SPECIAL NOTICE
D -- satellite phone service
- Notice Date
- 4/14/2015
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 517410
— Satellite Telecommunications
- Contracting Office
- Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Acquisition Management Division (VA), 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2133, Arlington, Virginia, 22209-3939
- ZIP Code
- 22209-3939
- Solicitation Number
- 15-MSHA-AAM-NAT-0126
- Archive Date
- 5/5/2015
- Point of Contact
- John Lee Smithson IV, Phone: 2026939854
- E-Mail Address
-
smithson.john@dol.gov
(smithson.john@dol.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administratioin (MSHA), intends to award a sole source contract under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 8.405-6 (B)(1) Limiting Sources, Brand Name and FAR 13.106-1 (b)(1) - Soliciting from a single source for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, to NI Government Services Inc 4950 W Prospect Rd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 the proposed action will acquire Satellite Service Agreement for the MSHA uses the Satellite Telephones as a mission critical tool during mine emergencies. The devices are used by the mine emergency team members to relay critical information throughout MSHA. Without the MSAT G2 phone service the mine emergency team would not be able to communicate with mining experts from remote locations and obtain valuable information about various situations involving mine emergencies that could save lives of trapped or endangered miners.(MSHA) Satellite Phones. MSHA is responsible for handling Mine Emergency Operations (MEO) and communication with specialist throughout MSHA is a key factor to there success. The satellite phones are used as a means of communications in rough terrain where cell phone and other telephony communications are extremely limited in not non-existent. MSAT-G2 Satellite Telephones have been used by MSHA during mine emergencies for years. MSHA currently utilizes MSAT-G2 Satellite Telephones with CONUS 3-beam service. Switching to other technologies is cost prohibitive and would cause MSHA down time to have to re-train numerous staff members. Due to the sensitive nature of MEO MSHA needs to remain with the current technology to avoid any gaps in service, downtime due to installing new equipment and retraining of personnel. Altering or lapse of service could significantly impact the effectiveness of the MEO operations and communications that are needed in an emergency situation. Changing providers would require the purchase of new equipment such as the phones and other hardware associated with this service. It would also involve re-installation of the devices on vehicles and other mobile units currently owned by MSHA. Network Innovations is the sole provider of this service and MSAT G2 capabilities refer to attached document. Replacement of the MSAT equipment could be in excess of what MSHA paid for the current equipment, and would require a significant amount of time to re-train and re-distribute different equipment throughout the country. MSHA currently stores the MSAT devices in approximately 10 locations strategically placed throughout the country. When MSHA originally purchased the satellite telephones other products were considered. However, the MSAT-G2 Satellite Telephones with CONUS 3-beam technology were the most cost-effective for MSHA. The government has a continuing need for these services and this is the only source the agency can use. Although the products are proprietary in nature, all items are available through numerous resellers. Again, if other technologies are put in place it would be cost prohibitive and cause MSHA down time to retrain numerous staff members. Because of the sensitive nature of MEO MSHA must stay with the current technology to avoid any gaps in service. Other types of satellite phones have been tested in the past and it has been determined the MSAT G2 is the most reliable and has proven to provide the best coverage with minimal dropped calls. MSHA has decided to standardize on this platform for MEO operations for simplicity of the users and effectiveness of the service. MSHA has tested and used multiple providers in the past of which none of them have been as effective as the MSAT G2 service MSHA currently is using. MSHA feels it is in the best interest of the users to standardize on this service because of ease of use and reliability. Similar phone that have been tested in the past prove to be hard for our users to use effectively, do not perform as well, drop more active calls, and require international dialing to and from the phones which can incur additional charges for MSHA.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOL/MSHA/ArlingtonVA/15-MSHA-AAM-NAT-0126/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Various location throughout the country, United States
- Record
- SN03699358-W 20150416/150414235737-e4d95d26023a9e156c163336f9fc7034 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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