D -- SATELLITE TRANSPONDER ACQUISITION

Notice Date

October 27, 2000

Contracting Office

U.S. Postal Service, Headquarters Purchasing, Room 4541, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20260-6230

ZIP Code

20260-6230

Solicitation Number

N/A

Response Due

November 20, 2000

Point of Contact

Terry Downer 202 268-4895

E-Mail Address

Contracting Officer (tdowner@email.usps.gov)

Description

Satellite Transponder Acquisition For Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) Services and Video over IP Transmission The United States Postal Service desires to obtain up to four (4) KU band satellite transponders to cover both the Continental United States (CONUS/48 States) and Outside Continental United States (OCOUNS/50 States [including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico]). As a separately priced item, USPS desires to obtain a turn-key satellite earth HUB (including 6 7 meter satellite antenna, with redundant RF baseband cabling/hardware and 600 square foot RF/equipment structure) to be constructed at Raleigh NC (or location to be named later). The USPS has almost 9,000 VSAT (6,000 VSAT as Backup and 3,000 VSAT as Primary) services currently installed, acquired through the Managed Network Services (MNS) contract with MCI/Worldcom, with the core VSAT service provider being GILAT/Spacenet. The GILAT shared Earth HUB is located in Chicago IL. USPS estimates another 8,000 to 10,000 additional VSAT services to be deployed over the next 2 years. USPS believes current and proposed traffic requirements will make the lease of transponder space economical in comparison with the current contract pricing. USPS intends to use the transponder services acquired through this solicitation by re-pointing, if necessary, all existing VSAT services. It is estimate that USPS data requirements will reach 100Mhz in total transponder requirements. Four (4) 36 Mhz KU band transponders (or ideally two (2) 54 Mhz transponders), on the same polarization (horizontal or vertical) are desired. One transponder is needed immediately, with the second required by June 2001. The final transponders will be required by 12/1/01. The lease period will be a minimum of 5 years, with life-of-platform (15 years) highly desirable. USPS desires pricing, availability, coverage and cost information for only non-preemptible, satellite/transponder protected services. The following example is the desired information of proposed transponder lease: Satellite Name MHZ Power Position Coverage Available Cost (i.e.SBS-6) 36/54 200w 121 Deg 50 State 11/1/00 $150,000/mo The following example is the desired information of proposed turn-key earth HUB: (Concrete pad will either be GFE or provided by proposal as separate line item.) Size Construction Roof Raised Floor Heat/AC(BTU) Electrical Service (AMPs) Suppliers are to provide proof of capability to construct such facility and provide history of providing structures similar to the one being requested by November 17, 2000. Suppliers shall also include a list of current customers and customer contact information for USPS referral, which will be kept confidential. After review of the information provided, the U.S. Postal Service will make a decision whether to issue a formal solicitation for proposals. The statement of qualifications shall be no more than 20 pages and should be submitted to the Contracting Officer by November 20, 2000.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001031/DSOL009.HTM (W-301 SN5053F2)