Single Pass Airdrop Wind Sensor (SPAWS) Studies

Description: The Department of the Air Force, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Mobility and Training Aircraft, Requirements and Integration Division, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH, intends to award a single award, Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract. This contract supports a rapid prototype study effort to advance existing and previously demonstrated proof-of-concept wind sensing technology that employs downward looking Ka Band radar to generate a profile of wind direction and velocity from an airborne platform. Such proof-of-concept technology was developed and successfully demonstrated in 2018 following a previous Air Force FY15 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and award of a contract compliant with cost and schedule constraints of SAF/AQ's Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) program. Demonstration of the proof-of-concept technology validated the capability to generate an accurate wind profile from an altitude of 10,000 feet Above Ground Level (AGL), down to 200 feet (AGL) aboard a commercial airborne test platform flying at 150KIAS. Further, the technology validated the capability to collect wind data and generate an accurate wind profile without degradation due to cloud cover encountered during flight tests and proof-of-concept demonstration flights. Test data demonstrated velocity accuracy of - one meter/sec and directional accuracy of - one degree. The purpose of this effort is to conduct technical studies necessary to advance this existing and proven look-down radar-based wind sensing technology to support single pass airdrop requirements. The wind sensing technology must support integration into a pod-based form factor that can be rapidly wing mounted and employed on C-130, C-17, or other pod-capable airdrop platforms. The scope of the required studies will include analysis of all mechanical and electrical components necessary to advance the proof-of-concept design to a fully autonomous pod-based radar-based wind sensor capable of collecting, processing, and formatting wind profiling data as necessary to interface with existing Joint Precision Air Drop System (JPADS) Mission Systems Equipment (MSE) and associated Consolidated Airdrop Tool (CAT) application. Data formatting and interface with JPADS is essential to enable calculation of a Computed Air Release point (CARP) to execute a single pass air drop. Ultimately, the studies will support a final design that shall enable a single pass airborne wind sensor to collect wind data from 17.500 feet altitude Above Ground Level (Threshold), (24,500 feet AGL, Objective), down to 200 feet (Threshold) AGL, (100 feet AGL, Objective). As a study constraint, wind data must be able to be collected by the system while flying at 170 Knots Indicated Air Speed (KIAS) (Threshold) and must meet existing threshold data velocity accuracy of - 1 meter/sec and - 1 degree accuracy in wind direction. Further, the studies will examine prototype design enhancements necessary to operate on 115VAC or 28VDC aircraft provided power, require no more than 1000 watts continuous power, comply with modular based open system architecture requirements, and be designed to meet MIL-STD 810G, Environmental Engineering Considerations And Laboratory Test. SPAWS Studies Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS): Information obtained from industry's response to this notice may be used in the development of an acquisition strategy and future RFP. The Period of Performance (POP) of this contract will not exceed two (2) years. Requirements for SPAWS studies: The contractor shall accomplish the following studies: Study One: Baseline the full performance capability of the existing technology to include radar transceiver characterization and its maximum range capability. Baseline will include validation of range and accuracy capability via required flight-testing and documentation of wind profiles. The objective is to determine maximum range and altitude performance characteristics of wind sensing systems that have already proven to at least meet the existing proof-of-concept capability at speed and altitudes noted above. As part of the study, the contractor will identify frequency authorization requirements and provide support in submitting required DD Form 1494 spectrum management approval documentation to support prototype testing and operational use. Document the results of the transceiver study and additional design/development requirements to achieve the look-down altitude of 17,500 ft. AGL (Threshold), 24,500 ft. AGL (Objective) down to 200 feet AGL. Study Two: Perform a study of antenna configurations compatible with integration into a pod system with a diameter of 26 inches (Threshold), 16 inches (Objective) and not longer than eight feet in length (Threshold). The study shall include conducting market research of existing antenna configurations and conducting a study to determine optimal antenna configuration supporting a look-down altitude of 17,500 ft. AGL (Threshold), 24,500 ft. AGL (Objective) requirement for a pod-based prototype wind sensor. Document the results of the antenna study Study Three: The proof-of concept system funded via the government's FY15 BAA/RIF program as noted above, required off-board data processing due to funding constraints. To establish a fully autonomous pod-based sensor capability in lieu of off-board processing, the contractor shall conduct a study supporting design, development, test, and integration of wind data processing capability within a pod (dimensioned as noted above) that can support data collection and processing at an altitude of 17,500 feet AGL (Threshold), 24,500 feet AGL (Objective), and flying at an airdrop speeds of 150-170KIAS (Threshold). As with the antenna study noted above, the data processing capability study will include a flight demonstration via an existing proof-of-concept system to at least 10,000 feet AGL to verify data processing speed of not more than one minute to collect, process and yield a wind profile in the required JPADS compatible format. The processing capability study will focus on system design constraints that enable the size, weight and power of the processing system to be integrated into a pod as noted above. Further, studies will focus on design weight constraints that limit data processing capability along with power conditioning, heating/cooling systems, and all other sensor components to a combined weight not to exceed 300 pounds for integration into a SPAWS prototype pod. The study will be further constrained to focus on providing a fully autonomous pod-based airborne system capable of sensing and processing wind data using commercial products with minimal modification. The results of the study will identify commercially available hardware and software options, the estimated cost, and projected processing time of the proposed system to generate wind profile data. Additional IMPORTANT Information: The purpose of this effort is NOT to develop and demonstrate an airborne downward looking radar-based wind sensing proof-of-concept capability. That objective was accomplished via the FY15 SAF/AQ funded RIF effort noted above. The focus of this effort is to conduct studies necessary to advance existing radar-based proof-of-concept capability toward an autonomous airborne prototype pod-based system design that currently meets the altitude, flight speed, and data processing capability, and pod-based integration with seize, weight and power as noted above. Eligible responders to this RFI must provide documentation to AFLCMC/WLR, that verifies capability of their existing systems to meet the minimum demonstrated attributes of the FY15 BAA, SAF/AQ funded RIF proof-of-concept wind sensor as stated above. In addition, the documentation submitted must include evidence that the submitter's radar-based wind sensing system performance was validated during flight tests by a "truth" ground-based wind sensor, calibrated for wind velocity and direction accuracy on a instrumented test range or equivalent; not a laboratory environment. That evidence must include the make, model and description of the ground-based sensor as well as the name of the instrumented test range or equivalent where it was calibrated for accuracy, date of calibration, and dates of airborne testing and weather conditions (cloud cover vs clear sky conditions) at the time of testing. Destination Information: Study results will be provided via a Final Report to AFLCMC/WLR in accordance with a contract defined Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL). Contracting Office Address: 2240B Street, Bldg 11, Room B01, WPAFB, Ohio 45433 Places of Performance: Contractor's facility Primary Point of Contact: Contracting Officer, Eric R Johnson, eric.johnson.107@us.af.mil, (937) 713-0149.