DI-EMCS-81543A

Spectrum Supportability Risk Assessment (SSRA)

The SSRA documents an assessment of a spectrum-dependent system's potential to affect the performance of newly acquired and existing systems within the operational electromagnetic environment.

Approval DateFebruary 5, 2013

AMSC Number9330

Preparing Activity—

Project Number—

OPRDISA (DC5)

DTIC ApplicableNo

GIDEP ApplicableNo

Limitation—

Applicable Forms—

Approval Limitation—

Form Version—

DID Formatdd_form_1664

963C CompliantNo

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Supersedes

DI-EMCS-81543

DI-EMCS-81827

Description & Purpose

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Application & Interrelationship

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Use & Relationship

a. An SSRA is an assessment performed by program managers (PMs) and materiel developers (MATDEVs), which include concept developers, on all programs that are acquiring, developing, incorporating, or modifying spectrum-dependent (S-D) systems (SDS). Its purpose is to identify and assess an acquisition's potential to affect the required performance of the newly acquired SDS and other existing systems that may co-exist within the operational electromagnetic environment (EME). Each assessment will be accomplished with due consideration given to potential regulatory, technical, and operational spectrum and electromagnetic (EM) environmental effects (E3) issues. All identified risks must be included in the assessment including relevant mitigation information. Requirements for the submission of SSRAs during the Defense Acquisition System (DAS) process, as depicted in Table I, are established by the following:

(1) Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 4650.01 which requires the submission of an SSRA prior to each acquisition milestone (MS).

(2) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction (CJCSI) 6212.01 which requires the submission of SSRAs prior to each acquisition MS and readiness reviews.

(3) DoDI 4630.8 which requires the results of the SSRAs for information technology and national security systems be included in the Information Support Plan (ISP).

Guidance for conducting the tasks outlined in Table I can be found in Department of Defense Directive (DoDD) 3222.3, MIL-HDBK-237, and MIL-HDBK-235-1C and its supplemental parts. Copies of DoD Instructions and Directives are available online at https://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/. CJCSI 6212.01 can be found at https://www.dau.mil. For copies of the classified and limited distribution parts of MIL-HDBK-235, see the Foreword of MIL-HDBK-235-1C.

b. This DID contains the format and content preparation instructions for data resulting from a solicitation for the preparation of an SSRA. It is intended for SDS, including commercial items (CIs) and non-developmental items (NDIs) that are S-D, employed on airborne, sea, space, and ground platforms and systems.

c. SSRAs are required throughout the acquisition process as depicted in Table I. The Military Department (MILDEP) Spectrum Management Office (SMO) and PM/MATDEV should be consulted regarding the application and tailoring of the SSRA, availability of data, and to ensure that all user requirements are met.

d. This DID is related to DI-EMCS-81827.

e. This DID supersedes DI-EMCS-81543

Preparation Instructions

1Reference Documents.The applicable issue of the documents cited herein, including their approval dates and dates of any applicable amendments, notices, or revisions, shall be as cited in the solicitation or contract.

2Format and Content.

2.1The SSRA shall be in contractor format with contents in accordance with this DID.

2.2A standard format for reporting risk assessment findings facilitates a common understanding of program risks at all levels of an organization.Stop-light matrices based on sound engineering judgment shall be used to illustrate the level of risks identified as shown in the examples provided below.

2.2.1Red, yellow, and green spectrum and E3 issues shall be as defined in Table II.

2.2.2The impact of a risk or consequence of the potential risk (as defined Table II) shall be reported as low, moderate, or high, as represented in Table III.The impact of a risk or consequence of the potential risk (as defined Table II) shall be reported as low, moderate, or high, as represented in Table III with the green for minimal or minor impact, yellow for moderate impact, and red for significant or severe impact. A sample matrix illustrating the impact of a risk is shown in Table III.

2.2.3Table IV defines the likelihood of occurrence of the risk.Table IV defines the likelihood of occurrence of the risk, where green denotes little or no likelihood of occurrence, yellow denotes a likely occurrence, and red denotes highly or near certain occurrence.

3Content of SSRA.

3.1Front Cover.The front cover of the report shall include the following information:

3.1.1Title of the document

3.1.2Month and year of publication

3.1.3Milestone or readiness review it supports

3.1.4Program ACAT category

3.1.5Name(s) of the principal author(s) in conventional order

3.1.6Program office or sponsor's name and address

3.1.7Distribution statements, as required. and

3.1.8Security classification markings, as required.

3.2Introduction.The introduction of the SSRA shall contain the following:

3.2.1A description of the purpose of the report and programmatic decision and/or readiness review it supports.

3.2.2A detailed system description including the following in a table format (see Table V for sample format):

3.2.2.1Physical components (vehicle or platform mounted, stand alone, etc.)

3.2.2.2Purpose of system and concept of operations

3.2.2.3Subsystem description and block diagrams

3.3Executive Summary.An executive summary that is meant to be an abridged version of the SSRA Report, shall document the spectrum and E3 issues, their impact on the ability to obtain SS and the potential degradation to the system's operational performance. The recommended actions to mitigate the issues shall be provided in a table or stop light chart (see Table VI for a sample). The Executive Summary shall contain the following:

3.3.1A cover page (see 3.1 above); however, the name and logo should apply to the PM/MATDEV required to submit the SSRA.

3.3.2Introduction (see 3.2 above).

3.3.3A summary of spectrum and E3 issues.This should be a summation of 3.4 through 3.7, which follows below. The summarized conclusions should be presented in a Stop-Light chart format.

3.3.4The impact of the risks on the ability to obtain SS including a brief summarization of the important aspects from 3.8 below.The summarized conclusions should be here and presented in a Stop-Light chart format (see sample Table VI) using the guidance in Tables II, III, and IV of this DID.

3.3.5Recommendation:If all risks can be mitigated, the suggested recommendation should read as follows: "The (insert PM/MATDEV) recommends that the (insert Program name) receive a Spectrum Supportability Determination to support (insert review)."

3.4Regulatory Component of the SSRA.The Regulatory component of the SSRA shall include the following:

3.4.1A list of countries for likely operational deployment within each Combatant Command (CCMD) area of responsibility.

3.4.2A list of internationally recognized radio services of all SDS being developed or integrated by the acquisition.

3.4.3A list of the system's tuning ranges supported by each HN's Table of Allocation (TOA).

3.4.4The regulatory status (for example, co-primary or secondary) assigned to the radio service by the HN's TOA.

3.4.5International comments on U.S. military systems of the same radio service and with similar technical characteristics previously submitted for HNC.

3.4.6A list of the other U.S. military, U.S. civilian, and non-U.S. in-band, adjacent-band and harmonically-related systems likely to be co-site or in close proximity.

3.4.7Comments (including footnotes) from the ESC and HNC processes and how they are being addressed.

3.4.8The impact of changes to U.S. Federal, DoD, or civil telecommunication regulations, on the system's spectral characteristics.

3.4.9The impact of changes to applicable military, national, and international spectrum standards on system's radiated bandwidth, transmitter, and other spectral characteristics.

3.4.10The impact of changes to HN spectrum regulations on the system's spectral characteristics.

3.4.11ESC stage and status for all S-D systems being developed or integrated by the acquisition.

3.4.12Spectrum issues and recommendations for mitigation of regulatory issues.A suggested format for summarizing the ESC and HNC information is shown in Table VII.

3.5Technical Component of the SSRA.

3.5.1The Technical component of the SSRA shall contain a description of the technical parameters of system's components (e.g. receivers, transmitters, antennas).A suggested format for this information is shown in Table VIII.

3.5.2The Technical component of the SSRA shall also include the following:

3.5.2.1A list of other U.S. military, U.S. civil, and non-U.S. in-band and adjacent-band and harmonically-related systems likely to be co-site or in close proximity.

3.5.2.2The undesired interactions of SDS expected to be in the candidate's operational environment including plans to address non-compliant systems.

3.5.2.3The expected system performance and effect on other SDS that may operate co-frequency or adjacent frequency expected to be found in the intended operational environment.

3.5.2.4The acceptable received EM levels between the subject system and other SDS to ensure neither is significantly degraded and that coexistence is feasible.

3.5.2.5Potential link degradation and blockage due to atmospheric conditions or terrain and building obstructions within intended deployments areas.(Note: The overall system performance includes link availability, with and without EMI, while taking into account the effects of the environment (e.g. considering path loss, rain attenuation, humidity, climate, temperature, and water and oxygen absorption)). For non-communications systems (e.g. radar, passive sensors, etc.), the operational degradation shall be presented as a function of the level of received environmental and co-site EMI.

3.5.2.6Recommendations to mitigate potential technical issues (e.g. implementation of channelization plans, advanced narrow-beam antennas, (active, spot and contoured-beam, etc.), as well as passive radio frequency components (filters, diplexers, couplers, etc.).

3.5.2.7Recommended electronic protection measures and, where applicable, electronic attack capabilities being considered in the design of the system.

3.5.2.8Identification and quantification of interactions with non-DoD, other Federal and commercial users in the environment.

3.5.2.9Identification of spectrum risks and recommendations for mitigating issues.

3.5.2.10Address how limitations or restrictions identified in the MCEB J/F-12 recommendations are being mitigated and/or resolved for each SDS.

3.6Operational Component of the SSRA.

3.6.1The Operational component of the SSRA shall contain a description of the intended operational deployment of the system.A suggested table format to present this data is shown in Table IX.

3.6.2The Operational component shall also include the following where the likelihood of being able to perform the operational mission is at risk:

3.6.2.1The operational performance requirements, as specified in the acquisition documents (e.g. initial capabilities document, capability development document, capability production document, or ISP) or operational needs statements and whether the requirements will be met or exceeded.

3.6.2.2A list of the expected complement of SDS (DoD, non-DoD, Federal and commercial) anticipated to be in the system's operating environment.

3.6.2.3Quantification in operational terms (e.g. frequency-distance separation between transmitter and receiver that must be maintained to achieve EMC) of the performance of the candidate system and other SDS used by other DoD units in the operational environment.

3.6.2.4Operational spectrum risks and recommendations, including tactics, techniques, and procedures for mitigation of operational risks.

3.7E3 Component of the SSRA.The E3 component of the SSRA shall include the following along with recommendations for mitigation of the E3 risks.

3.7.1Identification of EMC and EMI interactions between the candidate system, other systems, and its anticipated operational EME including the possible effect on overall system operational performance as a result of any EM interaction.

3.7.2Quantification of intra-platform EMI among co-site emitters and receivers for complex SoS and platforms in terms of the possibility and influence of:

3.7.2.1Inter-modulation

3.7.2.2Transmitter Harmonic Interference

3.7.2.3Transmitter Spurious Output Interference

3.7.2.4Transmitter Noise Interference

3.7.2.5Receiver Desensitization Interference

3.7.3Quantification of the mutual EMI between the candidate system and SDS used by other DoD units in the operational environment.

3.7.4Identification of potential EMI from own force or hostile EW emitters as well as protection measures to be employed to minimize the EMI or counter the threat.Quantification of potential E3 (including hazards of electromagnetic radiation to personnel (HERP), volatile materials (HERF), and ordnance (HERO), electromagnetic pulse (EMP), lightning, electrostatic discharge (ESD), etc) as may be contractually required by the MILDEP SMO or E3 authority. A table or stop-light chart similar to that shown in Table X may be used to illustrate or summarize results.

3.8Conclusion.The conclusion shall contain a summary of the spectrum and E3 risks identified and the impact on SS and potential degradation to the system's operational performance. The results may be summarized in a table or stop light chart (see Table VI). The conclusion shall also indicate whether the system meets all user requirements.

3.9Recommendations.Provide a recommendation as to whether the SSRA should be sent by the MILDEP SMO to their Service Chief Information Officer for approval and forwarded to the milestone decision authority.

3.10References.Identify the following:

3.10.1The DoD Information page or DD Form 1494 for each SDS, subsystem, or equipment that is addressed by the SSRA.

3.10.2Copies of E3 Assessment Reports, when requested.

3.10.3DoDI 4650.01 (latest version)

3.10.4DoDD 3222.3 (latest version)

3.10.5MILDEP Spectrum and E3 policy regulations

3.10.6Source documents for performance requirements

4Other Information Sources.When other information sources contain data required by this DID, these sources shall be referenced and the data incorporated into the SSRA, as applicable. State how copies of the referenced documents can be obtained.