ORDWG_Sources_Sought_rev_8.pdf

AFRL RFI –GPS ORDWG

8 January 2014

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Research and Development Sources Sought Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles

Directorate

On-orbit Reprogrammable Digital Waveform Generator (ORDWG) for the GPS Spacecraft

Navigation Payload

1. CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS AND POINTS OF CONTACT (POC)

Address Department of the Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Vehicles Directorate Contracting Division, AFRL Det 8/RVKVE, 3550 Aberdeen Ave. SE, Bldg 424, Kirtland AFB NM, 87117-5776.

Contracting POC

1. Contract Specialist, Ms. Ann Preece; Ann.Preece@us.af.mil

2. Contracting Officer, Ms. Sarah Hammond; Sarah.Hammond@us.af.mil

Technical POC

1. Program Manager, Ms. Misty Crown, Misty.Crown@us.af.mil

2. Program Manager, 1Lt Holly Bradley; Holly.Bradley@us.af.mil

NOTE: See paragraph 4 on how to request clarifications.

This is not a Solicitation announcement. The Government is issuing this Sources Sought announcement as part of a market research survey. This announcement is for information ONLY and will be used for preliminary planning purposes and to determine whether the envisioned acquisition could be set aside for small businesses. Any information submitted will be utilized as part of furthering the Government's understanding of market capabilities.

Proposals are NOT being requested or accepted with this synopsis. This announcement shall NOT be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract relative to this technology area, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. Any information provided to the Government as a result of this Sources Sought notice is voluntary. Responses will NOT be returned.

NO reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow up information requests. Any costs incurred as a result of this announcement shall be borne by the Respondent and will NOT be charged to the Government for reimbursement.

mailto:Ann.Preece@us.af.mil mailto:Sarah.Hammond@us.af.mil mailto:Misty.Crown@us.af.mil mailto:Holly.Bradley@us.af.mil

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All interested sources are encouraged to submit company and product literature, and/or other pertinent information for the Government's consideration. All entities having the capability to perform this work are invited to submit a Statement of Capability (SOC) in order for the Government to determine set aside possibilities. Based upon responses to this announcement, the Government may elect to set aside this acquisition for small businesses, qualifying 8(a) businesses, certified HubZone small businesses, or research and educational programs and activities: historically black colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions of higher education that meet the definition of “Covered Institution” as defined in 10 USC 2362 Covered Educational Institution is (1) an institution of higher education eligible for assistance under title III or IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1501 et seq); or (2) and accredited postsecondary minority institution. DO NOT SUBMIT AN SOC IF YOU WOULD

NOT INTEND TO BE A PRIME OR LEAD.

If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website (www.fbo.gov). It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor that website for additional information pertaining to this notice or a requirement that may relate to this notice.

2. GENERAL INFORMATION

a. Background

GPS waveform generators are currently used in GPS satellites. They are embedded in the Mission Data Unit (MDU) and produce multiple codes that are broadcast from the satellites.

The waveform generator drives the design and size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) of the GPS L-band navigation payload as well as the host spacecraft bus. The United States Air Force (USAF) would like to increase the performance, flexibility and affordability of the GPS payload by means of an improved digital waveform generator (DWG).

b. Intent

The USAF is seeking to identify sources capable of performing research and development activities required to design, fabricate, integrate, test and deliver an advanced technology reliable digital waveform generator compatible with GPS L-band navigation signal transmission. The desired outcome of this effort is to mature the selected technology to a minimum TRL of 5+ (space qualifiable). An on-orbit reprogrammable digital waveform generator based on the results of this development program would be capable of replacing the waveform generators currently used in the GPS spacecraft navigation payload. “Capable of replacing” does NOT mean that the desired outcome of this effort is an exact duplication of the form, fit and function of the existing waveform generators. Rather, signal quality output should meet or exceed the current GPS “Gold Standard” and fall within the desired performance specifications listed in Tables 1 and 2. Tables 1 and 2 will be made available to the contractor once they have been verified as an authorized DoD contractor. The USAF is open to innovative designs and approaches to meeting the desired outcomes. In addition, the reliability and long-term operation of this technology under GPS operating conditions should be characterized and optimized for space applications. The implications of respective DWG design features must be considered, because the DWG must survive in the GPS medium earth http://www.fbo.gov/

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c. Objective

The Government is seeking innovative techniques and approaches for the development of a more efficient, thermal and radiation tolerant (GPS orbit environment), space-qualifiable, reprogrammable DWG. The DWG must be applicable to both the existing GPS program of record and future enhancements (such as additional waveforms) to the constellation.

In support of this objective, the Government requests information on industry’s capability to perform the research and development necessary to deliver a space qualifiable advanced technology reprogrammable digital waveform generator (minimum TRL 5+).

While the Government is currently refining the scope of a planned development program, the information below may be considered relevant to any future procurement activity. Although the information provided in Table 1 is considered accurate at the time of this writing, the specific technology performance parameters are subject to change prior to any actual solicitation by the Government.

For the purpose of this notice, the basic architecture of reprogrammable digital waveform generator includes the reconfigurable processor, memory modules, power conversion and management, and monitoring and control. The focus of the effort will be the waveform generation section within the dashed box shown in Figure 1. The term digital waveform generator will be used to refer to this section only.

The inputs to the digital waveform generator are the elements of the GPS navigation message, Figure 1. Digital Waveform Generator Functional Block Diagram

Waveform Generation

Section

Page 4/6 synthesized reference frequency, code epoch synchronization, and control signals. The output is a low power signal at the L1 GPS navigation frequency modulated with the appropriate navigation signals. The intent of any future procurement would be to perform the research and development activities necessary to identify and validate a reprogrammable digital waveform generator design/architecture, suitable for integration into a GPS payload for all current and projected navigation signals and modulations.

e. Assumptions

For the purposes of this notice, available spacecraft bus voltages to the navigation payload should be considered in the range from 28 VDC to 100 VDC.

3. REQUIRED RESPONSE, FORMAT, & SUBMISSION

a. Format & Page Limitation

Submitted responses should be provided on standard letter size 8-1/2 by 11 inch paper, limited to a maximum of twenty-five (25), single-sided, single-spaced pages, excluding Company profile. The font for text should be Times New Roman 12-point or larger. The Responder may use oversized pages (including “foldouts”) where appropriate to contain graphic presentations.

Oversized pages do not count as extra pages within the page limitations. Existing commercial documentation and product literature can also be submitted and is not subject to a page limitation.

b. Statement of Capabilities (SOC)

All entities capable of performing this work are invited to submit a SOC, to include sufficient written information to indicate capacity and any other specific and pertinent information that would enhance our evaluation. Any responses received not addressing items 1-8 may be considered as incapable of meeting the Government objective. NOTE: The Government is not required to provide feedback.

(1) Plan or strategy to meet the Government objective;

(2) Time phased development plan (schedule) that would mature the current technology to a TRL of 5+

(3) Rough order of magnitude cost estimate correlated to schedule;

(4) Premises and assumptions; and

(5) Risk assessment;

(6) Alternate options;

(7) Feedback/Comments; and

(8) Company profile

(a) Company Name and Mailing Address

(b) CAGE Code and DUNS Number

(c) Point(s) of Contact

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(d) POC Telephone Number and e-mail Address

(e) Business Size Status (i.e., 8(a), HUBZone, woman-owned, Service Disabled

Veteran-Owned, Small business, Large Business, Historically Black College/University) under NAICS 541712; the associated size standard is 1000 employees.

(f) DCAA-Approved accounting system in place to adequately track and accumulate expenditures

(g) Relevant experience in the past five years in the technical areas of interest

(h) Availability of an adequate number of qualified personnel to support the effort

(i) Data Assertions (DFARS 252.227-7017)

c. Submission of Documentation

Submittals should consist of an original plus 3 copies. In addition to the paper submittals, the Government requests an electronic version (CD-ROM) in searchable PDF or Microsoft Word compatible by MAIL ONLY and received NLT 29 January 2014, 12:00 PM MDT to the Contracting Office at the following address:

AFRL Det 8/RVKVI ATTN: Ann Preece 3550 Aberdeen Ave. SE Kirtland AFB NM 87116-5776

Responses must be unclassified and any proprietary information provided must be portion marked accordingly. To protect such data, each line or paragraph on the pages containing such data must be specifically identified and marked with a legend similar to the following:

“The following contains proprietary information that (name of Responder) requests not be released to persons outside of the Government, except for the purposes of review and evaluation.”

4. REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION

The Responder must send request for technical clarification in writing (through email) to the Contract Specialist as identified above.

You must request access to the Requirements Tables, in writing (through e-mail) to Contract Specialist, Ann Preece. Only offerors who are registered and certified with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Logistics Information Service and have a legitimate business purpose may participate in this solicitation. For questions, contact DLA Logistics Information Service on-line at http://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp or at DLA Logistic Information Service, U.S./Canada Joint Certification Office, Federal Center, 74 Washington Avenue., Battle Creek MI 49037-3084, 1-800-352-3572. The Contract Specialist will request additional information to verify prior to allowing access to the Requirements Tables. The

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Requirements Tables will be DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT C. Distribution authorized to U.S. Government Agencies and their contractors due to export control requirements.

Any requests for clarification must be received no later than 22 January 2014 NOON MST.

Clarifications may be posted as amendments to this notice at www.fbo.gov to benefit all interested parties. Interested parties are encouraged to periodically check the website during the response period for clarifications.

http://www.fbo.gov/