SOURCES SOUGHT
D -- Satellite Bandwidth Options
- Notice Date
- 3/8/2005
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 517410
— Satellite Telecommunications
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Administrative Support Center, Norfolk Federal Building, 200 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA, 23510
- ZIP Code
- 23510
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-NAAN4330-5-00006
- Response Due
- 3/28/2005
- Archive Date
- 4/12/2005
- Description
- THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICITATION. NOAA does not intend to award a contract based on this information. This Sources Sought/Request for Information (RFI) is for planning and market research purposes only. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking information from industry regarding satellite bandwidth options to supplement and possibly replace its Inmarsat Satellite System currently being used. At this time NOAA is not certain what the most appropriate, cost efficient method is to fulfill its bandwidth needs, as such industry is sought to provide information relative to the goals set forth below. BACKGROUND: Since the early 80's NOAA vessels have used the Inmarsat Satellite System in a dial up mode for voice, data and file transfer. While costs have come down this alternative no longer meets NOAA's needs. At this time NOAA has 18 active vessels. 14 are equipped with Inmarsat-B High Speed Terminals; 12 of which are manufactured by Nera and 2 are manufactured by Furuno. One vessel is equipped with a Fleet 55 system and one coastal vessel, uses cellular. NOAA anticipates adding up to 6 vessels to this fleet in the next 8 years. Descriptions of the current NOAA Fleet can be viewed at: www.moc.noaa.gov. Currently the Inmarsat-B equipped vessels use the system for e-mail, large file transfer and voice. Vessels establish a connection at an average rate of two to four times in a 24 hour period. In addition, these same vessels will utilize cellular for both voice and data when in range of a cellular data service area. From the research conducted to date, NOAA believes that there are two (2) distinctly different ways to satisfy its need(s) as follows: Option 1: Implement 24/7 always on or always available access that will provide a minimum 128kbps bandwidth to equip 8 of the 14 vessels with this minimum capability. Three (3) of these 8 vessels will routinely operate in remote areas of the Pacific Ocean between 45 degrees north and 45 degrees south latitudes. All 8 of these vessels are equipped with Nera-B High Speed terminals. NOAA desires the ability to lease sufficient bandwidth to allow for up to four (4) vessels to automatically share the bandwidth, with each vessel receiving the minimum 128kbps, or one (1) vessel utilizing the full 512kbps. Option 2: Change its business practices to implement sending raw data to shore rather than processing it aboard the vessel. Minimum requirement for this enhanced capability would be the equivalent of T-1 service (1.54Mbps) for 6 of the 14 vessels. Also desired with this service is "voice over IP" or some method of converting analog voice to data for transmission over the data link. Each of these 6 vessels will routinely operate in remote areas of both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans between 60 degrees north and 60 degrees south latitudes. One of these vessels, will, on occasion, require communications around the world. Under both options listed above, Virtual Private Network (VPN) service from the vessel to NOAA servers ashore is necessary. All data to and from an earth station must be transferred to NOAA Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD using a VPN with 1.54 Mbps or a dedicated point-to-point T1 connection. Data must be secure from end to end. Data to be passed will be both personal and government "for official use only". No classified data is anticipated. NOAA will require that service providers have repair facilities on the East, West and Gulf Coasts of the continental U.S. as well as repair facilities in Hawaii and Alaska. The option to lease or own the actual vessel equipment is part of the market research being conducted; therefore, industry is welcome to provide information on this requirement as well. The general parameters to consider when providing feedback are: 1) Can your firm offer one of the above listed options? If so, is it currently available today? 2) Can a general order of magnitude as to cost be provided for one or both options? If so please provide with feedback to assist in the decision making process. 3) Can either option be provided for a period of two (2) years? 4) What other alternative methods or combinations of methods to meeting the need as described above do you recommend? Interested firms are requested to provide feedback to the above general parameters. Interested firms are asked to provide feedback via e-mail to Melissa Sampson at Melissa.r.sampson@noaa.gov by March 28, 2005. This is again for information purposes only and to identify potential sources, The Government will not pay for any material provided to it in response to this synopsis and submittals will not be returned to the sender. Questions regarding this request for information should be directed to Ms Sampson at 757-441-6561.
- Place of Performance
- Address: N/A
- Record
- SN00764428-W 20050310/050308211825 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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