Commander, Marine Corps System Command, Code CTQ, 2033 Barnett Avenue, Ste 315, Quantico, VA 22134-5010

58 -- COMMON AVIATION COMMAND AND CONTROL (CAC2S) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) DUE 020698 POC POCs Mrs. Ellen Simonoff, Contracting Officer; 703-784-5822 x 246; Colonel Thigpen, Program Manager, 703-784-2232; LtCol Barrett, Requirements Officer, 703-784-3321 WEB: The Mission Need Statement (MNS) and the Operational Requirements Document (ORD) for CAC2S may be found under the Approved Documents section of the Requirements Division on the MCCDC home page, http://138.156.112.14/CDCHome.nsf. E-MAIL: Contact the Requirements Officer via email for additional technical information, barrettj@quantico.usmc.mil. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION -- C4I Directorate of the United States Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) is requesting available information to assist in an analysis of alternatives (AoA) for potential aviation command and control systems. 1. INTRODUCTION: The Marine Corps deploys Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs) throughout the world to meet operational commitments. MAGTFs must be capable of fighting across the entire operational continuum, with a special emphasis on crisis response from a forward presence, rapid power projection, and forcible entry. The Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) must provide responsive air command and control support in an austere expeditionary environment for MAGTF operations across the entire spectrum of conflict and in smaller scale contingencies (SSC) (formerly military operations other than war (MOOTW)). Furthermore, the MACCS must evolve to meet the requirements of Operational Maneuver from the Sea, including support for all phases of ship-to-objective maneuver. Under the concept of Operational Maneuver from the Sea, all, or a large part, of air command and control will remain sea based throughout the operation. In addition, the MACCS must be capable of supporting subsequent operations ashore (SOA) and SSC. To meet these requirements, the MACCS must be flexible enough to provide air command and control support to the MAGTF while afloat, while ashore, and during transition from one to the other. The Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S) will provide the MACCS with the capability to accomplish these tasks. CAC2S will be the capstone air command and control system for the Marine Corps and will be a component of the MAGTF command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) architecture. 2. BACKGROUND: The CAC2S program is currently in Phase 0 Concept Exploration. Recently, the Marine Corps began an analysis of alternatives (AoA) to support a Milestone I decision by illuminating the relative advantages and disadvantages of candidate solutions to the CAC2S. The AoA is looking for alternatives that will satisfy program objectives while minimizing cost and schedule parameters. Additionally, the Marine Corps established an integrated product team (IPT) for CAC2S to provide guidance for identification of current and future operational requirements, concepts of employment, and possible organizational changes. The Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps approved the CAC2S ORD on 10 November 1997. CAC2S is considered to be a potential Acquisition Category (ACAT) III program. The following are key CAC2S objectives: a. CAC2S will maintain a balanced approach to aviation command and control by addressing three main areas equally: 1) command center operations, 2) battlefield air control, and 3) offensive antiair warfare (OOAW) / theater ballistic missile defense (TMD). b. CAC2S will consolidate support for the functions of the following current MACG agencies on a common hardware platform with a suite of common software. Tactical air command center (TACC). The TACC is the senior agency in the MACCS and is the one agency that exercises command. It serves as the operational command post (CP) of the air combat element (ACE) and facilitates planning, supervision, coordination, and execution of current and future air operations. Tactical air operations center (TAOC). The TAOC provides control, management, and surveillance for assigned airspace; navigational assistance to friendly aircraft; detection, identification, and control of the intercept of hostile aircraft and missiles; and functions as an alternate TACC when directed. Direct air support center (DASC). The DASC provides the means to process immediate air requests, coordinates aircraft employment with other supporting arms, manages terminal control assets supporting ground combat and combat service support forces, and controls assigned aircraft and itinerant aircraft transiting through its area of responsibility. Direct air support for the ground combat element's (GCE) close operations is controlled and directed from the DASC. Marine air traffic control detachment (MATC Det). The MATC Det provides friendly aircraft with continuous all-weather radar, approach, departure, and en route air traffic control (ATC) services within assigned controlled airspace. The MATC Det is the base defense zone coordinator and MATC capabilities are integrated into the overall MAGTF's integrated air defense (IADS) whenever possible. Low altitude air defense battalion (LAAD Bn). LAAD provides close-in, low-altitude surface-to-air weapons fires in defense of forward combat areas, vital areas, and installations. c. Functions common to all current MACCS agencies will make up the core software of the CAC2S, with agency-unique functions selectable from every workstation. d. The hardware and software that make up CAC2S will be scalable and configurable by adding or deleting individual communications, processing and display, sensor interface, and shelter modules as necessary to meet mission requirements. e. TheCAC2S processing and display modules will be fully operational aboard U.S. Navy ships as an integral part of a naval air command and control architecture. f. CAC2S will be compliant with the Defense Information Infrastructure (DII) Common Operating Environment (COE) to ensure interoperability with other Marine Corps, naval and joint C4I systems. g. To enhance MACCS mobility, CAC2S will be ground transportable by high mobility, multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV). Individual CAC2S items of equipment -- workstations, displays, printers, etc. will be man portable. h. CAC2S will operate from a variety of configurations, including HMMWV-mounted shelters, tactical shelters, general purpose tents, and/or available civilian or military facilities. i. CAC2S will operate from the C-130 with full capability (CH-53 and V-22 are objective requirements). 3. SYSTEM SPECIFICS: a. The Mission Need Statement (MNS) and the Operational Requirements Document (ORD) for CAC2S may be found under the Approved Documents section of the Requirements Division on the MCCDC home page (see paragraph 5). The draft concept of employment and a list of more detailed functions may be requested from the requirements officer (listed in paragraph 5) via email or telephone. b. It must be emphasized that the CAC2S requirement is continually being reviewed and updated. If any requirement is considered not technically feasible, please provide this information immediately to the requirements officer. Conversely, if a requirement appears understated based on current technology, contact the requirements officer for guidance. c. The word "component" in the requirements document refers to a collection of equipment that provides a specific capability. The three main components of the CAC2S as listed in the ORD are the Communications and Communication Interface Component, the Sensor Interface Component and the Processing and Display Component. The word "subsystem" is used synonymously with component in some documents. 4. REQUESTED INFORMATION: a. Individuals supplying information in response to this RFI should consider the following guidelines. Responses should provide specific answers with respect to how the requirement, as stated in the ORD and further defined in the draft concept of employment and listing of detailed functions, will be satisfied. The response should address the required capabilities of the overall system and then address the capabilities required in each of the three components: the communications and communications interface component, the processing and display component, and the sensor interface component. It is intended that CAC2S will be based on commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) or government-off-the-shelf (GOTS) hardware and software. However, innovation is encouraged. Consider nontraditional approaches, revolutionary ideas, and new technology where feasible. Respondents may recommend any approach that meets the requirement. However, you must include an assessment of the technological risk and the associated cost. Evaluations of the responses will be based on the ability to satisfy the requirements, clarity of vendor descriptions of the overall system and various components, and realistic assessments of the risk and cost. Descriptions of hardware, software, and integration efforts should be sufficiently detailed to permit independent evaluation of the proposed approach. Provide response in Microsoft Office '95 or earlier. Submit electronically and in hard copy. The AoA is not designed to eliminate any candidate, nor will it identify "the best" candidate. The AoA report will provide the Marine Corps with an independent evaluation and a detailed description of the candidate's strengths and weaknesses. b. The following cost and schedule information is requested: Estimated development, integration, production, and operations and maintenance costs. Highlight cost drivers and potential cost -- performance tradeoffs. Include a rough order of magnitude cost associated with each major component listed in paragraph 4.a. above. Include an estimate of the schedule for developing and fielding each of the major components as well as for the complete system. 5. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Respondents submit information at their own risk; submission of a response to this request will not obligate the Government in any manner. The Government will not reimburse the respondent for any cost associated with information submitted and is under no obligation to award any related contract associated with this request. Proprietary or restricted information should be marked as such and will be protected and used only for the purposes of this RFI. This RFI does not constitute an invitation for bid or request for proposal. Any procurement action for CAC2S will be the subject of a separate, future announcement. Responses to this RFI shall be submitted by February 6, 1998 and addressed to Marine Corps Systems Command, Attn: Code CTQ, 2033 Barnett Ave, Quantico, VA, 22134-5010. Overnight mail: MARCORSYSCOM, Attn: Ellen Simonoff, 3041A McCawly Avenue, Quantico, VA, 22134-5010. MCCDC Home Page is at the following address: http://138.156.112.14/CDCHome.nsf. POC for copies of draft Concept of Employment or the list of detailed functions is LtCol Barrett Phone: (703) 784-3321. Email barrettj@quantico.usmc.mil. A dedicated CAC2S World Wide Web site may be established in the near future. (0364)

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