Specifications.pdf

Specifications

1: A portable scanning dual-polarization Ka-band Doppler radar with a proven track record for long-term (greater than one year) and reliable field deployments to regions covering a wide-range of environmental conditions ranging from tropical to colder high-latitude extremes.

2: A RF unit with a peak transmit power of at least 100W.

3: An environmentally controlled, secure, and portable 20’ sea container is required for housing all radar related hardware and computing systems:

(i) The container shall provide a suitable working environment and work space for mission scientists, specifically with a minimum 7.5’ interior high ceiling clearance.

(ii) The container shall serve as a suitable platform to mount and anchor the radar scanner positioning mechanism and antenna systems.

(iii) The container shall serve as a secure storage vessel for all associated radar components for anticipated research projects that may require either local transport or international shipping of the radar system.

(iv) The container is to be maintained at optimal temperature and humidity conditions to ensure the proper performance of the radar componentry and to provide a comfortable environment for mission scientists.

(v) The container should allow for an upgrade-path to a dual radar positioner that allows dual-frequency X-Ka band or W-Ka band measurements to be made in support of future NRL science objectives.

4: The radar system must include both elevation and azimuthal scanning capability to allow NRL scientists to meet research objectives related to a variety of cloud systems.

5: The radar is expected to be readily configured by the user to perform standard radar scans such as RHI’s, PPI’s, volume scans, vertical stares, and 360 degree surveillances type scans.

6: The system is to include hardware and software to run the radar and to store and display the radar output.

7: The system shall have options to control the radar and display settings either on-site or through remote dial-in access.

8: The output data formats are to be specified and should be formatted as such to allow the end-user to read and use the data with non-proprietary display and analysis software if desired.

9: The radar is expected to have a choice of settings to allow the user to readily alter the scanning strategies, waveforms, pulse-repetition frequency, or other attributes as needed to meet specific scientific objectives.

10: The radar system shall have a dual polarization capability with a single polarization (V or H) on transmit and a dual polarization (V & H) receiver.

11: There shall be an upgrade path to a full polarimetric system (V & H on transmit on alternate pulses and a simultaneous V & H receiver) that will allow additional research parameters to be computed (such as

ZDR).

12: As stated in (1), the current acquisition is for a dual polarization Ka-band Doppler radar. An upgrade path is required that would lead to a future capability consisting of synchronized and nearly co-located and simultaneous measurements from a scanning dual frequency Ka-band/X-band or Ka-band/W-band radar pairing (mounted to the same pedestal) in order to allow NRL scientists to pursue more advanced cloud research opportunities should additional funding become available at a later date.

13: The use of solid state componentry is sought in order to reduce long term maintenance costs and to improve the overall system reliability.

14: Sufficient system and antenna designs with an antenna width of 1.8m or greater are required to reduce spectral broadening and to provide sufficient sensitivity in the radar measurements so that NRL scientists are able to document the structure and evolution of a variety of single or mixed-phase cloud systems such as low-level stratus, middle-level altocumulus and nimbostratus, upper tropospheric cirrus, and convectively-generated stratiform cloud systems.

15: The 3dB one-way radar beam width is required to be less than 0.5 degrees.

16: On-site training sessions for NRL scientists is required as is initial on-site installation and testing.

17: The contractor shall provide NRL a User's Manual, a Maintenance Manual, and a Factory acceptance Test Report

18: The quoted price should include the cost of shipping, training, and a system warranty covering parts and labor for no less than one year.