Published date: 15 February 2024

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 2 February 2024, 12am

Contract summary

Industry

  • Parts of radio and radar equipment - 32352100

Location of contract

South East

Value of contract

£588,333

Procurement reference

BIP842986570

Published date

15 February 2024

Closing date

2 February 2024

Closing time

12am

Contract start date

5 February 2024

Contract end date

4 February 2025

Contract type

Supply contract

Procedure type

Not specified

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

No

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

The Chilbolton observatory operates a 25m diameter, prime focus, parabolic reflector antenna with an F/d ratio of 0.36. The antenna was commissioned in 1967 and has for many years been used with an S-band radar fed from the prime focus point. The main feed is undergoing an upgrade to implement monopulse tracking. At the same time the observatory would like to add a wide band X-band radar to the antenna for simultaneous operation with the S-band radar. The intention is to use the S-band radar for tracking and ranging of satellites while the wide bandwidth X-band radar is used for imaging.

The antenna was commissioned in 1967 and there are no CAD drawings for the structure. Contractors may wish to visit the site to conduct a survey of the structure and check mounting points, access to the backing structure etc that will become important in the design, installation and alignment of the feed tower and the sub-reflector.

It is not thought possible to integrate an X-band feed with the S-band monopulse feed at prime focus. The solution proposed is one used in satellite communications ground stations of having the S-band feed at the prime focus of the reflector and the X-band feed in a tower mounted in the centre of the dish forming a cassegrain arrangement with a frequency selective sub reflector.

More information

Links

Award information

Awarded date

2 February 2024

Contract start date

5 February 2024

Contract end date

4 February 2025

Total value of contract

£588,333

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

KTF Services LLC

Address

7526 Tryon Road
Suite 162
Jusdon
TX 75660

Reference

None

Supplier is SME?

Yes

About the buyer

Contact name

STFC Procurement

Address

Science & Technology Facilities Council
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Oxford
OX11 0QX
UK

Telephone

+441235446553

Email

STFCprocurement@ukri.org