Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contracts Management Office (CMO), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington VA 22203-1714

A -- TACTICAL COMMON DATA LINK PROGRAM POC Ms. Gladys Reichlen, (703) 284-8878 or Fax (703) 527-5042/Ms. Jane. The Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office (DARO) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) currently are planning the execution of a technology development and demonstration program leading to a Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL). Although program details have not been finalized, it has been determined that this program will be executed under the authority of Section 845 of the 1994 Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 103-160), as extended by Section 804 of the 1997 Defense Authorization Act. The overall goal of the TCDL program is to develop a family of digital data links that are CDL-interoperable to support air-to-surface transmission of radar, imagery, video, and other sensor information. The TCDL data links will support both manned and unmanned airborne reconnaissance programs including Reef Point, Rivet Joint, Joint STARS, Airborne Reconnaissance Low (ARL), Outrider, Predator, and others. The TCDL will interoperate with existing CDL systems operating at the 10.71 Mbps Return Link and the 200 Kbps Command Link data rates. Further goals of the TCDL program are to emphasize an open architecture using state-of-the-art communications technology and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) systems and components. An industry briefing will be held on 4 February 1997 at 7525 Colshire Drive, McLean, Virginia 22102, or at a nearby location, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 1:00 p.m. This briefing will be classified U.S. Secret. The CDL specification is releasable to U.S. firms only. Clearance messages should be submitted not later than 12:00 noon, 31 January 1997, to the following TWO locations: (1) Ms. Mary Diaz, Mitretek Systems, Inc., 7525 Colshire Drive, McLean, Virginia 22102, fax (703) 610-2773, tel (703) 610-1893, and (2) Ms. Jane Hutto, The MITRE Corporation, fax (703) 883-7762, tel (703) 883-7450. Sign-in will begin at 7:00 A.M., and photo-identification will be required. The briefing will provide an overview of the TCDL program and will address Section 845 authority and background, technical goals of the TCDL, and open systems architecture goals. The briefing will not address detailed technical issues. Companies should consider being represented by management, contracting, and legal disciplines. Space is limited, so each company should limit their participation to three individuals. A draft document containing technical requirements will be distributed at the briefing, and industry comments are requested by 19 February 1997. Industry proposals will be solicited in a subsequent CBD announcement. (0015)

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