Market Research Overview Presentation.pdf

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Market Research Summary

DOC / NOAA / OAR

National Severe Storms Laboratory

Phased Array Radar (PAR) Market Research Visit

Presented by Kurt Hondl, NSSL Deputy Director PAR R&D Manager

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Disclaimer

● This discussion is solely for information and market research planning purposes; it does not constitute a solicitation or a promise to issue a solicitation.

● This market research visit does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is not seeking proposals at this time.

● Please be advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any costs incurred by the hosts associated with this Market Research visit. All costs associated with this visit will be solely at the host institution’s expense. Not hosting a visit does not preclude participation in any future solicitation.

● The information provided in this Market Research Visit is subject to change and is not binding on the Government.

● Any information that the vendor considers proprietary should be clearly marked as such.

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Agenda

● Background and Objectives

● Congressional Reports

○ Multi-function PAR and Cylindrical Polarized PAR Report to Congress

○ Weather Radar Follow-On Plan: Research & Risk Reduction to Inform

Acquisition Decisions

■ Current options for radar replacement systems

● Request for Information (Jan. 18 - Feb. 18, 2022)

● Vendor Discussions (Mar. 25 - 30, 2022)

● Next steps/ Remaining questions https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/publications/par_reports/FY14_MPAR_CPPAR_Congressional_Report.pdf https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/publications/par_reports/RadarFollowOnPlan_ReporttoCongress_2020June_Final.pdf https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/publications/par_reports/RadarFollowOnPlan_ReporttoCongress_2020June_Final.pdf

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Background

● NOAA‘s current operational radar system, NEXRAD, is almost 35 years old and will reach end of life about 2040.

○ NEXRAD has undergone a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) to ensure continued operational functionality

● NOAA will make a major acquisition decision by 2028 for the next national weather radar system

○ The development of the Radar Acquisition Management Program

(RAMP) will compare the cost-benefit analysis of the leading acquisition options.

○ An Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) will be conducted

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Background

● NOAA is conducting risk reduction activities that will inform National Weather Service’s Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) for their potential acquisition system.

Adapted from the radar follow on Congressional Report

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Congressional Report Multi-function and Cylindrical Polarized PAR

● MPAR was established to demonstrate the potential to simultaneously perform aircraft tracking, wind profiling, and weather surveillance with a single phased array weather radar

● Focused on 4-face planar or cylindrical array configurations

○ Multifunction added to complexity and technical risk

○ Rotating planar arrays not compatible with multifunction operation due to different update rate requirements Since DOC/NOAA withdrew from the MPAR concept in 2018, we need to demonstrate the feasible and capable of a rotating planar array for weather surveillance

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Congressional Report Weather Radar Follow on Plan

● Three main options to maintain the current NEXRAD network or replace it with a new radar network capability

○ Sustaining the current system with a second Service Life Extension

Program (SLEP);

○ Replacing WSR-88D with a new reflector dish, mechanically rotating radar system; or

○ Replacing WSR-88D with Phased Array Radar (PAR) technology

We are conducting risk reduction research for a rotating planar array PAR system to demonstrate the ability to improve radar volume update times.

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Request for Information (RFI) January 18 - February -18, 2022

● Questions focus on 3 areas

○ Advanced Weather Surveillance Radar Capabilities Planned by 2028

○ PAR Technical Considerations and Capabilities

○ Acquisition of Test Articles

● The purpose today is to focus on the PAR Technical Considerations and Capabilities

○ Rotating planar array for weather surveillance only

○ Incorporate some advanced technologies with multiple simultaneous beams to achieve the desired faster volume updates for weather surveillance.

Of the systems that your company has developed, which S-band, dual polarimetric

PAR systems might be readily adapted to a rotating planar system for the purpose of evaluating advanced techniques and weather surveillance?

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Vendor Discussions March 25 - March 30, 2022

● NOAA continued with market research to further elaborate on existing S-band, Phased Array Radar (PAR) systems as a demonstration as a rotating planar array.

● The desired PAR system for weather surveillance would have

○ Dual polarization

○ Provide a scanning capability allowing multiple simultaneous beams

○ Highly digital architecture

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Next Steps Remaining Questions

● The next presentation will detail more technical aspects and questions that we are wanting to discuss

○ Dual Polarization Purity

■ What level of polarization purity can your system achieve?

■ What is the impact of advanced scanning strategies on polarization performance, including calibration procedures?

○ Operating Modes

■ What are the current operational modes and are they able to provide the information that is necessary to achieve increased volume updates for weather surveillance?

○ Classification discussion

■ Can your company provide a system that meets our need, and what is its classification level?

■ If necessary, is declassification possible and what does that process entail?