58 -- Enhanced Range Applications Program (EnRAP)

This is not a notice for a solicitation. This is only a Request for Information (RFI). The government does not intend to award a contract or any type of agreement on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information solicited under this RFI. This is NOT a request for proposal or an invitation to bid but merely a request for information. The Air Combat Support Systems Group, Range Instrumentation System Squadron, is interested in obtaining price, delivery, other market information, or capabilities for planning purposes for the Enhanced Range Application Program (EnRAP). The EnRAP will provide a significant improvement to the Test and Evaluation (T&E) instrumentation of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Development will be accomplished under the Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program (CTEIP), with production under the same contract funded by the individual Services. EnRAP development will significantly improve the T&E range capabilities in the 5 major areas. These areas are: (1) Enhanced data transfer flexibility, (2) Increased TSPI accuracy and faster TSPI update rates, (3) Component miniaturization and modularity for better internal mounting flexibility, (4) Standardization of interface protocols and an open architecture design to support flexibility, and (5) Enhanced system encryption capability with new encryption technology all in accordance with performance capabilities documented in the EnRAP System Requirements Document (SRD). The participant packages will allow for internal mounting in high dynamic vehicles, in instrumentation pods for external mounting on aircraft wing stations, and in an EnRAP Aircraft Instrumentation Subsystem Internal (EAISI) package for the F-18. Three levels of instrumentation will be provided. Level I units will be low cost, lower accuracy systems for use on low-dynamic platforms. Level II units will be moderate-cost units for use on high-dynamic platforms that don't require extreme accuracy. The Level III units will be for use on high-dynamic platforms that require the highest available accuracies. Level III real time/post-mission position accuracy will be 0.3 meter/ 0.1 meter with real time/post mission velocity accuracies of 0.006 meters/second (m/s) and 0.002 m/s. The EnRAP datalink transceiver will operate in the 1350-1450 megahertz (MHz) band. The datalink throughput will support at a minimum 25 participants at 40 messages per second, using data messages that contain at least 1200 bits of usable information per message through one relay. Up to three relays (four hops) will be possible to extend range coverage. The datalink transceiver will support air-to-ground communications to at least 130 nautical miles (nmi) and an air-to-air communications to at least 100 nmi. Maximum flexibility will be built into the system to change mission, participant, and message parameters during a mission and to customize message content. Participant instrumentation will have the capability to interface to aircraft MIL-STD-1553 data buses. The EnRAP ground system design will incorporate a Test and Training Enabling Architecture (TENA)-compliant design. All interfaces will be standardized and an open architecture will be incorporated to allow easy modification and upgrading of EnRAP components. The datalink system uplink and downlink transmissions will be encrypted with the Next Generation Encryption Device (NGED). The NGED will be a state-of-the-art encryption device developed by the EnRAP contractor and will be designed to meet National Security Agency (NSA) standards for red and black separation up to the TOP SECRET level. Participant packages will be designed to operate both with and without the NGED installed. Responses should be received by 31 March 2006. Point of contact for this Request for Information is Bruce Ringstad, technical, 850-883-3408, or Diane McKain, contractual, 850-883-3419. Email addresses are bruce.ringstad@eglin.af.mil or diane.mckain@eglin.af.mil.