Over the last three years, the Spectrum Efficient National Surveillance Radar (SENSR) Joint Program Office (JPO), comprised of DOD, DHS, and FAA, established an acquisition program that assessed the feasibility of a spectrum auction in the 1300-1350 MHz band in 2024 (as required by the 2015 Spectrum Pipeline Act). During this time, the SENSR JPO sought and gathered industry input via two Requests for Information (RFIs) and numerous industry engagement efforts. The SENSR JPO is immensely appreciative of industry’s participation and inputs to date. The JPO leveraged industry input to further refine the SENSR acquisition effort, requirements, and program planning. As an output of this assessment, the JPO developed a preferred acquisition strategy that balanced acquisition executability with acceptable levels of program and operational risk. In March 2020, the JPO received a favorable Initial Investment Decision (IID) for this preferred acquisition strategy, conditioned upon support from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Technical Panel (comprised of representatives from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), OMB, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)) for modifications to the 2015 Spectrum Pipeline Act that would support program feasibility and executability of the JPO’s preferred acquisition strategy. These requested modifications included: · Increase auction authority to 50 MHz (versus 30 MHz), and · Provision for, and allow use of, funding from the Spectrum Relocation Fund for the pre-auction period (18 months) to accomplish planning and contract award activities The JPO continued work in support of this conditional IID-approved acquisition strategy while senior agency leadership concurrently engaged with OMB and the Technical Panel to obtain policy-level support for the preferred acquisition strategy and requested legislative modifications. Based on current legislative and funding constraints, as well as follow-on collaborative discussions across the executive branch Policy Coordination Committee, SENSR JPO and Executive Steering Group (ESG), and the Technical Panel, the SENSR Program did not receive the desired policy-level support to continue working towards the IID-approved acquisition strategy. In lieu of the preferred acquisition strategy, the SENSR Program will be conducting an assessment between now and February 2021 that will consist of the following efforts: Revising performance requirements to align with Technical Panel guidance on comparable capabilities; A feasibility assessment for retuning existing ARSR-4 and CARSR radar systems to a frequency outside of the 1300-1350 MHz band in order to expedite vacation of the auctioned band; and A market analysis corresponding to potential end-state solutions with a priority on long range radar operating in the 1240-1300 and 1350 -1390 MHz band. Further, solutions that also have minimal to no impact within existing frequency bands, such as passive radars, are under consideration. Subsequent acquisition planning will be initiated based on outputs from the effort described above. The SENSR JPO will conduct a public call with industry for further discussion on Tuesday, September 29th, 2020 – there will be a limited period for live questions during this call, though participants are encouraged to submit written questions in advance. Please contact Troy Teachey (SENSR CO) at
[email protected] to request call time and dial-in instructions, as well as to submit written questions. The Government also intends to issue new requests for information (i.e., RFIs) in the near future. Such requests will survey market capabilities, risks, and costs that are in alignment with the revised requirements. *As revised: Attached please find the minutes to the meeting identified above as well as answers to those questions submitted that were identified as non-proprietary. Please direct all communications and questions to Troy Teachey via e-mail at
[email protected].