Request for Information - Solid State Power Amplifier.pdf

Request for Information

Background: This is a Request for Information (RFI) which is part of market research. This RFI is solely issued for informational purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a commitment to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not obligate the United States Air Force (USAF) to contract for any supply or service in any manner. Respondents are advised that the USAF will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the respondents’ expense. All information received from this RFI will be used for market research purposes only. Any response received to this RFI constitutes consent for the submission to be reviewed by military personnel, Government civilians, Department of Defense (DoD) Contractors, and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). The responses may be forwarded to other Government entities in consideration for applicability to other programs.

The USAF is conducting a market survey to identify potential sources of supply for a solid-state power amplifier (SSPA) operating in the 44 GHz band capable of a radio frequency (RF) output power of 80 W minimum for installation as part of a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) assembly. The LRU would nominally consist of the SSPA, power supply, control and monitor logic, and heat sink.

Results of the market survey would be used to inform the USAF on the current state-of-the-art, maturity and readiness of SSPA technologies (e.g., using GaN MMICs or other technologies) for Q-band applications that could be considered for near term product improvements as well as future generation product-line technology insertion roadmaps.

The purpose of this announcement is for the USAF to gain information on solid-state power amplifiers (SSPA) operating in the 44 GHz band for ground-fixed, ground-transportable, and airborne communication applications. Responses to this RFI will be used by the USAF to make appropriate decisions and to support market research.

Any Industry member that has the necessary capabilities, regardless of business size, to provide a mature SSPA is highly encouraged to submit responses to the below questions. Responses to this announcement will not be considered an adequate response to any future announcement. Lack of a response to this announcement will not limit participation in any resultant acquisition request.

Interested businesses should respond to this RFI by providing written responses to the questions listed below. Please submit responses via email to the Contracting Officer, Mr. Michael Pacheco at michael.pacheco.4@us.af.mil, and the Contract Specialist, Ms. Jacquelyn Kelly at jacquelyn.kelly@us.af.mil. Responses to this RFI shall be kept at the unclassified level. Responses are requested NLT 07 October 2024. Based on replies from Industry, the USAF may issue additional RFIs and/or fact-finding questions in the future.

General Description of Work: The USAF is interested in lowering life cycle costs of high frequency (44 GHz) communications system power amplifiers while maintaining high Reliability, Maintainability and Availability (RMA). SSPAs must be ruggedized to perform in a variety of field conditions and environments, and capable of supporting various USAF missions.

SSPA Integration: An available near-term SSPA solution would be candidate to integrate within an existing LRU assembly, the key physical characteristics of which are listed below. A longer term SSPA solution may not necessarily be constrained to the form-fit factors below but may be integrated within the RF subsystem in a new or different form factor to optimize for power, mailto:michael.pacheco.4@us.af.mil mailto:jacquelyn.kelly@us.af.mil cooling, and control. E.g., an integral part within an RF component or a different LRU allocation/configuration.

• LRU assembly consists of the SSPA, power supply, control and monitor logic, and a detachable heat sink. LRU assembly size of < 4.5 in height x 13.5 in length x 11 in width

• Frequency range: 44 GHz band

• RF Input 2.4 mm female coaxial connector (reference – MIL-STD-348A, “RF Connector

Interfaces). RF Output is WR-22 waveguide.

• Input power to the LRU assembly < 30 V DC

• Assembly with SSPA should be hardened to Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)

• Assembly with SSPA weight, inclusive of required positioners and installation mounts, should be < 20 lbs.

Projected Timeframe and Quantities: Air Force projects approximately 120-150 production SSPAs beginning approximately 1QFY26, delivered in increments through FY33. This may extend to additional programs in the future which would increase quantities.

Information Requested: For those companies having an interest in this need and desiring to respond, the USAF requests you provide your responses to the following areas/questions. Please provide your responses after each area/question such that the reviewer can clearly map the responses.

1. Do you have a 44GHz SSPA currently available, in development, test, or in planning stages?

Are there existing SSPAs you produce that you believe could be readily modified to the frequency band and power of interest?

a. What is the estimated Technology Readiness Level of this SSPA? Provide the justification for the estimated level.

i. DoD Reference for Technology Readiness: https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TRA-Guide-Jun2023.pdf

b. What is the estimated Manufacturing Readiness Level of this SSPA? Provide the justification for the estimated level.

i. DoD Reference for Manufacturing Readiness: http://dodmrl.com/

2. Please provide more information on your 44 GHz SSPA. Interested information would be as follows:

a. The semiconductor technology used and foundry facilities you have.

b. Most recent test performance results and/or performance predictions generated from scientifically generated test outcomes. Qualification test outcomes completed/planned.

c. What is the estimated schedule to complete a prototype? What is the estimated schedule to complete a qualified production unit?

d. What is a Rough Order Magnitude (ROM) budget and schedule estimate for a prototyping and production effort? What is the earliest date for test articles and fully qualified production units?

3. If there are existing environmentally hardened (e.g., radiation, EMP, EMI, temperature/altitude, shock/vibration, humidity, etc.) solutions that you have fielded to date, can you please describe the available contract vehicles the Government could purchase these solutions from? Does it meet the needs expressed above?

4. What are or what do you expect would be your challenges associated with the design and build or modify an existing product line to deliver SSPAs described in this RFI and how would you handle them?

5. What is the manufacturing and fielding capability your firm would have for this need?

a. What is your rate of production in quantities per month?

b. What are your typical yield rates?

c. Address material availability, timelines, and challenges.

d. Describe the foundry facilities you have, subcontracting arrangements and ability to meet capacity requirements

6. Please provide the following data:

a. Measured/predicted Power Added Efficiency (PAE) at saturation, input, and output Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), load VSWR, input and output return loss, output power noise density, spurious outputs, spurious harmonic output power (2nd and 3rd), group delay variation, amplitude settling time, phase settling time, additive phase noise. If possible, assuming the sub-bullets below. If not possible, please state what assumptions cannot be met.

i. Unconditionally stable for any input and output load impedance

ii. Operating temperatures experienced in airborne applications.

iii. RF Input Power 1.5 to 8.5 dBm

iv. Performance is at minimum under provided conditions.

b. Nominal and peak SSPA power consumption, and input power voltage.

c. SSPA size

d. SSPA weight, inclusive of required positioners and installation mounts.

e. Installation interfaces / concept

f. Altitude, maximum and minimum operating and non-operating Temperature, and

i. Temperature-Altitude continuous and intermittent operation qualifications.

ii. Thermal conditioning requirements and solutions

g. Shock and vibration requirements/qualifications

h. Environmental hardness test results / qualifications

7. Describe any relevant certifications you have, to include flight worthiness and safety.

8. What data rights would be available to the Government?

9. Notify the Contracting Officer identified above if there is any classified information that supports RFI response.

Note: Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked “Proprietary” will be handled accordingly.

Additional Information Requested: In addition to the information requested above, interested businesses responding to this RFI shall provide the following:

1. Company Name (to included Business Unit/Division as applicable)

2. Company Address

3. Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code

4. Point of Contact

5. Telephone Number

6. Email Address