59 -- COMMERCIAL SATELILITE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES FOR TACTICAL REMOTE SENSOR SYSTEMS

Notice Date

April 2, 2001

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

22134-5010

Solicitation Number

M67854-01-R-2086

Response Due

June 4, 2001

Point of Contact

Vicki Whiteman, Contract Specialist (703) 784-5822 ext. 256

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the contract specialist via (whitemanvl@mcsc.usmc.mil)

Description

Description. The United States Marine Corps (USMC) Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) is interested in obtaining information on commercial satellite communications (SATCOM) services to support its Tactical Remote Sensor Systems (TRSS) family of unattended remote sensors. Using hand and air-emplaced sensors, TRSS support the field commander's intelligence collection effort by providing continuous, wide area surveillance of the battlefield. Functional elements of TRSS include sensor systems, retransmission systems, and monitoring systems. Evolutionary system upgrades ensure that fielded systems provide a state-of-the-art TRSS capability for the Marine Corps. Intended Application of SATCOM Devices. The driving requirement for SATCOM connectivity is to provide long distance, duplex data communications for over 500 Advanced Air-Delivered Sensors (AADS). The SATCOM communications device will be integrated into a 50-70 pound AADS assembly, capable of being dropped from high performance jet aircraft. The deployed AADS will transmit data messages when its reporting criteria are met. Additionally, the Marines Corps desires to acquire approximately 200 SATCOM devices to augment its hand-emplaced sensor suites. The hand-emplaced communications device should be a small, lightweight modular assembly that can be attached in the field to the TRSS hand-emplaced terrestrial transceiver. Both SATCOM devices must support bi-directional communications between the emplaced sensor and a remote monitoring station. SATCOM Services. The satellite communications services will be a critical component of a system designed to support Marine Expeditionary Forces. These services must provide global coverage with minimum latency, to include those areas of the world where the population/infrastructure is such that SATCOM services are typically minimal. Most TRSS messaging will require the sensor to transmit 3 to 30 bytes of data, 24 to 200 times daily. When the sensors are operated in data storage and retrieval modes this requirement will change to approximately 5000 bytes of data every 72 hours. An important service consideration is that during peacetime training periods, usage will be substantially less with each of the Marine Corps's four Ground Sensor Platoons typically deploying six to 18 devices 8-10 times a year. Typical training areas include CA, AL, NC, Japan, and South Korea. Mission Profile. The TRSS sensors must provide continuous, unattended operation for at least 30 days. Air-delivery of these sensors requires a simple, non-directional, low visual profile antenna. Responses. A strong, demonstrated background in providing low-cost SATCOM services to remote subscribers in small low-power configurations is foreseen as critical in meeting the objective of this program. The Government desires a COTS solution, if possible. Industry firms capable of accomplishing the required services, in whole, or by teamed effort, are invited to submit an affirmative response to this notice. Partial solutions should not be submitted. Firms should include literature, brochures, specification sheets, prior experience in this type of effort, and capability summaries directly addressing their ability to meet the aforementioned needs. Responses shall be limited to 20 pages for the technical information. Potential sources are requested to send a letter of interest, previous business experience with similar efforts, business size and a corporate point of contact to the Marine Corps Systems Command by 04 June 2001. THE MARINE CORPS DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR OTHERWISE PAY FOR THE INFORMATION SOLICITED. Please submit all information to Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command, Attn: CTQ2VW/Ms. Vicki Whiteman, 2033 Barnett Ave., Suite 315, Quantico, VA 22134-5010. All hand-carried deliveries (including UPS, FedEx, etc.) shall be submitted to the following address: 3041A McCawley Avenue, Quantico, VA 22134. POC Vicki Whiteman, (703) 784-5822 x256; FAX (703) 784-5826; Alt FAX (253) 484-4991 or WhitemanVL@mcsc.usmc.mil.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010404/59SOL012.HTM (W-092 SN50H9G6)