COBRA JUDY, GRAY STAR, CJ Replacement
Allen Thomson
Miscellaneous factoids. Interesting about them collecting data on
satellites.
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Mobile Sensors Operations and Maintenance
Solicitation Number: FA7037-08-R-0002
Agency: Department of the Air Force
Office: Air Combat Command
Location: AF ISR Agency Contracting Div
Solicitation Number:
FA7037-08-R-0002
Notice Type:
Sources Sought
Synopsis:
Added: Aug 27, 2008 2:13 pm
PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE
MOBILE SENSORS
OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Point of Contact: William Hetrick, Contracting Officer, AF ISR Agency/
A7KA, 102 Hall Blvd, Suite 258, San Antonio, TX, 78243-7091, FAX
210-977-6414
This is a sources-sought notice to determine contractors who would be
interested in this competitive procurement. The anticipated contract
will be one base year, plus five option years. The contractor must
possess a TOP SECRET facility clearance to secure certain classified
solicitation documentation located in the bidder's library. All
Operations and Maintenance (O&M) positions will require a minimum of
SECRET clearance, with several positions requiring TOP SECRET/SCI
clearances. Due to the classification of the information handled by
most O&M personnel, foreign entities will not be considered. The
Statement of Work is unclassified. The O&M of two current online
Mobile Sensors (MS) platforms, plus another new MS platform due online
early FY2013, is being opened for competitive source selection. The
COBRA JUDY instrumentation system is installed on the United States
Naval Ship (USNS) Observation Island, COBRA JUDY is capable of
gathering extensive radar data on orbiting earth satellites and
ballistic missiles. COBRA JUDY consists of two radar systems, along
with numerous support systems. The support systems consist of
automatic data processing equipment (ADPE), extensive communications
suites, navigation, timing, and weather. The S-Band coherent monopulse
radar system is a phased-array consisting of a 250-ton rotating
turret, housing the sixteen Traveling Wave Tubes (TWTs), supporting
power supplies and modulators, and the antenna array. The supporting S-
Band electronics and ADPE are located off-turret. The X-Band coherent
monopulse radar system consists of a 30-foot dish antenna steerable in
azimuth and elevation, with two TWTs installed on-mount. The X-Band HV
power supplies, modulators and electronics are installed off-mount.
The GRAY STAR instrumentation system is installed on the USNS
Invincible. GRAY STAR is capable of collecting radar data on orbiting
earth satellites and tactical ballistic missiles. GRAY STAR consists
of two radar systems, along with numerous support systems. The support
systems consist of ADPE, communications suite, navigation and timing.
Both the S and X-Band radar systems use a common 5-meter dish antenna.
The S and X-Band TWT transmitters are located within a newly-
constructed permanent ship enclosure. The supporting electronics and
ADPE are located within the Radar Instrumentation Center. The third
system, COBRA JUDY Replacement (CJR), is currently being manufactured
and will be integrated onboard an unnamed USNS ship, currently being
constructed. The system will consist of both a Phased Array S-Band
radar system and a Phased Array X-Band radar system. Both systems will
employ T/R modules, versus TWT applications. The electronics, timing,
navigation and diagnostic programs for both radar systems are all
located in the Common Back End. Approximately one year prior to CJR
IOC (Oct 2011) the CJR Program Office will fund the O&M contractor to
support IOT&E testing of the CJR radar and instrumentation systems.
This will consist of full technical and logistical manning. Upon
achieving IOC, the CJR platform will be fully integrated into the O&M
contract. The offerer will have responsibility for all aspects of O&M,
to include, but not limited to, radar operations, organizational and
depot-level maintenance aboard all platforms, configuration control,
software maintenance and modification, COMSEC management, extensive
Navy-oriented communications suites, instrumentation availability for
extended periods, supply and specialized maintenance support to
include full integrated logistics support, engineering support to all
platforms, and data reduction and analysis responsibilities.
All three mobile instrumentation platforms are unique one-of-a-kind
systems with extremely critical performance characteristics and
mission availability requirements. This performance-based solicitation
requires the contractor to meet established data collection criteria,
requiring high levels of system reliability during mission periods.
The offerer must have sufficient experience with radar and ancillary
equipment and personnel skilled in operating and maintaining these
type systems. Communications personnel must have in-depth knowledge of
DOD, COMSEC and US Navy communications procedures and must be
qualified to hold TS/SCI security clearances. Offerer must have
sufficient depth of depot-level maintenance personnel to deploy
worldwide to effect repairs and perform depot-level maintenance on all
instrumentation systems as directed by CDRL and MS Operating
Instructions. Offerer must have sufficient depth of both RF and
software engineers to effect repairs onboard all platforms that are
beyond capability of onboard technical staff. There is no level of
effort requirement in this solicitation but the Government reserves
the right to activate this requirement via specific CLIN if necessary.
In addition, the Government has reserved certain CLINs for possible
future additional radar logistics support. For this source selection,
utilization of currently employed operation and maintenance personnel
for ship borne systems is considered by the Air Force a major risk
abatement technique. Willingness to employ this technique must be
presented as part of your response to the solicitation that will be
issued at a later date. Please fax to the above referenced contracting
officer the following information: a) Point of Contact who possesses
minimum SECRET clearance, with email address, voice and fax telephone
numbers; b) name, email address and phone number of company security
manager; c) point of contact and phone number of Defense Security
Service office that surveils your company.
Allen Thomson
> currently being manufactured and will be integrated
> onboard an unnamed USNS ship, currently being constructed.
(Don't ask me why this is at the Boston University School of Theology
site.)
====================
USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM-25) is a future Missile Range
Instrumentation Ship under construction by VT Halter Marine Inc. of
Pascagoula, Mississippi.[1] The keel was laid during a ceremony on
August 13th, 2008.[2]
The ship is slated to replace the USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23)
once it becomes operational, and is being fitted with a Cobra Judy
Replacement radar system. It is due to be delivered in 2010 and will
be operated by Military Sealift Command.[2]
References
1. ^ "Range Instrumentation Ship Photo Index".
http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/53/5325.htm. Retrieved on
2009-04-04.
2. ^ a b "SIU - Keel laid for future USNS Observation Island
replacement (8/25)". http://www.seafarers.org/HeardAtHQ/2008/Q3/keel.xml.
Retrieved on 2009-04-04.
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel
Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public
domain. The entry can be found here.
Allen Thomson
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12280
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 863-08
October 10, 2008
Navy Names Ship After Howard O. Lorenzen ‘Father Of Electronic
Warfare’
The Navy announced today that the name of the next missile range
instrumentation ship will be USNS Howard O. Lorenzen. Designated T-AGM
25, the ship will honor the late Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)
electrical engineer who was instrumental in the creation of our
nation’s electronic intelligence capabilities. Considered by many to
be the ‘Father of Electronic Warfare,’ Lorenzen’s accomplishments
include developments in radar, electronic countermeasures systems, and
intelligence satellite designs.
Lorenzen led the Galactic Radiation and Background (GRAB) program, the
earliest successful U.S. reconnaissance satellite program and the
first electronic intelligence satellite. The NRL began the classified
GRAB program shortly after the U-2 incident of 1960 to obtain
information on Soviet air defense radars that could not be observed by
U.S. military aircraft.
USNS Howard O. Lorenzen will be 12,575 tons, 534 feet in length, and
have a beam of 89 feet. Manned by a combined crew of 88 sailors and
civilian mariners, the ship will host embarked military and civilian
technicians from other U.S. government agencies. The construction
contract for T-AGM 25 was awarded to VT Halter Marine Inc., in
Pascagoula, Miss.
Missile range instrumentation ships provide platforms for monitoring
missile launches and collecting data that can be used to improve
missile efficiency and accuracy. Like the Navy’s two current missile
range instrumentation ships – USNS Observation Island and USNS
Invincible – T-AGM 25 will be owned and operated by Military Sealift
Command and conduct missions sponsored by the Air Force.