Advanced Radio Frequency Antenna Technologies

Request for Information Advanced Antenna Technologies RFI Description: This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) as defined in FAR 15.201(e). The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is conducting market research on advanced radio frequency (RF) antenna technologies to support advanced naval tactical networking across a variety of naval platforms including ships and aircrafts. Additionally, the advanced RF antenna may also support multiple, simultaneous functions (e.g. communications, Electronic Warfare (EW), and RF sensing). Advanced naval tactical networking requires communications that can adapt over a wide range of operating conditions. Salient characteristics desired include: a. Broad frequency coverage extending on the order of 1 GHz to 48 GHz supporting wide bandwidths (on the order of 1 GHz) b. Electronically-controlled beam (and null) steering and shaping c. Multiple beams with simultaneous transmit and receive capabilities d. Fine-grained power level control e. Conformal aperture support An example of a naval tactical networks currently employed by the US Navy onboard ships and aircrafts is the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC). The existing RF antenna configurations which support CEC are Planar Array Antenna Assembly (PAAA) for ships and End-Fire Array (EFA) for aircraft. This RFI is looking for a solution that can be utilized on ships and aircrafts which may be implemented around FY2024. RFI Purpose: NAVSEA invites all interested parties, including small business concerns, to submit written information sufficient to demonstrate the respondent's ability to fulfill the requirements. For those interested parties that have technologies which may not have sufficient Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) for implementation around FY2024, please provide information on current research and development efforts that may address some or all requirement of this RFI. The Navy is conducting market research to identify qualified and responsible sources that may be interested in the requirements described in this notice. This RFI is issued for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or a Request for Quote (RFQ). This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract. RFI Responses: Responses are to be submitted via email to the points of contact listed in this notice, and must be received no later than 29 April 2019. Please ensure that the subject line of any emails containing responses or questions related to this notice includes the name of your firm and "Advanced Antenna Technologies RFI Response" (without quotations marks). Include a cover page with the response that lists the following information: a. Solicitation number for this notice (N00024-19-R-5207) b. Company Name c. Mailing address and physical address (if different) d. DUNS number e. CAGE code f. Business size status (based on NAICS code 334511) g. Type of small business (if applicable) h. Name, position, email address, and phone number of point(s) of contact All information received bearing proprietary markings will be handled in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations. Responses to this notice will not be returned. An acknowledgement of receipt will be provided for all responses received. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within two working days, please notify the points of contacts listed in this notice. Interested parties submitting proposed solutions shall include the following in the RFI submission: 1. Frequency band coverage including range of frequencies supported, bandwidth, and RF response (gain, phase linearity, beamwidth, etc....) across supported coverage for both element level and array level, as relevant 2. Array type (e.g. commutated or N-channel) 3. Array topologies supported (e.g. planar or circular) 4. Polarizations supported (e.g. switched or simultaneous) 5. Scan angles supported in azimuth and elevation planes. Description of how full hemispherical steering would be enabled: mechanical or electrical steering of single array, multiple arrays, or hybrid approach 6. Transmit/receive gain, transmit power level and control, noise figure, transmit/receive isolation, receive/receive isolation 7. Co-channel interference rejection metrics (ability to filter, null steer away from high power emitters 8. Number of beams supported and any trade-space to support multiple, small "spot" beams (or nulls) versus broader beam shaping, etc... This trade-space may extend to the ability to support diverse frequency bands, simultaneous transmit and receive including frequency division duplex operation 9. Beam steering and/or frequency switching time constants (i.e., settling times, switching rates, etc.) 10. Size, weight, and power (SWaP) considerations including antenna efficiency 11. If applicable, description of the technology's ability to support "building block" concepts that allow for multiple configurations instantiated from a common technology base to support installation on a variety of naval platforms. Additionally, concepts for modular approaches where well-defined interfaces to different aspects of the overall antenna RF chain, are of interest. Example elements of a modular approach would include separable digital conversion, channelization, and processing as well as RF amplification, filtering, and other aspects. 12. Support for conformal applications 13. Support for integration with external applications. E.g., Is there an Application Programming Interface (API) for beam pointing or shaping from the system level? Ideally an external application could request information on antenna steering such as time, duration, frequency, azimuth angle, elevation angle, and polarization 14. Environmental considerations or limitations for usage. The antenna will be subjected to the same environmental conditions naval ships and aircrafts are expected to be in.-. Description of ability to operate in adverse environment that include low and high temperatures, sand, salt, water, shock vibration, etc... 15. Ability to co-locate aperture and RF front end to reduce cable losses and reduce cable phase alignment requirements 16. Projected costs, which include major cost drivers or potential major cost drivers 17. For existing technologies that meet some or all of the requirements of this RFI, please provide an assessment of the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) with substantiation including descriptions and reports of any analysis, and tests and evaluations. NOTE: Please limit RFI responses to 15 pages or less, excluding the cover page, with 1 inch margins, and 10 point Times New Roman font or larger. This notice is not a request for proposals. Per FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice do not constitute offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation or obligation on the part of the Government. The Government makes no representations that a solicitation for the requirements described in this notice will be issued. Respondents are wholly responsible for any costs or expenses associated with submitting a response. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this notice or any further requests for information relating to a response. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. The information obtained from submitted responses may be used by the Government in the development of a procurement strategy. Information submitted in response to this notice will become the property of the United States Government. Respondents should properly mark any materials submitted with the appropriate restrictive markings. Information that is proprietary or competition-sensitive may be protected from disclosure under the public records statutes only if properly labeled as such. RFI Submission: Interested companies should provide a response on or before 29 April 2019. Each submission should include one electronic (virus scanned) copy sent via e-mail to Department of the Navy, Commanding Officer, Naval Sea Systems Command, ATTN: PCO Sakeena S. Siddiqi, email: Sakeena.Siddiqi@navy.mil with a courtesy-copy to Ms. Stephanie Allshouse (Stephanie.j.allshous@navy.mil). Please include the RFI title in the subject of the e-mail. All information received that includes proprietary markings will be handled in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations. An acknowledgement of receipt will be provided for all responses received. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within two working days, please notify the points of contact listed in this notice.