Technique for effective evaluation of collocation interference designs in government solicitations

The most difficult technical challenge for the development of a single channel ground and airborne radio system (SINCGARS) shipboard segment is mutual interference due to collocated SINCGARS radios. The authors discuss the special steps taken by the government to ensure that a viable design is realized for this full-scale development program. As an aid in discriminating between competitors´ solutions, a cosite interference test problem was generated by the Tactical Communications and Navy Systems and Technology Divisions of the MITRE Corporation. The problem was included in the solicitation instructions and conditions section of the request for proposals (RFP). It was found that the presentation in the RFP of a sample cosite interference problem proved valuable in eliminating nonserious competitors. Several interference mitigation methods were proposed by the bidders