SPECIAL NOTICE
99 -- Automated Spectrum Coordination System (ASCS) Program Announcement
- Notice Date
- 11/18/2021 10:37:09 AM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- Contracting Office
- DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY FORT MEADE MD 207550549 USA
- ZIP Code
- 207550549
- Solicitation Number
- ASCS_RFI
- Response Due
- 12/10/2021 2:00:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 12/25/2021
- Point of Contact
- Richard S. Paul, Kasey Pugh
- E-Mail Address
-
richard.s.paul2.civ@mail.mil, kasey.a.pugh.civ@mail.mil
(richard.s.paul2.civ@mail.mil, kasey.a.pugh.civ@mail.mil)
- Description
- Automated Spectrum Coordination System (ASCS) Program Announcement � In early 2020, the White House and DoD formed ""America's Mid-Band Initiative Team,""�or AMBIT, with the goal of making a contiguous, 100-Megahertz (MHz) segment of mid-band spectrum available for use by commercial 5G deployments. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) put this goal to motion in June 2020 by notifying the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of its plan to auction licenses in the 3450-3550 MHz band in December 2020.� The band was previously limited to federal use. By October 2020, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O) and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 20-138, WT Docket No. 19-348) that established rules of creation for the new band. In March 2021, the FCC released a Second Report and Order (FCC 21-32, WT Docket No. 19-348) and a Public Notice (FCC 21-33, AU Docket No. 21-62) that announced the planned auction of new flexible-use licenses in the 3450 � 3550 MHz band (Auction 110). The Second R&O established the formal coordination procedures and required the DoD to develop and operate an online portal through which licensees would formally coordinate the cooperative sharing of bandwidth between DoD components and commercial entities in the 3450-3550 MHz band. Auction 110 is ongoing as of late-October 2021.� This auction offers 4,060 new licenses throughout the contiguous United States. Specific geographic areas under auction will be designated as either Cooperative Planning Areas (CPAs), where the DoD identifies shared federal-licensee space where licensees must coordinate with federal incumbent users, and Periodic Use Areas (PUAs), where there are periods of restricted use to licensees due to DoD required use. To enable expedient commercial access to CPAs, the NTIA recommended the use of an interim coordination portal, similar to the portals used in other recent spectrum auctions. The DSO generated a Transition Plan for the 3450-3550 MHz band to include the development and deployment of: (1) an Interim Portal for Initial Coordination to ensure effective communication between all parties within CPAs, and (2) a more robust, dynamic software with the necessary capability to coordinate between DoD and commercials users more rapidly.� This follow-on system, the Automated Spectrum Coordination System (ASCS) will ultimately replace an Interim Portal for Initial Coordination and all associated functions (the subject of this program announcement). THIS IS A PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP). NO SOLICITATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. OVERVIEW/PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION OF PROCUREMENT: DISA DSO seeks industry feedback on capabilities, potential tools, innovative approaches, and any other pertinent information that industry believes would enhance the ASCS program. This feedback is to determine the art of the possible from all aspects of the potential ASCS solution and approach. The Draft Statement of Need (See Appendix 1) outlines the areas for which the Government desires additional information. � � � �2. REQUESTED FEEDBACK: All requested information facilitates the Government�s market research efforts and informs the Government�s acquisition approach. At this time, DISA DSO is in the early stages of market research and intends to implement other market research approaches in the future possibly including but not limited to: Requests for Information, Program Manager Question & Answer session(s), Reverse Industry Day(s), One-on-One sessions with companies, Roundtables, and/or Networking Session(s). The feedback gained from this Program Announcement will help to steer market research initiatives and the ASCS acquisition approach. DISA DSO encourages respondents to share innovative ideas on how to approach the capabilities outlined in the Statement of Need (See Appendix 1). DISA DSO also encourages respondents to share tools or acquisition approaches that can be leveraged to better meet the high-level requirements. This announcement is a starting point for future market research and to capture industry�s capabilities, tools, and technologies that already exist against this problem set. It also helps inform the acquisition strategy for how DISA DSO will procure these capabilities. � � � � �3. RESPONSE GUIDELINES: Interested parties should respond to this Program Announcement with a white paper that shall not exceed two (2) pages, single spaced, 11-point type with at least one-inch margins on 8 1/2� X 11� page size.� Cover pages are not included in the page limit.� Given the limited page count, responses are not expected to be comprehensive � they should focus on key recommendations and capabilities that may provide perspectives and/or may lead to additional Market Research engagements by the Government. � � � � � � a.�Cover pages shall include the following information: Company Name Company Address Point of Contact (Primary) Phone Number E-mail Address Cage Code DUNS Company Web Page Other Classifications (e.g. large business, small business, SDB, HUBZone, 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.) Government Wide, DoD, or DISA contracts/ vehicles that can be used to access your capabilities � � � � � � � b.�Responses can be in any format within the aforementioned guidelines, and they should focus on any combination of the following: Provide your reasoning for responding to this Program Announcement and why your company could help to support the Statement of Need (See Appendix 1) Provide any other corporate information relevant to this requirement. Provide information regarding your company�s technical experience, capabilities, tools, approaches, innovations and/or ideas that the Government should consider for this effort. This will inform the Government on existing capabilities and how to best shape this acquisition. Provide recommended technical or development approaches that the Government should consider for this effort. This can include tools to leverage, different development approaches, different ways of dividing an integrating the capabilities, etc. These recommendations will help the Government to better approach this future acquisition Provide any recommended acquisition approaches that the Government should consider for this effort. This includes anything and everything such as: Using Basic Ordering Agreements, leveraging Commercial Solutions Openings, ordering under existing Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity vehicles, applying Other Transaction authorities, and employing any other approaches that would efficiently meet program needs. ??????? The response should not exceed a 5 MB e-mail limit for all items associated with the Program Announcement response.� Oral communications are not permissible at this time but may be entertained in the future.� Companies who wish to respond to this Program Announcement should send responses via email no later than 10 December 2021 to Richard S. Paul (richard.s.paul2.civ@mail.mil) and Kasey Pugh (kasey.a.pugh.civ@mail.mil). Companies are highly encouraged to send their responses prior to the due date. INDUSTRY DISCUSSIONS: DISA DSO representatives may choose to reach out to select companies for additional discussions as a result of this Program Announcement.� Such discussions would only be used to obtain further information as part of market research. QUESTIONS: Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by email richard.s.paul2.civ@mail.mil. ��Verbal questions will NOT be accepted.� Answers to questions will be posted to SAM.gov.� The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 29 November 2021 will be answered.� The Government will not reimburse companies for any costs associated with the submissions of their responses. DISCLAIMER: This Program Announcement is not an RFP and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.� Responses will not be considered as proposals nor will any award be made as a result of this program announcement.� All information contained in the Program Announcement is preliminary as well as subject to modification and is in no way binding on the Government.� Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.215-3, �Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes�, is incorporated by reference in this Program Announcement.� The Government does not intend to pay for information received in response to this Program Announcement.� Responders to this invitation are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Program Announcement.� This Program Announcement will be the basis for collecting information on capabilities available, acquisition approaches, development approaches, etc.� This Program Announcement is issued solely for information and planning purposes. Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials.� All information received in this Program Announcement that is marked �Proprietary� will be handled accordingly.� Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed.� In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this Program Announcement are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Appendix 1: Initial Statement of Need 3450-3550 Spectrum Sharing Initiative Automated Spectrum Coordination System (ASCS) I. Procurement Outcomes. ASCS must automate the entire coordination process. To meet the intent of the transition plan, the Government will structure the ASCS acquisition with separate components.� To maximize optionality and enable DSO to continuously improve and enhance the technical solution, all aspects of the ASCS solution will adhere to a Modular Open Systems Architecture.� ASCS components may be procured separately. II. Key Capabilities. Workflow Management and External Interfaces � ASCS is envisioned to automate the end-to-end coordination business process as well as the periodic usage process. To support this functionality, ASCS must be accessible by commercial licensees over the open internet as well as by DoD users operating on DoD networks. ASCS is also envisioned to interface with modular Electromagnetic Interference and Compatibility (EMI/EMC) capabilities across multiple Impact Levels (ILs). Electromagnetic Interference and Coexistence (EMI/EMC) Capabilities � ASCS will rely on a robust suite of EMI and EMC capabilities that are tailored to the target band, the type of commercial equipment deployed, and incumbent DoD systems (e.g., radars). In addition to automated EMI/EMC analysis, the EMI/EMC capabilities are envisioned to integrate with the workflow management capability to ensure full end-to-end automation is possible. These capabilities must also provide DoD users with access to detailed analysis results through an intuitive interface. DSO expects these robust EMI/EMC capabilities to be modular and accessed via the ASCS Workflow Manager. Advanced Concept Exploration � ASCS is envisioned to rely on a team of experts that will explore advanced EMI/EMC concepts for application in the deployed ASCS solution. This team of experts will coordinate amongst stakeholders to define and improve AMBIT workflows, conduct test and demonstration activities, explore DoD system characteristics, apply data catalog approaches, and devise innovative and improved EMI/EMC concepts for ASCS implementation. III. Key Challenges. Data management: Successful ASCS implementation will require robust data management approaches.� This includes both data at rest and data in transit.� Additionally, ASCS must enable the transit of spectrum data across Impact Levels to enable accurate spectrum analysis and maximize user accessibility to ASCS information.� Commercial users will access ASCS at IL-2 Some commercial users may have limited access at IL-4 DoD users will have access at IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and possibly higher Any capabilities residing on DoD networks must be appropriately Authorized to Operate ASCS software should be user-centric and implement DevSecOps methodologies � To this end, the Government will consider procuring software development factories versus defined capabilities.� Enterprise capability offerings such as the Platform One Party Bus that (1) operates with a continuous Authority to Operate and (2) maximizes re-use of existing hardened containers are preferred. User satisfaction and stakeholder buy-in of DoD and non-DoD ASCS users and leadership is paramount.� Users will include: Frequency Management Offices Service Spectrum Management Offices Commercial network operators (licensees) To enable automation, confidence in the results produced by ASCS must be built amongst the diverse stakeholder community. The ability to integrate capabilities developed across the DoD is envisioned to be a critical aspect to bringing together a robust ASCS solution. IV. Divergence from Other Spectrum Sharing Initiatives. ASCS is distinctly different from other spectrum sharing initiatives that DSO has procured in the past. This list is not comprehensive but represents elements that DSO seeks with ASCS: Full automation: ASCS will fully automate the end-to-end coordination business process, removing humans from the analysis process Modularity: ASCS will implement a modular open systems approach, enabling rapid capability enhancement in a �plug and play� approach Incumbent Systems: DoD incumbent radar systems require different considerations for enabling accurate EMI/EMC analyses. Licensee and DoD User Satisfaction: successful software implementation will incorporate users from the beginning, ensuring their satisfaction drives development Cross Domain: ASCS data management challenges, driven by full automation, require the ability to rapidly transition information across impact levels.
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://beta.sam.gov/opp/806fbf5ec13042fea2726cbc0cd70d73/view)
- Record
- SN06180101-F 20211120/211118230122 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
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