UPGRADE TO EXISTING COMPACT RANGE ANTENNA & RCS MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) intends to negotiate a contract on the basis of Other Than Full and Open Competition IAW 10 USC 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source. NRL will negotiate with Orbit FR, 506 Prudential Road, Horsham, PA 19044, for upgrade to an existing compact range antenna and Radar Cross Section (RCS) measurement system hardware to increase its frequency range to include the 18 to 40 GHz region. In order to achieve this frequency range, a new set of hardware and applicable software is required, which includes: Pulse modulator/downconverter RF hardware; New set of antennas; New Signal Source; Associated RF cabling; Integration into existing hardware; System Software capable of utilizing existing measurement software package; Associated Pre/Post surveys, design and engineering, drafting, on-site installation, site verification test, and documentation. The system is required to increase the frequency capability of existing hardware that will integrate and operate with existing government equipment. The Contractor is the only company that can provide a full turn key system capable of meeting NRLs requirement for integration into our existing system(s). The existing equipment uses proprietary software for which only the original company can provide the services that can meet NRL requirements. The proposed contractor developed the current software that is used to run all of the RF equipment in the NRL RF Anechoic Chamber. Without this software, having different control software would impact all of the RCS testing that is performed within the range. Since this new software has the capability of utilizing various parts of the existing software, NRL is not required to purchase a completely new RCS measurement package. Without this seamless integration of software, the ability to make RCS measurements over a wide-range of frequencies will be severely impacted due to the additional time necessary to perform these measurements. Other business opportunities for NRL are available at our website http://heron.nrl.navy.mil/contracts/rfplist.htm.