ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8560
Open Date: 05/02/2016
Closing Date: 18/03/2016

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 15.154.06
Prog. Ref.: EGEP1
Budget Ref.: E/0360-10 – EGEP1
Special Prov.: AT+BE+BG+HR+CY+CZ+DK+EE+FI+FR+DE+GR+HU+IE+IT+LV+LT+LU+MT+NL+PL+PT+RO+SK+SI+ES+SE+GB
Tender Type: C
Price Range: KEURO
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Dir. Galileo Prog & Nav related activiti
Department: EGNOS & GNSS Evolution Programme Departm
Contract Officer: Mezzadri, Monica
Last Update Date: 05/02/2016
Update Reason: Tender issue

As a system providing timing services, Galileo disseminates an accurate prediction of the offset between its own timescale (GalileoSystem Time, GST) and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The offset between GST and the GPS Timescale is also disseminated to guarantee interoperability between the two systems. The relationship between these timescales shall therefore be properly estimated to within a known uncertainty. One of the key contributor in this estimation is the receiver chain (GNSS receiver + antenna), whose internal delays and delays to the user clock shall be accurately determined. Most calibration procedures in place today, in particular theones recommended by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), are based on relative methods and applicable to GPS and GLONASS. Alternative methods (e.g. based on absolute delays measurements) are also under development. The activity shall start with areview of the state-of-the art methods and techniques, as well as their applicability to Galileo. Second, a procedure shall be developed with the goal to achieve an uncertainty in the receiver chain delay measurement of one nanosecond, with minimum impact on the link operation and associated logistics (need for dedicated equipment, access and interface to the site…). The procedure shall also include the proposed verification approach (e.g. comparison against other methods). A calibration campaign shall be executed on a number of representative receiver chains (test equipment and tools available at ESTEC can be made available). Test results shall be reviewed and analysed in accordance with the verification approach in order to validate the procedure and demonstrate compliance with thetargeted performance. Procurement Policy: C(4) = Activities in open competition, subject to the SME Subcontracting clause. For additional information please go to EMITS news „Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and R&D entities in ESA programmes”.

If you wish to access the documents related to the Invitation to Tender, you have to log in to the ESA Portal.