Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard (USCG), Commandant (G-ACS), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second St., SW, Washington, DC, 20593-0001

20 -- 20 -- TRANSPONDERS FOR AIS TESTING IN THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS!! SOL DTCG23-99-R-AVT081 DUE 102799 POC Carrie Mack, Contract Specialist, Phone 202-267-6115, Fax 202-267-4025, Email cmack@comdt.uscg.mil -- Thomas Brust, Contracting Officer, Phone (202) 267-6450, Fax (202) 267-4019, Email WEB: Visit this URL for the latest information about this, http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ACode=M&;ProjID=DTCG23-99-R-A VT081&LocID=14. E-MAIL: Carrie Mack, cmack@comdt.uscg.mil. Amendment 0001: This amendment is issued to make the following changes to the solicitation issued on August 25, 1999. 1) The proposal due date is extended to October 27, 1999; 2) The Coast Guard will not provide chart dated as stated in the initial solicitation issued on August 25, 1999; 3) The Government is not performing an IM test; 4) The reference to a second order specification for the IM product is changed to third order specification. 5) The following items are deleted from the solicitation: Paragraph b -- "and course;" Paragraph h -- "and course," "Ship 0-14 knots and changing course -- 4 seconds," "Ship 14-23 knots and changing course -- 2 seconds," "Ship > 23 knots and changing course -- 2 seconds;" 6) The following questions are answered: Q1: Can you send the ITU-R M1371 referenced in your RFP? A1: You may access the ITU-R M1371 at http://www.itu.int/itudoc/itu-r/rec/m/1371_52509.html. Q2: We have no access to Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 97-13, the [Standard] Industrial Classification Code 3812, [or] the small business size standard 750. Do we need information from those documents and in such a case where can we obtain them? A2: The Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and FAC can be obtained at www.arnet.gov/far/. The SIC Code and size standard are included so that small businesses can participate in this procurement. Q3: The Solicitation No. DTCG23-99-R-AVT081 states that USCG will upon request provide relevant charts. Please specify which data format the charts are produced in (e.g. S.57 ver 3 or similar. Will the charts be provided for free? If not, please specify the costs. A3: (Please note that the following is the Coast Guard's initial response to this question, and the response as since changed. See A9 for the current response.) The data format is S-57. Please note that chart data will be provided upon request. The actual electronic chart will not be provided. The offeror is responsible for obtaining the electronic chart and providing it with the transponder (Loaded with the transponder). Q4: Are we allowed to send the proposal via e-mail or Fax, followed up by original in ordinary mail? If allowed, please provide e-mail address and Fax number. A4: Proposals will only be accepted through the mail. Q5: Par e. (page 1, 4th line from bottom) What does demonstrate dGPS operation mean? Do we have to provide an integrated Beacon Receiver or a RTCM SC 104 interface or will the diff. corrections be provided via the AIS Base station(s). Note: The ITU-R M.1371 does not require an internal beacon receiver. A5: Accuracy to dGPS is to be demonstrated. The Differential Correction signal will be provided by the USCG Beacon in the New Orleans area. The offeror must have a receiver capable of receiving and processing the signal. The offeror may implement the receiver either internal or external. Q6: Par i. (page 2, 1st line) Will the HDG and RoT sensor data be available (NMEA) format for input to the transponder as the HDG is necessary to utilize the function of increase transmission rate when "turning." Note: The HDG & RoT sensors are not a part of the UAIS transponder, according to ITU-R M1371 or the draft IEC UAIS standard A6: (Please note that the following is the Coast Guard's initial response to this question, this requirement has since been deleted. See Item #5.) The USCG will make every effort to provide a test platform that provides both HDG and RoT sensors. The offeror should provide transponder equipment capable of receiving HDG and RoT sensor data. We will provide information on these sensors as soon as possible. Q7: Is non-compliance with DSC (i.e. no DSC functionality) acceptable for the first delivery of three transponders? A7: Non-compliance with DSC is acceptable for this first effort. The test will be a ship to ship demonstration. Frequency management or shifting using DSC will not be part of this first test. Q8: Is partial compliance to the communication protocol acceptable for this delivery? We understand that IEC TC80 WG8 has not approved the final standard for UAIS on an International level. A8: Partial compliance is acceptable. The solicitation states that selected portions of the 1371 standard will be tested. Q9: We understand that the charts to be used are NOS Charts in S57 IHO Vector format. What are the chart numbers of the charts being used? I hereby request a copy of the VSTA chart data. A9: The chart data is available from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Maptech Marine Navigation Company. The chart data can be ordered by contacting Maptech. The chart is Region 18 Mississippi River (R18CD3) from New Orleans to St. Louis. The cost is $199.95 US dollars. Maptech can be reached at (888) 839-5551 or (978) 933-3000, or email marinesales@maptech.com. Maptech has stated that Raster format chart data for Region 18, is currently available. Vector format chart data for Region 18 will not be available until next year. For the Transponder test demonstration, electronic charts in Raster or Vector format are acceptable. Please note that theactual electronic chart is still the responsibility of the offeror. The offeror is responsible for obtaining the electronic chart, loading it on the transponders and delivering the transponder units with working electronic charts. Q10: Which frequency will be used in the test? Will several frequencies be tested, if so which? A10: For this test, the offeror has a choice of operating either a 25 kHz channel or 12.5 kHz channel. The 25 kHz channel operating frequency will be 162.325 MHz. The 12.5 kHz channel operating frequency will be 162.0125 MHz. Please be advised that the operating frequency could change due to potential interference. Q11: Regarding the IM -- test, it is our understanding that the generating frequencies will have a power level of -- 15 dBm and -- 27 dBm respectively. The interfering signal level on the receiving frequency is not specified. Is this a correct interpretation? A11: We are not specifically testing for IM but the transponder receiver will see signals at those power levels in New Orleans. The reason the note was provided was to alert potential offerors of the electromagnetic interference in the New Orleans area and the need for a receiver capable of operating in this environment. Q12: Is the IM signal to be generated on the center frequency or somewhere within the bandwidth of the receiving channel? A sketch of the test setup and test routines would be great help. A12: Please note there is no IM test required. See Item #3. Q13: Is the specification in regard to second order correct (not third order intermodulation)? Second order specifications seems unusual as third order IM products specifications usually are the most severe. A13: You are correct, it should read third order. Please note that the Government is not performing an IM test. See Items #3 and #4.***** Posted 09/28/99 (D-SN385720). (0271)

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