SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- New Capabilities for Common Data Link (CDL) - 20141216_CDL Sources Sought
- Notice Date
- 12/16/2014
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFLCMC - Hanscom, 9 Eglin Street, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, 01731, United States
- ZIP Code
- 01731
- Solicitation Number
- CDL-20141216
- Archive Date
- 2/7/2015
- Point of Contact
- Edna C. Alonis, Phone: 7812254070, Christofer Palasinski, Phone: 7812254077
- E-Mail Address
-
edna.alonis@us.af.mil, Christofer.Palasinski@us.af.mil
(edna.alonis@us.af.mil, Christofer.Palasinski@us.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 20141216_CDL Sources Sought NEW CAPABILITIES SOUGHT FOR COMMON DATA LINK (CDL) THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This notice is for informational and planning purposes only, and is a market research tool to determine the availability and adequacy of potential business sources prior to determining the method of acquisition and possible issuance of a Request for Proposal including the use of any non-profit organization or small business programs. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of response to this Sources Sought. This notice does not constitute a solicitation for bids and proposals, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit for or award a contract. Unless otherwise stated herein, no solicitation regarding this announcement is available. Requests for the same will be disregarded. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in the FedBizOpps. Please be aware that all information submitted in response to this request, whether written, oral, electronic, graphic, or any other medium, may be subject to disclosure upon receipt of a proper Freedom of Information Act request from any person. The Government will not pay for any materials provided in response to this synopsis and submittals will not be returned to the sender. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Space, Aerial & Nuclear Networks Division (AFLCMC/HNA) is seeking industry ideas and solutions to address the technical capabilities that the ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) missions will need to dominate the net-centric operational environment of the future using Common Data Link (CDL). Each vendor may be aware of any number of solutions, based upon their understanding of their customer's missions and the immediacy of their requirements. If the solutions are time phased, we would be interested in identifying the earliest possible date that some form of capability could be available. This Sources Sought seeks innovative approaches for providing fieldable solutions for current and next-generation manned and unmanned ISR platforms employed by the individual and Joint Services using CDL. Introduction: CDL provides the DoD standard for interoperable, multi-service, multi-agency, ISR data links for 10,000+ DoD manned/unmanned airborne and ground platforms. As the DoD CDL Executive Agent (EA), the Air Force is responsible for cross-service application of CDL RDT&E Military Intelligence Program (MIP) funds facilitating compliance to Congressional and DoD mandates. The EA develops, modifies, distributes, and maintains specifications for the CDL waveform family; ensuring design configuration control, commonality, and interoperability among ISR platforms. Additionally, funds support managing resources allocated for development, maturation, and migration of CDL technologies. Background: Over the past decade the Department of Defense (DoD) and other U.S. Departments and Agencies have invested heavily in high-resolution airborne sensors on manned and unmanned ISR platforms, with video collection being a primary requirement. This investment has resulted in a significant increase in the; number of ISR platforms and ISR sensors, the data rate of ISR sensors, the amount and type of data collected, and the number of users (to include tactical, allied and coalition). Investment in the data link capability to distribute collected data to both ground analysis cells and dismounts has significantly lagged sensor research, development, and fielding. This uneven balance of investment across the complete ISR end-to-end collection and distribution system has created system bottlenecks as well as increasingly complex system architectures. Data link requirements identified and defined by warfighters, system architects, military Services, the Joint Aerial Layer Network (JALN) and Programs of Record (PoRs), are driving the growth in CDL. CDL needs to evolve to provide new capabilities to meet current and future stakeholder demands. Scope: This Sources Sought is directed to highly competitive potential prime contractors or contractor teams who have demonstrated experience in research, development, integration, systems engineering, and test and evaluation of complex over the horizon Tactical Data Link (TDL) communication systems and their component parts and software. The Government desires to continue dialog with those Industry partners who feel they could be a viable prime contractor capable of performing the following activities. The proposed scope of work required to support the Common Data Link Program Office and its activities may include but is not limited to: • Develop innovative and affordable solutions for existing and emerging communication architectures, providing flexibility to accommodate Command and Control (C2) data and myriad types of Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), and Full-Motion Video (FMV) data for the CDL community • Perform research, exploratory development, advanced development, test and evaluation, and systems engineering • Develop selected systems and subsystems including prototype or demonstration hardware/software and models • Plan and oversee the integration of new systems • Leverage the use of CDL specifications that permit current and future ISR asset operations worldwide and provide sensor data directly via point-to-point broadcast to ground sites, airborne platforms and dismounted users • Demonstrate compliance with OSD and Congressional mandates to effectively utilize spectrum, use approved cryptographic equipment, and provide direct support to current and future operations • Develop concepts and solutions to expand the capability to relay data via air-to-air or compatible satellite links when the asset and ground site are not in line-of-sight. • Conduct research and development activities to support a broad spectrum of tactical, operational, and strategic ISR users • Develop anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategies and capability to overcome challenges in support of missions requiring sustained air/land operations (per 2014 QDR and GAO-14-801 Defense Planning report) • Develop capability to expand the use of Higher Data Rates to existing and emerging terminals and address additional Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) improvements and/or requirements • Explore technology developments for adapting/testing networking and more effective portable ground and lightweight airborne terminal components • Develop concepts and capabilities to enhance multispectral operations flexibility, increased spectrum efficiency, and integration of improved transmission components. • Develop enhanced, CDL-based ISR communications capabilities across multiple platforms and rapid prototyping efforts. • Support emerging communication backbone architecture development across space, air, and terrestrial layers; including agile high capacity data transport, assured communications, and multi-note access networks • Conduct studies and analysis to support current and future requirements documentation, program planning and execution • Develop and produce CDL prototype terminal designs that provide for future technology insertion and reduce non-recurring engineering and life-cycle costs to the user Data Submission Requirements: The Government requests that potential contractors or contractor teams provide the following documentation. 1. A Statement of Interest (SOI) along with concepts and strategies to support the activities envisioned under a Common Data Link Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (CDL ID/IQ) for the DoD CDL community. 2. A Statement of Capabilities (SOC) describing their qualifications as a prospective contractor/prime contractor and 1st tier subcontractors. The Government will use information from the SOCs to determine how many contractors are currently capable of meeting the Government's requirements. 3. Identify past TDL experience and existing contracts with US government agencies under which their proposed services would be considered within scope and might be procured, including contact information for the current government contracting officers for such contracts. 4. Respondents are also asked to identify if your business is Large, Non-profit, Small, Small Disadvantaged, 8(a), Woman-owned Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran-owned Small Business, or HubZone Small Business under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code (specify NAICS code here using: http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch?chart=2007 ) with a size standard of (see size standards attached). WRITTEN RESPONSE The Government requests that interested offerors submit an electronic response in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat format in the form of a "white paper" of not more than ten (10) one-sided pages, 8.5" x 11" paper, 12 pitch font, with a minimum of one (1) inch margins all around. Any charts and/or brochures will not be included as part of the ten (10) pages. All responses must be unclassified. Responsible sources having relevant experience may submit their white paper, via e-mail to Edna Alonis, Contracting Officer, edna.alonis@us.af.mil no later than 4:00 PM (Eastern Time), 23 January 2015. Responses received after this date and time may not be reviewed. This Sources Sought is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP). Nor does its issuance restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach. AFLCMC will not release to any firm, agency, or individual outside the Government, any information properly marked with a proprietary legend without the written permission from the respondent. The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this synopsis, nor will the Government compensate a respondent for any. OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM. In accordance with AFFARS 5301.91, an Ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and others for this acquisition announcement. Before consulting with an ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the contracting officer for resolution. The AFLCMC Ombudsman for Hanscom AFB is as follows: Ms. Jill Willingham, GS-15, DAF Ombudsman AFLCMC/AQP Acquisition Excellence Directorate (937) 255-5472 or DSN 785 Email: jill.willinghamallen.1@us.af.mil 1790 10th Street Wright Patterson AFB OH 45433-7630
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/ESC/CDL-20141216/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: TBD, United States
- Record
- SN03597251-W 20141218/141216234511-cbe96f8c84fb5f85665311873ef7b3b4 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |