On October 17, the Defense Innovation Unit posted a solicitation for solution briefs focused on Multi-Domain Tactical Communications. The submission period closes on October 28.
The Department of
Defense seeks designs for a low-observable SATCOM antenna system that can
support multiple links in the S-, C-, X-, Ku-, K-, Ka- and Q-band signals.
Solutions should include an antenna system(s) and associated radio frequency
hardware to cover a subset or all of these frequencies. The antenna system can
consist of a single antenna or multiple antennas, but must meet existing
signature requirements and must integrate into the existing space allocated on
DDG 1000 Class ships. The system should also be flexible such that similar
designs could be incorporated into other tactical uses, such as other ships or
ground stations. Besides link performance, the antenna system will also be
evaluated on its ability to thrive in a maritime environment, and will be
subject to testing on weight, shock/vibration, electromagnetic interference
(EMI) susceptibility, and power and cooling impacts. Solution briefs
should address each of these considerations by providing system specifications
of the proposed solution.
Solution(s) shall
address risk and identify a path to an affordable solution set that
demonstrates risk reduction for adoption to a maritime environment. Solution(s)
may be further analyzed to demonstrate applicability in other use cases across
the DoD.
The desired output
of this effort is a design study followed by a prototype delivered to the
Government within 12 months of award for further demonstrations.
The Government may
facilitate teaming arrangements among submissions offering complimentary
capabilities to achieve desired effect. Companies are also welcome to present
their own teaming arrangements in their solution briefs.
Companies currently
performing on an existing DoD contract should highlight the unique, innovative,
and/or previously under-utilized aspects of their solution submitted to be
considered for an agreement award.
Questions during
the solicitation period will be entertained until 25 OCT. Answers will be
posted as appropriate on https://www.diu.mil/work-with-us/other-notifications.
Additionally, DIU intends to conduct pitches the week of 12 Nov 19 for those
companies chosen to proceed to Phase II.
PLEASE NOTE: This
Area of Interest solicitation will be awarded in accordance with the Commercial
Solutions Opening (CSO) process detailed within HQ0034-19-9-DIU (WHS CSO),
posted to FBO in Feb 2019. Additionally this document can be found within the
DIU Library at https://www.diu.mil/library.
Follow-on Production: Companies are advised that any prototype Other Transaction (OT) agreement awarded in response to this Area of Interest may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of further competitive procedures. The follow-on production contract or transaction will be available for use by one or more organizations in the Department of Defense and, as a result, the magnitude of the follow-on production contract or agreement could be significantly larger than that of the prototype OT.
Full information is available here.
Source: DIU
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