HQ Electronic Systems Center, Directorate of Airborne Warning and Control Systems, Contracting Division (AWK), 3 Eglin Street, Hanscom AFB, 01731-2115

58 -- AWACS RADAR ASSESSMENT POC Lt. Col. McTighe, Contracting Officer, 617-377-5642. The United States Air Force Electronic Systems Center intends to solicit a proposal and issue a sole source contract to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Baltimore, MD to serve as the prime contractor and chief evaluator for the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Radar Assessment Project. Authorization to do so is contained in 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). The purpose of this project is to assess the radar performance of each operational E-3 AWACS aircraft in the US fleet. ESC is seeking a source to design and execute a plan to evaluate each aircraft radar performance. This plan will include a pre-assessment operational check-flight in which the current radar performance is established, a ground assessment in which the radar subsystems/assemblies located in the rotodome, cabin, and lower lobe are inspected, anomalies troubleshot, and assemblies/components repaired and/or replaced as required, a post-assessment operational check-flight to establish the improved radar performance baseline. The Prime Contractor must have intimate technical and configuration knowledge of the E-3 radar. This knowledge must include: (1) a detailed understanding of the radar's operation and performance, (2) intimate knowledge of functional, electrical, mechanical, and environmental interdependencies and a detailed understanding of all current E-3 radar software interfaces, (3) an in-depth understanding of the E-3 operational flight dynamics and human operator interactions, and (4) a thorough technical understanding of the current E-3 radar system improvement program. The prime contractor must understand the radar and E-3 operating environments and be capable of executing the assessment plan without disturbing existing capabilities. Due to the extremely tight schedule constraints on this program, the Prime Contractor will need to possess the above knowledge at contract award. The Prime Contractor will design and generate a radar assessment plan and accomplish the following functions: 1. Be familiar with specific aircraft radar history to include, but not limited to, maintenance and operational logs and databases, test/data records. Perform a radar configurtion audit. 2. Develop criteria for and perform an in-flight radar performance pre-assessment test. This test will be used to collect performance data under a selective, specific set of radar modes and settings using different terrain conditions. The Prime Contractor will measure and record the following radar parameters: Minimum Discernible Signal (MDS) levels, power output levels, and transmit spectra stability. As a minimum, a Fast Fourier Transform Display unit will be used to observe real-time radar performance. 3. Perform the ground assessment to accomplish the following functions: an end-to-end radar inspection, functionality and performance testing and calibration to include Radar Data Correlator (RDC) diagnostics, stabilized local oscillator test and calibration, noise diode calibration, line loss measurement, transmitter test and calibration, stability/spectral purity testing, built-in target generator calibration and adjustment, analog receiver calibration, built-in-test/fault-isolation-testing, antenna phase shift testing, maritime checkout testing, Data Analysis Programming Group interface testing, and MDS testing, troubleshoot and correct anomalies found during both the pre- and ground assessments, repair and replace assemblies/components as required: and install preferred parts as required. 4. Develop criteria for and perform an in-flight radar performance post-assessment test. As a minimum, the post-assessment testing will include the pre-assessment test conditions. It may be modified to include additional testing as a result of the ground assessment findings and corrective actions. This post-assessment flight will be used to establish the radar's new performance baseline. 5. Document all tests, results, analyses, and actions performed during the pre-, ground, and post-assessments. Monitor aircraft radar performance for up to 12 months after assessment to validate actions. The Prime Contractor must furnish the following equipment, as a minimum, for each radar assessment: antenna phase shifter sine/cosine current test box, radio frequency noise analyzer, 2 processor memory control units, RDC remote control box, ion pump power supply cable, spectrum antenna cable assembly, synthetic test target generator, advanced recording system, video and photographic cameras. Despite the Air Force's intent to solicit only Westinghouse, any firm that believes it can meet the above function should respond to the above address in writing within fifteen (15) days of this notice. Indicate interest as the prime contractor or subcontractor. (0271)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0172 19950929\58-0010.SOL)