Questions_and_Responses_from_Industry_Day.pdf

C-130H Formation Positioning System Replacement Program

Questions and Responses from Industry Day

June 25-26, 2024

Question 1: Will there be any sharing of what the integration with the C-130J solution would look like? The RFI didn’t allude to a solution being considered.

Response 1: The Government does not have that information at this time. We are seeking feedback from industry as to what information they will require to integrate with the C-130J

MILACAS-FR.

Question 2: Will integration tech data packages be provided when will draft Request for Proposal

(RFP) is sent for industry review?

Response 2: The available integration tech data packages will be provided with the final RFP. At this time, it appears the Government will have Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) integration data and not MILACAS-FR integration data.

Question 3: Who will be the integrator, will that function be performed by the contractor or does it have to be Government trained personnel?

Response 3: At this time it is contemplated that the prime contractor will be the prime integrator.

Question 4: Does the Government have sufficient AMP data rights that it can legally hand over to the prime integrator role or are there limited data rights?

Response 4: Depending on the solution proposed the Government should have sufficient AMP data rights to provide data for the integration efforts.

Question 5: Will the Government be able to provide the transmission protocol(s) for MILACAS-

FR?

Response 5: At this time the government does not own the data rights to the MILACAS-FR and does not believe it will be able to provide that level of detail.

Question 6: What is the status of the integration of the MILACAS-FR onto the C-130J platform?

Response 6: That program is in the contract development stage.

Question 7: What is the probability of the remaining 5G band channels being sold off?

Response 7: If an auction occurs, the next auction to transfer 3100 megahertz to 3450 megahertz could be up to 3-6 years away, which would mean the bands could go away 8-10 years from now. This office has zero control over those decisions and timeline. The above response is our best guess at this time.

Question 8: Are there any specific waveforms required and will Government encryption be required?

Response 8: The priority is to be compatible with the C-130J MILACAS-FR and restore the FPS functionality outside of the 5G frequency bands. Encryption is only an objective, and not a requirement, at this time.

Question 9: Will current C-130H AMP data and interfaces be provided as part of the RFP package so that contractors can assess how best to propose integration of the updated SKE system functions that could also be compatible with the C-130J proposed system?

Response 9: See response to Question 4.

Question 10: Who is the originating unit for the AF-1067?

Response 10: Air Mobility Command (AMC)/A5 is the author of the requirements document.

AMC will be the lead command for this effort.

Question 11: What is the possibility of changing the proposed contract type to CPFF? (Vendor provided additional feedback as to why CPFF would be preferred)

Response 11: The Government believes Firm Fixed Price or Fixed Price Incentive Firm line items may be appropriate and is open to feedback from industry.

Question 12: What is meant by ‘Decode, respond to, and send messages to J capability’?

Response 12: The C-130H solution must be interoperable with the C-130J MILACAS-FR.

Question 13: Has the Government considered SKE-2000 compatibility or a tech refresh of the current SKE system?

Response 13: AMC does not require a tech refresh, it requires a replacement of the FPS and moving away from the 5G bands.

Question 14: Is there an opportunity for a down select through a demonstration of capabilities similar to a “bake off” and then a proposal for best value approach for a further down select?

Response 14: The Government will take that back as something to consider moving forward.

Question 15: Is the Government looking at an interim solution?

Response 15: The Government is not considering an interim solution at this time.

Question 16: How would you envision the prime’s relationship with the MILACAS-FR original equipment manufacturer (OEM)? Would the government facilitate the relationship?

Response 16: At this time the Government would rely on the prime contractor to work with the

MILACAS-FR OEM and determine the appropriate contractual relationship.

Question 17: On slide nine of the Government’s opening slide deck, under the AMC 1067 quotes, the third bullet said the next FPS solution must work in all C-130AMP and C-130J aircraft deployment environments with full 5G capability. The 1067 requirements seem to contradict what the Government is looking for. That sounds like the Government wants to operate in the 5G range, but then the overarching requirement is to get out of the 5G range. Can you clarify that?

Response 17: Understand the confusion. The intent is that as 5G frequencies are transferred over to the commercial marketplace we have an FPS system that can still operate in the presence of

5G signals by moving the FPS operational frequencies outside of the 5G bands.

Question 18: Is the Government driving towards contract award based on Technical Readiness

Level, best value/cost or some other variable?

Response 18: The Government has not finalized its approach and appreciates industry’s feedback so that a strategy can be finalized.

Question 19: Will the Government be specifying certain frequencies that should be utilized?

Response 19: The highest priority is to be compatible with the MILACAS-FR which is built upon civilian TCAS.

Question 20: Can the government better define the CONOPS?

Response 20: The Government plans to leverage the CONOPS that are currently being utilized in the AMP Increment 2 upgrade. At this time we are contemplating providing the approved

CONOPS at the release of the draft Request for Proposal (RFP) or the final RFP.