Solicitation Number: W15P7T-08-R-P415
Topic Number: S0801
Division: Antennas and Spectrum Analysis
Technical POC:

This Request for Information (RFI) is for planning purposes only and shall not be considered as an Invitation for Bid, Request for Quotation, or a Request for Proposal (RFP). Additionally, there is no obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services described in this RFI. Response to this RFI will be treated only as information for the Government to consider. You will not be entitled to payment for direct or indirect costs that you incur in responding to this RFI. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated or received for this effort. The information provided may be used by the Army in developing its acquisition strategy, Statement of Work/Statement of Objectives and Performance Based Specification. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI.

Description:
The US Army Communications Electronics Research & Development Engineering Center (CERDEC) Space & Terrestrial Communications Directorate (STCD) is interested in receiving whitepapers for existing filter technology that will reduce the current size of existing fixed frequency filters integrated on vehicles. The goal of this RFI is to find vendors that can meet the specifications delineated, and to understand their current technology designs and engineering tradeoffs that influences performance, size and form factor.

In addition, CERDEC is seeking an RF subsystem with different S21 and S12 passband and stop characteristics. The goal is to replace the current system, which utilizes a switch, to eliminate switch timing characteristics.

In the next section of this document, a total of six (6) specifications for 6 different parts are outlined.

Specifications and Requirements

Bi-Directional Reflective Notch Filter I

Connector: N-Type Female (Input) / N-Type Male (Output)
Input/Output Impedance: 50 ohms
Stop Band Center Frequency: 248.35 MHz
Stop Band Bandwidth: 12.7 MHz
Max Threshold Package size: 60 in3 (e.g. 10" x 4" x 1.5", not including connectors)

1.5 A Bi-Directional Reflective Notch Filter has the following Insertion, Stop Band, and Reflection Requirements:

1.5.1 Insertion Loss Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MAX Insertion Loss (dB)
100 236 1.2
258 650 1.5
750 2500 1.5

1.5.2 Stop Band Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MIN Rejection (dB) Min Rejection Objective (dB)
242 254.7 80 90

1.5.3 Reflection Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) Min Return Loss (dB)
100 236 12
260.7 650 12
750 2500 12

1.6 Power Handling Requirement: Shall be capable of handling MIN 100W CW power in the passbands and MIN 10W CW in the stop band.

Bi-Directional Reflective Dual Notch Filter II

Connector: N-Type Male (Input)/ N-Type Female (Output)
Input/Output Impedance: 50 ohms
1st Stop Band Center Frequency: 371.5 MHz
1st Stop Band Bandwidth: 27 MHz
2nd Stop Band Center Frequency: 1385 MHz
2nd Stop Band Bandwidth: 370 MHz
Max Threshold Package size: 40 in3 (Not including connectors)

A Bi-Directional Reflective Double Notch Filter has the following Insertion, Stop Band, and Reflection Requirements:

2.8.1 Insertion Loss Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MAX Insertion Loss (dB)
20 345 1.2
395 650 1.5
750 970 1.5
1800 2500 1.5

2.8.2 Stop Band Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MIN Rejection (dB)
358 385 60
1200 1570 70

2.8.3 Reflection Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) Min Return Loss (dB)
20 348 12
395 650 12
750 970 12
1800 2500 12

2.9 Power Handling Requirement: Shall be capable of handling MIN 100W CW power in the pass-bands and MIN 10W CW in the stop-bands.

Bi-directional Reflective Bandpass Filter I

3.1 Connector: TNC-Female (Input)/ TNC-Female (Output)
3.2 Input/Output Impedance: 50 ohms
3.3 Passband Center Frequency: 371.5 MHz
3.4 Passband Bandwidth: 27 MHz
3.5 Max Threshold Package Size: 40 in3 (Not including connectors)
3.6 A Bi-Directional Reflective Bandpass Filter has the following Insertion, Stop Band, and Reflection Requirements:

3.6.1 Insertion Loss Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MAX Insertion Loss (dB)
358 385 1.5

3.6.2 Stop Band Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MIN Rejection (dB) Rejection Objective (dB)
30 345.5 45 55
345.5 348 30 40
395 500 30 40
500 2500 50 60

3.6.3 Reflection Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) Min Return Loss (dB)
358 385 18

3.7 Power Handling Requirement: Shall be capable of handling MIN 50W CW power in the pass-bands and MIN 10W CW in the stop-bands.

Bi-directional Reflective Bandpass Filter II

4.1 Connector: N-Type-Female (Input)/ N-Type Female (Output)
4.2 Input/Output Impedance: 50 ohms
4.3 Center Frequency f_0: 1381 MHz
4.4 Max Insertion Loss: .35 dB MAX @ 1381 MHz
4.5 3 dB Bandwidth Requirement: f_0±207.5 MHz
4.6 Max Threshold Package Size: 12 in3 (Not including connectors)
4.7 A Bi-Directional Reflective Bandpass Filter has the following Insertion, Stop Band, and Reflection Requirements:

4.7.1 Stop Band Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MIN Rejection (dB)
100 1100 36
1650 2500 28

4.7.2 Reflection Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MIN Return Loss (dB)
100 236 12
258 2500 12

4.8 Power Handling Requirement: Shall be capable of handling MIN 50W CW power in the pass-bands and MIN 10W CW in the stop-bands.

RF Subsystem with External Filter
Notes:
Sections 5.1 describe the specs for the RF Subsystem without the external filter.
Section 5.2 states the requirement for an external filter which can be manually inserted or removed from the RF subsystem
Section 5.3 describes specs for the combination of the RF subsystem and external filter.
Input port refers to Port 1. Output port refers to port 2.

RF Subsystem
Connector: N-Type Female (Input)/ N-Type Female (Output)
Input/Output Impedance: 50 ohms
Max Threshold Package Size: 150 in3 (Not including connectors)
5.1.4 Power Handling Requirement: The systems shall be capable of handling up to 2W CW Power MIN from the output port. The system shall be capable of handling up to 75W CW Power MIN from 290 to 320 MHz from the input port.

5.1.5 S11 Parameters

5.1.5.1 Passband Center Frequency: 305 MHz

5.1.5.2 Reflection Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) Min. Return Loss (dB)
290 320 15

5.1.6 S12 Parameters

5.1.6.1 Insertion Loss Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MAX Insertion Loss (dB)
242 270 2

5.1.6.2 Stop band Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MIN Rejection (dB)
100 235 80
286.8 2500 50

S21 Parameters

5.1.7.1 Insertion Loss Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MAX Insertion Loss (dB)
290 320 2.0

5.1.8 S22 Parameters

5.1.8.1 Passband Center Frequency: 256 MHz

5.1.8.2 Reflection Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) Min Return Loss (dB)
242 270 15

5.2 External Filter
An external filter should be developed that can be combined with the RF subsystem. The RF subsystem and external filter when combined will have specifications described in section 5.3. The subsystem shall have a physical slot to mount the
external filter.

5.2.1 Connector: Should have either N-Type or TNC type connectors.

5.3 RF Subsystem with External Filter
Note: The following specifies the electrical specifications for the combination of the RF subsystem (specified in section 5.1) in combination with an external filter.

Connector: N-Type Female (Input)/ N-Type Female (Output).
Input/Output Impedance: 50 ohms
Max Threshold Package Size: 150 in3 (Not including connectors)
5.3.4 Power Handling Requirement: The systems shall be capable of handling up to 2W CW Power MIN from the output port. The system shall be capable of handling up to 75W CW Power MIN from 290 to 320 MHz from the input port.

5.3.5 S11 Parameters

5.3.5.1 Passband Center Frequency: 305 MHz

5.3.5.2 Reflection Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) Min. Return Loss (dB)
290 320 15

5.3.6 S12 Parameters

5.3.6.1 Passband Center Frequency: 248.35 MHz

5.3.6.2 S12 Insertion Loss Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MAX Insertion Loss (dB)
242 254.7 2

5.3.6.3 S12 Stop Band Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MIN Rejection (dB)
100 235 80
261 285 80
285 2500 50

5.3.7 S21 Parameters

5.3.7.1 Insertion Loss Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MAX Insertion Loss (dB)
290 320 2.0

5.3.8 S22 Parameters

5.3.8.1 Passband Center Frequency: 256 MHz

5.3.8.2 Reflection Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) Min Return Loss (dB)
242 270 15

6. Bi-Directional Reflective Notch Filter with External Filter
Notes:
Sections 6.1 describe the specs for a Notch without the external filter.
Section 6.2 states the requirement for an external filter which can be manually inserted or removed from the notch.
Section 6.3 describes specs for the combination of the Notch and external filter.
Input port refers to Port 1. Output port refers to port 2.

6.1 Notch
6.1.1 Connector: N-Type Female (Input) / N-Type Male (Output)
6.1.2 Input/Output Impedance: 50 ohms
6.1.3 Stop Band Center Frequency: 264.4 MHz
6.1.4 Stop Band Bandwidth: 44.8 MHz
6.1.5 Max Threshold Package size: 100 in3 (Not including connectors)

6.1.6 Insertion Loss Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MAX Insertion Loss (dB)
100 236 1.2
286.8 650 1.5
750 2500 1.5

6.1.7 Stop Band Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MIN Rejection (dB) Min Rejection Objective (dB)
242 270.0 80 90

6.1.8 Reflection Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) Min Return Loss (dB)
100 236 12
286.8 650 12
750 2500 12

6.1.9 Power Handling Requirement: Shall be capable of handling MIN 100W
CW power in the passband and MIN 10W CW in the stop bands.

6.2 External Filter
Note: An external filter should be developed that can be combined with the RF subsystem. The RF subsystem and external filter when combined will have specifications described in section 5.3. The subsystem shall have a physical slot to mount the external filter.

Connector: Should have either N-Type or TNC type connectors.

6.3 Bi-Directional Reflective Notch Filter with External Filter

6.3.1 Connector: N-Type Female (Input) / N-Type Male (Output)
6.3.2 Input/Output Impedance: 50 ohms
6.3.3 Stop Band Center Frequency: 248.35 MHz
6.3.4 Stop Band Bandwidth: 12.7 MHz
6.3.5 Max Threshold Package size: 100 in3 (Not including connectors)

6.3.6 Insertion Loss Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MAX Insertion Loss (dB)
100 236 1.2
258 650 1.5
750 2500 1.5

6.3.7 Stop Band Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) MIN Rejection (dB) Min Rejection Objective (dB)
242 254.7 80 90

6.3.8 Reflection Requirement
Start frequency (MHz) Stop Frequency (MHz) Min Return Loss (dB)
100 236 12
258 650 12
750 2500 12

6.3.9 Power Handling Requirement: Shall be capable of handling MIN 100W
CW power in the passband and MIN 10W CW in the stop bands.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL:

7.1 Operating Temperature: The equipment shall operate to all specifications in temperature range from -40 to +65 Degs C

7.2 Storage Temperature Requirement: The equipment shall survive and remain operational when stored in the temperature range -46 to +85 Degs C

7.3 Relative Humidity Requirement: The equipment shall remain in operation under 95% with condensation (I.E. MIL-STD-810F, METHOD 507.4)

7.4 Shock and Vibration Requirement: The equipment shall survive typical transportation on a moving vehicle. Whereas the equipment is not required to conform to full military level shock and vibration performance, it shall be of sufficient mechanical integrity to operate and survive with external shock mounting to a military vehicle while traveling on smooth, open terrain.

Submission Requirements:

Vendor responses are limited to no more than 30 pages with the following information:

Description of filter technology and design tradeoffs.
S-Parameter Simulations of each subsystem and subsystems.
Expected size and weight.
Estimated time frame to full production for quantities of 1500 for each system.
Estimated time frame to produce 6 prototypes of each system.
Name, telephone number, fax number, street address and e-mail address for Program, Technical and Cost points of contact information.
Company name, company address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), cage code, point of contact, e-mail address, telephone number, fax number.
.
All responses shall be transmitted electronically to the ASFI at https://acquisition.army.mil/asfi/, under the Army Pre-Award, CECOM LCMC Market Research section, and subject as above. For any questions, please contact Jan Acosta at [email protected] or 443-395-7469, or Ned (Edwin) Barry at [email protected] or 443-395-7577.