Data Acquisition and Processing System (DAPS) Hardware Prototype

The Patuxent River Naval Air Station (NAS) and White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) Test & Evaluation (T&E) facilities utilize a Data Acquisition and Processing System (DAPS) to measure RF fields and induced currents on wires and cable bundles in accordance with MIL-STD-3023, High-Altitude-Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) Protection for Military Aircraft. This is accomplished by installing sensors, such as current probes and RF field sensors, within a System Under Test (SUT) and measuring the induced electromagnetic responses from a simulated event via fiber optic transceivers. Measurements are then converted to an electrical signal to be measured by an oscilloscope in a shielded enclosure for processing and storage. This application is used for pulsed electromagnetic simulators such as High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and Lightning. In addition, DAPS transceivers can also be configured for swept coupling events utilizing a continuous wave antenna for Low-Level Continuous Wave (LLCW) testing. This flexibility is primarily accomplished due to the analog fiber optic transceivers being electromagnetically shielded from high electric fields, battery powered to prevent coupling and remotely controlled by operators with a variety of configurable capabilities than can be adjusted in real-time.

The Government is seeking an Other Transaction (OT) prototype project pursuant to the authority at 10 U.S.C § 4022, to develop a modern transceiver solution to replace the current hardware at both T&E facilities. This prototype project will include a design effort or design modifications of existing hardware, fabrication of 2 prototype transmitters that meet system needs, and any necessary support equipment (i.e. fiber optic receivers, batteries, chargers, etc.) to achieve a fully operational test capability. The project shall leverage, to the greatest extent possible, existing commercial off the shelf (COTS) fiber optic equipment.

The Government intends to utilize the Other Transaction Authority (OTA) process through the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium (NASC). All interested parties are advised to join the consortium through the following website: https://nascsolutions.tech/. All future communications regarding this requirement will be made via NASC.

Upon successful completion of this prototype effort, the Government anticipates that a follow-on production effort may be awarded via either contract or transaction, without the use of competitive procedures if the participants in this transaction successfully complete the prototype project as awarded.