APQ-166 Oscillator RFI 0.1.docx

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

B-52 Solid-State Crystal Controlled Oscillator/Isolator Assembly 5998-01-089-1801 The Government is conducting market research to identify potential non-commercial sources to develop a new source of procurement for the B-52 Radar Receiver Transmitter (RTM) Oscillator/Isolator Assembly (A10).

Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997) applies to this request for information:

(a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as provided in subsection 31.205-18 Bid and Proposal (B&P) Costs, of Federal Acquisition Regulation

(b) Although "proposal" and "offeror" are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

(c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of: informational planning and budgetary forecasting by the government.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The document(s) below contain a description of the Oscillator/Isolator Assembly fit-form-function replacement development requirements and a Contractor Capability Survey. The Survey allows Contractors to provide their company’s capability.

2. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company’s capability in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.)

Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business.

3. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.

Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to Lt. Brenden Collins, Logistics Manager or via email at brenden.collins@us.af.mil.

PURPOSE

This RFI is being conducted to identify different potential non-commercial sources in determining if a future contract effort can be competitively awarded and/or awarded on a total or partial Small Business Set-Aside basis. The applicable North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this effort is 334511 (Search, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing).

The Government does not own the complete technical data package (TDP) or the unlimited rights to the technical data required for manufacture. The original manufacturer of this item is Norden Systems (Northrop Grumman), and a secondary obsolete source is Cobham. To mitigate supply chain risks associated with a single source of supply, avoid obsolescence bottlenecks, and ensure long-term sustainment for the B-52 fleet, the Government's primary objective is to qualify a new, competitive manufacturing source that can deliver a form, fit, function, and interface replacement for this unit.

If the Government decides to award a contract for this or related effort, a solicitation will be published and posted on the System for Award Management (SAM) website. The Government will use this information solely to determine the appropriate acquisition strategy for this procurement. The Government is interested in all small business concerns.

Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

Interested sources may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirements. Interested sources must maintain facilities and cleared personnel for manufacturing, handling, storing, and maintaining information and operating systems with security classifications up to and including Secret.

DESCRIPTION

The National Stock Number (NSN), Part Number (PN), and quantity for a 10-year period is as follows:

The Oscillator/Isolator Assembly is designated as the A10 assembly within the Radar Receiver Transmitter (RTM). It serves as a solid-state, voltage-controlled, crystal-stabilized high-frequency signal generator, providing local oscillator reference and tuning functions across the X-band spectrum for the strategic radar subsystem.

Key Physical and Technical Specifications:

· Physical and Mechanical Characteristics:

· Construction: Solid-state microwave hybrid assembly.

· Weight Limit: Must be kept to a minimum, not to exceed 1.3 lbs. maximum.

· RF Output Interface: Integrates with an aluminum alloy waveguide flange mating with a UG-136/U flange or equivalent.

· RF Performance and Output:

· Operating Frequency Range: 8.66 GHz to 9.66 GHz minimum under all specified electrical and environmental conditions.

· Power Output: Minimum 30 mW across all operating frequencies when driving into a 1.5:1 load maximum (all phases). Maximum output power shall not exceed 209 mW.

· Tuning Voltage Range: +5 VDC to +25 VDC tuning input. Must be capable of tuning down to 8,615 MHz at 3 VDC minimum, and up to 9,705 MHz at 27 VDC maximum.

· Frequency Tuning Curve: Shall be a continuous, straight line with frequency increasing monotonically as a function of tuning voltage. Tuning curve shift over operating temperature extremes shall not exceed 30 MHz relative to the 25 °C ambient reference curve.

· Stability & Noise Characteristics:

· Short-Term Frequency Stability: 10x10^9 peak-to-peak maximum for a 1 ms interval. Carrier frequency shall not deviate by more than 200 kHz peak-to-peak during any 3.0 ms period.

· Long-Term Frequency Stability: 6x10^9 maximum for a 5 min period after the assembly has attained stable operating temperature.

· AM Noise: Shall not exceed the limits shown in the design drawings, with AM noise output not to exceed -80 dBc in a 1 MHz measurement bandwidth centered 60 MHz from the carrier frequency.

· Electrical Power & Interface:

· Primary Power DC Inputs:

· Oscillator Power (Pin E1): +18.6 VDC nominal 1.0 A maximum current drain, 8 regulation, max ripple 720 mV peak-to-peak.

· Negative Bias (Pin E3): -12 VDC 0.3 A max current drain, 2 regulation, max ripple 200 peak-to-peak).

· Positive Auxiliary (Pin E6): +30 VDC (0.05 A max current drain, 3 regulation, max ripple 100\ mV peak-to-peak).

· Heater Power (Pins E2 & E5): 28 VDC 2.4 A max current drain).

· Tuning Input (Pin JI): Dedicated voltage-controlled tuning input (V.TUNE). Presents 5.0 0.5 k input impedance to ground, shunted by 100 pF maximum.

· Grounding (Pins E4 & E7): Common chassis and signal grounding points.

· Protection and Survivability:

· Electrical Protection: Must withstand +19.0 VDC overvoltage and +13.0 VDC undervoltage indefinitely at the +17.5 VDC input. Must withstand a transient overvoltage of +27.0 VDC for 100 ms, and a transient loss of supply voltage (0 V) for 9 s without permanent degradation.

· Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Sensitivity: Classified as an electrostatic sensitive assembly. Handling and assembly must strictly conform to ESD protection practices.

· Nuclear Hardness Critical Item (NHCI): This assembly is designated as a Nuclear Hardness Critical Item (NHCI). It must maintain nuclear survivability and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) hardness per Norden specification 000-R-0031. Any proposed component substitution or redesign must be rigorously evaluated for radiation and electromagnetic hardness.

· Environmental Specifications:

· Operating Altitude Range: Sea level to 55,000 ft.

· Non-Operating Temperature Range: -62°C to +95°C.

· Warm-Up Time: Must operate within full electrical specifications within 5 minutes after a 4-hour cold soak at -54°C.

· Physical Vibration & Shock: Must withstand random vibration environments up to +8 dB roll-off, and physical shock profiles up to 15 g (11 ms half-sine) basic design and 30 g crash safety shock.

The replacement Oscillator/Isolator must meet all form, fit, function, and interface requirements as referenced in T.O. 11B34-2-9-4. The development effort shall include providing a proactive solution for obsolete sub-components and the engineering support required to investigate future Deficiency Reports and Material Improvement Projects (MIPs).

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

B-52 Solid-State Crystal Controlled Oscillator/Isolator Assembly 5998-01-089-1801 Part I. Business Information Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners:

· Company/Institute Name:

· Address:

· Point of Contact:

· CAGE Code:

· Phone Number:

· E-mail Address:

· Web Page URL:

· Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code:

The applicable North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this effort is 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing) with the Small Business Size Standard of 1250 employees.

Based on the above NAICS Code, state whether your company is:

· A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership).

Please send email responses no later than close of business on 16 Sept 2026. Please email your response to:

Lt. Brenden Collins Logistics Manager Common Avionics

407 SCMS/GULBA

brenden.collins@us.af.mil 235 Byron St, Suite 19A Robins AFB, GA 31098-1670

Questions relative to this market research should be addressed to Lt. Brenden Collins, Logistics Manager or via email at brenden.collins@us.af.mil.

Part II. Capability Survey Questions General Capability Questions:

1. Describe briefly the capabilities of your manufacturing and testing facilities, specifically regarding military-grade high-frequency microwave hybrid assemblies and voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs). Include a description of your staff composition and engineering management structure.

2. Describe your company's experience on previous projects similar in complexity to this requirement (e.g., solid-state crystal controlled oscillators, microwave isolators, or RF signal processing modules operating in the X-band frequency range or higher). Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, and the customer agency/organization.

3. Describe your company’s experience in developing, manufacturing, and testing military-grade RF hardware in the absence of a complete, unlimited-rights Technical Data Package (TDP). What is your process for reverse-engineering or developing form-fit-function equivalents from physical samples, partial drawings, or technical manuals?

4. Describe your company's capabilities for generating, handling, processing, storing, and securing classified material and data (up to Secret classification) at your facility.

Manufacturing, Qualification, and Obsolescence Questions:

1. Describe your capabilities and experience in manufacturing RF microelectronics that require high-precision frequency stability (down to parts-per-billion levels) and robust AM noise suppression. What specific cleanroom, wire-bonding, hermetic sealing, and RF diagnostic processes does your facility utilize?

2. This unit contains highly specialized microwave active elements, isolator cores, and voltage-controlled tuning networks. How do you identify, mitigate, and resolve active component obsolescence and Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) issues for these specialized parts?

3. This unit is designated as a Nuclear Hardness Critical Item (NHCI). Describe your experience in designing or manufacturing electronics to withstand electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and radiation environments per Norden spec 000-R-0031 or equivalent military nuclear survivability guidelines.

4. Discuss your proposed engineering process for addressing any fit, form, function, electrical interface, or RF impedance mismatch issues that may arise when qualifying this replacement oscillator inside the RTM assembly.

5. In the absence of original Norden test procedures, describe how your organization will develop and qualify rigorous electrical and RF screening protocols (e.g., tuning linearity verification from +3 VDC to +27 VDC, frequency drift analysis over temperature extremes, phase noise monitoring, and RF burn-out testing at 2 W peak RF power).

6. Describe your process for maintaining inventory records and reporting manufacturing, testing, and delivery schedules to the Government.

7. If your organization cannot manufacture the Oscillator/Isolator Assembly entirely in-house, state which portions (e.g., hybrid substrate fabrication, cleanroom die placement, hermetic sealing, waveguide transition machining, or qualification testing) you would intend to subcontract.

Commerciality Questions:

1. Are there established commercial catalog or market prices for equivalent military-grade X-band voltage-controlled oscillators or crystal controlled reference sources?

2. If you offer similar products and/or design services to both U.S. Government and commercial sources, is the same engineering and manufacturing workforce utilized?

3. Describe your standard warranty, return, and failure analysis process for high-reliability RF and microwave assemblies furnished to the Government.

Continuity of Operations and Cybersecurity:

1. Does your company have an active Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) or equivalent in the event of a natural disaster or other catastrophic event that causes facilities or operations to be disrupted?

2. What mitigation strategies are in place for your company to resume operations and prevent further supply chain disruptions?

3. What customer notification and reporting processes are in place to provide company operational status updates to your clients?

4. Does your company have primary and secondary transportation modes to ship and track sensitive military electronics?

5. How does your company manage traceability for shipments, raw materials, and sub-tier RF components (both domestic and international)?

6. What records management procedures are in place to ensure that lifecycle technical knowledge of the qualified unit is not lost when key design or manufacturing employees leave the company?

7. Is your company currently facing any financial disruption, impending mergers, acquisitions, and/or foreign investment?

8. Has your company ever experienced a cyber or operational disruption resulting in a threat to National Security?

Foreign Influence:

1. Describe any affiliations your company has with foreign countries, or companies owned by entities in foreign countries, at the primary company and sub-vendor levels. Are any of your sub-vendors or affiliates in countries barred from doing business with the United States (U.S.)? See the OFAC Sanctions Programs for reference.

2. Describe any affiliations your company has with foreign nationals and/or blocked persons. See the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List for reference.

3. If there is Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) present in your company, what percentage of the company is owned by the foreign entity(ies)? Which foreign country(ies)/entity(ies) owns part or all of your company?

4. Are any of your company's primary engineering or manufacturing functions performed in foreign countries? If so, is there an on-site Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) representative?

5. If any sub-assembly or packaging functions are performed by an overseas vendor, what quality control, inspection processes, and export controls (ITAR/EAR) are implemented?

6. How does your company incorporate proactive risk management and counterfeit parts prevention (e.g., AS5553 compliance) into your microelectronic, semiconductor, and raw material procurement processes?

Cybersecurity:

1. Does your company have a formal policy/plan for preventing and mitigating risks associated with internal and external information systems security?

2. Identify actions your company has taken to prevent unauthorized access to design servers, CAD data lakes, and inventory databases, and describe the results of those actions.

3. Does your company have procedures to ensure server security in a cloud environment that utilizes Government information? If so, is it in compliance with DFARS 252.239-7010?

4. Has your company implemented the cybersecurity requirements set forth in DFARS clause 252.204-7012, "Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting"?

5. Does the company maintain a secure Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) or a list of vendors providing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software embedded in any programmable logic or electronic controllers utilized in the RPU?

6. What procedures does your company (or your vendors) follow to perform technical vulnerability assessments and mitigate identified risks?

7. Provide a brief description of the strategy your company uses to continuously monitor the effectiveness of cybersecurity controls to detect and defend against attacks protecting sensitive technical drawings.

8. What is the frequency schedule to perform cybersecurity assessments (annual, semi-annual, quarterly, etc.)? Reference DoDI 8510.01.

9. Does your company evaluate the cybersecurity practices of lower-tier component vendors, metal fabricators, and sub-assembly suppliers before subcontracting to them?

10. Is your company current with the Contractor Self-Assessment against the Basic National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-171 controls, and is that assessment reflected in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS)?

11. Does your company have an active Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) to remediate any deficiencies related to the Basic NIST SP 800-171 controls?

12. Has your company employed microelectronics and supply chain protections that manage risk for components or subcomponent products (e.g., integrated circuits, switches, relay controllers, printed circuit boards) when they are identifiable (to the supplier) as having a Department of Defense (DoD) end-use? Reference: DoDI 5200.44, para 4.c.(2).