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

70 -- COMMON AVIATION COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM (CAC2S) POC Mr. Stephen L. Riffe, Contracting Officer, 703-670-9327 WEB: CAC2S Web Page, http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/mcscctq/cac2s.htm. E-MAIL: Contracting Officer, riffesl@mcsc.usmc.mil. The purpose of this announcement is to conduct market research. This is not an Invitation for Bid, Request for Proposal, or a Request for Quotations. All information provided in response to this announcement is done so on a voluntary basis and at no cost to the Government. The Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) is inviting industry comments and recommendations on its operational requirement, system concept, and program acquisition schedule for the Common Aviation Command and Control System (CAC2S). At some future date, the Government intends to request that contractors design, develop and manufacture for test and eventual production an aviation Command and Control (C2) system to meet the following general concept. The proposed CAC2S will replace the C2 capabilities and functions of the Marine Aviation Command and Control System (MACCS), and consolidate them into one efficient system that will allow the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to plan and execute the six functions of Marine aviation (i.e. Control of Aircraft and Missiles, Anti-air Warfare, Offensive Air Support, Assault Support, Electronic Warfare, and Aerial Reconnaissance). The CAC2S will be used by the MACCS agencies consisting of the Tactical Air Command Center (TACC), Tactical Air Operations Center (TAOC), Direct Air Support Center (DASC), Marine Air Traffic Control Detachment (MATCD), and Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) battalion. The CAC2S will provide modular/scaleable facilities and components, with maximum commonality across MACCS C2 agencies. CAC2S will minimize the MACCS' logistical footprint through the use of a modular design that is easily transportable and uses primarily COTS hardware.. The CAC2S will replace current functionality, and where applicable, integrate current and planned aviation and battlefield automation systems. The CAC2S will provide a readily transportable operational facility (OPFAC), processing and display hardware, and communications interfaces to support the presentation of all information required to perform the MACCS C2 missions in a fully integrated display. The integrated display will provide the user with the capability to access all required information within one application. The CAC2S will be capable of interfacing to any current, or planned, USMC communications assets, and to existing and planned sensors. The CAC2S will interface to the currently assigned "table of equipment" communications systems to provide the operator with an integrated communications/intercom interface on the workstation. The CAC2S will be designed to facilitate interaction and information flow between higher, adjacent, and supporting units, to include the MAGTF Command Element (CE), the Ground Combat Element (GCE), and Joint/Combined forces. Each CAC2S C2 node will provide a centralized capability to collect, process, and disseminate tactical data to operator workstations and external agencies via Local Area Network/Wide Area Network. (LAN/WAN) systems and tactical data links The architecture of the CAC2S subsystems is intended to be capable of supporting current and future operational environments including but not limited to: Operational Maneuver From The Sea (OMFTS), Sustained Operations Ashore (SOA), and Other Expeditionary Operations (OEO). Additionally, to ensure military utility in a broad range of operational scenarios, the CAC2S should have the appropriate mobility and transportability attributes. The CAC2S is intended to be the baseline for the development of an integrated MAGTF C4I software architecture to automate command and control processes throughout the USMC. Extensive use of COTS/NDI software is anticipated. As such, this open systems architecture will accommodate evolving C2 requirements to meet or enhance C2 needs across the Marine Corps C4I spectrum. It is envisioned that there will be four (4) CAC2S' fielded, one for each of the three active Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF), and one for the Reserve Forces. Additionally, requisite nodes of CAC2S will be fielded to provide operator/maintainer training, logistics, and tactical systems support. The first phase of CAC2S, to be fielded in FY 04, will replace the C2 systems/functions residing in the four (4) USMC TAOC's. Phases II and III will replace the current TACC's and DASC's C2 systems/functions by the end of FY 08. Follow-on phases of CAC2S fielding will provide for the LAAD Battalion and MATCD C2 systems replacement. MARCORSYSCOM is currently in the Concept Exploration Phase of this program and has initiated a web site for the CAC2S procurement, which can be viewed at http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/mcscctq/cac2s.htm. Specific documents will be available in the near future for review/comment. These documents may include, but are not limited to: Excerpts from the Acquisition Strategy Summary; Draft System/Sub-system Specification (SSS); Draft Acquisition Schedule: Draft Acquisition Objectives; List of Government Questions for Industry. Additional documents will be posted to the web site, as they become available/applicable. Interested parties are encouraged to comment immediately on all CAC2S information currently contained in the web site. It is expected that a DRAFT Request for Proposal (RFP), Performance Specification, and other pertinent procurement information will be available for viewing on or around 20 April 2000, with a final version posted in June of 2000. Although there are no time constraints for providing comments, it is requested that initial comments be submitted by 5 May 2000 to coincide with the ongoing RFP development process. As pertinent documentation is posted, MARCORSYSCOM is interested in and will be requesting industry comments regarding: (1) Suggested approaches regarding the general format and structure of the RFP for this effort; (2) Contract type; (3) Acquisition Schedule and timing of key events; (4) Draft System/Sub-system Specification; (5) Past Performance and other proposal evaluation criteria; (6) Availability of mature technologies and manufacturing processes to meet requirements under proposed schedule and the degree to which COTS/NDI hardware and software solutions and components can be utilized. MARCORSYSCOM may incorporate industry comments into the final solicitation package. The Government is not soliciting proposals at this time. Industry comments and recommendations on the documentation currently contained in the CAC2S web site identified herein should be submitted electronically, as soon as possible, to: Stephen Riffe, MARCORSYSCOM at riffesl@mcsc.usmc.mil. Upon release of the DRAFT RFP, Performance Specification, etc., interested parties are again encouraged to submit comments and recommendations. All inquiries and comments should reference the applicable document, section, page number, and specific paragraph being commented upon. MARCORSYSCOM intends to hold a CAC2S Industry Day on Wednesday, 15 May 2000. Additional details will be provided on the CAC2S web site, as they become available. It is the responsibility of the interested party to periodically view the CAC2S web site for newly released/updated documentation. Posted 03/24/00 (W-SN438150). (0084)

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