SOURCES SOUGHT
58 -- RFI - Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (MANET) - MANET RFI
- Notice Date
- 4/30/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 334220
— Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Other Defense Agencies, U.S. Special Operations Command, Headquarters Procurement Division, 7701 Tampa Point Blvd, MacDill AFB, Florida, 33621-5323
- ZIP Code
- 33621-5323
- Solicitation Number
- H92222-12-XXXXX
- Archive Date
- 5/30/2012
- Point of Contact
- Deanna Cox, Phone: 813 826 6968, Jonathan H. Katz, Phone: 813-826-7046
- E-Mail Address
-
deanna.cox@socom.mil, jonathan.katz@socom.mil
(deanna.cox@socom.mil, jonathan.katz@socom.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- MANET RFI This request for information (RFI) is for planning purposes only and shall not be considered as an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or the Government use of such information. The information provided may be used by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in developing its acquisition strategy, statement of work/statement of objectives, or performance specifications. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request for information or to otherwise pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI. The USSOCOM is requesting industry comment on its ability to provide non-developmental, Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (MANET) capability that will enable dismounted SOF to establish and to maintain a high throughput wireless network without relying on any existing fixed infrastructure. The MANET devices must be configured for man portable, fixed and airborne requirements and can operate in highly mobile environments. The system may operate in isolation, or may have gateways to and interface with a fixed network. In the latter operational mode, it is typically envisioned to operate as a "stub" network connecting to a fixed internetwork. Stub networks carry traffic originating at and/or destined for internal nodes, but does not automatically permit exogenous traffic to "transit" through the stub network.... MANET nodes are equipped with wireless transmitters and receivers using antennas which may be omni-directional (broadcast), highly-directional (point-to-point), possibly steerable, or some combination thereof. At a given point in time, depending on the nodes' positions and their transmitter and receiver coverage patterns, transmission power levels and co-channel interference levels, a wireless connectivity in the form of a random, multi-hop graph or "ad hoc" network exists between the nodes. This ad hoc topology may change with time as the nodes move or adjust their transmission and reception parameters. The overall goal of USSOCOM's mobile ad hoc networking is to extend mobility into the realm of autonomous, mobile, wireless domains, where a set of nodes that may be combined routers that form the network routing infrastructure in an ad hoc fashion. SOF requires a capability for persistent information and intelligence collection during all phases of combat operations. SOF lacks the capability to quickly transmit ISR data among deployed tactical teams. Thus, critical information is not reaching decision makers in near real time and as such don't have access to actionable information when needed. There are three elements needed to provide such capabilities they include a man-portable device, one for use on platforms and a directional antenna system to extend the MANET capability from team to team and deployed headquarters element. The man portable device must be lightweight, include an integrated GPS receiver and must be modular-like so it can be adaptable for at least four different frequency configurations, including the Public Safety Band (4.9 GHz). The unit must be able to operate from an integral rechargeable and non-rechargeable commercial batteries (e.g., AA Batteries), providing at least 8 hours of operation and external batteries such as the BA-5590, BA-2590 and their rechargeable variants. Such external batteries must provide at least 36 hours of continuous operation from a fully charged battery. The internal router must contain a Mil-Spec IP67 rated Ethernet port for connecting various mobile computing devices, e.g., laptop or tablet. The proposed system will come with a battery eliminator so it can operate off of platform power from which it is being operated. The system's battery will be maintained fully charged when the system is being operated from platform power. The Airborne device may be the same as the man portable device but additional channels are desired. It must be operated from platform power and be able to enter into the ground mobile network. It will be a client in the network but will primarily serve as a relay device supporting range extension. This device must participate in the same MANET without impact on the performance of the network. More than one integral wireless radio is desired so it can participate in the network providing simultaneous backhaul and connectivity and self-configuring routing to network members. The radio's router should be capable of forwarding up to 30 Mbps of TCP throughput and should be able to provide at least single hop backhaul simultaneously with connectivity to member devices. The Fixed/Ground Mobile device shall be comparable to the airborne device in electronic performance but shall include a tracking directional antenna system that will maintain connectivity with the airborne device mounted in a manned or unmanned aerial vehicle. The tracking antenna system will provide the necessary frequencies/power/gain to support up to 30 Mbps throughput. SWaP is of importance as it is for all the other aforementioned requirements an thus the entire system should not weigh more than 80 lbs when configured for transport, capable of low temperature operations (-30 to +45 C) without compromise of metal components when subjected to cold temperatures. The following architectural view represents one scenario for which this capability will be employed. Respondents should address the following criteria in their submission: Tx/Rx Frequency Range Battery life Bandwidth and associated throughput (Mbps) Ease of Setup Ease of Operation Form factor/SWaP Antenna Gain (EIRP) for both handheld receiver and tracking antenna Network Architecture (Full Mesh) Encryption capability (include any NSA approvals/certifications) Integrated GPS Provide Quality of Service (QoS) capability: priorities and bandwidth control Manual override of channel and power assignment Operate in environments from open sea to urban. Data at Rest Once industry information is received detailing potential technologically mature capabilities, USSOCOM may publish a follow-on synopsis requesting further information and industry comments on a refined set of requirements along with a draft acquisition strategy and milestone schedule. Interested parties shall respond, within 30 days after release of this RFI, with existing or near-term mature capabilities or products that meet all or a subset of the aforementioned attributes. Reponses that include information detailing potential tradeoffs or alternative solutions is encouraged. Program and technical point of contact is Mr. Mark Spadaro, 813-826-7263; email spadarom@socom.mil. This announcement is a request for information/comment only and does not constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP). An RFP may be posted on Fed Biz Ops at some future time. However, the Government does not guarantee any action beyond this RFI.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/USSOCOM/SOAL-KB/H92222-12-XXXXX/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02734997-W 20120502/120430235832-b728d304719f9de6b429f0903e70839a (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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