Attach 1 - Statement of Work.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

Title: Ku-band geostationary satellite transponder bandwidth

Date: 5 June 2026

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

NIST is one of the official sources of time and frequency for the United States and for international coordination of time and frequency. The Time Realization and Distribution group maintains the primary frequency standards, the time scale, and the time transfer operations for the U.S. contribution to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. The primary frequency standard for the U.S. is currently our cesium fountain standard, NIST-F4. The time scale is a weighted average of several atomic clocks whose frequencies and linear frequency drifts are regularly measured against primary frequency standards. Two-way satellite time/frequency transfer (TWSTFT) is the method for comparing our clocks with standards around the world for our participation in the generation of international atomic time (TAI and

UTC).

II. PURPOSE

A network of nineteen national metrological laboratories (NMIs) and technical institutes (the Collaboration), including NIST, uses Ku-band geostationary satellite transponder bandwidth to enable high precision exchange of time signals using the two-way satellite time/frequency transfer (TWSTFT) technique. NIST uses the satellite link as the primary method of transmitting NIST’s realization of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) via European NMIs.

The satellite TWSTFT technique is the only time transfer method capable of the required sub-nanosecond precision over trans-continental distances, free from dependence on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) like GPS, and accepted by BIPM. Because the Collaboration’s TWSTFT network is currently operating with an installed base of equipment (here, “Earth stations”), several service parameters are fixed for compatibility. The purpose of this acquisition is continuation of the active network without interruption.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

A satellite transponder physically exists in geostationary orbit around Earth. Transponder service is provided by administrative activities at vendor’s place(s) of business. Once authorized, transponder service is highly automated and available with little to no interruptions over the entire period of performance.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

From November 27, 2026, 00:00 UTC through November 26, 2027, 23:59 UTC.

III. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

TASKS

Task 1 – Provision of compatible Ku-band geostationary satellite bandwidth

The contractor shall:

1.1 Acquire and permit NIST and the network of laboratories listed in Table 1 below (the Collaboration) the use of non-preemptable (reserved) transponder bandwidth on a station-kept geostationary satellite. Additional requirements follow.

1.2 Ensure uplink carrier(s) are within the range 14.0 GHz to 14.5 GHz.

1.3 Ensure downlink carrier(s) are within the range 10.95 to 12.5 GHz.

1.4 Ensure the polarization type is linear and cross-polarized. Collaboration Earth stations must not be required to change polarizations or re-point antennas to communicate with any other Collaboration Earth station. Carrier frequencies may change to support “cross-strapped” transponders enabling communication links between North America and Europe. See attached document “2026_05_16_request_for_Ku_bandwidth_ROM” for additional details and examples.

1.5 Provide a transmission plan including a link power budget, availability estimate, and coverage for all Earth stations listed in Table 1 below. Note: the two North American stations need not communicate with each other but must be able to communicate with all European stations. All European stations must be able to communicate with each other and the North American stations. Roughly, based on public information, the required longitude of the satellite will be within 30°W through 45°W.

1.6 Ensure the transponder’s equivalent isotopically radiated power (EIRP) >= 42 dBW unless justified by the vendor’s transmission plan and link budget.

1.7 Ensure the transponder service is compatible with existing, already-deployed Earth station modems: make/model is TimeTech SATRE. The transmission mode is a pseudorandom noise (PRN) code at a 2.5 Mc/s symbol rate. Modulation is binary phase-shift keying (BPSK). The occupied bandwidth is approximately 4 MHz but should be accurately budgeted by the vendor’s transmission plan. Additional Earth station information needed to compute a transmission plan is listed in Table 1, below.

1.8 Ensure the Collaboration is permitted to use the transponder service over the full term of service, one year from November 27, 2026, through November 26, 2027.

1.9 Provide for a billing arrangement that allows for an existing cost-sharing arrangement between Collaboration members: 25% to NIST, 25% to U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO), 50% to Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.

1.10 If not included in the transmission plan, vendor shall provide a signed letter of supply from the owner/operator of the proposed geostationary satellite transponder, guaranteeing availability of service over the specified term.

IV. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Include all requirements that are not specific tasks but are applicable to the overall contract and the work that will be performed. For example, IT Security, Government Property, Public Affairs Clearance, OMB clearance, printing, data rights, etc.

Government Responsibilities NIST and each Earth station in the Collaboration, agree to perform transmission test and tuning to the satisfaction of the geostationary satellite transponder owner/operator prior to regular link operation. The Collaboration also agrees to abide by transmission control requirements issued by the transponder owner/operator.

Government Furnished Property

All government furnished property required to enable use of the transponder link already exist at Collaboration Earth stations and shall remain the property of NIST or respective Collaboration members.

Inspection & Acceptance In addition to the inspection and acceptance terms articulated in 52.212-4, the Government reserves the right to perform such performance tests and evaluations as defined below to verify specified system performance. Such tests and evaluations, if performed, shall be conducted within the environment that the system is to be operated. The Contractor has the right to be present during the tests and evaluations, if performed, at the Contractor’s expense.

Performance Tests:

1. NIST and other Collaboration Earth stations shall perform transmission tests to confirm operation of the geostationary satellite transponder service on or (if authorized by vendor) before November 27, 2026.

Authorized representative: If vendor is not the direct owner/operator of the proposed geostationary satellite transponder, vendor must be authorized to reserve, broker, or resell geostationary satellite transponder bandwidth on behalf of the owner/operator.

V. SCHEDULE OF DELIVERABLES

Define all deliverables and indicate (1) the quantity desired; (2) the format in which each deliverable is to be supplied; (3) the delivery date (based on the number of weeks/days); (4) the place of delivery. The context of each deliverable shall be clear. Keep in mind that every task does not require a deliverable. Deliverables are always tangible items (i.e., report, minutes, etc.)

Complete the table providing the information for all the tasks identified above.

Deliverable Number Description Format Due Date

Quantity

1 Authorization to transmit on a geostationary satellite transponder;

service meeting all requirements in Task 1.

Assignment of carrier frequencies and transmission control parameters.

Electronic data transmission

One week prior to transponder service start date, November 20, 2026.

2 One year of geostationary transponder bandwidth service

Performance of geostationary satellite transponder

November 27, 2026, at 00:00

UTC.

1 year meeting all requirements in Task 1.

Standards of Acceptance: The NIST POC or COR shall review all the above deliverables and respond with an acceptance or request for revision email to the Contractor Point of Contact (POC) within 7 days. This section applies to deliverables which must be reviewed and approved for acceptances (e.g., draft plans, drawings, etc.)

VI. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Define how the contractor will be compensated. If firm fixed price define percentage of payment or amount for each deliverable.

Advance payment is not authorized. The Contractor must invoice in the arrears according to the payment schedule. The Contractor shall be paid, in accordance with Net 30-day payment terms, upon receipt and acceptance of a proper invoice, in accordance with the following schedule:

1. 100% after installation and acceptance by the POC of fully installed system, AND

2. After the successful completion of the testing requirements set forth in this document under section set forth in this document, AND

3. After successful demonstration by the instrumentation that it performs IAW the technical requirements set forth in this document AND

4. After receiving an invoice submitted properly, IAW the purchase order terms and conditions.

Annual service shall be billed monthly, with invoices issued to the three Collaboration members in accordance with Task element 1.9: 25% of service cost to NIST, 25% to USNO, 50% to PTB, Germany.

NOTE: Partial shipments and partial invoices will not be accepted, unless otherwise requested and accepted by the Contracting Officer prior to award offer. Proposed payment schedules shall be submitted with vendor’s response to the RFQ for consideration.

Table 1

Collaboration Earth station information

No. Location Station ID Antenna size (m)

Nominal Tx Power (W)

Max Tx Power (W)

North America 1 Boulder, CO, USA NIST01-E1 3.7 0.5 1 2 Washington DC, USA USNO2-E2 4.5 1 5

Europe 1 Delft, The Netherlands VSL01 2.4 1 5 2 PTB, Braunschweig, Germany BRS-02G 1.8 6.3 8 3 Torino, Italy IEN-02K2 1.8 4 4

4 Boras, Sweden SP01 1.8 1.5 8 5 Paris, France PARIS OP01 2.4 0.1 8 6 San Fernando, Spain ROA01 1.8 4 4 7 Lisboa, Portugal LSB-02K3 1.8 4 4 8 Teddington, UK NPL-02G 2.4 0.2 6 9 Bern, Switzerland BEW-01NP 1.8 0.4 4

10 Borowiec, Poland AOS01 2.4 4 8 11 Plateau Calern, France CAUSSOLS OCA01 1.8 4 4 12 Besançon, France BESANCON LTFB01 2.4 0.1 16 13 Fucino, Italy PTF101 1.8 2 8 14 Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany PTF201 1.8 2 8 15 Stuttgart, Germany TIM01 1.8 2 8 16 Kocaeli, Turkey UME0 1.8 2 8 17 Warsaw, Poland PL01 1.8 2 8