SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- LASERCOM TERMINAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
- Notice Date
- 1/21/2003
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- MILSATCOM Terminals Program, ESC/MCK, 50 Griffiss Street, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-1620
- ZIP Code
- 01731-1620
- Solicitation Number
- F19628-03-R-0024
- Archive Date
- 9/21/2003
- Point of Contact
- Bill Donaldson, Contracting Officer, 781-271-6091
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Click Here to E-mail the POC
(Janet.Maille@hanscom.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)AND NOT A SOLICITATION. The Government is requesting information from companies working on terminal system designs for free space optical communications for air-to-air and air-to-space applications. The Government is also interested in receiving information from component vendors whose subsystems and critical components are useful in the development of free space optical communications. The Government wishes to determine potential sources for the development of an airborne Lasercom Terminal. INTRODUCTION: The Air Force is initiating the development of a Lasercom Terminal Program in FY03, with an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) to coincide with the first launch of the Transformational Satellite (TSAT) in FY09. An airborne Lasercom Terminal is required to support both air-to-air and air-to-space communications for High Altitude Endurance (HAE) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft and Command and Control (C2) aircraft. This terminal must provide an initial data rate in excess of 2.4 Gbps in each direction, with a path to achieve a data rate capability in excess of 40 Gbps in each direction. In support of this mission, the MILSATCOM Terminals (ESC/MC) Systems Program Office (SPO) is performing a market survey of free space optical communications options. This RFI will be used by ESC/MC in the development of a Lasercom Program. SCOPE: The purpose of this RFI is to gather information to support an RFP release at the end of FY '03, and to determine industry interest in participating in this effort. The potential developers should understand that validated and firm requirements for the Lasercom Terminal do not yet exist. Rather, they will evolve over time as the technology evolves and matures, and the technical requirements, user requirements and concept of operations (CONOPS) are completely defined during fiscal year 2003. ESC/MC will use the information gathered in response to this RFI to gain an understanding of potential approaches to meet USAF Lasercom Terminal System requirements. We seek to understand the current state of the art that companies have achieved in airborne free space optical communications, as well as their anticipated future development, and how these might apply to the USAF effort to achieve this capability. The Government is interested in receiving information from companies working on designs for free space optical communications for air-to-air and air-to-space applications, as well as from component vendors whose subsystems and critical components are useful in the development of the Lasercom Terminal System. The Government will accept partial responses to this RFI if the party is willing to enter into a partnership/teaming arrangement with another party(s) to supply the Government with a complete airborne Lasercom terminal. ESC/MC seeks to solicit the interest of vendors, organizations and/or consortia in the following areas of expertise: 1. Aircraft Integration Experience with airborne Electro-optic (E/O) Systems and Equipment. 2. Airborne Communications System Architecture (as applies to optical platforms): Layered Communications, Protocols, Error Detection and Correction, Quality of Service (QoS), Acquisition and tracking algorithms, Supporting software for all of the above. 3. Airborne Electro-optic (E/O) Systems: Laser communications, Infra-Red Counter-Measures (IRCM), Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR), LIght Detection And Ranging (LIDAR), Cameras, Surveillance, Contamination and stray light rejection, Optical acquisition and tracking. 4. Components and Subsystems: Lasers, Charge Coupled Devices (CCDs), Optical amplifiers, Modulators, Detectors (single, multi), Cameras & telescopes, Modems, Diplexing transmit & receive paths, Technology to develop multi-access links from one aperture (within a limited FOV), Beam steering mechanisms, Gimbal mechanisms, Stabilization and control mechanisms. 5. Airborne E/O Systems Experience: Atmospheric Phenomena, Weather, Scintillation, Scattering, Beam steering, Link Budget; specifically, communications acquisition and track link budgets, to include initial spatial uncertainty, pointing error, etc. DATA SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: The Information package should include the following items: 1. Statement of interest, either as a Prime- or a Sub-contractor/partner/team member. 2. Description of qualification: Projects, Products, Applicable experience. 3. Strawman concepts that should be investigated: Acquisition concepts, for both air-to-air and air-to-space, Tracking concepts, for both air-to-air and air-to-space, Other concepts as applicable. 4. Anticipated terminal system development schedule(s): Include consideration of an evolutionary or spiral development. 5. Commentary about the application of optical communications technology to military airborne platforms. 6. Commentary about practical data rates achievable by free space optical communications: Is there an ultimate limit communicating through the atmosphere?, Are there practical "steps" for the data rates? 7. Critical technologies and/or hurdles to be cleared. 8. Risks and risk mitigation strategies. 9. Issues or concerns not identified above. POINT OF CONTACT: Responses to this RFI are due to Mr. Bill Donaldson by 1700 on 21 March 2003. Respondents should identify their company's name, address, telephone number, point of contact, and whether they are a large or small business. Proprietary information should be clearly marked. Packages shall be delivered as 4 paper copies and in electronic format, 10 copies. The electronic format may be in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) or compatible with Microsoft Office 2000 suite of software. All copies shall be delivered simultaneously to the following address: ESC/MC, 50 Griffiss Street, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-1620, (Attn: Mr. Bill Donaldson). An Industry Day will be held 0800-1200 on 5 March 2003 at the MITRE facility, Bedford MA, to discuss high-level program strategy. Follow-up one-on-one sessions will be conducted 5-7 March 2003, with those companies expressing interest. These one-on-one sessions will be limited to two hours. Requests for a one-on-one session should be made no later than 1700 on 28 February 2003 to Mr. Bill Donaldson, by phone (781-271-6091), email (bill.donaldson@hanscom.af.mil), or mailed to the address listed above. Additional Industry Day attendee information will be posted at the Hanscom AFB electronic bulletin board website (www.herbb.hanscom.af.mil). Please refer any questions regarding this RFI to Mr. Bill Donaldson. 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. See Note 26.
- Web Link
-
ESC Business Opportunities Web Page
(http://www.herbb.hanscom.af.mil)
- Place of Performance
- Address: N/A
- Zip Code: N/A
- Country: N/A
- Zip Code: N/A
- Record
- SN00243845-W 20030123/030121213426 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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