SPECIAL NOTICE
99 -- Request for Information for X-Band Micro-Satellite Terminal
- Notice Date
- 9/12/2007
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- Contracting Office
- PEO EIS Technology Applications Office, ATTN: SFAE-PS-TAO-C, 1671 Nelson Street, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5044
- ZIP Code
- 21702-5044
- Solicitation Number
- USA-SNOTE-070912-003
- Archive Date
- 12/11/2007
- Description
- Responses to these notices are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The government requests industry respond with information concerning availability of an X band Micro-Sat terminal as described below: 1. Satellite Constellation: Target Satellite Constellation: Wide-band Global Satellite System (WGS) Alternate Satellite Constellation: XTAR a. The government requests industry indicate how the candidate terminal might operate on WGS. Include how the terminal will access WGS, how the terminal is technically suitable to operate on WGS (consideration for the manner in which WGS transponders alloc ate bandwidth), and any risk associated with operating the terminal on WGS. b. The government requests industry describe certification issue risk related to regulatory authorities when operating the terminal in the continental United States and throughout the world on the WGS satellite constellation. c. The government requests industry indicate how the candidate terminal might operate on XTAR. Include how the terminal will access XTAR, how the terminal is technically suitable to operate on XTAR, and any risk associated with operating the terminal on XT AR. d. The government requests industry describe certification issues related to regulatory authorities when operating the terminal in the continental United States and throughout the world on the objective XTAR constellation. e. The government requests industry provide information related to scalability of the candidate terminals considering the following scenarios for utilization on both WGS and XTAR: e.I. Number of terminals capable of operating duplex, simultaneously (one transponder) at 256 Kbps continuous data rate e.2. Number of terminals capable of operating duplex, simultaneously (one transponder) at 384 Kbps continuous data rate e.3. Number of terminals capable of operating duplex, simultaneously (one transponder) at 512 Kbps continuous data rate e.4. Number of terminals capable of operating duplex, simultaneously (one transponder) at 768 Kbps continuous data rate e.5. Number of terminals capable of operating duplex, simultaneously (one transponder) at 1024 Kbps continuous data rate e.6. Number of terminals capable of operating duplex, simultaneously (one transponder) at 1544 Kbps continuous data rate 2. MODEM: The government requests information on the modem to be used in the candidate terminal. The government prefers a TCP/IP interface. a. Request modem type and modulation protocols to be utilized b. Request industry describe how the modem and modem hub (if applicable) might accommodate multiple terminals operating on an WGS or XTAR transponder at varying data rates simultaneously. c. Request industry describe how the modem and modem hub (if applicable) might accommodate scenario 2.b as well as the addition of VSAT terminals ranging in size from .9 meter to 3.8 meter operating on an WGS or XTAR transponder at varying data rates and v arying antenna aperture sizes simultaneously. d. Request industry describe how the modem and modem hub (if applicable) might accommodate SATCOM on the move systems while supporting the candidate X band Micro-Sat terminals simultaneously e. The government is not tied to a government standard modem when operating on WGS 3. Satellite Architecture: The government intends to utilize government owned and operated teleports to host the X band Micro-Sat terminals on the WGS constellation. Terrestrial connectivity will carry data to the appropriate government head quarters. On X TAR, the government would locate appropriate commercial teleports to host the X band Micro-Sat terminals and provide terrestrial circuits to reach back to the appropriate head quarters. The government does not intend to implement a mesh network capability. 4. Intended Use: The government intends to utilize the candidate terminal as a replacement for 64 Kbps (HSD) and BGAN INMARSAT terminal systems. Terminals migh t be used on the battlefield to provide 256-1544 Kbps data connectivity to an individual soldier, inside office buildings or hotels, and on ground vehicular platforms. Terminals may also be used to exfil sensor data providing beyond line of site connectivi ty to a sensor or multiple sensors on the battlefield. Terminal characteristics should mimic the INMARSAT terminal model in form, fit, and function in as much as possible. Manual satellite acquisition is acceptable and may be preferred since size, weight, power, cost, and complexity will be reduced when utilizing a manual acquisition terminal. The government is not opposed to an auto acquisition terminal but a simple terminal design is preferred. Any auto acquisition terminal submitted for consideration mus t be simple to use, small and light weight. Parabolic or near parabolic antennas are acceptable. The government expectation regarding antennas is that the antenna will be segmented and collapse into the terminal package. 5. System Characteristics: The government envisions a system to be comprised of one terminal and one baseband package. The terminal should not be larger than 2750 cubic inches, not heavier than 15 Lbs, and capable of being carried with one hand. Smaller an d lighter is preferred. The baseband package is beyond the scope of information requested in this RFI. The government envisions a system capable of being carried by one soldier (terminal in one hand and base-band in the other). 6. Operational Scenarios: a. A squad has secured an enemy objective and is detaining several individuals. The squad leader needs positive identification of the detainees and has biometric capability on hand. Detainees biometric information is relayed to a Tactical Operations Center via the X-band Micro-Sat terminal where access to a master data base is utilized to compare biometric information of detainees on the objective to data stored in a data base at the TOG. Data returns to the objective, the appropriate individuals are positi vely identified and transferred back to the C2 node as directed. All other detainees are registered in the data base and released. b. A staff officer has been dispatched to a location somewhere in the world to serve as a liaison officer to a supported head quarters location. The staff officer utilizes the X-band Micro-Sat terminal to provide information to the supported unit and send situation reports back to his/her higher headquarters. The staff officer routinely participates in video teleconferences using the Micro-Sat X-band terminal as the transmissions media. c. A squad is operating in a remote area and utilizes the Micro-Sat terminal to gain access to SIPRNET and the Common Operational Picture (COP) to gain situational awareness of the operating environment and C2 direction from a TOG beyond line of site of th e squad. d. A team is emplaced near an area of interest to gain intelligence information of the objective. A video camera relays full motion video back to a TOC providing intelligence and subsequently, situational awareness to an assault force prior to mission exec ution. 7. Terminal Set Up Scenarios: a. Terminal designed with integrated antenna: A communicator sets up the x-band terminal in an office environment with a window that has a view to the geosynchronous satellite Arc. The communicator sets the terminal on a table near the window, plugs the te rminals AC power connector into the power socket (world-wide auto sensing AC power interface). The operator folds out the antenna and utilizes a satellite slide rule to point the antenna / terminal in the general direction of the target satellite. The term inal has some indicator light emitting diodes that light up as the terminal receives stronger and stronger signals from the satellite. The communicator physically moves the terminal left and right to gain the strongest signal. The communicator adjusts the antenna up and down to gain the strongest receive signal strength. Multi-colored d iodes provide the communicator visual information so that the communicator knows the terminal is aligned to the satellite and has sufficient signal strength to close the link. The terminal has already been provisioned with the satellite provider and gains receive lock with the teleport hub. The teleport hub sends a command to the remote terminal allowing it to go into the transmit mode. Transmit power to the teleport hub is automatically adjusted for the appropriate EB/NO and transmit power from the hub is also automatically adjusted to the remote terminal for appropriate EB/NO at the remote terminal. No user intervention with a satellite provider was necessary since the X-band Micro-Sat terminal uses circular polarization. The terminal provides an indicator light that show it has receive lock and an indicator light to show transmit lock and indicator light that the terminal is operating properly and is in the network. The operator connects the base band equipment via a strand of Ethernet cable and begins sen ding/receiving data. b. Terminal designed with a remote able antenna: Same as above except the terminal is located in a convenient location and only the antenna is placed in the window. This design allows for a set up where there is not enough real estate to physically locate the terminal on or near the window, this design also allows the terminal to remain in an area protected from environmental exposure such as rain, only exposing the antenna to the elements. c. Terminal designed with a remote able antenna or an ability to leave the antenna integrated onto the terminal. Same as 7.a. above but provides maximum flexibility for users. This type of design is preferred by the government. 8. Terminal Design Goals: The government requests information on availability of a candidate terminal that meets or closely meets the following criteria: a. Size: Terminal not to exceed 2750 cubic inches b. Weight: Not to exceed 15 Lbs. c. Power: Auto sensing world wide commercial power capability (threshold); 24 volts DC capability so that the terminal can be operated using BA-5590 battery pack as well as the capability to utilize threshold AC power input (objective). d. Packaging: All components integrated in the terminal. Terminal has a handle so that the operator can carry it with one hand. e. Environmental: The terminal will be utilized in harsh environments ranging from deserts to arctic conditions. The terminal needs to be capable of operation in rain, dust, and salt fog. f. Reliability: The terminal needs to be capable of continuous operation at the maximum data rate in the environmental conditions outlined in paragraph 8.e. 8.g. Antenna aperture size: Capable of storing in the 2750 cubic inch volume requested. Industry ma y respond with terminal variants; small antenna apertures /packages that support lower data rates and larger antenna apertures! packages that support higher data rates. The government envisions antenna apertures sizes ranging from 11-20 inches. 9. Production Capability: The government requests information from industry that demonstrates production capacity for candidate terminals. For a copy of a picture please email your request to jamie.kiser@tao.army.mil. Responses to the RFI shall be provided to Jamie Kiser not later than 28 Sep 2007, any responses received after this date will not be reviewed.
- Record
- SN01404342-W 20070914/070913074246 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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