DIU seeks SATCOM antenna innovations

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