SOURCES SOUGHT
58 -- HIGH DATA RATE-RADIO FREQUENCY (HDR-RF) CAPABILITY AND MODEM
- Notice Date
- 10/6/2004
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- ESC/NI4 5 Eglin Street, Bldg 1624 Hanscom AFB MA
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- ESC-NI4M-HDR-RF-001
- Response Due
- 10/30/2004
- Archive Date
- 12/30/2004
- Point of Contact
- POINT OF CONTACT: Mr. Frank W. Holmes Jr. (Senior Operations Analyst), 781-271-8570, email (frank.holmesjr@hanscom.af.mil)
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to Click Here to E-mail the POC
(frank.holmesjr@hanscom.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) AND NOT A SOLICITATION. The Government is requesting information from companies working on terminal system modem designs for High Data Rate Radio Frequency (HDR-RF) communications for ground-to-air and ground to space tactical applications The Government wishes to determine potential sources for the development of an HDR ground terminal modem. INTRODUCTION: The Air Force is looking for technical expertise and products that will enable the start of the development of an HDR Ground capability in FY05, with an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in FY08 to compliment the Wideband Gapfiller Satellite 4 (WGS4) launch in FY09. An HDR modem is required to support both ground to air and ground-to-space communications for Tactical Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft and Command and Control (C2) aircraft. This modem must be compliant with Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Software Communications Architecture (SCA) architecture version 3.0. In addition to the waveforms associated with WGS satellites, the modem must be able to support, through SCA reprogramability, future Transformational Satellite (TSAT) waveforms. The HDR modem must achieve a variable data rate capability up to 274 Mbps (at least for the receiving end). The modem must have enough processing capability to achieve these data rates in the presence of turbo decoders. The HDR modem will be based upon open, industry standard interfaces and will be controlled and monitored from a variety of existing and Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) applications. This RFI will be used by ESC/NI4 in the development of an acquisition strategy for an HDR-RF ground capability. The Air Force is seeking industry's help in determining the optimum approach to achieving a Tactical Ground capability of operating at the high data rate described above. Both, the option to integrate HDR-RF modem capabilities into an existing ground satellite Non-Developmental Item (NDI) terminals and the development of a new terminal with the enhanced capability should be explored. Your rationale for the preferred approach would be a key element in the development of our acquisition strategy. SCOPE: The purpose of this RFI is to gather information to support an RFP release for an HDR-RF ground capability by the end of FY '05, and to determine industry interest in participating in this effort. The potential provider/developers should understand that validated and firm requirements for the HDR-RF ground capability and/or modems do not yet exist. Rather, they will evolve over time as the technology evolves and matures, and the technical requirements, user requirements and Concept Of Operations (CONOPS) are defined. ESC/NI4 will use the information gathered in response to this RFI to gain an understanding of potential approaches to meet USAF HDR ground terminal system requirements. We seek to understand the current state of the art that companies have achieved in HDR-RF ground communications, as well as their anticipated future development, various alternative innovative and creative solutions, and how these might apply to the USAF effort to achieve this capability. ESC/NI4 seeks to solicit the interest of vendors, organizations and/or consortia in the following areas of expertise: 1. Ground Tactical Modems 2. Software Programmable modem (modulator/demodulator) design 3. SCA Modem architecture design. 4. Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) development. 5. Interface Standards between the HDR modem and a terminal's antenna system. 6. Interface Standards between the HDR modem and a terminal's user connections to include control/monitor. 7. Support for IPv6, JTRS NSL, and other standards based inter-networking. DATA SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: The Information package should include the following items: 1. Statement of interest, either as a Prime- or a Sub-contractor/partner/team member. 2. Description of qualification: Projects, Products, Applicable experience. 3. Your comments/recommendations to achieve capability described above. 4. Thorough description of existing or planned SCA compliant HDR modems. 5. Critical technologies and/or hurdles to be cleared. 6. Risks and risk mitigation strategies. 7. Plans to utilize DOD's acquisition methodology of Cost As an Independent Variable (CAIV) making technical and schedule performance a function of available (budgeted) resources as outlined below: CAIV Strategy: Aggressively set realistic cost objectives for acquiring and supporting defense systems and manage programs to meet those objectives. CAIV Approach: Set realistic but aggressive cost objectives early in each program, manage risks to achieve cost, schedule and performance objectives, and devise metrics for tracking progress in setting and achieving cost objectives. 8. Obsolescent parts strategy. 9. Issues or concerns not identified above. INDUSTRY DAYS: An Industry Day will be held at the MITRE facility, Bedford MA, to discuss high-level program strategy with those companies expressing interest. Follow-on one-on-one sessions will follow. Requests for attendance to the Industry Day and also for a one-on-one session should be made no later than 1700 on 18 October 2004 to Mr. Frank W. Holmes Jr., Senior Operations Analyst, 781-271-8570, email (frank.holmesjr@hanscom.af.mil), or mailed to the address listed above. Additional Industry Day attendee information will be posted at the Hanscom AFB electronic bulletin board website (www.herbb.hanscom.af.mil). The information received will not obligate the Government in any manner nor will the Government reimburse contractors for any costs associated with submittal of the requested information. This request does not constitute an Invitation For Bid or a Request For Proposal. Responses to this RFI are due to Ms. Kathleen Munroe (Contracting Officer) by Close OF Business 30 October, 2004. Respondents should identify their company's name, address, telephone number, point of contact, and whether they are a large or small business. Proprietary information should be clearly marked. Packages shall be delivered as 4 paper copies and in electronic format, 4 copies. The electronic format may be in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) or compatible with Microsoft Office 2000 suite of software. All copies shall be delivered simultaneously to the following address: ESC/NI4, 5 Eglin Street, Bldg 1624, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-2100, (Attn: Ms Kathleen Munroe). Please refer any questions regarding this RFI to Mr. Frank W. Holmes Jr., e-mail (frank.holmesjr@hanscom.af.mil) and to Ms. Katleen Munroe e-mail (kathleen.munroe@hanscom.af.mil) simultaneously please. See Note 26.
- Web Link
-
ESC Business Opportunities Web Page
(http://www.herbb.hanscom.af.mil)
- Place of Performance
- Address: ESC/NI4, 5 Eglin Street, Bldg 1624, Hanscom AFB MA
- Zip Code: 01731-2100
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 01731-2100
- Record
- SN00690089-W 20041008/041006211803 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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