25-I-2029 SATCOM Antenna Draft RFI Clean.docx

WIDEBAND SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

M67854-25-I-2029

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

Document Type: Request for Information/Market Research

Closing date for RFI: Friday, October 14, 2025, at 11:59 pm, local time, Quantico, Virginia

This Request for Information (RFI) initiates market research under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10.002(b) (2) (iii). This RFI is a market research tool to determine the availability and adequacy of potential solutions prior to determining the acquisition strategy and issuance of Request for Proposals/Quotations or Request for White Papers. The Government will not reimburse for any information received from potential sources in response to this RFI. This RFI is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for bids or proposals or 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 competitive or sole source contract.

2. DESCRIPTION

Program Manager Tactical Communications and Electromagnetic Warfare Systems (PM TCE) is assessing portable/flyaway multi-band satellite communication (SATCOM) terminal options to support expeditionary communications. The focus is on highly packable terminals—minimal transit case count and weight, rapid setup/tear-down, and airline-checkable where practical—with Ku/Ka as priorities and X-band strongly desired. Solutions shall operate on Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) networks with a pathway to Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) (with Low Earth Orbit(LEO) support considered beneficial). Offerors should address compliance with applicable Department of Defense (DoD) SATCOM standards and certification pathways (e.g., MIL-STD-188-164C, and Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) Ka compatibility/certification where applicable).

3. BACKGROUND

This RFI seeks information from industry on commercially available or near‑term 1.3‑meter portable/flyaway SATCOM terminal solutions suitable for tactical use. Responses will inform market research, potential prototyping, and future acquisition planning. This is not a solicitation; no contract will be awarded from this RFI.

Prime interest areas (weights provided for context):

Priorities (10 = highest) Bands: Ku (9), Ka (9), X (6) Orbits: HEO (9) GEO (8), MEO (8), LEO (5) Network/Certification: WGS (Ka) (9)

Target throughput: Optional 20 Mbps (objective), Acceptable 10 Mbps (threshold); stretch objective 30 Mbps where feasible. .

Specific objectives include:

· Tri-/dual-band offerings with emphasis on Ku/Ka; X-band desirable.

· Operation on GEO networks; pathway to MEO and HEO (e.g., SES O3b mPOWER). LEO support beneficial.

· Support for WGS Ka certification (or clear plan/status).

· Terminal performance consistent with MIL‑STD‑188‑164C and relevant Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction SATCOM policies.

· Environmental robustness with reference to MIL‑STD‑810H methods and severities.

· Ease of deployment: minimal case count/weight, rapid tool‑less assembly, auto‑acquire. Commercial transportability is highly desired

· Security: Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140‑3 validated cryptographic modules (where applicable); Risk Management Framework (RMF) artifacts.

Interoperability with common tactical modems/baseband (e.g., iDirect/Comtech/Heights)

4. Response Format Responses should be prepared in accordance with the following guidelines:

· Utilizing either Word (.docx, 2013 or newer) or Adobe (.pdf) software.

· Times New Roman 12 (or larger) font, single-spaced, including tables, on 8.5 by 11 inches paper.

· A font size smaller than 12 may be used in figures and drawings, but type shall be clearly legible.

· Margins on all sides (top, bottom, left, and right) shall be at least 1 inch.

· The page limit is 10 pages, and does not include the cover page or attachments.

· A cover sheet that includes:

· Project title.

· Company name.

· Product name(s)

· Primary point of contact, including name, address, phone and e-mail contact information; and

· Date of submission.

· Completed Attachment 1

5. Technical Information Responses should contain the following information:

Technical Capabilities

· Bands offered and RF chain options (X/Ku/Ka); interoperability with United States Marine Corps (USMC) systems (e.g., AN/TRC‑245 NGT or successors).

· Throughput performance: achievable down link (DL)/ uplink (UL)rates at 3, 10, and (if available) 30 Mbps; required MHz (DL/UL) and modem/modcod assumptions.

· Link ranges/topologies: point‑to‑point, point‑to‑multipoint, and over‑the‑move (if applicable). dual on the move, and on the pause capability (if applicable)

· Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP): total system weight; number of transit cases; dimensions; power requirements; environmental compliance.

· Setup/tear‑down time; personnel required; auto‑acquire/peaking features; training requirements.

· Interfaces: Ethernet/baseband compatibility; Quality of Service (QoS); network management; interference mitigation features.

· Security: FIPS 140‑3 validation status; RMF artifacts (SSP, SCTM); Zeroize and TEMPEST (if applicable).

· Diversity features (frequency/polarization/spatial); spares and field‑replaceable modules.

· Standards compliance: MIL‑STD‑188‑164C; others as applicable (e.g., MIL‑STD‑461 if claimed).

· Environmental: MIL‑STD‑810 methods/severities tested (e.g., 500/501/502/506/507/509/510/514/516); summary of results.

Packability Requirement

· Total transit case count and what is included per case (terminal hardware, RF chain, modem/baseband, power accessories, ancillary items).

· Individual case weights (lb.) and dimensions (L×W×H in).

· Identification of airline-checkable configurations.

· Setup/tear-down time and required crew size.

Operational Considerations

· Integration with USMC/Joint/Coalition C4I architectures; WGS/GX/Intelsat/SES network compatibility and certification status.

· Resilience in Denied, Degraded, Intermittent, and Limited environments; network failover between GEO, MEO and HEO (and LEO if applicable).

· Transportability: airline‑checkable cases; packaging; environmental controls; storage/shipping constraints.

· Training concept, sustainment, warranty, and field support; mean‑time‑to‑repair and spare strategy.

Business and Contracting Information

· Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) pricing;

· Available contract vehicles;

· Estimated production lead times

· Business size under NAICS Code 334511

6. ADMINISTRATION

Questions and requests for clarifications on this RFI may be submitted to kirklyn.rutland@usmc.mil with a courtesy copy to kathryn.hurd@usmc.mil no later than Friday, 11 Sept 2025 at 11:59 pm, local time, Quantico, Virginia. Answers will be provided to all interested parties as soon as they are able.

7. RFI RESPONSES

Interested parties are requested to provide responses meeting the requirements described in Section 4 and provide a completed copy of Attachment 1 and indicate whether your company is willing to conduct an on-site demonstration at the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity (MCTSSA), Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA 92055-5171. Provide proposed dates/windows and any site-access constraints before sending the requested information via DoD SAFE (http://safe.apps.mil) to gina.l.narvaez.civ@usmc.mil, tarah.goggins@usmc.mil, kirklyn.rutland@usmc.mil, no later than the closing date provided in paragraph 1. Information packages and all inquiries shall be encrypted on DoD SAFE using the encryption key “YYYYMMDD!!” Once the document has been sent, please email a notice WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS to kirklyn.rutland@usmc.mil with a courtesy copy to kathryn.hurd@usmc.mil indicating a drop has been made. Please place attention: “Response to RFI# M67854-25-I-2029” in the subject line of your e-mail. After reviewing comments, the Government may set up a teleconference to discuss.

Vendors submitting confidential business information or proprietary information bear the sole responsibility for appropriately marking the information.

8. NOTICE

Vendors are advised, the Government may use non-government personnel to assist in collecting and reviewing market information and in providing technical advice to the High Capacity Communications team. Proprietary information submitted in response to this RFI will be protected from unauthorized disclosure as required by Subsection 27 of the Office of Procurement Policy Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. 423) (hereinafter referred to as “the Procurement Integrity Act,” or “the Act”), and as implemented in the FAR. Supporting personnel are procurement officials within the meaning of the Act and will take all necessary action to preclude unauthorized use or disclosure of vendor’s proprietary data.

By submitting a response, a company will be deemed to understand that, and agree to, the Government allowing its support contractor, with the appropriate Non-Disclosure Agreement in place, to access any information submitted in relation to this RFI.

Attachment 1 SATCOM 1.3M Antenna RFI Response Matrix

SATCOM%201.3M%20Antenna%20Draft%20RFI%20Matrix.xlsx Sheet1

Vendor Name

POC Name

POC Email

Terminal Model

Bands (X/Ku/Ka)

WGS Ka Certified (Y/N/Planned)

Certification Evidence (link/file)

GEO (Y/N)

MEO (Y/N/supported network)

HEO (Y/N/supported network)

LEO (Y/N/supported network)

Modem/Baseband Options

FIPS 140-3 Validated? (Y/N)

RMF Artifacts Available? (Y/N)

DL Mbps @ 3

UL Mbps @ 3

DL MHz @ 3

UL MHz @ 3

DL Mbps @ 10

UL Mbps @ 10

DL MHz @ 10

UL MHz @ 10

DL Mbps @ 30 (optional)

UL Mbps @ 30 (optional)

DL MHz @ 30

UL MHz @ 30

BUC/SSPA Power Ku (W)

BUC/SSPA Power Ka (W)

EIRP Ku (sat/backoff)

EIRP Ka (sat/backoff)

G/T (dB/K) Ku

G/T (dB/K) Ka

Packability: Case Count

Packability: Case Weights (lb each)

Packability: Case Dimensions (LxWxH in)

Setup Time (min) / Crew (pax)

Power Draw (W)

Interfaces (Ethernet/QoS/Mgmt)

Interference Mitigation Features

MIL-STD-188-164C Compliant? (Y/N)

MIL-STD-810 Methods Tested (list)

810 Evidence (report/cert link)

MIL-STD-461 Claimed? (Y/N)

TEMPEST (Y/N/N/A)

Training/Sustainment Concept

Warranty (months)

Spares Strategy

ROM Price (Qty 1)

ROM Price (Qty 10)

Contract Vehicles

Lead Time (weeks)

IP/Licensing Notes

General Comments/Notes

MCTSSA Demonstration Willing? (Y/N)

Proposed Demo Dates/Window

Demo Notes/Access Constraints image1.emf