogen requirement>

Within the bullet point “Materials” of Section 3.6 in SOW (EIC-RFS-SOW-010), it states;

All materials shall be self-extinguishing, zero halogen and shall not release any toxic or corrosive products when subjected to fire.

We can design with all of major cables and wirings zero halogen.

But how about components/parts used inside? Will this requirement apply to every single material? Or, is there any parts excluded from this requirement?

Answer: All materials used must comply.

6. Code/Standard Compliance>

Within the bullet points “Electromagnetic Compatibility” of Section 3.2 in Technical

Specification (EIC-RFS-SPC-006), it states;

The 200kW and 400kW RF amplifier systems should be designed to be compatible with the following EMC regulations in force, and should neither be perturbed nor perturb other installations according to these regulations:

• EMC Immunity: IEC 61000-6-2;

• EMC Emissions: IEC 61000-6-4.

Do you expect us to perform testing for every item listed within these regulations?

Since the RF amplifier system is large, it is quite difficult to test within an RF anechoic chamber.

Additionally, will you require us to submit an official certification from the testing laboratories such as IEC/CISPR/FCC? For this compatibility requirement, will you accept self-testing performance data instead of official document from the certified laboratories?

Answer: Yes, the design must comply.

7. Does the limitation need to be 130C for the RF die maximum channel temperature? If so, it would be difficult to use GaN in the SSPA as the rest of all industries allow operation to 200-

225C where the worst case MTTF is 114 years at 225C.

We would like to know what’s driving the max 130C limit as it greatly complicates the SSPA design to have to maintain such a low channel temperatures given that the reliability is 10^7 hrs @ 200C and 10^6hrs at 225C for GaN HEMTs.

3.1.8 Temperature Limits

Temperature Limits on Exposed Surfaces

The temperature on any touchable surface shall be less than 48.89°C

(120°F). A touchable surface is defined as any surface that can be accessed without the use of tools.

RF Device Die Temperatures

The maximum die temperature of the RF devices shall not exceed

130°C over the entire load space, dynamic range, and range of environmental conditions.

Answer: The 130◦ C maximum die temperature requirement is for a LDMOS device. If a different device type is used, please submit the temperature specification with the proposal.

8. In 3.1.1 RF Amplifier System Characteristics Table 1 minimum pulse length is given with 1µs and max duty cycle with 50%.

What is max applied pulse repetition frequency? Min 1µs and max. 50% duty cycle would result in 500kHz. Is that a requirement?

Answer: CW will be the main mode of operation for the amplifier. In certain conditions the amplifier may be operated in pulsed mode. Please follow the requirements as specified in 3.1.1.

9. In 3.2 Code/Standard Compliance the following question was raised.

Is the amplifier allowed to exceed the Class A, Group 1 emission limit at carrier frequency

(591MHz)?

Answer: Please follow the specifications in section 3.2 The amplifier must follow the

Class A, Group 1 emission limit as specified in:

• EMC Immunity: IEC 61000-6-2

• EMC Emissions: IEC 61000-6-4

10. We see the payment terms are Net 30 in the T&Cs and Draft

Subcontract document, within the draft there is a suggestion that payment are invoiced by milestone.

Does BSA have a proposal for the milestones that trigger payments or are these milestone and payment targets part of the offerors’ proposal?

Answer: A milestone and payment schedule may be proposed and included in the offer but must be mutually agreed upon by your firm and BSA, LLC.

11. Regarding schedule and delivery performance, and penalties.

How does BSA interpret the limitations to offeror liability and/or are there penalties should there be schedule and delivery delays, outside of any case of force majeure?

Answer: There are no Articles that address penalties in BROOKHAVEN SCIENCE

ASSOCIATES, LLC GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

NONCOMMERCIAL ITEMS AT BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY.

I would address your attention to 3 other Articles.

Article 10 – NOTICE REGARDING LATE PERFORMANCE

Article 14 - EXCUSABLE DELAYS

Article 16 – TERMINATION FOR DEFAULT