A -- R&D OF A DIGITAL ION DRIFT METER

Notice Date

July 10, 2001

Contracting Office

ESC/PKR, R&D Contracting Division, 104 Barksdale St., Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-1806

ZIP Code

01731-1806

Solicitation Number

F19628-01-R-0049

Response Due

July 25, 2001

Point of Contact

POC Michael Cunningham 781-377-4981, Contracting Officer Robert W. Tyrrell 781-377-2930

E-Mail Address

Click Here to E-mail the POC (Michael.Cunningham@hanscom.af.mil)

Description

Notice of Contract Action for the purpose of issuing a Full and Open Competitive Solicitation to provide support for the Space Weather Center of Excellence (VSBX) Battleship Environment Division, Space Vehicle Directorate of the Air Force Research Directory, (AFRL), Hanscom AFB, MA to develop a second generation Digital Ion Drift Meter. The measurement objective of an ion drift meter is to detect the angle of the arrival of thermal plasma ions encountered by a spacecraft, from which may be derived the local ion drift velocity. The measurements are made from a spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), with the following conditions: satellite altitude, 300 to 1200 Km; orbit velocity, 7.5 km/sec. plasma density, 10 to the second power/cc to 5x10 to the sixth power/cc ion and electron temperatures 0.03-0.4eV. The ion drift measured objective is a precision of 10m/sec over a range of 0 to 4000m/sec. Individual ions are digitally detected by an appropriate technology; presumably a multi-channel plate, MCP, with a high-precision resolving anode. DIDM should be insensitive to solar photon contamination over the entire range of ionospheric density. The research activities are a continuation of on-going research currently performed under contract F19628-96-C-0144 with Amptek Inc. of Bedford, MA. The efforts shall include, but not be limited to the following: 1. Meet all DIDM-III performance specifications in the Statement of Work included in the solicitation. 2. Have DM and RPA sample rates of a 1 to 64 Hz beginning selectable in powers of 2. 3. Have an overall count rate capable of no less than 1x10 to the sixth power/sec. 4. Weigh no more than 2.2Kg. 5. Consume less than 5.2-Watt average. 6. Be re-programmable in flight. 7. Have an ion distribution image of 256 to 512 pixels (per sensor) with boundaries precise to within 0.05 degree. 8. Respond to spacecraft potential data input from another instrument. 9. Communicate with the spacecraft via MIL-STD 1553 interface. 10. Allow for variable telemetry rate from 100 to 16000 Bits/sec. 11. Maintain a housekeeping record of temperature, a high voltage monitor, low voltage monitor and mode stack monitor. 12. Have temperature limits of -20-+40 degrees Celsius when operating, and -20- +60 degrees Celsius when not operating. The workload is estimated to be 4.39 man-years. Period of performance is estimated to be thirty-six months, anticipated to begin in the 4th quarter of FY01. Offeror's interested in documenting their capabilities to perform the work should reference Synopsis AFRL.VSB01-01 in responding to Michael Cunningham, ESC/PKR, 104 Barksdale St. Hanscom AFB, MA 01731, email Michael.Cunningham@hanscom.af.mil. Prospective contractors should submit their capability packages documenting their capabilities in the above stated areas. Offerors should list persons from customer firms whom the Air Force may contact to verify applicable work experience and performance. This was previously synopsized on April 17 as a Sources Sought, organizations that responded to that announcement need not reply to this Notice of Contract Action. Request For Proposal (RFP) release date is scheduled on or about 24 July 2001. Firms should specify whether they are large business, small business, veteran owned small business, service disabled veteran owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, or woman owned small business. Each offeror responding to this synopsis is requested to submit with its reply a name and telephone number for a point of contact. Interested potential sources should respond by indicating their ability to meet the following screening criteria: Demonstrate a working knowledge of space-based systems and the measurement of plasma, magnetic and electric fields. An acquisition Ombudsman, Colonel Joseph Magone, Commander's Staff has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors or potential offerors. You should only contact the ombudsman with issues or problems you cannot satisfactorily resolve with the program manager and/or contracting officer. The Ombudsman role is to hear concerns, issues, and recommendations and communicate these to the appropriate government personnel. The Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality if desired. The Ombudsman does not evaluate proposals or participate in source selection. You may contact the Acquisition Ombudsman at 781-377-5106. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes, does not constitute an IFB or RFP, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the government. See numbered Note 26.

Web Link

ESC Business Opportunities Web Page (http://www.herbb.hanscom.af.mil)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010712/ASOL011.HTM (D-191 SN50R325)