SOW_For_NOAA_SARSAT_Buoy_Beacons_070919.docx

Statement of Work (SOW) For NOAA SARSAT Buoy/Ocean Observing System Platform Beacons

Background This SOW will document the requirements for beacons to be deployed on buoys or other ocean observing system platforms such as sail drones. The contract will involve 3 primary functions: 1) design of the beacons, 2) integration into the designated ocean observing system platform, and 3) supporting the beacon installations. The main goal of this contract is to provide beacons that are operated on ocean observing platforms in order to assess the ability of the Cospas-Sarsat (C/S) System to locate slow-moving beacons as well as hand-held test beacons for system tests.

1. Beacon design requirements

1.1. Beacon transmission characteristics

The beacons shall be capable of transmitting two different signals at the same time (not necessarily concurrently though). The C/S has defined the specifications for two different types of beacons, in documents T.001 and T.018. These documents can be viewed at the following websites: http://www.cospas-sarsat.int/images/stories/SystemDocs/Current/CS-T001-FEB-2019.pdf and http://www.cospas-sarsat.int/images/stories/SystemDocs/Current/CS-T018-FEB-2019.pdf. Beacons that meet T.001 specifications are referred to as First Generation Beacons (FGB) and beacons meeting T.018 specifications are referred to as Second-Generation Beacons (SGB). The beacons procured under this contract shall be capable of transmitting signals that meet both of these specifications.

1.1.1. FGB characteristics

The FGB signals shall be capable of using any defined C/S T.001 protocol and frame sync pattern.

1.1.2. SGB characteristics

The SGB signals shall be capable of using the location protocol to provide an encoded position accurate to 10m and velocity accurate to ±0.1 m/s at the time of transmission. The Test Protocol Bit (Bit 43) shall be set to 1 for all modes. The beacon shall use a National Use protocol to encode the precise position, velocity, and acceleration, as well as the time of these precise values, unless a more appropriate protocol is approved in document C/S T.018.

1.2. Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) capabilities

The beacon shall be able to determine its precise location via internal navigation device and encoding this signal in the beacon messages. For SGBs, the velocity shall be determined and encoded in the beacon message. The beacon may employ an external GNSS antenna as long as the system still meets all other requirements. For example, the beacon must still be waterproof as per Section 1.5 Environmental.

1.3. Wave Height Sensor [footnoteRef:1] [1: https://cdip.ucsd.edu/?nav=documents&sub=index&xitem=waves]

The beacon shall have the capability to measure vertical displacement to determine the significant wave height (Hs). Significant wave height (Hs) is the mean of the largest 1/3 (33%) of waves recorded during the sampling period. The significant wave height for the previous 5 minutes shall be encoded in the SGB messages.

1.4. Clinometer

The beacon shall have the capability to measure the angle of incline from vertical and the axis of inclination. The axis of inclination should be measured as an offset from magnetic north. This sensor shall be sampled within 0.5 seconds of the subsequent SGB transmission and encoded in that message.

1.5. Environmental

1.5.1. The beacon shall be completely water and weather proof.

1.5.2. The beacon shall be able to operate in the environment onboard a buoy or other ocean observing system platform in any ocean . At a minimum, the beacon shall operate at -40 to 50 degrees Celsius, 99% humidity and vibrations of ±1G.

1.5.3. The beacon shall have an operating lifetime of at least 5 years in these conditions.

1.6. Operations

1.6.1. The beacon shall be capable of receiving power from a buoy serial connection (RS-232, 12.5 VDC) or generating its own power through solar or other means, including the use of batteries (see Attachment #1 to SOW For NOAA SARSAT Buoy/Ocean Observing System Platform Beacons - NDBC Auxiliary Module). If the beacon receives power via the buoy serial connection, it shall meet all requirements while consuming 2Ah of power or less a day. If the beacon generates its own power through a solar panel and/or other means, it shall still meet all appropriate platform requirements, such as size and weight restrictions. Regardless of the power source used, the beacon shall have adequate power to allow for continuous use in the mode with the highest power consumption, with a margin of 25%.

1.6.2. The beacon shall have different modes of operations for each signal (i.e. FGB and SGB). The transmission characteristics for each mode of operation are further defined in document C/S T.022. The transmission configuration of each signal shall be independently configurable. For example, the beacon shall be able to transmit in FGB MEO QMS mode at the same time as SGB Reference Beacon Mode. The different configurations are listed in Tables 1 and 2 below:

Table 1 - FGB Modes of operation

Table 2 - SGB Modes of Operations

1.6.3. The beacon shall receive commands to change operational modes via the buoy serial connection or other means, such as satellite communications link. Any method of receiving commands must be operable in all proposed areas.

1.7. Testing

1.7.1. The contractor shall demonstrate the design requirements above are met through Factory Acceptance Testing.

2. Integration Into Buoys or Other Ocean Observing System Platforms

2.1. The proposed buoys in which the beacons will operate is NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) Self-Contained Ocean Observations Payload (SCOOP) platform (3-meter or 2.1 meter buoys).

2.2. The contractor shall coordinate with the NDBC, or the designated Ocean Observing System Platform operator to determine the appropriate requirements and interfaces to meet the requirements of this contract. Other technical requirements can be found in Attachment #1 to SOW For NOAA SARSAT Buoy/Ocean Observing System Platform Beacons - NDBC Auxiliary Module.

2.3. The contractor shall conduct integration testing prior to beacon deployment.

3. Deployment Management

3.1. The contractor shall manage the project of integration of beacons onto buoys or other ocean observing system platforms. This includes coordinating appropriate schedules and logistics for integration. The beacons shall be ready for deployment and integration by the next available buoy/ocean observing system platform tender within 210 days of contract award.

4. Handheld Test Beacons

4.1. Size and weight

4.1.1. The contractor shall also design and deliver test beacons that can be carried by hand and operated manually. The beacons shall be less than 10 lbs and fit into a volume less than 12”x12”x12”. The test beacons may employ an external antenna which will not be included in the size and weight requirements.

4.2. Beacon Transmission Characteristics

4.2.1. The electronic transmissions of these beacons shall be as similar in design as possible to the buoy/other ocean observing system platform beacons. The test beacons shall meet the same requirements as section 1.1 and 1.2 of this SOW.

4.3. Environment

4.3.1. The handheld test beacons shall be water resistant when in operational mode (ie. Not charging).

4.4. Operations

4.4.1. The beacon shall be capable of operating 24 hours continuously without external power. The beacon shall be able to be powered and charged via 120v AC (utilizing AC/DC converter if necessary) or USB connection.

4.4.2. The test beacons shall be under a one year warranty from the date of acceptance.

4.5. Acceptance

4.5.1. The contractor shall demonstrate the handheld test beacons meet all requirements by performing acceptance testing at the time of delivery. After successfully completing this testing, the handheld beacons will be accepted.

5. Delivery Schedule Table 3 - Schedule

NDBC Points of Contact:

Stephen G. Cucullu, PMP Chief Operations Branch Supervisory General Engineer NOAA National Data Buoy Center Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000

(228) 688-3804

Craig A. Kohler, P.E.

Chief of Engineering National Data Buoy Center Bldg. 3205 Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-6000 (228)688-1421 (office)