Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Antenna.pdf

NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD) and the Office of Marine and Aviation Operation (OMAO), Platform Acquisition Executive (PAE) will solicit and award the requirement herein on a sole source basis to Rantec Microwave Systems, Inc. (RANTEC) for the design and production of a X-band circular slotted flat plate radar antenna in support of a newly developed Vertically Scanning Doppler Radar (VSDR) on NOAA’s forthcoming fleet of C-130J aircraft. The authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 1901 using simplified procedure up to $9M in accordance with Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul (RFO) 12.201-1. Additionally, this requirement is conducted in accordance with 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) as implemented by RFO 6.103-1(b) entitled, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

The antenna subsystem will be a single slotted, flat-plate antenna designed to operate in the X-band weather frequency. This antenna will be duplicated four times for each aircraft and be installed into two wing pods. Each wing pod will have two antennas and sub-systems, one in the forward and one in the aft side of an aerodynamically designed pod. This pod will be designed such that the primary beam and associated sidelobes will not interact with the wing structure, but provide a field of view 20 degrees forward and 20 degrees aft of the aircraft’s track. When the four podded radar systems are combined, the beams will replicate the current WP-3D Tail Doppler Radar scanning patterns, which will be processed into the three-dimensional wind field profiles that are provided to the Environmental Modeling Center and National Hurricane Center for use in severe storm forecasts.

In 2022, Congress provided the first tranche of funding for the NOAA WP-3D replacement program. Through an analysis of alternatives, the C-130J was identified as the only aircraft capable of conducting the heavy weather, medium altitude hurricane hunting mission. Because of this shift in aircraft, a new three-dimensional wind doppler radar system must be developed to continue the legacy of the WP-3D’s Tail Doppler Radar.

The antennas used for the C-130J pod installations will be modified from the most recent G550 design in the following ways:

• Hardened to meet the environmental, stress, and load environment of the outer wing station 330 (OWS

330) installation location.

• Increased in size to approximately 42” diameter to maximize the performance of the radar up to the limit of accommodating a 45” pod outer diameter.

• Modified as needed to accommodate a 12KW transmit power, approximately 50% greater than the current TDR systems.

• Mounting hardware to accommodate rotation around the center of rotation as opposed to the dual-plate antenna pedestal utilized on the tail doppler radar systems in the G550s

Only one source is capable of providing the required products and services at the level of quality required given the unique and highly specialized specifications of this requirement. The sole source firm, Rantec Microwave Systems, Inc. (Rantec) designed and developed the radar system required herein, giving the firm proprietary ownership of all specifications, drawings, schematics, etc. In particular, the NOAA G-IV / G550 antenna plate was designed by Rantec to conform to exacting specifications and provide a radar beam shape with high gain and low sidelobes. The system’s mechanical design is specific to the pedestal’s mounting structure, and went through extensive mechanical and Radio Frequency (RF) testing before being accepted by the Government. If alternate firms were to be considered for this requirement, the Government would incur significant costs in non-recurring engineering, wasted components designed only for NOAA’s unique weather radar mission operations, and to design and develop a new radar system with its own specialized components.

Providing similarity on NOAA’s aircraft with current systems through a common antenna design is critical to reduce risk associated with fielding critical radar systems in time to meet the end of life of the current capabilities.

Any reduction in capability will directly affect the forecasts and contribute to the loss of life and additional economic damage resulting from increased forecast errors with major hurricane systems.

The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 336413- Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing with a corresponding size standard of 1,250 employees. This notice does not constitute a solicitation, Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), or an Invitation for Bid (IFB) and it does not restrict the Government in any way regarding its ultimate acquisition approach. However, if any other interested party believes that it can meet the requirements, it may submit a statement of capabilities, which if timely received, will be considered by NOAA. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future. Evidence must be provided of ability to provide the required services. The capability statement and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. Capability statements and related materials must be e-mailed to the Contract Specialist, Jennifer Peters, at Jennifer.peters@noaa.gov by 10 AM, ET on Thursday, August 13, 2026.

mailto:Jennifer.peters@noaa.gov