Sources Sought_Anechoic Chamber_FA700025Q0024.pdf

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY.

This RFI is issued solely to determine potential sources for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) or a promise to issue an RFQ in the future. This RFI should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose other than to gain the information requested for market research. The Government is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any potential future RFQ. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Contract Opportunities website (sam.gov). It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

This RFI is to see if there is a vendor capable/interested in providing services for an Anechoic Chamber.

The Contractor shall explain how their capabilities meet the requirements stated in this RFI. The Contractor's proposal is expected to meet all requirements.

All requirements stated in this RFI are firm.

The anechoic chamber at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), located in Fairchild Hall, was originally installed in 2005 by ETS-Lindgren. The chamber is used by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DFEC) for critical electromagnetic testing and research in areas like antennas, RADAR, and GPS jamming. It supports hands-on cadet training in courses such as Introduction to Antenna Theory and Design and advanced capstone projects, as well as research in Electronic Warfare. The foam absorbers installed during the chamber’s construction have surpassed their 15-year service life and now show signs of significant deterioration. Over the years, routine maintenance has been performed, but the absorbers have never been replaced. As a result, the chamber’s testing accuracy and safety have been compromised, necessitating a full replacement of the absorbers and related test equipment to restore operational integrity.

The requirement involves replacing the degraded foam absorbers and related test equipment (antenna mast and turntable) in DFEC’s anechoic chamber with new high-performance, closed-cell polystyrene absorbers. This includes the removal and disposal of the old foam, installation of the new absorbers, and long-term post-installation support.

Technical Specifications for Anechoic Chamber:

Chamber Technical Specifications:

1. The foam absorbers shall be fabricated from closed-cell materials (e.g., polyethylene, polystyrene, or other proprietary formulations) that prevent particle shedding.

2. The material shall resist environmental degradation caused by moisture, humidity, and temperature fluctuations, ensuring consistent performance throughout its service life.

3. The absorbers shall feature a modular design, enabling individual unit replacements without the need to replace entire panels or sections.

4. The foam absorbers shall be designed for a minimum service life of 25 years, maintaining their electromagnetic absorption properties and structural integrity under continuous operational use.

5. The absorbers shall demonstrate resistance to physical damage and impacts typical of high-use environments, ensuring reliability throughout their lifespan.

6. The absorbers shall be installed to comprehensively cover all surfaces of the chamber, including the floor, walls, and ceiling, to ensure optimal electromagnetic wave absorption and minimize reflectivity. Absorbers of varying dimensions shall be deployed based on the chamber's design, such as 12-inch absorbers for specific areas and 26-inch absorbers for broader surface coverage. The absorbers shall be installed in the anechoic chamber located on the 2nd floor of Fairchild Hall, USAFA, with chamber dimensions of approximately 34 ft. x 14 ft. x 14 ft., plus an additional perpendicular section measuring 13 ft. x 14 ft. x 14 ft.

7. The installation of walkway absorbers shall be integrated into the chamber to allow for personnel access without disrupting the electromagnetic properties or testing environment. These walkway absorbers shall be durable enough to withstand frequent use while maintaining the chamber's performance standards.

8. The new absorbers shall demonstrate high electromagnetic performance across a frequency range from approximately 10 MHz to 40 GHz, with a minimum of a 3ft quiet zone in the middle of the primary chamber, ensuring low reflectivity and effective absorption across this spectrum. The reflectivity performance of the absorbers shall be tested post-installation to verify that they meet or exceed the operational requirements of USAFA’s anechoic chamber.

9. The absorbers shall comply with recognized quality standards, including ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environmental management. Certification documentation shall be provided to confirm compliance with these standards, ensuring that the absorbers meet rigorous quality control and environmental responsibility measures during manufacturing and installation.

Electric Antenna Stand Technical Specification:

1. The antenna stand shall have a fixed height of 1.5 meters with a total mast height of 1.6 meters.

2. The stand shall support a maximum load of 6 kg, provided that the load is balanced. A counterweight solution shall be available for heavy antennas to maintain balance.

3. Polarization shall be controlled by a DC stepper motor, with a polarization time of approximately 3 seconds.

The system shall rotate antennas around their axis to minimize elevation errors during measurements.

4. The stand shall be controlled remotely via LAN (TCP/IP), with additional control options available when connected to the FCU3.0 or NCD Controller.

5. The antenna stand shall provide interference suppression of 20 dB below limits, as per DIN EN

55011:2022-05 class B standards.

6. The system shall operate on a voltage range of 110-230 VAC, with a maximum current consumption of 16A and operating on a 50/60 Hz single phase power supply.

7. The operational temperature range for the system shall be between 10°C and 35°C.

8. The stand shall be equipped with four wheels to ensure easy mobility within the chamber

Turntable Technical Specification:

1. The turntable shall have a diameter of 2.0 meters and a height of 140 mm, designed for freestanding installation on the surface of the floor in electromagnetic absorption chambers.

2. The turntable shall support a point load of 500 kg and a distributed load of 100 kg over an area of 10 cm x

10 cm.

3. The turntable shall use a synchronous servo motor with adjustable rotating speeds ranging from 0.1 rpm to

2.5 rpm, with a positioning accuracy of ± 0.5°.

4. The turntable shall provide a rotational angle range of -200° to 400°.

5. The turntable’s elevation tolerance shall be less than 3 mm, ensuring minimal vertical deviation during rotation.

6. The turntable shall be remotely controlled via LAN (TCP/IP) and shall be integrated with the FCU3.0 or

NCD Controller for full functionality.

7. The turntable control system shall be fiber-optic based, to allow for remote control outside of the chamber.

8. The turntable shall provide interference suppression of 20 dB under limits, as per DIN EN 55011:2022-05 class B standards.

9. The turntable shall operate on a 110-230 VAC, 50/60 Hz single-phase power supply, with a maximum current consumption of 16A.

10. The turntable shall be operational within a temperature range of 10°C to 35°C