PL83220001RFIrevised.doc

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

REQUIREMENT: INDUSTRY DAY FOR CHANGE NOTICE TO MIL-STD-188-164B

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. NO SOLICITIATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

1.0 GENERAL

PURPOSE: The Department of Defense (DoD) is soliciting industry to provide comments on the MIL-STD-188-164B Draft and prepare responses to satisfy unique DoD requirements for Change Notice 1 (CN1) to the Draft. Responses should include, but are not limited to, specification adjustments in the following areas of interest: 1) Definition of maximum linear power; 2) Transmit thermal noise for large terminals; 3) Axial ratio; and 4) ”Exotic” terminal applicability.

This RFI request is solely for gathering information and planning purposes. This RFI does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any services or supplies whatsoever. All are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitations or requests for proposal (RFPs).

2.0 ISSUES

BACKGROUND: The continuing evolution of terminal capabilities presents a number of challenges to developing relevant and useful terminal design requirements. When MIL-STD 188-164 was first written, the preponderance of terminals consisted of large, center-fed, fixed, circular reflectors. This is no longer the case. In recognition of this, a number of adjustments have been made in the Draft for MIL-STD 188-164B. In the process of drafting the new MIL-STD, a number of areas have been identified where additional investigation is necessary to craft a useful MIL-STD. In the interest of issuing meaningful guidance as soon as possible, it has been decided to pursue issuing MIL-STD 188-164B in the near future while simultaneously investigating various areas of interest with the intent of including any updates to those areas in a forthcoming CN1.

3.0 INFORMATION REQUESTED

3.1 Definition of Maximum Linear Power: The current definition for two-carrier maximum-linear power ties the performance to the power level of the 3rd order intermodulation products (IMP). Test experience has shown that amplifiers with linearizers can suppress the 3rd order IMP such that the level of the 3rd order IMP is lower than the level of the 5th or higher order IMP. The government is interested in understanding whether this allows terminals to “cheat the test” and achieve higher maximum linear power levels to the detriment of spectral efficiency. Consideration is being given to rewording the definition to apply the -25 dBc to “any order IMP,” and the government would like input on what impacts, if any, this would have on terminal performance.

3.2 Transmit Thermal Noise: Operational experience has shown that large terminals can cause adverse impacts to other users even while meeting the current requirement. The government is interested in alternative approaches to this requirement as well as the performance implications if this requirement is further restricted.

3.3 Axial Ratio: The government recognizes that current axial ratio specifications present significant challenges to small terminal design. The government is interested is exploring alternative approaches for an axial ratio requirement and what the impact of such approaches will be on the overall SATCOM system. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, cross-pol interference, cross-pol ESD, and cross-pol isolation relative to the terminal noise floor.

3.4 “Exotic” Terminals: As terminal designs move away from fixed, center-fed, circular, reflector designs, a subset of requirements must be applied differently while new requirements must be developed. The government is particularly interested in understanding how to adjust present requirements for better application to array-type systems and SATCOM-On-The-Move systems, as well as other emerging terminal designs.

4.0 INDUSTRY DAY

The MIL-STD-188-164B Industry Day will occur on Tuesday, 17th January 2012 to Thursday 19th January 2012 from 0830 – 1630 at Harris Customer Briefing Center at 1025 W. NASA Boulevard, Building B in Melbourne, Florida 32902. The meeting will be in the Miami room. Customer conference center number is 321-727-9696.

Harris requires all attendees to complete a Visitor “Registration” Information form and send the form to Ms. Denise Tourigian (denise.tourigian@harris.com). The dead line for attendees and presenters to send in Visitor Registration Form and briefing materials is January 11th, 2012.

For those attendees who are Foreign Nationals, you will be required to complete a special paperwork, please contact Ms. Denise Tourigian as soon as possible to request your Foreign National paperwork. The process to be an approved Foreign National attendee requires 5 business days, please complete and submit your paperwork the first week in January.

The Mil-Std-188-164B meeting is UNCLASSIFIED. DISA requests that all Presenters send in their briefing slides and title to the POCs below to have added in the meeting agenda, and Presentation for each subject is not more than 20 minutes long. The meeting will begin promptly at 8:30 am. We recommend that you plan to arrive not later than 8:00 am to accommodate for check-in delays.

5.0 POINTS OF CONTACT (POCs)

Henry Tran at DISA

Phone: 301-225-7496 NIPR: henry.tran@disa.mil SIPR: henry.tran@disa.smil.mil Mr. Tom Saam at HARRIS

Phone : 321-729-2208 NIPR : tsaam@harris.com Ms. Denise Tourigian at HARRIS

Phone: 321-729-2208

NIPR: dtourigi@harris.com

6.0 DISCLAIMER

This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only to identify sources that can provide comments on the MIL-STD-188-164B Draft and provide specifications to requested information noted in Section 3.0 and does not constitute a solicitation THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THE RFI OR OTHERWISE PAY FOR INFORMATION RECEIVED IN RESPONSES TO THE RFI.

Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received that is marked Proprietary will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly identified. All government and contractor personal reviewing RFI responses will have signed non-disclosure agreements and understand their responsibility for proper use and protection from unauthorized disclosure of proprietary information as described 41 USC 423.

To assist DISA in making a determination regarding the level of participation by small business in any subsequent procurement that may result from this RFI, you are encouraged to provide information regarding your plans to use joint venturing(JV), partnering or consortiums to meet each of the requirements areas contained herein. You should provide information on how you would envision your company's areas of expertise and those of any proposed JV/partnering/consortium would be combined to meet the specific requirements contained in this RFI."