ASC/RAKBS Room 213 2640 Loop Road West Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433-7106

A -- UAV COMMUNICATIONS RELAY SOL F33657-00-R-4041 DUE 031300 POC Sally L. Meyer, Contracting Officer, ASC/RAKBS,(937) 255-2761 WEB: 00R4041-UAV Communications Relay, http://www.pixs.wpafb.af.mil/pixslibr/00R4041/00R4041.asp. E-MAIL: Sally.Meyer@wpafb.af.mil,, Sally.Meyer@wpafb.af.mil,. Background "The Contracting Division of the ASC Reconnaissance Systems Program Office, Headquarters Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio. intends to issue a solicitation to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Incorporated (GA-ASI) of San Diego, CA to develop capabilities required to demonstrate the expansion of line- of-sight (LOS) networks to beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) operations using a Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) as a communications relay and gateway, providing data to disparate battlefield units. This three-year, three-phase effort will be accomplished as a cooperative project between the United Kingdom and U. S. Government. The contract to GA-ASI will cite FAR 6.302-4, International Agreement, as its authority and be supported by an approved justification and approval and a Memorandum of Understanding wherein GA-ASI is specified as the source for this requirement. These documents are in the approval process. The program will be executed in three phases based on a basic contract with two subsequent supplemental agreements. It is planned that a Firm-Fixed-Price type contract will be issued on or about 1 May 2000. The phases will consist of: 1) Demonstrating BLOS by transmitting Forward Air Control (FAC) 9-line Close Air Support (CAS) message and/or other targeting data through the UAV to the strike aircraft; 2) Demonstrating BLOS operation of an IDM based network, linking disparate aircraft through the UAV communications node and LOS operations from aircraft to aircraft. This demonstration includes ground based units and direct broadcast of data; i.e., 9-line, video, etc., from the UAV to these units; and 3) Expanding the network architecture developed in Phase II, demonstrating BLOS integration of multiple network types, including JTIDS and wide bandwidth communications Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL). This announcement is not a request for proposal and should not be construed as a commitment by the government. Subcontracting opportunities may be addressed to Ms. Cynda Kemper for GA-ASI, 16761 Via Del Campo Court, San Diego, CA 92127-1713 or by telephoning (858) 455- 2668. All responses, however, will be fully considered. The government must receive all responses within 15 days of publication of this notice. An Ombudsman has been established for this acquisition. The only purpose of the Ombudsman is to receive and communicate serious concerns from potential offerors when an offeror prefers not to use established channels to communicate his/her concern during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. Potential offerors should use established channels to request information, pose questions, and voice concerns before resorting to use of the Ombudsman. ASC's Ombudsman is Mr. Stephen J. Plaisted, ASC/SY, Bldg 572, 1790 10th Street, Room 102.01, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7630. Potential offerors are invited to contract Mr. Plaisted, with serious concerns only, at (937)255-9095, or e-mail at stephen.plaisted@wpafb.af.mil. When requested the Ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. Interested firms should submit capabilities package and any routine communications concerning this acquisition to Sally L Meyer, Contracting Officer, ASC/RAKBS, Room 213, 2640 Loop Road West, Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7106, (937)255- 2761, FAX (937) 656-7096. For technical issues, contact LtCol Jeffrey M. Murray, (937) 255-2800. " Posted 02/23/00 (D-SN427834). (0054)

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