CALL_002_ADDENDUM_001_QA.docx

Solicitation: BAA-18-R-STCD Data Call 002 Topic #: S1804

BAA DATA CALL 002, ADDENDUM 001

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

13 November 2018

Q-1: Should offerors use the use-case descriptions as a model for estimating the outdoor demonstration/test activities?

USG RE: The outdoor demonstration does not need to prescriptively follow the use cases described in the Call 002, although the more capability that can be shown the better. The Government’s intent is to hold test/demo events at the end of each performance year that show incremental progress towards the threshold/objective performance levels. At a minimum, vendors should demonstrate the ability to conduct ground communications between three nodes on-the-move at high data rates in an interference environment.

Q-2: The 18 Oct 2018 WP Call 0002 states that the WP submission will be governed by the “two-step” process described in BAA-18-R-STCD. The BAA Final, Rev2, states that WPs should not exceed five (5) pages. However, Data Call 002 states that the WP should not exceed ten (10) pages in length. What is the page limitation for our WP submission? Does this include the use of a cover sheet?

USG RE: The page limit for Call 002 is 10 pages, which does NOT include the ROM or cover sheet.

Q-3: Is the $3M of available funding the ceiling for the first 12 month PoP or for multiple phases up to the 36 month PoP? Is the $3M funding ceiling for each contract award?

USG RE: The $3M is for the multiple phases up to 36 -Month PoP. This could mean two awards at $3M each.

Q-4: Are there Size, Weight, Power and Cost (SWAP-C) targets or allocations for each of the transition platforms identified in the FOUO use cases?

USG RE: There is not a firm set of SWAP-C requirements at this time, however, S&TCD intends for the mmWave communications system to be suitable for use on a wide range of Army ground and air platforms to include armored fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (tier II and larger). S&TCD initially recommends an aperture size of 8” x 8” or smaller although somewhat larger sizes are acceptable for consideration as well. S&TCD continues to work with the platform community to refine SWAP requirements and is taking into account feedback from industry to inform this process. The proposed solution for this BAA does not necessarily need to satisfy the form factors ultimately necessary within the period of performance, as long as they can fit on a platform for test/demo purposes and the approach supports an affordable path for miniaturization within a one to two year period subsequent to the completion of work under this BAA topic. A tentative target unit cost in large quantities is $20,000 and $75,000 for ground vehicles and rotary-wing aircraft respectively, but lower costs will be more competitive, of course.

Q-5: Is the difference between Use Case #2 ranges versus General Requirements ranges for ground-to-ground Communications, Communications On The Halt (COTH) versus Communications On The Move (COTM)?

USG RE: No, the ground-to-ground range requirement for COTH and COTM is 4km in clear LOS. That being said, use case #2 describes an intra-convoy use case.

Q-6: Does latency include beam update rate?

USG RE: Latency includes beam update rate to the extent that it introduces a delay to the transfer of data between nodes.

Q-7: Is there a requirement for full duplex communications or is half duplex acceptable and/or desired?

USG RE: Full duplex is desired but half duplex would be acceptable

Q-8: What polarization diversity and capability is desired; dual linear, dual CP, selectable CP?

USG RE: There is no specific requirement for this. Extra performance capability enabled through the use of multiple or selectable polarization will be considered to be beneficial, but weighed against any additional cost/complexity.

Q-9: Is there specific ground platform(s) in mind for Use Case 2?

USG RE: S&TCD intends for the mmWave communications system to be suitable for use on a range of armored fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. We are considering demonstrations on a HMMWV, but this is subject to change.

Q-10: Is there any information that can be shared on the symmetry-of-data given intended CONOPS?

USG RE: Use case #1 would be asymmetric and use case #2 would be symmetric as they are described, however, it should not be assumed that this would always be the case. Variations of both use cases could occur in which the opposite would be the case.

Q-11: Are there any preferences for frequencies to use? Can frequencies outside of the mmW frequency range be used?

S&TCD recognizes that the selection of frequency has significant impacts on propagation loss, bandwidth availability, component availability, component efficiency, and other factors that affect system attributes and performance as well as cost. With this in mind, S&TCD does not want to restrict industry with regards to selection of frequency any further than to the use of the mmW frequency band (30 GHz – 300 GHz). Proposals for systems with frequency ranges that extend outside of the mmW frequency band are acceptable. The above notwithstanding, the impact of regulatory frequency allocations that may affect the ability to obtain spectrum authorization is a necessary consideration.