Description
1. Background. The U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command (USAISEC) provides satellite communications engineering support services to a variety of Department of Defense (DoD) customers. The satellite communications systems supported inc lude single-band systems that operate in the C-, X-, Ku-, and Ka-bands, and multi-band systems including combinations of C/X/Ku and X/Ka bands. Since environmental and security concerns sometimes necessitate the use of a radome to protect or conceal an an tenna system, USAISEC needs to be prepared to make recommendations concerning radome application. 2. Purpose. The purpose of this RFI is to gather performance, rough order of magnitude (ROM) lifecycle cost, and product availability information from radome vendors on the products and services they can provide to cover a variety of applications. This d ata may ultimately be used to make recommendations for potential radome acquisitions. 3. Required Data. 3.1. Frequency Bands. Frequency bands of interest for this request include C (3 - 6 GHz range), X (7.25 8.4 GHz range), Ku (10 - 14 GHz range), and Ka (20-21 / 30-31 GHz range) bands. 3.2. Electrical performance. Electrical performance data should include, at a minimum, insertion and scattering loss, insertion phase delay, and noise figure in all bands listed above, and passive intermodulation product (PIM) performance at X-band. Cert ain applications require X-band PIM performance below -190 dBm when radiated with two balanced carriers at a total power of 13 mW/cm2, therefore, include data for low-PIM and standard-PIM performance. 3.3 Environmental performance. Environmental performance data should include, at a minimum, maximum and minimum operating winds and temperatures. 3.4. Maintenance and support. Maintenance and support data should include, but is not limited to, data on reoccurring maintenance and recommended preventive maintenance schedule and tasks (e.g. inspection, painting, repair, etc.) and expected lifespan of the radome under normal operating conditions. 3.5. Cost of Ownership. Provide a rough order of magnitude cost estimate for both non-recurring costs (e.g. purchase, shipping, installation, etc.), and monthly recurring costs (e.g. electrical load, radome maintenance, etc.). Break out installation cost s by heavy equipment and manpower required. 3.6. Radome Size. The size of the radome should only be as large as necessary to accommodate the antenna size specified. 4. Specific Applications. Provide the data specified above for standard and/or custom products to support the following applications: 4.1. C-band, 16-meter, full motion, parabolic antenna with maximum height of 18.3 meters. 4.2. X-band, 11.5-meter, full motion, parabolic antenna with maximum height of 14.6 meters, standard-PIM, and low-PIM performance. 4.3. X-band, 18.3-meter, full motion, parabolic antenna with maximum height of 28 meters, standard-PIM, and low-PIM performance. Note, for this application only, the radome would be installed on top of a 3-meter high base. 4.4. Ku-band, 9-meter, full motion, parabolic antenna with maximum height of 9.6 meters. 4.5. Ka-band, 9-meter, full motion, parabolic antenna with maximum height of 9.6 meters. 4.6. Tri-band (C/X/Ku), 9-meter, full motion, parabolic antenna, standard-PIM, and low-PIM performance. 4.7. Tri-band (C/X/Ku), 16-meter, full motion, parabolic antenna with maximum height of 18.3 meters, standard-PIM, and low-PIM performance. 4.8. Dual-band (X/Ka), 11.5-meter, full motion, parabolic antenna with maximum height of 14.6 meters, low-PIM. 4.9. Quad-band (C/X/Ku/Ka), 16-meter, full motion, parabolic antenna with maximum height of 18.3 meters, standard-PIM, and low-PIM performance. 5. If more information or clarification is required, the point of contact for this request is Mr. David Lease, at 520-538-3026. Request data be provided by 8 January 2005. 6. This is not a r equest for proposal. There are no drawings or specifications outside of that described above. Offerors shall provide their business classification status (i.e. large business, small business, 8(a), etc) and availability of equipment in their response. I nformation providers shall address paragraphs 1 through 5 of the RFI in sufficient detail to all the government to make a determination as to what is available on the market without having to conduct further market surveys.