Spectrum Lab Test & Evaluation to NASCTN

The National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network (NASCTN) has placed a sole source cost-plus-fixed-fee task order for research to the MITRE Corporation to support NASCTN.  Spectrum Lab Test and Evaluation.  NASCTN supports the development and dissemination of independent test methodologies and provides trusted test data that can be used to evaluate spectrum-sharing technologies. NASCTN projects are requested by other agencies or companies, approved by the NASCTN Steering Committee, developed and executed according to the NASCTN 5 stage process.

Projects are being conducted at NASCTN include aggregation of emissions measurements and effects on federal use radars. Over the course of the next year, NASCTN will also develop test methodology to measure performance of the Citizen Band Radio Services (CBRS) spectrum sharing technologies during operations, and develop a testbed and methodology for 5G spectrum sharing.

- Statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition:

This is a limited source justification. Statutory authority for this action is 41 USC 3304(a)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1.

- Demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited:

The Contractor shall provide subject matter expertise, guidance and recommendations in the following gaps in spectrum sharing test systems:

• • Communications Expertise: to review and provide input to technical reports.
  • Systems Test Expertise: to assist NASCTN with test expertise in the development and observation of RF and channel measurements.
  • Automation: to analyze and interpret test data using an appropriate software language (e.g., Python and Pandas) to allow interface with other elements of the projects.

The end products of this effort will be knowledge products used to produce measurement campaigns, technical reports and trusted data. These products will be used to ensure fair, predictable, assured access to spectrum by users in the commercial and federal space. NIST/CTL/NASCTN requires an unbiased resource free from potential commercial conflicts of interest. The MITRE Corporation (MITRE), in its operation of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC), is chartered to both be free of such conflicts, and also to provide systems engineering expertise. Additionally, in its operation of wireless technology laboratories as an FFRDC, MITRE has unique Research and Development (R&D) capabilities that will help ensure that this scope is properly executed.

Awarded contract TIRNO-99-D-00005 to The MITRE Corporation for 250890.00 on 2020-08-10.