J -- MYSTIC STAR SYSTEM

Notice Date

August 17, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of the Air Force, Air Mobility Command, 89th CONS, 1419 Menoher Drive, Andrews AFB, MD, 20762-6500

ZIP Code

20762-6500

Solicitation Number

Reference-Number-F5040312070300

Response Due

August 30, 2001

Point of Contact

Antoinette Ingram, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-981-2301, Fax 301-981-1913, Email Antoinette.Ingram@Andrews.af.mil -- Kent Wright, Chief, Acquisition Flight B, Phone (301)9812328, Fax (301)9811911, Email Kent.Wright@Andrews.af.mil

Description

MYSTIC STAR SPECIAL AIR MISSION (SAM) NETWORK CONTROL STATION (NCS) AND FOUR REMOTE SWITCHING UNITS (RSUs)LOGISTIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT. This is a Sources Sought Synopsis to determine if there are private sector offerors interested and capable of providing Mystic Star System maintainance/repair/modification/training/and upgrading to the Mystic Star communications systems for the United States Air Force. The Mystic Star System provides secured and unsecured data and voice communications for Air Force One and VIP Aircraft through a HF and satellite worldwide network. This requirement is for severable, continuous engineering and technical services necessary for operation, maintenance and support of the Mystic Star network at Andrews AFB and its geographically dispersed Remote Switching Units (RSUs). Mystic Star is a high-quality secure voice and data communications (air-to-ground) system used by the President, Vice President, specified cabinet members, foreign visitors worldwide, and other authorized users while aboard Special Air Mission (SAM), VIP, Marine One, and Command Aircraft. It supports presidential worldwide UHF communications through satellites and ground relay stations. =20 The system requires system engineering, technical support, and depot level repair to ensure reliable and uninterruptible communications to users and their respective ground operations centers/subscribers such as: White House Communications Agency, State Department, National Military Command Center (NMCC) and Alternate NMCC, and other discrete facilities. Support involves repair, replacement, modification/upgrade, training, extension, and/or removal of obsolete or otherwise non-needed system components to ensure that adequate and dependable service is provided to each authorized customer. Logistic and technical support of the Mystic Star Special Air Mission Network Control Station and Remote Switching Units is also needed.=20 Equipment for crypto integration and control of this system will be replaced during the first year with commercial-off-the-shelf components, already purchased (75%) by the government. This equipment must be programmed and the software continuously modified for changes made by systems of other agencies. Changes are also anticipated in maintenance and upgrades for software/firmware support for model computer code and firmware maintenance, error correction, and development upgrades to the Mystic Star Communications Management Systems and associated pre- and post-processors. Developmental initiatives to improve customer service are also part of the requirement. Developmental efforts of the following types must be accommodated: direct customer interface and control to modernize and logistically support equipment, re-centralize the control of both HF and UHF operations in one work-center, standardizing the customer interface, interfacing with secure data units providing a multi-rate capability from 2.4 to 48 kbit, incorporate DAMA (as required per CJCS instruction), establishing a means of monitoring received through satellite communication performance using audible signal, spectral analysis display, receiving signal level and transmit power monitoring. Required off-site support must be available in the form of a phone call or if necessary, a deployment within 90 hours of notification by the Government. At this time the government has no firm requirement for this acquisition and will use the information obtained from this notice to evaluae the capabilities of the marketplace. All interested parties should provide, at no cost to the government, full descriptive literature, limited to 10 pages, demonstrating their abilities to provide the above notice. To be considered capable, parties must demonstrate the following: 1) Complete knowledge of the Mystic Star Communication System and peculiarities and ability to respond promptly to any question pertaining to the system; 2) Past performance as pertains to relevant experience in all of the above general areas stated; 3) Corporate capabilities in the areas of communication engineering, software engineering, logistic and depot support, field service engineering support and logistic support procuremt; 4) How the offeror will address the proprietary issues; 5) How the offeror will address antiquated systems; and 6) The ability to be fully functional upon award. All of the literature provided in response to theis synopsis will become the property of the Government and will not be returned. The requested information must be provided to the 89th Contracting Squadron, 1419 Menoher Dirve, Andrews AFB, MD 20762, Attention: Capt Ingram, not later 30 Aug 01 est.

Web Link

Visit this URL for the latest information about this (http://www.eps.gov/spg/USAF/AMC/89CONS/Reference-Number-F5040312070 300/listing.html)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010821/JSOL025.HTM (D-229 SN50V2Q1)