SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Broad Agency Announcement (BAA for Marine Airborne Command and Control Communications Capability (MAC4)
- Notice Date
- 7/17/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Navy, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps Systems Command, 2200 Lester Street, Quantico, VA, 22134-5010
- ZIP Code
- 22134-5010
- Solicitation Number
- M67854-03-R-9025
- Response Due
- 9/16/2003
- Archive Date
- 12/17/2003
- Point of Contact
- Sarah Harrison, Contract Specialist, Phone 703-432-0351, Fax 703-784-1379, - Sarah Harrison, Contract Specialist, Phone 703-432-0351, Fax 703-784-1379,
- E-Mail Address
-
harrisonsr@mcsc.usmc.mil, harrisonsr@mcsc.usmc.mil
- Description
- BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) M67854-03-R-9025 for MARINE AIRBORNE COMMAND AND CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY (MAC4) I. INTRODUCTION: This is a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) issued by the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) on behalf of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL). This BAA is issued under the provisions of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 6.102(d)(2) which provides for the competitive selection of research and development proposals submitted in response to this BAA. Accordingly, proposals selected for award are considered to be the result of full and open competition and compliant with the Competition in Contracting Act of 1984, P.L. 98-369. This BAA is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to make an award or pay proposal preparation costs generated as a result of this announcement. The purpose of this announcement is to request ?white papers? for a Marine Airborne Command and Control Communications Capability (MAC4). Unless otherwise stated herein, no additional written information is available, nor will a formal Request For Proposal (RFP) or other solicitation regarding this announcement be issued. Requests for the same will be disregarded. The Government reserves the right to select all, some or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement, but anticipates making an award within the approximately $1,000,000.00 expected to be budgeted for the MAC4. This BAA shall remain open for receipt of white paper proposals through 16 September 2003. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this BAA is 541710 with the small business size of 1,500 employees. No portion of this BAA has been set-aside for historically black colleges and universities or minority institute participants, though their participation is encouraged. For awards made as contracts, evaluation of the socio-economic merits of the proposal shall include the extent of commitment in providing meaningful subcontracting opportunities for small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business concerns, historically black colleges, universities and minority institutions. If the contracting officer requests a full cost proposal, and the total exceeds $500,000, any large business is required to include a Small, Small Disadvantaged, and Woman Owned Subcontracting Plan with its proposal package in accordance with FAR 52.219-9. White papers will be evaluated in the order in which they are received and may be accepted at any time prior to the closing date for receipt of proposals/white papers. White papers/proposals will not be evaluated against each other since each is a unique technology with no common work statement. Proposals identified as feasible for potential funding may result in a contract; however, there is no commitment made by the Marine Corps, expressed or implied, to make any awards, to make a specific number of awards, or to be responsible for any monies expended by the Offeror before award of any contract. Information provided herein is subject to amendment and in no way binds the Government to award of a contract. II. BACKGROUND: The current airborne command and control package (AN/ASC-26) used to transmit and receive tactical radio communications is technologically dated and fails to provide the functions required by the Marines. The AN/ASC-26 provides three (3) legacy single-channel radios: one (1) AN/ARC-159 Ultra High Frequency (UHF) (225.00-399.975 Megahertz (MHz)) and two (2) AN/ARC-186 Very High Frequency (VHF) Amplitude Modulation / Frequency Modulation (AM/FM) (30-87.975, 108-115.975 receive only, and 116-151.975 MHz). The MAC4 is intended to offer an updated system that meets the current needs of the MAGTF Commander, specifically a frequency hopping capability. The MAC4 should provide the latest command and control communications technology in a lightweight and portable package that may be mounted aboard several airborne platforms. Several multi-band radios are currently available to meet this need and provide an additional capability of digital data connectivity. These radios include the AN/ARC-210(V), AN/ARC-231, AN/PSC-5D and AN/PRC-117F. The MAC4 will consist of multiple VHF/UHF/Line of Sight (LOS) Demand Assigned Multiple Access (DAMA) Satellite Communications (SATCOM) radios and a single Enhanced Position Location and Reporting System (EPLRS) radio. Multiple processors will provide software support for Command and Control Personal Computers (C2PC), FalconView, Portable Flight Planning Software (PFPS) and Global Command and Control System - Maritime (GCCS-M) applications. Multiple displays will allow the mission commander and crewmembers to view software output. Operators may control the radios and software applications via keyboards and manual controls as necessary. The MAC4 system must also include four (4) intercom stations. The MAC4 may incorporate a modular design to facilitate the size and weight restrictions of smaller platforms if necessary. III. SCOPE - RESEARCH TOPIC INTEREST: The design and development of the MAC4 system shall be based on the following requirements: The MAC4 must mount to the UH-1N (with provisions for the UH-1Y), CH-46E, CH-53D/E, MV-22, and KC-130 platforms. Initial concept modeling and development will begin with the UH-1N platform. The MAC4 must provide standalone communications functions requiring only an external power supply and connection to external antennas. The unit must use 28 volts Direct Current (DC) power and connect to the UH-1N at the hoist power outlet. The MAC4 must specify all required antennas. The MAC4 shall weigh no more than 200 pounds and the unit must allow for installation and removal by not more than two operators. The MAC4 shall successfully complete shock and vibration testing in accordance with Military Specification-810 (MIL-SPEC-810) and suitable for the UH-1N platform, including the 20gram (g)/20g/10g crashworthiness specifications. The MAC4 shall be designed to withstand and remain operable in battlefield conditions, including resistance to inclement weather conditions and sand in accordance with MIL-SPEC-810. The MAC4 shall permit rapid ingress and egress from the helicopter platform. The MAC4 will provide the ability for two (2) operator workstations. A modular design allowing for multiple operator workstations is desirable. Each operator shall be provided a dedicated display and keyboard. One workstation will be designated as the ?primary? operator and provided access to the radio controls. A scalable design allowing for different configurations on different vehicle platforms is desirable. The MAC4 should allow for two primary operators and at least one secondary operator to have unobstructed visual access to a display. The MAC4 will be in a configuration that permits four (4) mission essential personnel in the cabin area access to information provided by the workstation(s). The MAC4 must transmit and receive over VHF, UHF and SATCOM radio frequencies (30.00-512MHz). The MAC4 must 1) operate in VHF/UHF single-channel, VHF Single Channel Ground to Air Radio System (SINCGARS), UHF HAVEQUICK, EPLRS and DAMA/Dedicated SATCOM modes, 2) be capable of TYPE I encryption, and 3) be compatible with existing tactical communications platforms. SATCOM is defined as the relative term of transference of data via ground based links (Earth Stations) and Satellites that are in orbital positions around the Earth. Intercom requirements for the MAC4 shall provide communications capability for the operators, separate from the aircraft?s Intercom System (ICS), but will have a connection into the aircraft?s ICS to facilitate communication with the pilot and co-pilot. EPLRS is a Time Division Multiple Access System (TDMAS) using a frequency hopping, spread spectrum waveform in the UHF band. It incorporates internal Communications Security (COMSEC) devices of the Thorton family and has an Over-The-Air-Rekeying (OTAR) capability. The MAC4 will be capable of operating and displaying information provided by the following software: (1) C2PC, (2) FalconView, (3) Navy Portable Flight Planning System (N-PFPS), and (4) GCCS-M. C2PC is a Windows-based program that facilitates military command and control. N-PFPS is a mission-planning program that has provisions for limited mission execution tracking. N-PFPS may accept data from an EPLRS radio and display the information within FalconView. GCCS-M is a UNIX based platform, supported by the SUN server. GCCS-M is a command and control system supporting the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and Commanders in Chief (CINCs) in managing military assets. An Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11b air-to-ground data communications capability is desired. A copy of the Universal Needs Statement (UNS) Improved Airborne Command and Control Capability - 00322FD that supports this desired capability is enclosed in this document. The UH-1N will be provided for the Limited Technical Assessment (LTA) and for the demonstration. The MAC4 is required to be fully operational by July 2004. IV. PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS: MCWL will review all white papers that address the desired capabilities stated in the above scope. White papers that do not address the identified technology areas will not be reviewed. White Papers shall be no more than twenty (20) pages for the technical section and five (5) pages for the management section, prepared in 12-point or larger font, double-spaced, single-sided on 8.5 by 11 inches white paper. The White Paper should summarize the proposed effort(s) and a rough order of cost magnitude (ROM) in order to obtain a preliminary indication of MCWL interest/feasibility. It may be desired, but not required, for the contractor to present a technical briefing on the White Paper at Quantico, Virginia. Technical briefings will only be requested after submission and review of White Papers that address the desired capabilities. Offerors should not expect to present details subsequent to submission of their White Paper and should pr
- Record
- SN00374285-W 20030719/030717213919 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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