Request for Information - Alternate Antenna.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

Background. This is a Request for Information (RFI) which is part of market research. This RFI is solely issued for informational purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a commitment to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not obligate the United States Air Force (USAF) to contract for any supply or service in any manner. Respondents are advised that the USAF 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 respondents’ expense. All information received from this RFI will be used for market research purposes only. Any response received to this RFI constitutes consent for the submission to be reviewed by military personnel, Government civilians, Department of Defense (DoD) Contractors, and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). The responses may be forwarded to other Government entities in consideration for applicability to other programs.

The purpose of this announcement is for the USAF to gain information on airborne-capable antennas operating in the 44 GHz Band (Uplink) and 20 GHz Band (downlink). Responses to this RFI will be used by the USAF to make appropriate decisions and to support market research. Responses to this announcement will not be considered an adequate response to any future announcement. Lack of a response to this announcement will not limit participation in any resultant acquisition request.

The USAF is interested in 44/20 GHz capable antennas for installation on widebody-type combat aircraft that would require minimal structural modifications to the aircraft to mate the antenna to the fuselage. This is a market survey request to locate businesses that are interested in gaining USAF consideration of Industry 44/20 GHz antennas for possible installation on a combat widebody aircraft. Any Industry member that has the necessary capabilities, regardless of business size, to provide a mature and, ideally, airborne 44/20 GHz antenna that is already flying today is highly encouraged to submit responses to the below questions.

Interested businesses should respond to this RFI by providing written responses to the questions listed below. Please submit responses via email to the Contracting Officer, Mr. Matthew Patterson, at matthew.patterson.3@us.af.mil, and the Contract Specialist, Mr. Michael Pacheco, at michael.pacheco.4@us.af.mil. To support on-going analysis and provide feedback to senior leadership, responses are requested NLT 31 May 2024. Based on replies from Industry, the USAF may issue additional questions in the future.

General Description of Work: The USAF is interested in installing 44/20 GHz antennas capable of closing the link between a widebody combat aircraft and the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite constellation currently in geosynchronous orbit today. The USAF program potentially employing this antenna is a USAF Acquisition Category (ACAT) I program that could require an alternate fully flight qualified AEHF antenna anytime between 1QFY25 and 1QFY27.

Air Force Antenna Needs

• Antenna/radome height preference is < 10”. As low profile is preferred but any height will be evaluated

• Antenna installation onto the widebody combat aircraft should take no more than 30 days mailto:matthew.patterson.3@us.af.mil

• Frequency range must be in 44/20 GHz band; however, possible interest in a 30/20 GHz antenna with a path to upgrade is a possibility

• Antenna should be hardened to High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP)

• Antenna weight, inclusive of required positioners and installation mounts, should be < 125 lbs.

• Electronically steered array or dish antennas are acceptable

• A mature and existing antenna solution. Path to gain a fully flight qualified AEHF antenna should be < 24 months

Projected Quantities. Air Force projects at least 127 production antennas with the first being ready as early 1QFY27 and delivery of up to three antennas per month.

Information Requested. More detailed information concerning 44/20 GHz antennas capable of being mounted on top of a combat widebody aircraft meeting most of the “Air Force Antenna Needs” listed above is required. For those companies having an interest in this need and desiring to respond, the USAF requests you provide your input based on the following areas/questions:

1. Do you have a 44/20 GHz product available?

a. What is the estimated Technology Readiness Level of this antenna? Provide the justification for the estimated level.

b. What is the estimated Manufacturing Readiness Level of this antenna? Provide the justification for the estimated level.

2. Could you provide more information on your 44/20 GHz antenna or an antenna that you believe could be upgraded to AEHF? Interested information would be as follows:

a. Most recent test performance results and/or performance predictions generated from scientifically generated test outcomes.

b. Qualification test outcomes completed/planned.

c. Describe your procedure for mounting such antenna on a combat widebody aircraft using a 30-day window.

3. If there are existing survivable Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) or Government-off-the-

Shelf (GOTS) solutions that you have fielded to date, can you please describe the available contract vehicles the Government could purchase these solutions from? Does it meet the needs expressed above?

4. What do you believe would be your challenges associated with the design and build of the antenna described in this RFI and how would you handle them?

5. What is the manufacturing and fielding capability your firm would have for this need?

6. Please provide the following data:

a. Measured/predicted Antenna Gain, Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) and Temperature (G/T) vs. scan angle and at 20o off the horizon. Assuming:

i. HPA output of 80W.

ii. 55oC Operation.

iii. 37-inch separation between Antenna and HPA.

iv. Performance is at a minimum under provided conditions.

v. Performance should include all relevant losses including Tracking Polarization loss, radome, and excess mismatch loss.

b. Nominal antenna polarization and axial ratio estimates. Minimum Axial ratio performance over swept volume.

c. Nominal and peak antenna power consumption, and input power voltage.

d. Height, mounting dimensions, and swept volume.

e. Weight, inclusive of required positioners and installation mounts.

f. Installation interfaces / concept, including airframe modifications.

g. Altitude, maximum and minimum operating and non-operating Temperature, and

Temperature-Altitude continuous and intermittent operation qualifications.

h. Thermal conditioning requirements (if any).

i. Radome requirements (if any) including dimensions and flight dynamics of the radome.

j. Nuclear hardness test results / qualifications (if any).

Additional Information Requested. In addition to the information requested above, interested businesses responding to this RFI shall provide the following:

1. Company Name (to included Business Unit/Division as applicable)

2. Company Address

3. Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code

4. Point of Contact

5. Telephone Number

6. Email Address