QAToARA(07-6-2010).docx

Questions and Answers HERA CALL 0003

Question #1. Can you provide a description of the notional, specific, and/or general topology of the types of electromagnetic problems you are trying to solve with this newly developed computational electromagnetic capability? Physical dimensions of the problem, types and numbers of boundaries (i.e. perfect conductors, perfect and lossy dielectrics, conductors, non-linear loads, etc.), sources (single, multiple, distributed, etc.).

ANS: A notional system consists of scale lengths that span from a few hundred meters to micrometers. A thrust is to model the effect of transient high power electromagnetic (HPEM) sources on modern digital systems, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), due to EM field interactions with the digital system and surrounding environments, including semi-enclosed systems such as computer boxes. The effects of the HPEM fields may include system upset and in some cases permanent damage. A scenario is that the incident field, coming from HPEM sources located at a few hundred meters away, excites various apertures of the semi-enclosed system and couples its energy into the enclosure before coupling multi-conductor transmission lines and PCBs, which consist of traces and internal circuitry. Since modern PCBs typically consist of linear and nonlinear chips in few micron sizes, the modeling must be able to handle both linear and nonlinear loads, connected to traces.

Question #2. Besides explicitly solving for the voltage and current transients on the multiple transmission lines, is there a need to visualize the EM field (incident, reflected, total) propagation?

ANS: Yes. Any visualization software, such as Matlab or Paraview, will be sufficient.

Question #3. Can you explain the relationship between the “demonstration circuit solver” and the advanced circuit solvers discussed in Paragraph 4.3?

ANS: The TD-BLT and/or TD-TML solver require input parameters that are developed under the task called “Development and Implementation of TD-BLT and/or TD-TLM Solver Input Tools.” The input tools solve per unit length parameters used for multi-conductor transmission line (MTL) calculations. Per unit length parameters shall be computed using a suite of two-dimensional quasi-static electric and magnetic field solvers, which will extract the per-unit-length resistance, inductance, capacitance and conductance matrices. The tools should incorporate features such as a) an ability to handle composite, lossy metals and lossy dielectrics, b) superior modeling versatility, enabling the analysis of fairly arbitrary cross-sectional interconnect geometries, including both the class of multi-wire, coaxial cables and the class of multi-wire planar interconnects of the type encountered in the planar substrates of integrated circuits, c) accurate prediction of the frequency dependence of the per-unit-length resistance and inductance matrices of the MTL. Rational function approximations for lossy time-domain Green functions/transfer impedances and admittances will be generated using the PRIME algorithm (ref. J. Morsey and A. C. Cangellaris, "Prime: passive realization of interconnect models from measured data," Proc. IEEE Topical Meeting on Electrical Performance of Electronic Packaging, pp. 4750, Boston, Mass., Oct. 2001). PRIME permits the generation of passive, rational function approximations of the transfer functions describing the electromagnetic response of multi-port, frequency-dependent structures and networks. The input to PRIME is a set of scattering parameter (or impedance/admittance matrix data), obtained either through modeling or through measurement at a number of frequency points spanning the frequency bandwidth of interest. The output is a rational function matrix describing the network. Each one of the elements of the matrix is in terms of a rational function of frequency, which can be utilized in one of two possible ways: a) An equivalent circuit can be synthesized directly from the rational function. Thus, a multi-port circuit representation of the electromagnetic multi-port is obtained that can be used seamlessly with general-purpose, network analysis oriented, nonlinear circuit simulators (such as SPICE and ADS); b) The (approximate) impulse response of each element of the multi-port transfer function representation is readily obtained from the rational function terms of a finite sum of complex exponentials. This form provides for the computationally efficient interfacing of the electromagnetic multi-port with non-linear, time-domain electromagnetic field solvers via convolution integrals that can be computed expediently using recursive convolution.

Question #4. Do you have any preferences for the GUI display?

ANS: No, as long as the GUI display is compatible for LINUX machines. Any GUI display is acceptable.

Question #5. What is the target platform for the software tools?

ANS: 64-bit Linux machines. All developed software must run in the Linux environment.

Question #6. What computer languages would you like the software implemented in?

ANS: Fortran for Maxwell’s equations and MTL equations. Fortran or C for circuit analysis equations. Any computer language for GUI software is OK, however, with preference to C or C++.

Question #7. Will you want stand-alone executable programs or linkable libraries?

ANS: The source for all developed software, as well as the executable, must be delivered upon completion of the project. Unless commercial linkable libraries are used, the source for linkable libraries must be made available to the Government with unlimited rights to use them.

Question #8. Do you have a specific GUI builder in mind?

ANS: As part of creating a structure, needed as an input for a running RF effects simulation code, use of the commercial CAD software will suffice.

Question #9. Are you looking for open source graphics (such as open-GL) or do you want to incorporate a graphics package you are already using?

ANS: Looking to use the open source graphics, such as open-GL.

Question #10. Are there legacy software tools you will want to interface with? If so, can you tell us what they are?

ANS: MTL and circuit analysis parts of the developed code needs to be implemented with an idea of interfacing with a cube-based finite-difference time-domain code, such as AFRL/RDHE’s massively parallel FDTD code called TMax.

Question #11. Will you want the software tools and interface to adhere to any input or file formats (such as XML)?

ANS: The input file must in simple text formats, such ASCII and/or XML.

Question #11. The instruction for the business section of the proposal states that this section should contain the type of contract, any unique terms and conditions, any exceptions to the terms and conditions of this announcement and any information no technically related. However, the section states “this section should include the following items as appropriate. Referenced documents are available at http://www.kirtland.af.mil/prs/. What are the “following items as appropriate?

ANS: The following website contains the direct link to the referenced documents that contain any applicable documents /instruction for contactors to incorporate into the proposal. http://www.kirtland.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=8124

Question #12. If our business already has a Representations and Certifications (Reps&Certs) through ORCA do the attached Reps&Certs to the call need to be accomplished?

ANS: Yes, if your business is registered through ORCA please submit your current Reps&Certs in addition to, Reps&Certs attached to the call.

Question#13. The proposal checklist references a ‘model contract’. It asks if we have any exceptions to the model contract. Where do I find the model contract?

ANS: A model contract was not included in the call a revised checklist has been posted to FedBizOps.

Question#14. The proposal checklist includes two columns for page reference (BAA page reference and proposal page reference) Why do we have to provide the BAA page reference? Can that be provided to us?

ANS: In order to evaluate proposals we require that any reference to the initial BAA is cited page/section in order to facilitate the CALL process. You can find the initial BAA solicitation located at FedBizOps - BAA-RD-08-01 .

Question#15. In the BAA instruction there is a section that talks to the format for the CSOW and the following "It (the C-SOW) must also identify any and all items (hardware, software, reports, etc.) to be delivered to the Government as a result of the program. When proposing, indicate the appropriate CDRLs for your effort in the C-SOW, and the applicable C-SOW paragraph in Block 5of the associated CDRL. Although the cost to prepare CDRL materials is included in the basic price, provide an estimate cost specific to each CDRL proposed. Please complete Block 17 and 18 of each CDRL.”

ANS: For CDRL pricing please refer to the link provided for guidance on how to price CDRLs.

Question #16. Where do the CDRL's go in the proposal? Technical Volume or Cost/Business Volume?

ANS: The priced CDRLs should be included in the Cost/Business volume.