High-Frequency, sky-wave, Over the Horizon Radar (OTHR) Technology

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NOT A SOLICITATION RFI REFERENCE NUMBER - AFRL07300801 The government is requesting information from companies working on High-Frequency, sky-wave, Over the Horizon Radar (OTHR) Technology. The Government is interested in receiving information from systems vendors as well as key component vendors whose technology is useful in the development of a Next Generation Over-the-Horizon Radar (NGOTHR). The Government wishes to assess the potential for Over-the-Horizon Radar contributions to fill wide area surveillance gaps in North American defense and security. INTRODUCTION Persistent, wide-area air and maritime surveillance of the approaches to North America has been a long-standing requirement for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) defense missions, and also supports Department of Homeland Security missions. The Joint Requirements Oversight Council validated the homeland defense surveillance gaps identified in the NORAD Homeland Air and Cruise Missile Defense Joint Capability Document in November 2005. The USAF Integrated Capabilities Review and Risk Assessment and the Air and Missile Defense Advisory Panel have each cited the potential of exploiting recent advances that could make NGOTHR an essential component of an effective and affordable family of systems to meet the persistent, wide-area surveillance needs. A family of systems approach to addressing wide area surveillance gaps is expected and NGOTHR is a key wide area surveillance cueing system in that approach. Current generation OTHR needs additional sensitivity and improved suppression of noise and clutter to process the full range of missions in today's threat environment. Expanded 24/7/365 capabilities are also desired to meet operational requirements. Research over the last 20 years indicates that a NGOTHR has potential to mitigate noise and spread-Doppler clutter sensitivity problems by exploiting two-dimensional transmit and receive configurations, advanced digital components, and advanced signal processing techniques. Prior to embarking on a large scale NGOTHR development in the US, a combination of tests and analysis are planned to support recommendations on the architecture for a NGOTHR system. A Technology Risk Reduction Initiative (TRRI) will bring together the U.S. OTHR community to define risks, develop concepts, and mature technologies. Successful completion of the TRRI will lead to the implementation of an NGOTHR Joint Concept Technology Demonstration (JCTD) or other acquisition-related activity. Key activities and objectives for the TRRI are 1. To develop a roadmap for a robust multi-mission NGOTHR capability for the U.S. 2. Validate performance of key radar hardware and software components expected in a NGOTHR capability. 3. Provide a high-fidelity OTHR modeling and simulation capability 4. Conduct tests, data collections, and analyses to evaluate performance of two-dimensional transmit and receive array configurations, key radar hardware and software components, waveforms and adaptive beam-forming, and other promising signal processing techniques. 5. Collect pertinent cost data for preparing rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost estimates for planning , affordability, and life cycle cost assessments The NORAD/USNORTHCOM Integrated Priority List (IPL) specified the operational requirements for wide area surveillance. The TRRI team is initiating a roadmap for maturing NGOTHR and for determining the performance capabilities of the new technology against the gaps. The TRRI is planned for FY08 and FY09. As the government team develops a roadmap for a robust multi-mission NGOTHR capability for the U.S., we are interested in inputs from industry. We are performing a market survey of NGOTHR technology, both system level as well as critical technology elements. This RFI will be used by the TRRI team in the development of the NGOTHR roadmap. SCOPE The purpose of this RFI is to gather information to support NGOTHR roadmap development, to assess OTHR architecture tradeoffs, to identify technology risks and maturation strategies, to estimate the level of investment required over the next 5 years, and to determine industries interest in participating in the development of a NGOTHR capability. The potential developers should understand that firm requirements for a NGOTHR system have not been defined at this time. Requirements will evolve and are tied to user needs, technology maturation, concept of operation, and cost as an independent variable. The TRRI team will use the information gathered in response to this RFI to understand the current state of the art in OTHR technology. The Government is interested in receiving information from companies working on OTHR system technology and from component vendors whose subsystems and critical components are useful in the development of the OTHR system. The Government will accept partial responses to this RFI. We solicit the interest of vendors, organizations and/or consortia with OTHR expertise in one or more of the following areas: 1. System architectures 2. Hardware components 3. Software development and maturity 4. Radar Propagation and Performance modeling 5. HF antenna array design 6. Test methods 7. Signal processing methods 8. Target localization and accuracy improvement including altitude estimation methods This expertise shall include the ability to prepare ROM cost estimates and implementation schedules for the development, production, and sustainment of any of the above areas that apply. DATA SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS The information package should include the following items that are applicable to the submitter: 1. Statement of interest, either system developer or critical technology elements. 2. Description of qualification: Projects Products 3 Identify what you feel are the critical gaps in performance of existing capability. Define radar architecture as a function of mission/target types and identify critical technology elements. Describe existing or emerging technologies that will allow filling the capability gaps. Clearly identify the technologies that have been demonstrated and where the results are supported by analysis. Provide Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessments. 4 Provide your assessment of the incremental development strategy for the next generation OTHR system. 5 Identify radar performance modeling capabilities and provide recommendations on next generation tools and development strategy 6 For the critical technology elements, define the method you would employ to advance the TRL to a 5 or 6. 7 What recommendations would you make for near term test bed experiments. 8 Given the government plans to instrument a test bed and potentially allow access by industry developers, what data would you need to mature your technologies in preparation for a full scale system implementation. 9 Provide cost information on hardware, software, and infrastructure elements. Include both nonrecurring and recurring costs of the major components at the "box level" that comprise each element, such as nonrecurring engineering design labor effort, unit hardware production costs, recurring engineering labor effort, setup costs, installation costs, site preparation costs, and maintenance costs. POINT OF CONTACT Refer any questions regarding this RFI to Dr. Jim Ledbetter, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, 87117; (505) 846-2301. Responses to this Request for Information request is limited to no more than 12 pages of text and no more than 20 pages of supporting viewgraphs which are due to the Air Force Research Laboratory not later than 1200 noon mountain time on 8 Sept 2008. Respondents shall identify their company's name, address, telephone number, point of contact, and whether they are a large or small business. Proprietary information shall be clearly marked on each page if applicable. Responses shall be delivered as 4 paper copies and in electronic format (CD). The electronic format may be in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) or compatible with Microsoft Office software. All copies shall be delivered simultaneously to the following address: Air Force Research Laboratory (DET 8) AFRL/RVKS (Attention: Teofilo Bautista) 2251 Maxwell Ave., SE Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5773 An Industry Day is not planned. We reserve the right to contact respondents in case clarifications are required or additional information is needed. General information pertaining to this activity will be posted at the Hanscom AFB electronic bulletin board website (www.herbb.hanscom.af.mil). The information received will not obligate the government in any manner nor will the Government reimburse contractors for any costs associated with submittal of the requested information. This request does not constitute an Invitation for Bid or a Request for Proposal.