Fiber Optic Integration System

This federal procurement document outlines the salient characteristics for a "Brand Name or Equal" PhotonFirst AGTR-NG4 High-Density FBG Shape Sensing & Interrogation System. The system is designed for laboratory validation and flight-testing on active aircraft. The requirement consists of four Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs): * **CLIN0001 (Interrogator Hardware):** A military-qualified optical interrogation unit featuring at least four parallel channels, a 22 kHz minimum sampling rate, onboard edge computing, and UDP/TCP Ethernet output with NTP timestamping. It must be certified compliant with MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-704, MIL-STD-461, and DO-160G. * **CLIN0002 (Fanout Arrays):** Four monolithic optical sensing fibers with polyimide coatings and inscribed Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) nodes, providing a combined 50-foot sensing length for real-time shape-deflection calculations. * **CLIN0003 (Sensing Fiber Interface):** A ruggedized, 4-port connectorized breakout harness with discrete FC/APC connectors, built to withstand the same environmental standards as the interrogator. * **CLIN0004 (Engineering Support & Software):** Eight hours of professional assembly/calibration labor and a compatible software suite for real-time 2D/3D shape reconstruction, data logging, and telemetry export. This system provides high-speed, high-density structural shape and strain measurements capable of surviving unpressurized, high-temperature aircraft environments.

This federal Request for Quote (RFQ), solicitation number FA930226Q0123, is issued by the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) at Edwards AFB, California. Set aside 100% for small businesses under NAICS code 334511, this solicitation seeks a firm-fixed-price contract for a high-speed Fiber Optic Interrogation System, or approved equal, to support active flight-test aircraft. The acquisition consists of four primary line items: 1. An optical interrogation unit (equivalent to PhotonFirst AGTR-NG4) featuring at least four parallel optical channels, a 22 kHz sampling rate, integrated edge computing, and compliance with military environmental and electrical standards (including MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-704, and MIL-STD-461). 2. A high-density shape-sensing optical array (equivalent to PhotonFirst FBG Array Fanout) spanning approximately 50 feet with a high-temperature polyimide coating. 3. A polyimide sensing fiber matching the array specifications. 4. Eight hours of specialized engineering design and assembly support for initial harness fabrication. Deliveries must be completed within 14 weeks of award receipt to Edwards AFB. Quotes are due by September 9, 2026, at 4:00 PM Local Time. Evaluation for the contract award will be based on three primary factors: Technical Capability, Past Performance, and Price, with Technical Capability and Past Performance combined carrying significantly more weight than price.

This Federal Determination and Findings document outlines the justification for a sole-source or brand-name acquisition by the Air Force Test Center (AFTC-PZZF). The acquisition is for a PhotonFirst AGTR-NG4 Aerospace Interrogator and associated fiber optic sensing system components on behalf of the Bomber Data Lab. This specialized equipment is required to perform high-density temperature and strain measurements, combining fiber optic sensing with high-speed data acquisition for real-time wing-deflection and aerodynamic shape-sensing during active flight tests. Market research indicated that alternative products, such as those from Proximion, are limited to static monitoring and telecommunications. They lack the necessary pre-certified, flight-qualified, and high-speed capabilities required for this project. Utilizing an alternative system would require costly government-funded laboratory qualification testing and introduce a high risk of airworthiness certification failure. Consequently, the Contracting Officer determined that only the PhotonFirst AGTR-NG4 system meets the dynamic flight-test parameters and minimum needs of the agency.