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AMENDMENT 06/13/2022: The purpose of this amendment is to add two new attachments. We are only providing additional information to interested vendors and are NOT requesting any responses. Listing of n... AMENDMENT 06/13/2022: The purpose of this amendment is to add two new attachments. We are only providing additional information to interested vendors and are NOT requesting any responses. Listing of new attachments: Market Research Overview Presentation Rotating PAR Risk Reduction Overview AMENDMENT 02/03/2022: The purpose of this amendment is to add Attachment H - RFI Questions and Answers to the list of attachments in section 4; additional information regarding submission content has been added in section 5, and the changes are bolded and underlined. Listing of new attachments: Attachment H- RFI Questions and Answers AMENDMENT 01/19/2022: The purpose of this amendment is to correct the page count limit in section 5; the change is bolded and underlined. Advancements in Weather Surveillance Radar Request for Information THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. Description This RFI is issued solely for information and market research planning purposes; it does not constitute a solicitation or a promise to issue a solicitation. Furthermore, those who respond to this RFI should not anticipate feedback with regards to its submission; other than acknowledgment of receipt - ONLY IF a request for an acknowledgement is requested by the submitter. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is not seeking proposals at this time. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay any costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. All submissions become the property of the Federal Government, and will not be returned. Any information that the vendor considers proprietary should be clearly marked as such. 1. Purpose of this RFI: NOAA is seeking to gather ideas, recommendations, and best practices from industry on how to advance weather surveillance radar technologies. NOAA has developed a preliminary plan to replace the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) Program Weather Surveillance Radar – 1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) by 2040 as described in the 2020 Report to Congress: Weather Radar Follow-On Plan: Research and Risk Reduction to Inform Acquisition Decisions (attachment A) that is focusing our current efforts. 2. Background: NOAA has been a leader in developing weather surveillance radar technology, which has gained widespread use in the government and commercial sectors around the world. NOAA research has led to the development of the WSR-88D, which is arguably the premier operational weather surveillance radar in existence today. WSR-88D is the primary tool used by weather forecasters to provide warnings for severe weather (e.g., tornadoes, hail, strong winds), flash flooding, winter weather, and other hazards to aviation. The 2015 NOAA/National Weather Service Radar Functional Requirements (attachment B) are technical specifications for the existing WSR-88D system, but do not necessarily define the full spectrum of technical specifications for a future radar system. The NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) is conducting Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) activities to extend the operational capability of the system until an approximate time frame of 2035, and on-going information technology refresh and sustaining engineering programs will support the continued operation of the WSR-88D network through the 2040 time frame. NOAA will need to make a key decision by 2028 to continue maintaining the current system, or to replace it with a new radar network. Although the WSR-88D underlying technology will be over 50 years old by 2040, it has undergone multiple technology refreshes and upgrades to extend its longevity, such as the addition of dual polarization capability that was completed in 2013. Dual polarization, the ability to transmit and receive both horizontally and vertically polarized signals, provides for vastly improved retrievals of precipitation intensity and type and debris detection to better identify tornadic events. NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) has been investigating Phased Array Radar (PAR) technology since 2003 to meet mission driven expanded radar requirements to support improved and enhanced weather warnings. PAR is a promising technology that has demonstrated great potential to improve warnings for various types of severe weather, primarily through the use of faster updates and adaptive scanning capabilities. However, there are many technological challenges that must be addressed before PAR technology can serve as a replacement for the WSR-88D system. Chief among these technology challenges is the addition of dual polarization with PAR technology. NOAA, in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has developed the Advanced Technology Demonstrator (ATD), which is the first dual polarization, S-band PAR developed specifically for weather applications. The ATD is a test system that was installed at NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) in Norman, Oklahoma in 2018 to evaluate dual polarization calibration and performance on PAR technology and to demonstrate advanced scanning techniques for weather radars using PAR. The ATD achieved initial operating capability (IOC) in 2021 and is currently being used to conduct experiments. Development of the ATD has moved PAR technology to a NOAA Readiness Level (RL) 5 for dual polarization meteorological applications (see attachment C for the full RL definition). Further research and development is needed before NOAA can make a high-confidence decision regarding PAR technology as an appropriate replacement for WSR-88D. Information related to the advancement of PAR is provided in attachments D and E. NOAA has previously investigated the concepts of multiple simultaneous radar transmission strategies based on phased-array antenna array configurations (e.g., cylindrical and multi-face planar configurations) to achieve the faster radar volumetric update rates of 60 seconds expressed as a future objective in the NOAA Radar Surveillance Requirements: Weather (attachment F). NOAA is currently evaluating a rotating planar array configuration and how it may be utilized to improve radar volume update times compared to the traditional mechanically rotating parabolic antennas (which take on the order of 5 minutes to scan the conical volume of space around the radar) typically used for meteorological radar applications. NOAA has developed a research plan to enable the technological progress needed to prepare for a formal Radar Acquisition Management Program (RAMP) beginning in 2028. RAMP will compare the cost-benefit analysis of: 1) sustaining the current system through an additional SLEP; 2) replacing WSR-88D with a new reflector dish, mechanically rotating radar system; or 3) replacing WSR-88D with the promising PAR technology. PAR is one of the main technologies that NOAA is significantly interested in developing further as a potential future replacement for the WSR-88D technology. NSSL anticipates acquiring and implementing a PAR Test Article in the FY23/FY24 timeframe. Experiments and analysis conducted using the planned PAR Test Article will be used to inform future acquisition decisions and analysis of alternatives in RAMP. Information obtained from this RFI will be extremely valuable in developing strategies to advance PAR and will be used to inform future acquisition decisions. Several key assumptions are that the core of the future radar system will be ground based, operate in the S-band, and will provide data commensurate with the NOAA Radar Surveillance Requirements: Weather (attachment F) (see attachment G for WSR-88D sites). Innovative, cost effective capabilities that meet additional mission driven objective requirements are desirable. 3. RFI Questions: A. Advanced Weather Surveillance Radar Capabilities. Please provide feedback in response to NOAA’s overall plan to replace the WSR-88D by 2040. What major new advancements in dual polarization radar technology for meteorological applications and weather surveillance capabilities currently exist? How would a meteorological radar system be designed by your organization to meet the following requirements? 1 degree beamwidth Full volume coverage updated within 1-2 minutes What major enhancements of radar technology are planned for completion by December 2022? What major enhancements of radar technology are planned for completion by December 2028? What is the RL of these advanced radar technologies developed by your organization? What are the reliability and operating constraints of these advanced technologies? What software capabilities exist for processing of radar output into meteorological applications? What are the technical considerations for the movement of large amounts of data (i.e. 60-second full volume updates) in real-time over a network? B. PAR Technical Considerations. Please provide information regarding the state of PAR technologies within your organization. What strategies are used to perform rapid, flexible scanning and what are the tradeoffs for achieving this update rate? What strategies are used to reduce PAR side lobes? Grating lobes? What design considerations are important for PAR radomes? What dual polarization PAR systems have been developed by your organization? Please describe their capabilities that could be adapted for meteorological radar applications. What dual polarization calibration and bias correction strategies are used to achieve polarimetric data quality? What all-digital or highly-digital PAR systems have been developed by your organization? Please describe their capabilities that could be adapted for meteorological radar applications. Which antenna array configuration (rotating planar, multi-face planar, cylindrical, other) would be advantageous for meteorological radar applications? What techniques have been developed by your organization for transmitting and receiving nearly simultaneous beams? What techniques are available to increase radar volume update time with a rotating PAR? What technical risks remain to make these technologies ready for operational use in weather radar? What is known about ongoing maintenance requirements for PAR systems? What advanced techniques are available in PAR systems for wind turbine clutter mitigation? How would spectral emissions from an S-band PAR system compare to existing frequency authorizations for WSR-88D sites? What techniques exist to compensate for the large blind range that can exist in phased array radars that use pulse compression? What are the tradeoffs of these approaches (reduced sensitivity using a fill pulse, for example)? What techniques are used to provide array cooling that are unique to PAR systems deployed across the disparate climates of the United States (including Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam)? What techniques are used to reduce system noise that are unique to PAR systems? What techniques are used to mitigate external interference that may be unique to PAR systems? C. Acquisition of Test Article(s). Please provide information on any systems currently in testing or operation at your organization that could potentially provide NOAA with enhanced technical risk reduction capabilities. What capabilities exist for production, delivery, installation, and configuration of an advanced radar test article at a new site? What are the estimated costs associated with production, delivery, installation, and configuration of an advanced radar test article at a new site? What contract type does industry find most feasible for this effort? What site location would be preferred for an advanced radar test article? What constraints or assumptions should NOAA be aware of in the event we would like to acquire an advanced radar test article? What technical capabilities could be demonstrated by an advanced radar test article of your organization’s design? Are there any special needs or constraints to utilizing your organization’s proposed system as an advanced radar test article for NOAA? What system(s) have been developed by your organization that could be adapted or modified to serve as an advanced radar test article for NOAA? Please describe the system(s). How many frequencies are required to support this system? Please quantify the out-of-band emissions generated by this system. What are the power requirements for this system? What are the size, weight, power, cooling, and physical siting (i.e., amount of land and vertical clearance) requirements for this system? Does your organization have the capability to build the necessary shelter/facility to house this system? What level of receiver protection does each module have in this system? What is the overall maximum receive power of this system? What is the maximum output power level of each individual transmit module in this system? What is the overall maximum power level of this system? What is the dynamic range of this system? Does this system have dual polarization capabilities? Please describe. How phase stable is the array? Is it able to achieve at least 60-65 decibels relative to carrier (dBc) of phase stability? 4. Attachments: Attachment A - Report to Congress: Weather Radar Follow-on Plan: Research and Risk Reduction to Inform Acquisition Decisions Attachment B - NOAA/National Weather Service Radar Functional Requirements Attachment C - NAO 216-115A: Research and Development in NOAA Attachment D - Towards the Next Generation Operational Meteorological Radar Attachment E - Publications Related to NSSL Phased Array Radar (PAR) Research & Development Program Attachment F - NOAA Radar Surveillance Requirements: Weather Attachment G - WSR-88D Radar List Attachment H - RFI Questions and Answers 5. RFI Response Format: In order to better assist in the review of submittals to this RFI, respondents are encouraged to prepare a response that closely adheres to the following format: The document format shall be either Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), or searchable Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) formats. Responses shall be prepared using 12 pt. font, 1 inch margins, 8.5" by 11" size paper format, and shall not exceed thirty (30) pages in length, including images, data displays, charts, graphs, and tables. The 30 page limit excludes the cover page, table of contents, table of figures, references, and additional promotional literature. Font size in figures and tables may be smaller than 12 pt. font. Respondents may submit multiple responses if they have multiple significantly different advanced technologies that they want to highlight. It should be noted that participants are not required to answer all of the questions offered, but rather focus on their area of expertise to allow for diversity in responses. Respondents may provide additional promotional literature in addition to their response as long as the literature conforms to the response format. Submissions in response to this RFI shall not exceed thirty (30) pages. 6. Response Deadline and Point of Contact Information: Responses to this notice should be documents attached to emails received no later than 10:00 AM MST, Friday, February 18, 2022 to: Contracting Officer, Molly Jackson, at molly.jackson@noaa.gov Contract Specialist, Julia Hamilton, at julia.l.hamilton@noaa.gov A statement of capability shall also include the information listed below: Company Name/Division, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone, and website address (if available). Single point-of-contact name, title, telephone, and email address. DUNS number, CAGE Code, Tax Identification Number (TIN), company structure (Corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.), and company size. Please note that companies must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to be considered potential sources (https://www.sam.gov). A description of the firm's ability to perform the work and any other information you believe to be important and relevant to the purposes of this RFI. The responses received will assist NOAA with identifying feasible technical solutions for this requirement. Each respondent, by submitting a response, agrees that any cost incurred by it in responding to this request, or in support of activities associated with this RFI, shall be the sole responsibility of the respondent. NOAA shall incur no obligations or liabilities whatsoever, to anyone, for any costs or expenses incurred by the respondent in responding to this RFI. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. 7. Industry Discussions: Some respondents may be asked to provide additional information regarding the matters addressed in this RFI. Those respondents will be contacted directly if there is a need for further information. 8. Questions: Respondents may submit questions regarding this RFI to the contacts listed below. Responses to questions may be posted on sam.gov. Please send any questions you may have to the Contracting Officer, Molly Jackson, at molly.jackson@noaa.gov, and to the Contract Specialist, Julia Hamilton, at julia.l.hamilton@noaa.gov, by no later than 10:00 AM MST, Tuesday, February 1, 2022. Each question shall provide the section and page number of the particular item being referred to in this RFI.