3660IF2401
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Purpose: John Mezzalinga Associates LLC (JMA) proposes further development of the American, ruggedized, modular, O-RAN, radio (ARMOR) platform, an existing JMA Open Radio Unit (O-RU) variant, currently at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 4, that interfaces to JMA's Distributed Antenna System (DAS).
The applicant plans to move 4 O-RU variants (one for each Mobile Network Operator [MNO] partner) from TRL 5 to 7 and MRL 4 to 8 over a period-of-performance of 18 months.
RU units are already in production and will support a variant of US radio frequencies.
Activities to be performed: JMA will focus on integration and validation of the O-RU into Open RAN end-to-end (E2E) systems, with high fidelity prototypes undergoing robust design verification testing (DVT).
ORU units will have beta level software and type certification (e.g. FCC) readiness and will be used for integration testing in complex lab or controlled field testing.
Other principal activities will include robust E2E testing, validating the O-RUs from an O-RAN 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and security system point of view; compliance testing and emissions certification (e.g., FCC); creating final product documentation; manufacturing the first units for use in MNO labs; and limited field testing aligned with MNO commercial objectives.
Expected outcomes: The primary outcome is the development of the ARMOR platform to support multiple O-RU variants that are energy efficient, have streamlined various RU components to deliver a cost-effective high-power macro and in-building/small cell product line for the targeted MNOs.
Intended beneficiaries: The platform will deliver multiple SKU radio units serving major mobile network providers.
Subrecipient activities: The recipient proposes subawards to Booz Allen Hamilton to support JMA in specialized testing and evaluation services specifically for U-plane fuzzing and Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA).
Virginia Tech will support JMA by performing specialized testing and evaluation services, specifically in the areas of Open RU conformance tests, Open RU fronthaul interoperability tests, and Open RU security.
The applicant plans to move 4 O-RU variants (one for each Mobile Network Operator [MNO] partner) from TRL 5 to 7 and MRL 4 to 8 over a period-of-performance of 18 months.
RU units are already in production and will support a variant of US radio frequencies.
Activities to be performed: JMA will focus on integration and validation of the O-RU into Open RAN end-to-end (E2E) systems, with high fidelity prototypes undergoing robust design verification testing (DVT).
ORU units will have beta level software and type certification (e.g. FCC) readiness and will be used for integration testing in complex lab or controlled field testing.
Other principal activities will include robust E2E testing, validating the O-RUs from an O-RAN 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and security system point of view; compliance testing and emissions certification (e.g., FCC); creating final product documentation; manufacturing the first units for use in MNO labs; and limited field testing aligned with MNO commercial objectives.
Expected outcomes: The primary outcome is the development of the ARMOR platform to support multiple O-RU variants that are energy efficient, have streamlined various RU components to deliver a cost-effective high-power macro and in-building/small cell product line for the targeted MNOs.
Intended beneficiaries: The platform will deliver multiple SKU radio units serving major mobile network providers.
Subrecipient activities: The recipient proposes subawards to Booz Allen Hamilton to support JMA in specialized testing and evaluation services specifically for U-plane fuzzing and Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA).
Virginia Tech will support JMA by performing specialized testing and evaluation services, specifically in the areas of Open RU conformance tests, Open RU fronthaul interoperability tests, and Open RU security.
Awardee
Funding Goals
TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT, DEPLOYMENT, AND ADOPTION OF OPEN AND INTEROPERABLE RADIO ACCESS NETWORKS (RAN). IN THIS SECOND NOFO, NTIA AIMS TO ADVANCE OPEN RADIO UNIT (RU) COMMERCIALIZATION AND INNOVATION BY FUNDING ACTIVITIES THAT 1) ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN RU PRODUCTS TO THE POINT WHERE THEY MEET CARRIER NEEDS AND ARE READY FOR COMMERCIAL TRIALS, AND 2) IMPROVE THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE AND CAPABILITIES OF OPEN RUS THROUGH TARGETED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Liverpool,
New York
13088-3512
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
John Mezzalingua Associates was awarded
Armor Platform Development for Energy-Efficient O-RU Variants
Project Grant 3660IF2401
worth $43,940,613
from the National Institute of Standards and Technology in January 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Liverpool New York United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 11.038 Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program – Expanding Testing and Evaluation.
$29,243,951 (40.0%) of this Project Grant was funded by non-federal sources.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund Grant Program - Open Radio Commercialization and Innovation.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 12/20/24
Period of Performance
1/1/25
Start Date
12/31/26
End Date
Funding Split
$43.9M
Federal Obligation
$29.2M
Non-Federal Obligation
$73.2M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
3660IF2401
SAI Number
3660IF2401_0
Award ID URI
EXE
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
1333ND DEPT OF COMMERCE NIST
Funding Office
1331K2 DEPT OF COMMERCE NTIA
Awardee UEI
MS4MSC7WD328
Awardee CAGE
8JH00
Performance District
NY-22
Senators
Kirsten Gillibrand
Charles Schumer
Charles Schumer
Modified: 12/20/24