DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE ARMY / AMC / DEPT OF THE ARMY

--Portable Radio Test Set

USA-SNOTE-051006-002ContractSpecial NoticeSAM.gov

Quick Facts

NAICS

334515

Set-Aside

Full & Open

Description

The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Product Manager for the Test Equipment Modernization Program (PM-TEMOD) is responsible for the acquisition of the state-of-the-art, commercial/non-developmental general purpose test equipment. The new equip ment will be used to standardize the inventory and replace existing obsolete test equipment. A post Joint Working Group (JWG) revised draft purchase description/specification has been developed for the portable radio test set. The Test Set, Radio: AN /PRM-35 is a commercial off the shelf (COTS), non-developmental item (NDI). The Test Set, Radio: AN/PRM-35 shall be a lightweight (less than 25 lbs) test set required to test the Receiver Transmitter part of the radio and the family of SINCGARS radios a t the field or organizational level. SINCGARS is a family of VHF-FM combat net radios which provides the primary means of command and control for Infantry, Armor, and Artillery units. The SINCGARS system is designed on a modular basis to achieve maximum commonality among the various ground and airborne system configurations. A common Receiver-transmitter (RT) is used in the man pack and all vehicular configurations. The SINCGARS family of radios has the capability to transmit and receive voice, tactical data, and record traffic messages and is consistent with NATO interoperability requirements. The system operates on any of the 2320 channels between 30-88 Me gahertz and is designed to survive in a nuclear environment. SINCGARS operates in a hostile environment through use of electronic counter-counter measure (ECCM). Communications Security (COMSEC) is integrated within the radio. The test set shall be portable and provide the user the capability to perform Antenna Insertion Loss, Return Loss, Distance to Fault, Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), Field Strength, Sweep Frequency, Power, and Sensitivity measurements over a fr equency range threshold of 30.0 MHz to 1 GHz (objective of 3.0 GHz). The test set will have Antenna, Audio, and Microphone/Headset connectors. The objective of the radio test set is to be software and/or hardware upgradeable to the JTRS 2 GHz frequency ra nge, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Recommended Standard (RS) 232, Ethernet, Graphic User Interface, Windows CE (Common Embedded) and keyboard jack capability. The radio test set shall be powered by a five-hour lithium-ion battery with an Alternate (AC) and/ or Direct Current (DC) charger adapter. There are six (6) typical tests that are performed on the Receiver-Transmitters. Two of the tests check the receiving section of a receiver-transmitter. These tests check the receiver sensitivity (ability to r eceive weak signals) and the 150 Hz tone squelch circuits. Both tests are performed with the MODE switch in the SENSITIVITY SQUELCH position. The other four tests measure the forward power, reverse (reflected) power, frequency, and relative radiated field strength of the transmitting section of a receiver-transmitter. These four tests are performed with the MODE switch in the FORWARD POWER, REVERSE POWER, FREQUENCY, and FIELD STRENGTH positions, respectively. a. Receiver Tests: To test the receiver, the test set outputs a spectrum of frequencies from 30 to 80 MHz spaced 5 MHz apart. This spectrum is modulated with 150 Hz and 900 Hz tones. An example of a typical SENSITIVITY SQUELCH test is to connect the output of the test set to the antenna connector of the receiver under test. By putting the receiver in an unsquelched mode and setting the frequency of the receiver to 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 MHz, the -97 dBm level of the spectrum should pr oduce noticeable quieting in the HANDSET and the 900 Hz tone should be heard. The squelch circuits are tested by placing the receiver in a squelched mode and setting the frequency of the receiver to 75 MHz. At that frequency the deviation due to the 150 Hz modulation in the test set output spectrum is sufficient to disable the receiver squelch circuits. The test set only outputs the spectrum when the test is required. b. Transmitter Tests: To test a typical transmitter, the test set inputs an RF signal from the transmitter under test. Each of the four transmitter tests( FORWARD POWER, REVERSE POWER, FREQUENCY AND FIELD STRENGTH) measures a different parameter of the RF transmit signal. In the forward power, reverse power and frequency test the RF signal from transmitter under test is input to the radio test set connector. A 50- ohm load is connected to the ANTENNA connector to terminate the signal. During the FIELD STRE NGTH test, no connection is made to either connector. FIELD STRENGTH is measured through the FIELD STRENGTH ANTENNA (field strength antenna). 1. Forward Power Test. The forward power test is used to test the forward power of the RF output signal from a transmitter or receiver-transmitter and is measured in a range of 0 to 50 watts. 2. Sensitivity Squelch Test. The sensitivity squelch is used to test the sensitivity and squelch circuits of a receiver or receiver-transmitter. 3. Reverse Power Test. Reverse (reflected) power is used to test the impedance mismatch. 4. Frequency Test. Frequency is used to measure the frequency of the RF output signal from a transmitter or receiver-transmitter. 5. Field Strength. Field Strength is used to measure the field strength of the RF output signal from a transmitter or receiver-transmitter. The above objectives and thresholds are results of issues from the JWG in Aug 05. Interested manufacturers are encouraged to review and provide comments/questions concerning the above performance objectives and thresholds for the Radio Test Set. Your res ponse will assist the Government in defining the final purchase description/specification that will be sent out with the formal letter request for bid samples. The Test Set, Radio: AN/PRM-35 program has a projected Army requirement of a minimum quantity of 15 to 12,000 units based upon availability of funding. No decision has been made at this time as to the type of procurement, i.e., full and open competition v ersus small business set-aside. Point of contact is Vern Spearman, PM-TEMOD, (256)313-2939, e-mail [email protected], FAX (256)313-2940.