SOURCES SOUGHT
D -- Network Services and Integration over L-Band Satellite, in support of PM Future Battle Command, Brigade and Below (FBCB2)/Blue Force Tracking (BFT)
- Notice Date
- 6/13/2003
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- US Army Communications-Electronics Command, CECOM Acquisition Center - DAAB07, ATTN: AMSEL-AC, Building 1208, Fort Monmouth, NJ 07703-5008
- ZIP Code
- 07703-5008
- Solicitation Number
- DAAB07-03-R-E217
- Response Due
- 7/14/2003
- Archive Date
- 9/12/2003
- Point of Contact
- Simone Lucy, 732-427-1538
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to US Army Communications-Electronics Command, CECOM Acquisition Center - DAAB07
(Simone.Lucy@mail1.monmouth.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NA The Government requires a provider for Network Services and Integration over L-band satellite, providing connectivity from multiple mobile platforms (using Comtech Mobile Datacom MT-2011E or MT-2010-04 terminals for communications on the move), to designat ed Operations Centers at several locations around the world, as a part of Future Battle Command, Brigade and Below (FBCB2) / Blue Force Tracking (BFT). Network connectivity is needed in Eastern and Western Europe, Northern Africa, Southwest Asia, to includ e Afghanistan, Continental USA (CONUS), and Alaska, beginning in November 2003. Back-up satellite service is required for designated areas in times of increased tension or conflict. An option for back-up service, using alternate providers, must be identifi ed and available for all areas outside CONUS. The satellite network must be capable of handling multiple simultaneous transmissions from the mobile terminals, with a message completion rate of greater than 95% and a latency of less than 12 seconds for all messages. The selected contractor does not have to directly provide service in all areas. The contractor will be expected to provide all network services, including all communications paths, from the mobile terminals, thru the packet switch server and onto the Opera tions Center LAN, but they are expected to sub-contract with regional communications and satellite service providers, as necessary, to provide best value coverage in each geographic area. The contractor must also provide the technical support necessary to maintain the entire network under all conditions. Current capabilities and technical description of the BFT Network: L-Band (1520 to 1570 MHz Fwd Link; 1620 to 1670 MHz Ret Link). Each mobile terminal (Comtech Mobile Datacom models MT-2011E or MT-2010-04) transmits packetized messages of not more than 1 00 bytes in length, with a variable output power (9dbW EIRP max), and using a Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum signal with either Right Hand Circular Polarization or Left Hand Circular Polarization. Transmission speed is variable from 2400 bps to a maximum of 9600 bps. The number of platforms in any given area will vary from 30 to 2500, with each terminal transmitting at varying intervals of from 30 to 300 seconds. Receivers use similar speeds and operate at signal levels greater than 27dbW from the satellit e. The data received at the Earth Station is sent to a packet switch server at the Operations Centers over dedicated circuits. The packet switch server processes the data and acts as the gateway onto the operational LAN within each Operations Center. (Noti onal Satellite Network Architecture drawing is available upon request). For request of drawing email Simone.Lucy@mail1.monmouth.army.mil AND Michael.Doelling@mail1.monmouth.army.mil. Operations Centers are located in Kuwait, Germany, Texas, and California, with an additional Operations Center to be located in Colorado within the year. Operations Center LANs are currently operated and maintained by Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. Current Satellite Network Services are provided by Comtech Mobile Datacom, with satellite service through Thuraya, Inmarsat, Eutelsat, and Mobile Satellite Ventures. Communications links from commercial Earth Stations to the Operations Centers are over VSA T, Internet/VPN, and leased lines. When replying to this survey, indicate: 1) Your ability to provide services in the regions indicated. 2) Identify proposed signal paths, naming specific satellite and communications service providers for all circuits (L-Band and communications links). 3) Provide information on your prior experience in providing this type of service to government or commercial entities and list contracts currently in place. 4) The US Military conducts short-term exercises in many far-flung areas of the world. Discuss your capability to support these short duration exercises in areas where coverage has not yet been provided. I nclude lead times required for set-up and activation of service. 5) The Army does not own the rights to the Comtech Mobile Datacom satellite equipment and cannot provide detailed documentation that fully describes the Signal in Space, or the interface at the Operations Center. Yet, as the network service provider unde r this proposed acquisition, your company would be responsible for interfacing with this equipment. How would you address this problem? 6) What could the Army do to reduce risk in this area? 7) Operations through a US Government controlled Earth Station for service provided outside CONUS is desired. Address how this could be accomplished. If this is not possible, the data must be passed unprocessed from the commercial Earth Stations, via a minimum of two independent dedicated circuits to the Operations Centers. Discuss how you would handle this. 8) Given the need to make these contractual arrangements with the satellite service providers in all the required areas, as the provider of these network services, how quickly after contract award could you provide an operational capability? 9) Would you propose a firm fixed price or cost plus fixed fee pricing arrangement? 10) While not expected during the base period of the contract, additional areas that may need to be added to the network are Hawaii, Southeast Asia, Korea and Japan. Future Operations Centers may also be installed in Hawaii and Korea. Indicate your ability to provide service to these areas and the lead time required to establish the coverage. 11) Communications Networking Services are required to support two separate and distinct network infrastructures (1) network that interfaces the Comtech terminals installed on Army vehicles in Europe, Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan with the Operations C enters in Kuwait (Primary Operations Center) and Germany (Backup Operations Center), and, (2) the network that interfaces the Comtech terminals installed on Army vehicles in the Continental US and Alaska with the Operations Center in Colorado (Primary Oper ations Center) and California (Backup Operations Center). In addition, a future network may be required to support the Korea/Hawaii areas of interest. Address your companys perspective on if these network infrastructures are better contracted separately or together. 12) The Army is in need of a way to quantify the needed bandwidth (or the possible range of bandwidths) in a given geographic area without purchasing excess (thus wasting money) or being too frugal (and compromising necessary communications). There is a desire to achieve a 98% Message Completion Rate with average delay not to exceed 10 seconds for a network of mobile users in any given area. This performance based requirement would seem better for the Army, overall, and allow industry more innovation in terms of meeting the requirements, but it would be very difficult to accurately measure and verify the required services are being provided. Is there a possibility of demand-based dynamic expansion/contraction of useable bandwidth on the network? Barring that, can usage of satellite time be metered and paid at a per Byte rate? 13) Can you offer provisions to offer the Army various service levels such as: a) the ability to procure dedicated bandwidth at certain times or b) the ability to procure service on a by platform basis (perhaps in high use areas)? Example: For Continental U.S. Operations, there may be an exercise at Fort Irwin, California in which the Army needs service for 70 platforms for 6 weeks, could an option be available to just procure that service. Another example could be where service is needed in Bosnia/Kosovo where 300 platforms may be present, but only 200 are operational at any given time. 14) Under these scenarios, can the Army be guaranteed that necessary bandwidth would be available when needed? 15) Indicate any other ways you would use to assure needed bandw idth without unnecessary expense. 16) Can you provide provisions where you can guarantee service bandwidth during Contingency Operations? Bottomline: The Army desires a highly reliable service while still looking at Best Value. A new contract is expected to be awarded for a base period of one year, with one option year. The Government POC for questions regarding this survey is Mr. Tom Denniston, 732-427-5978.
- Place of Performance
- Address: US Army Communications-Electronics Command, CECOM Acquisition Center - DAAB07 ATTN: AMSEL-AC, Building 1208 Fort Monmouth NJ
- Zip Code: 07703-5008
- Country: US
- Zip Code: 07703-5008
- Record
- SN00347533-W 20030615/030613214045 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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