On 11.08.2020, UniBw M founded a new "Center for Digitalization and Technology Research of the German Armed Forces" (dtec.bw for short). dtec.bw is part of the Federal Government's economic stimulus programme to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and is provided with research funds from the economic stimulus programme via the Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg). With its inclusion in the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP), dtec.bw is financed by the European Union - NextGenerationEU.

The research project "Seamless Radio Access Networks for Internet of Space" (SeRANIS) has been approved by the BMVg and is now to be realized. As part of SeRANIS, an experimental satellite is to be created at LEO. The SeRANIS project is funded by dtec.bw.

The object of the contract is the development, manufacture, qualification and delivery of four antennas for the satellite ATHENE1 UniBw M. The antennas are used for experimental communication in different frequency bands for different purposes.

The contract includes the development, manufacture and qualification of the antennas.

UniBw M divides the contract into four lots.

Lot 1 includes the development, manufacture and qualification of a UHF patch array. This two-element antenna array is used to send and receive signals to and from the direction of the Earth. The antenna array is designed to generate a pattern that radiates broadly across the direction of flight of the satellite and focuses more strongly in the direction of flight.

Four weeks after the contract is awarded, the contractor must provide a CAD model of the UHF patch array and the definition of the electrical and mechanical interfaces.

The contractor must deliver the fully integrated UHF patch array (flight model) no later than 10 months after the award of the contract, and the development model of the UHF patch array (engineering model) within 8 months of the award of the contract. Prior to delivery, the Contractor shall fully test the UHF Patch Array in accordance with the Terms of Reference. The contractor also provides the necessary documentation for the final acceptance.

UniBW M excludes tenders that do not meet all the minimum requirements of the service description from the award procedure.

Details of the performance and the technical requirements for the UHF patch array can be found in the tender specifications (Annex 1 to the contract, Annex 2 of the tender documents).

Lot 2 consists of the development, manufacture and qualification of an S-band patch array. This antenna array of 8 elements is used to send and receive signals to and from the direction of the Earth. The antenna array is designed to generate a pattern that radiates broadly across the direction of flight of the satellite and focuses more strongly in the direction of flight.

Four weeks after the contract is awarded, the contractor must provide a CAD model of the S-band patch array and the definition of the electrical and mechanical interfaces.

The contractor must deliver the fully integrated S-Band Patch Array (Flight Model) no later than 10 months after the award of the contract, and the development model of the S-Band Patch Array (Engineering Model) within 8 months of the award of the contract. Prior to delivery, the Contractor shall fully test the S-Band Patch Array in accordance with the SOW. The contractor also provides the necessary documentation for the final acceptance.

UniBW M excludes tenders that do not meet all the minimum requirements of the service description from the award procedure.

Details of the performance and the technical requirements for the S-Band Patch Array are set out in the tender specifications (Appendix 1 to the contract, Appendix 2 of the tender documents).

Lot 3 consists of the development, manufacture and qualification of an X-band Omni antenna. This antenna is used to send signals in the direction of the geostationary orbit. The antenna should have the widest possible opening angle in order to be able to reach a geostationary satellite for as long as possible without aligning the satellite.

Four weeks after the award of the contract, the contractor must provide a CAD model of the X-Band Omni antenna and the definition of the electrical and mechanical interfaces.

The contractor must deliver the fully integrated X-Band Omni antenna (Flight Model) no later than 10 months after the award of the contract, and the development model of the X-Band Omni Antenna (Engineering Model) already 8 months after the award of the contract. Prior to delivery, the Contractor shall fully test the X-Band Omni Antenna in accordance with the Terms of Reference. The contractor also provides the necessary documentation for the final acceptance.

UniBW M excludes tenders that do not meet all the minimum requirements of the service description from the award procedure.

Details of the performance and the technical requirements for the X-Band Omni antenna can be found in the tender specifications (Annex 1 to the contract, Annex 2 of the tender documents).

Lot 4 consists of the development, manufacture and qualification of a Ku-band Omni antenna. This antenna is used to receive signals from the direction of geostationary orbit. The antenna should have the widest possible opening angle in order to be able to reach a geostationary satellite for as long as possible without aligning the satellite.

Four weeks after the award of the contract, the contractor must provide a CAD model of the Ku-band Omni antenna and the definition of the electrical and mechanical interfaces.

The contractor must deliver the fully integrated Ku-band Omni antenna (flight model) no later than 10 months after the award of the contract, and the development model of the Ku-band Omni antenna (engineering model) within 8 months of the award of the contract. Prior to delivery, the Contractor shall fully test the Ku-Band Omni Antenna in accordance with the Terms of Reference. The contractor also provides the necessary documentation for the final acceptance.

UniBW M excludes tenders that do not meet all the minimum requirements of the service description from the award procedure.

Details of the performance and technical requirements for the Ku-band Omni antenna can be found in the specification (Appendix 1 to the contract, Appendix 2).