Updated Data_Call_010_WGS Ka-Band Satellite Surrogate Payload for High Altitude Platforms.docx

Solicitation: BAA-18-R-STCD Data Call 010 Topic #: S1828

BAA-18-R-STCD

WHITE PAPER CALL 010

Wideband Global Satellite Communications (SATCOM) (WGS) Ka-Band Satellite Surrogate Payload for High Altitude Platforms

Date 12 March 2020

This call for white papers (WP) is being issued under Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) BAA-18-R-STCD, which was published on FedBizOpps.gov on 20 June 2018, and last updated on 12 March 2020. Respondents must refer to the solicitation document entitled BAA-18-R-STCD _ 20180620 BAA Final Rev9 (12March20), and it must be read in conjunction with this call for WP’s. All instructions set forth in the BAA-18-R-STCD solicitation document apply to this call.

The Space and Terrestrial Communications Directorate (S&TCD) is issuing this call for WP’s in association with Topic #S1828. To be eligible for consideration and possible contract award, the technology or methodology shall be either basic research, applied research, advanced technology development not for a specific system/hardware, or demonstration and validation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Problem Statement:

The Army relies on Ka and Ku Band SATCOM for beyond line of sight (BLOS) communications between Division, Brigade, Battalion and Company echelons. The Army needs a viable alternative to operate in a day without SATCOM, where satellite communications are denied through electronic or kinetic attack. Viable Primary Alternate Contingency and Emergency plan alternatives are needed to continue to fight. Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR), Long Range Precision Fires, Next Generation Combat Vehicle, Soldier Lethality, Future Vertical Lift, all depend on BLOS communications. The United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC), C5ISR Center, S&TCD is seeking to develop a low cost Ka Band payload that can be elevated to 80-100Kft on a high altitude balloon platform. This would be considered a high altitude balloon satellite surrogate, which restores denied WGS tactical communications rapidly between Division, Brigade, Battalion, and Company echelons. Overall, CCDC C5ISR Center, S&TCD envisions a combination of multiple products, in which some are already mature, that deliver novel satellite surrogate system capabilities.

The desired capabilities include:

1. An optimized beacon that enables ground terminals (PoP, SNE, STT, STT-HP, Phoenix) to easily track the payload

2. Support of transponded SATCOM with a bandwidth of 45-60 MHz

3. Protected SATCOM services via beamforming and onboard processing within the payload

4. A coverage footprint of 200-400 miles diameter; coverage may require a constellation approach

5. Power consumption to be 100 W during the day and 75 W during the night and can provide power for at least 8 hours minimum

6. A payload weight to be no greater than 75 pounds

7. Payload needs to support military transmission security for uplink/downlink(s)

8. A payload size to consist of multiple CubeSat/Nanosat modules in which each cube could be a sub-component of the payload as a whole, as an example

9. A secure telemetry/ command and control link to control the payload, as necessary, and gather GPS coordinates, power usage, payload temperature, battery life, etc.

Information Sought:

CCDC C5ISR Center, S&TCD is interested in receiving WPs on the above topic from companies that have a successful track record developing compact SATCOM payload implementations that can withstand the effects of the stratosphere for the purpose providing uninterrupted satellite communications if/when standard wideband satellite services are unavailable. The identified technology solution(s) should be at technology readiness level (TRL) 3 or higher, but not over TRL 6 to be considered. The end state of the identified solution should be a demonstration/proof of concept system at TRL 6 that can be tested and verified in U.S. Army specific tactical information technology environments and then transitioned and integrated with an Army Program of Record’s systems and applications.

WPs can introduce the incorporation of commercial standards/technologies, however, they should demonstrate the development of novel and innovative techniques. CCDC C5ISR Center, S&TCD expectation is that the focus of any effort conducted under this BAA topic will be to address the core goal of developing an integrated Ka-Band Satellite Surrogate Payload for use in the tactical environment.

It is essential that any identified solutions are based around designs that have a clear path to be matured and commercialized to meet other important system goals including, but not limited to: affordability; network scalability; network bandwidth usage; risk management framework (i.e. information assurance) authorizations; network management; cognizant of size, weight, power, and cost constraints of disconnected intermittent and limited tactical Army networks; cognizant of the system processing load; adaptability to executing upon a broad array of hardware platforms and operating systems; and ability to work in a non-Internet connected environment.

AWARD INFORMATION:

1. ANTICIPATED AWARD DATE: October 2020

2. FUNDING: Under this call, the Government intends to award one (1) contract with a period of performance of a 12 month base and one (1) 12 month option. The option years are not guaranteed and are based on funding availability. The anticipated funding for this call is up to $5M for the total contract ceiling, however, the Government reserves the right to award smaller or larger contracts or assistance instruments.

NOTE: This funding profile is an estimate only and not a contractual obligation for funding. All funding is subject to change due to Government discretion and availability. Potential respondents should be aware that due to unanticipated budget fluctuations funding in any or all areas may change with little or no notice. Awards under this call are expected to range from $2M to $3M. The Government reserves the right to select all, part, or none of the WP’s received, subject to the availability of funds.

3. BAA TYPE: This is a call for WP’s only, and will be governed by the “two-step” process described in General Information of the BAA-18-R-STCD. Respondents that submit a proposal without first submitting a WP may not be eligible for award.

4. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: This Call should not exceed 10 pages in length (single sided, single spaced, with 12-size font). The 10 page limitation does not include the Rough-Order-of-Magnitude or the cover page. Refer to baseline BAA-18-R-STCD Section III for all other instructions on WP preparation, submission, and evaluation.

5. QUESTIONS DUE DATE AND TIME: Technical questions are due no later than 24 March 2020, 3:00 pm EST via email to the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) with a carbon copy (Cc) to the Contracting Officer (KO), Contract Specialist (KS), and Acquisition Management Team (AMT) Mailbox, as listed below. Questions and answers will be posted to FBO.

Government will publish questions and answers received by industry to FBO, via a revision to this Data Call, per ADDENDUM 001, Technical Questions and Clarifications, herein.

6. WHITE PAPER DUE DATE AND TIME: WP’s are due no later than 30 April 2020, 3:00 pm EST via email to the TPOC with a Cc to the KO, KS, and AMT Mailbox, as listed below.

If the submission will be classified, respondents should contact the TPOC and KO for instruction on how to submit the WP, via appropriate methods/channels. The KO shall be informed, in writing, that a classified WP has been submitted, its title and to whom it was submitted to.

Contractual questions may be directed to the KO and/or KS at any time.