HQ Electronic Systems Center, JTIDS Contracting Division (TGK), 175 Vandenberg Drive, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731-2138

58 -- JOINT TACTICAL INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (JTIDS) CLASS 2M TERMINAL FULL RATE PRODUCTION POC Paul Canham, Contracting Officer, 617-377-9317; Gabriel M. Groves, Contract Negotiator, 617-377-9301. HQ Electronic Systems Center announces a requirement for 34 Joint Tactical Information Distribution Systems (JTIDS) Full Rate Production (FRP) Class 2M terminals to be procured in Fiscal Year 1997 with an option to buy 11 additional terminals in Fiscal Year 1998 and the potential for an unspecified quantity of units for Foreign Military Sales. JTIDS is an advanced radio system that provides electronic warfare resistant information distribution, position location, and identification capabilities in an integrated form for application to military operations. These capabilities result from the system's ability to distribute information at high data rates, encrypted and transmitted to provide secure, jam resistant, highly reliable communications in hostile electromagnetic environments. JTIDS provides a broadcast capability to interconnect multiple sources and users of information in the upper UHF band of 960 to 1215 MHz. It provides surface and airborne elements with a position location capability within a common position reference grid and an intrinsic identification capability through the dissemination of secure position and identification information. These capabilities are derived from the JTIDS nodeless structure, encryption capability, time division multiple access structure, pseudorandom data coding, frequency hopping, spread spectrum, and multiple net features. While the JTIDS Class 2M (Modified) terminal incorporates the features identified, it was designed specifically for Army ground based operations. In 1985 the Army identified a need for a modified JTIDS terminal that was smaller and lighter in weight than the existing Class 2 terminal, consisted of a single line replaceable unit, had an increased reliability, and reduced cost. The Army's specific requirements for the Class 2M include terminal weight of less than 88 lbs., a user rate less than 8 Kbps, connectivity of 85% in a non-jamming environment and 70% in a jamming environment, and a Mean Time Between Operational Mission Failures (MTBOMF) of 393 hours. A development contract was awarded to General Electric Co. - Marconi Electronic Systems Corporation (GEC-Marconi) in 1985 for the design, development and test of 24 terminals. GEC-Marconi contracted with Rockwell International Corporation, Collins Avionics & Communications Division (CACD), for the design and fabrication of the Receiver Transmitter Sub-Assembly (RTSA). Delivery of the 24 development model terminals occurred from March 1988 to September 1990. These terminals have been/are being used for developmental and operational testing and platform integration. Specific Army platforms that will use these terminals include Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD), Patriot, Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), Joint Tactical Ground Systems (JTAGS), Corps Surface to Air Missile (Corps SAM), and Army Theater Missile Defense Tactical Operations Center (ATMD TOC). Since the original build of the first 24 Class 2M's, the terminal has undergone a three-phase Product Improvement Program (PIP) from December 1991 to October 1994. PIP Phase 1, awarded to GEC-Marconi, improved the terminal's front panel consistent with manpower and personnel integration investigations, and replaced two contractor proprietary Central Processing Units (CPU) with two common off-the-shelf Motorola 25 MHz 68030 CPUs common to all JTIDS terminals. Additionally, the RTSA was modified to incorporate features required by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for frequency allocation. A new battery with a replaceable NICAD pack was also installed. PIP Phase 2 included a contract award to GEC-Marconi for further chassis updates, a new Common Signal Processor (CSP) for use in all JTIDS terminals, and an award to CACD-Rockwell for a common Receiver/Synthesizer module for the RTSA. PIP Phase 3, awarded to GEC-Marconi, consolidated Shop Replaceable Units (SRUs) and shortened the length of the Class 2M chassis, thereby reducing terminal weight to approximately 83 lbs. PIP Phase 3 also produced a combined operational computer program so as to run on a single 29 MHz 68030 CPU. Concurrently with the three PIP Phases, a capability was developed for loading operational software into the terminal using a laptop computer connected to an external port. The product of the PIP efforts is a lower weight/lower cost terminal with increased reliability, maintainability and produceability. Some of the other changes now incorporated into the terminal configuration include: Substitution of the Position, Location, and Reporting System (PLRS) JTIDS Hybrid Interface (PJHI) card with the Army Data Distribution Systems Integration (ADDSI) card, various software updates, and a reconfiguration of boards due to obsolete parts and white wires. In June 1994, the final Class 2M development contract was awarded to GEC-Marconi for 20 terminals for the THAAD, Patriot, and Corps SAM platforms. The terminals produced under this contract established the configuration baseline for the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract. The LRIP contract was also awarded to GEC-Marconi in 1996 for the production and test of 37 terminals and associated spares. This total includes FMS requirements. The Fiscal Year 1997 and 1998 requirements will also contemplate FMS users. Delivery of the 37 LRIP terminals and associated spares is scheduled to take place between November 1997 and May 1999. In March 1997, the JTIDS Joint Program Office (JPO) will seek Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) authority to proceed with a Class 2M Full Rate Production (FRP) buy. Upon receiving authority to proceed, the JTIDS JPO will release a Request for Proposal (RFP) for FRP. On the basis of the above history of the program, the Electronic Systems Center intends to issue a RFP for the build to GEC-Marconi Systems. The anticipated statutory authority to do so is 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1) which states ''only a limited number of responsible sources and no other supplies or services will satisfy the requirements.'' However, if a firm believes it can meet the JTIDS requirements, then submit a qualification package not to exceed fifteen (15) pages that clearly indicates your: (a) Experience in developing and producing systems that provide information distribution, position location, and identification capabilities. In particular it must address the ability to meet the capabilities as derived from the JTIDS nodeless structure, embedded cryptographic capability, time division multiple access architecture, pseudorandom data coding, frequency hopping, spread spectrum, and multiple net features. It must also prove the firm's ability to meet the Army requirements previously called out in this synopsis, the Army Operational Requirements Document (ORD) for JTIDS, and the JTIDS Class 2M System Segment Specification. Any proposed system must be fully interoperable with the JTIDS waveform and data distribution capabilities. The firm must also prove the capability to provide detailed data packages inclusive of Level 3 drawings, cost reports, etc., (b) Production capabilities sufficient to provide a cost efficient production program, (c) Capability in meeting delivery schedule beginning twenty-one (21) months after contract award for a period up to twelve (12) consecutive months thereafter. Delivery quantities per month must be at least three (3), and (d) Capability to and experience in managing and operating a logistics repair facility capable of repairing all delivered hardware within a forty-five (45) day turn around time. Note that complete data packages to permit full and open competition are not available. Please submit your qualification package no later than fifteen (15) days from the date of the CBD publication. An Ombudsman has been appointed to hear concerns from offerors or potential offerors during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. The purpose of the Ombudsman is not to diminish the authority of the program director or contracting officer, but to communicate contractor concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate Government personnel. When requested, the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals. Interested parties are invited to call Dr. Phillip Panzarella at (617)377-5527. The Ombudsman should only be contacted with issues or problems that have been previously brought to the attention of the program manager and/or the contracting officer and could not be satisfactorily resolved at that level. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only, does not constitute a solicitation, and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Two (2) copies of your qualification information packages are required. The Government will solicit those firms meeting the screening criteria in this synopsis. Sources deemed qualified will receive a RFP. Any firm judged not qualified will be provided a copy of the solicitation on request and any proposal that a firm might submit will be evaluated without prejudice. All responses will be reviewed/evaluated and respondents will be notified of the results. Please address any questions to Ms. Gabriel Groves at (617)377-9301 or Mr. Paul Canham at (617)377-9317. See Numbered Note(s): 25, 26. (0200)

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