02_03823_SOW_Requirements_REV_1_-_dgk_edits.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

TITLE: Procurement of a Set of Software Defined Radios with Accessories

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) is in the process of expanding its research efforts related to spectrum sharing in wireless communications. This research includes topics associated with distributed spectrum sensing, spectrum monitoring, signal propagation, interference between devices and networks, and evaluating a device’s ability to share spectrum.

The Shared-Spectrum Metrology research group seeks to support these efforts by procuring software defined radios (SDRs), which are general purpose tools for transmitting, receiving, and processing a wide variety of waveforms for applications like wireless networking and radar.

This laboratory capability is intended to be flexible and independent of specific wireless technologies in order to support general research efforts. A defining feature of SDRs, in contrast with other radio frequency (RF) instrumentation, is flexible to control many RF and signaling behaviors by settings controllable in software, rather than implementing new circuitry. SDRs can also be substantially less costly than other types of test equipment, so NIST efforts to expand their use into wireless metrology may be a special opportunity to increase the thoroughness of RF testing in industry.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

In order to support the spectrum sharing research, NIST seeks to procure a suite of SDRs that are tunable across 400 MHz to 6 GHz (or broader) and support at least 150 MHz of instantaneous baseband bandwidth. Common uses of the SDRs in the near term will include distributed spectrum sensing, coherent laboratory tests of wireless coexistence behavior, and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) studies. Coherent operation is a crucial capability for NIST efforts, so we need to be able to distribute timing and phase to all SDRs. For flexibility and integrality with other SDRs, the SDRs are to be controlled using GNURadio and/or Python, and include a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) that a user can reprogram for custom digital signal processing, triggering, and data routing.

III. SPECIFICATIONS/MIMIMUM REQUIREMENTS

The system to be delivered by the Contractor (listed in section VI, “Deliverables”) shall have the following characteristics:

1. An SDR unit shall have the following characteristics:

1.1. General capabilities:

1.1.1. Number of transmit/receive (TX/RX) channel pairs: 2, at minimum

1.2. RF frontend performance (across 400 MHz – 6 GHz):

1.2.1. Baseband (IQ) transmit bandwidth capability in each channel: minimum of 150

MHz

1.2.2. Baseband (IQ) receive bandwidth capability in each channel: minimum of 150

MHz

1.2.3. Phase noise performance shall conform with a minimum of one of the following requirements:

1.2.3.1. Single sideband (SSB) phase noise relative to carrier (dBc):

Maximum -142 dBc at offset frequencies above 10 MHz (examples: -150 dBc exceeds specifications; -140 dBc does not meet specifications)

1.2.3.2. Total phase noise (tested at baseband sampling rate of at least 1 MHz):

Maximum 1.5 degrees RMS

1.2.4. Receive noise figure, each channel (without any preamplifier): 12 dB or less

1.2.5. Transmit power output capability, each channel: 10 dBm or more

1.2.6. Input receive power levels: Saturation level -20 dBm minimum (examples: -15 dBm is acceptable, -25 dBm is not)

1.2.7. LO leakage suppression: 30 dB minimum

1.2.8. TX/RX IQ imbalance: -30 dBc at maximum (example: -35 dBc is acceptable, -25 dBc is not)

1.3. Synchronization and timing:

1.3.1. RF frequency and phase locking and acquisition timing shall be capable of synchronization with other devices and instruments to become part of a coherent system. Each unit shall support both of the following, to be configured by software control and hardware connection to external inputs:

1.3.1.1. 10 MHz reference input by coaxial cable as well as 1 pulse per second (1

PPS) input through another coaxial cable

1.3.1.2. Oven-controlled global positioning satellite disciplined oscillator

(GPSDO) input from a GPS antenna via coaxial cable.

1.3.2. RF transmit and receive signals shall be phase locked. A constant phase offset

(between measurements in a fixed RF and sampling configuration) is acceptable.

1.4. Baseband acquisition

1.4.1. ADC resolution per channel: 14 bits minimum

1.4.2. DAC resolution per channel: 16 bits minimum

1.4.3. ADC sampling rate per channel: Adequate to satisfy 1.2.2

1.4.4. DAC sampling rate per channel: Adequate to satisfy 1.2.1

1.5. Embedded FPGA

1.5.1. Number of embedded FPGAs per unit: 1 minimum

1.5.2. Custom logic:

1.5.2.1. NIST have access to program and run custom FPGA binaries into the SDR

1.5.2.2. The Contractor may enable this capability by compatibility with Xilinx, Altera, or LabView FPGA development environments

1.5.2.3. The custom logic shall be programmable into the FPGA by PC.

1.5.3. FPGA capabilities:

1.5.3.1. DSP blocks/slices: 1000 or more

1.5.3.2. External I/O: Access to external connectors on the unit that enable triggering at either or both of 3.3V, 5V

1.6. Networking and control:

1.6.1. Each unit will support, at minimum, 10-gigabit Ethernet (10-GigE) via SFP+ connectors for rapid data throughput

1.6.2. Each unit shall include a minimum of one Ethernet port for every two TX/RX channel pairs

1.7. Physical

1.7.1. TX and RX RF port connectors: SMA

1.7.2. 1 pulse-per-second (PPS) connectors: SMA

1.7.3. 10 MHz reference: SMA or BNC

1.7.4. The unit shall be encased in a chassis for electromagnetic shielding and mechanical and environmental protection

1.7.5. The unit shall fit into a standard 19” equipment rack and be 1 or 2 rack units (1U or 2U rack) in height. Either full- or half-width rackmounts are acceptable.

1.7.6. To support occasional outdoor use, the operating temperature range of the units shall include 5C – 40C.

1.7.7. To support transportation outdoors, the allowable storage temperature range of the units shall include 0C – 50C.

1.8. Electrical power

1.8.1. Each SDR unit may connect directly to standard 3-prong 120V AC outlets

(contractor-provided cables), or provide adapters and cables suitable to convert 3-prong 120V AC from an outlet to a DC power input adequate to supply power to the unit.

1.9. Uniformity of delivered units

1.9.1. All SDR units provided by the Contractor shall be of the same make and model

1.10. SDR unit characteristics may be achieved by means of additional accessories if they are delivered installed into the SDR unit chassis

1.11. If FPGA programming and debugging is supported through a separate port (not one specified in 1.6), appropriate cables shall be provided to enable FPGA programming from a remote PC.

1.11.1. Quantity: One cable for each FPGA programming connector in each SDR unit.

1.12. Cables shall be provided to each remote interface port in 1.6 to a computer or

Ethernet network.

1.12.1. Quantity: One for each control port (10-GigE, PCIe, etc.) on the SDR unit

1.12.2. Length: 3 meters minimum

1.12.3. For cables connecting 10-GigE, connectors on both ends shall be SFP+, and support 10Gbase-LR or 10GBase-SR

1.12.4. For cables connecting 100 mbit Ethernet, connectors on both ends shall be RJ-45

1.13. PC Software Compatibility

1.13.1. Each SDR must be compatible with, at minimum, GNURadio software

2. A complete set of software defined radios with accessories and software must have the following characteristics:

2.1. SDR units:

2.1.1. Quantity: Sufficient SDR units for 16 total TX/RX channel pairs.

(Examples: If each SDR unit provides 2 TX/RX channel pairs, the Contractor delivers 8 SDR units; if each SDR unit provides 4 TX/RX channel pairs, the

Contractor delivers 4 SDR units)

2.2. Half-width to full-width rackmount adapters (only if SDR units are half-width rackmount)

2.2.1. Quantity: One for every two SDR units

2.3. Hardware design language (HDL) code to customize SDR FPGA logic and DSP

2.3.1. The Contractor will provide a copy of the HDL the HDL code necessary to build logic for the SDR unit FPGAs, or publish it freely for NIST to access over the internet

2.3.2. Number of licenses (if not freely available): Adequate for 2 simultaneous development seats at NIST

2.3.3. Medium: Internet download, or physical medium (such as USB stick or CD) delivered with hardware

2.3.4. HDL code license features (if added licenses are required to build firmware):

2.3.4.1. Type: Floating (by USB key or network license key)

2.3.4.2. Permission for NIST to modify, build, and run the HDL code, in order to customize the behavior of each SDR unit.

2.3.4.3. Perpetual license

2.3.5. HDL code capability: The supplied SDR hardware running logic built from the supplied HDL code must fulfill all of the performance capabilities specified in paragraph 1.

2.4. FPGA design suite software licenses

2.4.1. Number of licenses: 2

2.4.2. Installation media: Internet download, or physical medium (USB stick or CD) delivered with hardware

2.4.3. License features:

2.4.3.1. Type: Node-locked (at minimum) or floating (by USB key or network service)

2.4.4. Version: Most current available design suite that is to be compatible with the

HDL code provided according to 2.3

2.4.5. Must include sufficient features, IP cores, and add-on accessories to build the

HDL code provided according to 2.3

2.4.6. Features (each if supported by the FPGA hardware and HDL code provided according to 2.3)

2.4.6.1. Includes DSP logic cores or logic blocks

2.4.6.2. Simulation of DSP functions

2.4.6.3. Real time FPGA debugging

2.4.6.4. Compilation/synthesis of HDL code

3. Product support

3.1. NIST staff shall have access to technical support by phone and/or email

3.1.1. Support services shall include, at minimum, guidance and troubleshooting for

NIST personnel in the following areas:

3.1.1.1. operating the SDRs with GNURadio

3.1.1.2. configuring networking and PC links to the SDRs

3.1.1.3. building HDL code into binaries to run on the SDR FPGAs

3.1.1.4. adjusting signal processing code implemented on the FPGAs

3.1.2. These support services shall be available to NIST personnel for 3 years, minimum

3.2. Access to HDL code bug fixes and new features shall be made available to NIST three years, at minimum.

4. The Contractor shall supply only new equipment. The use of refurbished or used equipment is not permissible.

5. The Contractor shall include the cost of shipping the hardware to the NIST site in Boulder, CO.

Additional Features:

Either or all of these items may be provided at the discretion of the Contractor on a need be basis and shall not impede operation outlined in Section II, Scope of Work or Section III, Specifications.

6. Frequency and timing synchronization distribution box unit with the following characteristics:

6.1. Physical:

6.1.1. The following SDR external inputs/outputs shall use SMA connectors:

synchronization/1 pulse-per-second (PPS) (input or output), 10 MHz reference

(input or output)

6.1.2. The unit shall be encased in a box for electromagnetic shielding and mechanical protection

6.1.3. The unit shall fit into a standard 1 or 2 rack unit (1U or 2U rack) height. Either full- or half-width rackmounts are acceptable.

6.1.4. To support occasional outdoor use, the operating temperature range of the units shall include 5C – 40C. Operation outside of this range is acceptable but not required.

6.1.5. To support transportation outdoors, the allowable storage temperature range of the units shall include 0C – 50C. Tolerating temperatures outside of this range is acceptable but not required.

6.2. Frequency and timing synchronization inputs:

6.2.1. RF frequency and phase locking as well as acquisition timing shall be capable of synchronization with other devices and instruments to become part of a coherent system. Each unit shall support both of the following, to be configured by software control and hardware connection to external inputs:

6.2.1.1. 10 MHz reference input by coaxial cable as well as 1 pulse per second (1

PPS) input through another coaxial cable

6.2.1.2. Oven-controlled global positioning satellite disciplined oscillator

(GPSDO) input from a GPS antenna via coaxial cable. The 1 PPS stability at one standard deviation shall be within 60 ns.

6.3. Frequency and timing synchronization output:

6.3.1. The number of outputs shall be sufficient to simultaneously distribute 10 MHz and 1 PPS to all of the SDRs in the complete set of SDRs

6.4. Electrical power:

6.4.1. The synchronization unit may connect directly to standard 3-prong 120V AC outlets (through cables to be provided by the Contractor), or provide adapters suitable to convert 3-prong 120V AC from an outlet to a DC power input adequate to supply power to the unit.

6.5. Networking

6.5.1. Any networking control connectors should be SFP+ and/or RJ45.

7. Set of breakout boards or adapters for GPIO/digital IO/triggering bus lines shall have with the following characteristics (if multiple bus lines are available on each SDR unit only)

7.1. Quantity: 1 for each SDR unit

7.2. One side of each board or adapter shall connect to input/output (GPIO), triggering, or digital IO connectors on each SDR unit

7.3. The other side of each board or adapter shall support connection to any or all of bare wires, BNC cables, banana plugs, or test lead clips for each GPIO/digital IO/triggering bus line

Warranty:

The Contractor shall provide, at a minimum, a one-year warranty on hardware and associated components. The warranty shall cover at minimum all parts, labor, and shipping. The warranty shall commence upon successful completion of delivery, installation, deployment and demonstration of all required specifications.

IV. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

CLIN 0001 Delivery shall be eighty (80) calendar days after award of this requirement.

CLIN 0002 The period of performance shall be 3 years ARO

V. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Acceptance tests and research use will be at NIST, Boulder, Colorado. Normal duty hours are

Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. mountain time, with the exception of Federal holidays.

VI. DELIVERABLES

Description Quantity Due Date

Complete set of software defined radios with accessories and software

One (1) set

Eighty (80) calendar days after award

Additional features: Frequency and timing synchronization distribution box

One (1) unit

Eighty (80) calendar days after award

Additional features: Set of breakout boards or adapters for GPIO/digital IO/triggering bus lines

One (1) set

Eighty (80) calendar days after award

VII. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT SUMMARY

NIST will perform basic measurements and experiments to ensure that the requirements have been met.

VIII. GENERAL INFORMATION

Patent Rights: The Government retains a Government use license to all inventions arising from this work.

Media Inquiries: The Contractor employee shall not respond to any media inquiries. Any inquiries from the media shall be immediately relayed to the TPOC, COR, and/or CO. There shall be no interviews, comments, or any other response without the knowledge and approval of the NIST Director.