Questions and Answers 20261007.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. How many slots does this PXI chassis need? 10, 18?

RFLM requires 2 individual PXIe chassis with minimum 9 slots each. The chassis need to be deployed to separate locations, so 1 chassis with more slots will not work.

2. What about the data rate needed? 24 gigabits per second period PCIe Gen3? Or can one of the older slower chassis work?

RFLM already owns 2 PXIe-5186 digitizers ($43,940 each) that we plan to use for this project, which have a bandwidth of 12.5 giga-samples per second. The requirement is therefore 12.5 GSa/s.

3. What are the timing accuracy specs needed? Nowadays you can get GPS receivers with ≤ 20 nanosecond accuracy.

RFLM uses IRIGB timing, which has <100 nanosecond accuracy. However, the differential timing between the 2 units in the field is the more important requirement and is required to be much better than 100 ns.

4. Any other mandatory timing inputs such as PPS or IRIGB?

RFLM requires IRIGB timing input.

5. Are the data acquisition modules intended to be included in this deliverable? Or is it merely compatibility and empty slots to plug in PXI data acquisition modules?

RFLM already owns the PXIe-5186 modules ($43,940 each) that we intend to use. The requirement is for the compatibility and empty slots for those cards.

6. Intended application and minimum performance. Could AFRL provide an unclassified description or block diagram of the testbed(s) to be supported, or an acceptable baseline configuration? The key parameters are required signal types and channel counts, input ranges, sample rates/resolution, whether signal generation or control is needed, existing instrument interfaces, timing-reference types, required timing outputs, and minimum synchronization accuracy. Objective minimum values would be sufficient if detailed testbed information cannot be shared.

Each PXIe chassis must operate a government-furnished PXIe-5186 module, which occupies 3 slots and requires 12.5 GSa/s bandwidth. No signal generation or control is needed. Each chassis must also contain a GPS synchronization module compatible with IRIGB input and remote controller module compatible with Thunderbolt 3. Hardware timing output is not required. Synchronization accuracy must be better than IRIGB.

7. System configuration and government-furnished resources. Please clarify the minimum chassis slot count/expansion capacity, acceptable host connection, data-throughput or storage requirements, and whether the host workstation, GPS antenna/receiver or other timing references, cables, and software licenses will be government-furnished or must be included in the delivered system.

Two PXIe-5186 cards are government furnished resources. Each chassis must have a minimum of 9 peripheral slots (3 for the PXIe-5186 card, 1 for GPS synch, 1 for a remote controller module, and 4 for future expansion). The host connection is Thunderbolt 3. Data throughput is 12.5GSa/s. Host workstation, GPS antenna/receiver, and software licenses will be government-furnished. Thunderbolt

3 cables must be included.

8. Delivery scope and acceptance. Is this an equipment-delivery requirement, or must the contractor also provide on-site installation, custom programming, integration with existing equipment, commissioning, calibration, or training? Please identify any mandatory government IT restrictions, required warranty/support, objective acceptance criteria, and the latest acceptable delivery date, if one applies to “as soon as possible.”

On-site installation, custom programming, integration with existing equipment, commissioning, calibration are not needed. Training beyond a user manual is not needed. Manufacturer warranty/support required. Objective acceptance criteria are that delivered system meet listed requirements: support PXIe-5186 card at 12.5GSa/s, synchronize to IRIGB timing, and connect to host computer via Thunderbolt 3. Delivery date will be evaluated as a technical requirement.

9. As identified in the MRD, you refer to “PXI”, do you specifically need “PXI” or are you using that term as a general classification that includes PXIe?

General classification that includes PXIe.

10. As identified in the MRD, per the sentence “This acquisition will deliver a modular, PXI-based instrumentation platform designed to support high-fidelity timing, synchronization, multi-channel data acquisition, and automated laboratory control.”, the words “multi-channel data acquisition” imply that you may require instruments with Analog-to-Digital convertors and or Digital-to-Analog convertors also be supplied.

• If yes, please supply specs for those?

We do not require A/D or D/A converters also be supplied.

• If no, do you just want a chassis with single “GPS synch card” installed?

Correct, we want two chassis and each chassis has a single GPS synch card and single remote controller module installed for a total of two chassis, two GPS synch cards, and two remote control modules.

11. What is the minimum number of slots that you require?

RFLM requires two individual PXIe chassis with minimum nine peripheral slots each.

12. What is the minimum communication bandwidth that will meet “Shall support high-bandwidth communication between installed modules and host control systems” in MB/s or GB/s?

The host connects to the chassis with Thunderbolt 3, which has a data rate of 20Gbps.

13. For slots in the chassis that are not populated with cards, do you want faceplate covers, slot blockers or nothing?

Faceplate covers.

14. You do not explicitly say if a MXI card should be included and installed in the chassis. Please clarify.

A Thunderbolt 3 remote controller module must be included and installed in each chassis.

15. If you meant to include PXIe above, and the “workstation station class computers” are equipped with

PCIe, how many lanes will be available (PCIe x1, PCIe x4, PCIe x8 or PCIe x16?)?

Workstation will connect to PXIe chassis via Thunderbolt 3, not PCIe.

16. For the “remote connection to host computers” are minimum or maximum cable length requirements?

• Do you want a copper or fiber optic cable?

Yes, 2m Thunderbolt 3 cable.

• Do you want us to include the card that goes in your “workstation” along with a cable?

No.

17. Related to “Shall be compatible with existing laboratory instrumentation and experimental test setups.”, we need more info able the existing setups to know if they are compatible. Are they PXI, PXIe, something else?

PXI and PXIe.

18. Do you plan to power the chassis with 120VAC?

• If yes, should a power cord be supplied and what is the minimum cable length?

Yes. 1m.

• If no, what are the input power requirements?

N/A

19. Do you require UID labels?

No.

20. Controlling requirements document. CLIN 0001 references the Minimum Requirements Document dated July 10, 2026, while the technical-evaluation provision appears to reference a May 20, 2026 document. Please confirm the version that governs quotation preparation and technical evaluation.

Both have been updated to October 7, 2026.

21. The notice header identifies COMBO-AFRL-RMZB-2026-0018, while its solicitation-information section says COMBO-AFRL-RIZ-2026-0018.

COMBO-AFRL-RMZB-2026-0018