Updated Q and A _ FA2541-25-011_20250707.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 12 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- FA2541-25-011
- Issued by
-
Department of the Air Force
About this file
This document is a Questions and Answers (Q&A) file for a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the Defense Media Activity (DMA) seeking solutions for delivering American Forces Network (AFN) stereo audio programming to remote, isolated transmitter sites in Europe. The RFI focuses on replacing the current Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite service, which will be discontinued in March 2026, with alternative connectivity methods. Key technical requirements include delivering "The Eagle" audio stream using either internet-based solutions with a GFE Tieline TLR6200-4W audio codec, AES3 audio, or analog stereo audio, with a minimum sustained bandwidth of 2 Mbps and secure, encrypted transmission to prevent unauthorized disruption.
The document outlines multiple potential delivery scenarios, including streaming from DMA facilities in Riverside, California or Fort Meade, Maryland, with the primary challenge being the isolated nature of the European transmitter sites, which currently lack internet or cellular connectivity. Preferred audio interface options include internet access with ~256kbps audio stream, balanced XLR for AES3 audio at 48 kHz or 44.1 kHz, or balanced XLR stereo analog audio at line level. The RFI specifically seeks industry input on two primary questions: how to deliver stereo audio to isolated remote locations and how to provide commercial internet via satellite to these sites, with the ultimate goal of establishing reliable, secure audio programming distribution for AFN Europe.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Q and A _ FA2541-25-011.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| AFN Radio_RFI_Sources Sought_FA2541-25-011_Signed.pdf |
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Text version
Q&A
| Question # | Question | Answer |
| 1 | Can you please provide the required Audio types? (e.g. MPEG, AC3, AAC, DTC, Etc.) | One of the following: |
a) Sufficient Internet bandwidth so DMA can use a GFE Tieline TLR6200-4W audio codec passing ~256kbps audio stream (preferred),
b) AES3 (48 kHz or 44.1 kHz), or
c) Stereo analog audio.
| 2 | Is Encryption required or preferred? | Connection should be secure and encrypted to prevent unauthorized parties from disrupting AFN's audio streams (adversarial actors/nations/states to US interests). If DMA is using GFE audio codecs, DMA will encrypt those streams. |
| 3 | Is there a required or preferred source pickup location? (e.g. March AFB, Usingen, etc.) | Depends upon timeline for DMA transition activities: |
a) DMA Riverside - AFN Broadcast Center (adjacent to March ARB) (current)
b) DMA Headquarters - Fort Meade, MD, (MP expects to transition to Ft. Meade in late 2026 or in 2027) or
c) Stream from a DMA facility via Internet with GFE audio codec to AFN Europe transmitter site.
| 4 | Do all the remote sites where the radio channels are inserted into the local transmitter have reliable internet connectivity and space for a 1RU decoding device that would allow the reception of an Internet based secure audio stream? | No. Identified sites are isolated from both DoD and commercial connectivity of any form (including cellular/LTE) – envision a small shack in some farmer’s field out in the middle of nowhere. This RFI is focused on exploring alternate options for delivering the AFN audio programming to the isolated site via satellite – whether it be TVRO or or commercial Internet. If Internet connectivity was available, DMA would use GFE audio codecs like the Tieline TLR6200-4W. |
| 5 | What are the various ways that high quality and reliable feeds of The Eagle stereo audio can be received and be used as the source feed that would then be re-distributed to these European locations? Is it available via multiple paths so that there would be a primary and backup feed available for re-distribution? For instance, is it available as a reliable stream on the Internet, Satellite downlink, and/or other methods? | This very question is what this RFI is asking of industry. One of two questions: |
a) How would industry deliver stereo audio to an isolated remote location in Europe if handed the AFN Eagle programming from a CONUS facility?
b) How would industry provide commercial Internet via satellite to the remote location? Once reliable Internet access was available, DMA would use GFE audio codecs like the Tieline TLR6200-4W to pass the AFN Eagle audio securely to the remote location in Europe.
c) Redundancy is already handled on an alternate satellite path.
| 6 | Is there any data, available remotely and securely via the Internet, to provide a feedback loop to the provider on the status of the remote transmitters? -- For instance, data that shows the transmitter site has power, is on-line, and that the transmitter has a valid input and is healthy. | No. There is no site condition or equipment status data available from the isolated transmitter site. If the selected industry solution was able to provide commercial Internet via satellite to the remote location that had sufficient bandwidth after delivery of the AFN Eagle programming, DMA would likely explore a secure method for control and monitoring of the site. However, remote control and monitoring is not a requirement for this RFI. |
| 7 | What are the audio interfaces we need to provide? Balanced or unbalanced for instance. | a) Preferred would be Internet access with sufficient bandwidth so DMA can use a GFE Tieline TLR6200-4W audio codec passing ~256kbps audio stream. Otherwise, |
b) Balanced XLR for AES3 (48 kHz or 44.1 kHz) @ -18 or -20 dBFS, or
c) Balanced XLR stereo analog audio at line level +4 dBu.
| 8 | What is the audio interface of the customers equipment? | As noted above, it can be a WAN RJ45 fort Tieline Gateway audio codec, or XLR for AES or analog audio input. |
| 9 | Does the customer have the internet already? Can we layer our solution on top of their existing internet service? | No, we do not have Internet. |
| 10 | If not do we provide primary and backup Internet services? | It is one of the possible options we are looking for, a solution that provides commercial Internet for the site - minimum sustained bandwidth of 2 Mbps. Redundancy not required for Internet. |
| 11 | The RFI mentions that AFN was previously provided over a Ku-Band TVRO system. Can we get the details of that system? Antenna size and receiving equipment? | a) Ku-band dish may vary depending upon transmitter site. |
b) See attached DTH_ATL_Eutelsat_9B_DVB-S2_9865_Settings.pdf for details on settings.
c) Consumer satellite receivers used: Cisco D9865h or AFN7500HD.
d) Commercial satellite receivers used: Cisco D9854 or Sencore Impulse 400D.
e) AFN uses Synamedia PowerVu or Verimatrix encryption – both unique to AFN.
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