Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

A -- SPACEBORNE MULTI-MODE ACTIVE ELECTRONICALLY SCANNED ARRAY (ESA) DESIGN AND SUBSCALE FABRICATION AND TESTING POC Elaine Ely, Contracting Officer, DARPA/CMD, FAX (703) 696-2208 WEB: http://www.darpa.mil, http://www.darpa.mil. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency requires the full-scale design, and sub-scale fabrication and laboratory testing, of a space-qualifiable, low-cost, light-weight, multi-mode, multiple subarray, two-dimension, active electronically scanned array (ESA), and its associated on-orbit deployment mechanism. Sources will serve as critical risk reduction efforts enabling the design, fabrication and on-orbit demonstration of prototypes of a new generation of small, low-cost, low-Earth orbit (LEO) GMTI/SAR radar satellites tailored to support theater warfighter needs (e.g., the DARPA proposed STARLITE initiative). The goal of the Spaceborne Multi-Mode Active ESA effort is to: design a full-scale, space-qualifiable, 8m x 5m, 500 kg-class, multi-mode (GMTI/SAR/IFSAR), multiple subarray, X-Band, two-dimension, active electronically scanned array (ESA), and its associated on-orbit deployment mechanism; achieve elevation beam spoiling at high grazing angles to maximize area collection rates; achieve radarelectronic beamsteering of 20-45 in azimuth, and 1 in elevation; achieve beam electronic repointing times of * 10 microseconds; achieve an Integrated Sidelobe Level (ISL) of -23dB; achieve sufficient structural rigidity to augment electronic beamsteering through multiple, rapid roll and yaw axis slew and settling sequences performed by the satellite bus; achieve an instantaneous bandwidth of 600 MHz; achieve module efficiencies of Tx (20%) and Rx (0.5 Watts); achieve 20% duty cycle, peak radiated power of >3.0 kW, and average power *600 W; incorporate features enabling employment of Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) signal processing techniques; incorporate appropriate features enabling employment of electronic counter-counter measures (ECCM) techniques; validate full-scale active ESA performance through fabrication and laboratory testing of a sub-scale brassboard active ESA prototype; substantiate a recurring (24 lot) unit production cost of approximately $25M per array; and validate ESA space launchform-factor and mass requirements of a Delta II 7920 ten-foot fairing in accommodating two satellites with stowed arrays. Under the authority of 10 USC 2304(c)(1), DARPA intends to enter into negotiations with a limited number of responsible sources, namely: Raytheon Systems Company, Sensors and Electronic Systems; and Northrop Grumman Corporation, Electronic Sensors and Systems Division, for this effort based upon the successful demonstration by Raytheon and Northrop Grumman of the production of many tens of thousands of required X-band T/R modules, at decreasing unit cost, the design, and large-quantity production, of multi-mode active ESAs incorporating such modules, and the successful incorporation of advanced STAP and ECCM technology in their multi-mode active ESA designs. These contractors are domestic sources possessing a combination of X-band T/R module and multi-mode active ESA research, development, design, and production capabilities that are both unique to these contractors and essential for the completion of the effort in a timely and economical manner. The period of performance is estimated at 34 months. As set forth in CBD Note 22, all interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all capability statements received within 45 days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposal contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement for this effort. (0037)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0001 19980211\A-0001.SOL)