Q and A MGEO RFI_2 (09 Oct 25 Update).pdf

Question # Document Title Document Ref Question Answer 1 N/A N/A The Response Guidelines stipulate a maximum of 10 page response. Are the CRM The CRM does not count towards the 10 page response limit, however 2 PWS 1.3 Will the government expand the section in the PWS (beyond what’s in section 1.3 The Government does not intend to expand this section. The scope of

3 FA1 Functional Area 1, Subfactor 1 Can Corporate Experience be substituted with Team Experience?

The Government would need additional information on what Team Experience would include and how it would demonstrate the ability to meet the needs of the functional area. Please provide additional information so that the Government can consider this option.

4 FA2 Functional Area 2, Subfactor 1 Can Corporate Experience be substituted with Team Experience?

The Government would need additional information on what Team Experience would include and how it would demonstrate the ability to meet the needs of the functional area. Please provide additional information so that the Government can consider this option.

5 FA3 Functional Area 3, Subfactor 3 Can Relevant Experience be substituted for Past and/or Planned Activities?

The Government will take this recommendation under advisory and discuss internally how to best allow for relevant experience in response to an official RFP. The Government acknowledges that benefit of this possibility.

6 N/A N/A Please identify the related Program Element numbers associated with the anticipated IDIQ.

No PE numbers are available at this time. PE numbers will be established when funded task orders are generated with mission partners.

7 N/A N/A Will there be a Briefing to Industry prior to release of the final solicitation?

While this is undetermined, the Government does not currently have a briefing to industry planned. If you believe a briefing to industry would be beneficial to industry respondents, please elaborate in your response.

8 N/A N/A

In order to plan our proposal and staffing resources, please provide a notional timeline for the initial IDIQ solicitation, as well as the planning for the associated TO/DO competitions and awards.

At this time, the Government is targetting an early January 2026 release date for this official RFP. There is no timeline available for any TO/DO competitions.

9 N/A N/A Will there be a listing of other interested companies involved, so as to facilitate teaming/partnering discussions?

The Government has considered hosting a teaming day, however if this is unable to be met in the time avaialble, the Government will consider providing a listing of all MGEO RFI respondents to facilitate inter-industry engagement.

10 N/A N/A Who is the SSA/MDA for this initiative? The Government does not share this infomration.

11 PWS

Entirety /Also see RFI Questions Context/Background/Observations

Can the Government more clearly delineate or categorize which specific tasks discussed in the PWS the Government views as being executed across all subsequent Task Orders awarded to the various firms on the basic IDIQ?

Additionally, which specific tasks will the government execute on an individual task order basis?

The Government will take the suggestion to restructure the PWS to align each specific PWS task with its respective functional area, but does not not guarnatee a restrucutre. Specific tasks for individual task orders will be based on the requirement of the funding mission partner and their end goal.

12 PWS

Entirety / Also see RFI Questions Context/Background/Observations

In order to “maneuver communications” or “maneuver networks,” a great many tasks and coordination activities are required, either a priori or concurrent with the maneuver itself. In almost all cases, as with maneuvering, the various requisite tasks can require days to months to complete. The PWS addresses the aspect of repositioning spacecraft but is not as clear regarding associated tasks.

Such associated tasks include obtaining ITU approval to radiate in a geosynchronous orbital slot; coordination with adjacent satellites and their operators; obtaining appropriate host nation approval and landing rights;

establishing supporting ground infrastructure (e.g., appropriate TT&C facilities and communications/networking ground entry points, a.k.a., “teleports”), validating security (e.g., physical and cyber) and establishing secured terrestrial connectivity to a Point of Presence connected to terrestrial portions of the DoD Information Network (DoDIN). Shouldn’t the full range of tasks and capabilities required to enable resilient satellite communications support to U.S. warfighter and the networks which support them be addressed within the scope of the draft

RFP?

See tab "Q2". The Government will add explicit language surround ITU, repositioning, host nation, ground, infastucture, TT&C etc. at the task order level.

13 PWS

SECTION I, Sect 1.3, Scope, 2nd para; Sect 1.3, sole para; Sect 2.1 (Task 1) sole para; Sect

2.2 (Task 2) sole para; Sect 2.5 (Task 5), paras

2.5.1 and 2.5.1.1; Sect 2.7 (Task 7) first para / Also see RFI Questions Context/Background/Observations

Will the capability to move services between fixed satellites in different orbital slots (a.k.a., “maneuverable networks," “spectrum maneuverability,” or “portability") also considered maneuver?

This has been considered by the Government, however a final determination has not been made on inclusion. The Government fails to see how this is different from porting requirements for capacity and services as required in standard COMSATCOM contracts. The Government is open to additional information should you wish to provide more detail in your response.

14 PWS SECTION I, Sect 1.3, 3rd para

This paragraph includes the statement that, “The scope of this contract is limited by the intended orbital domain (GEO) and goal of resiliency through maneuverability and use of multiple transmission paths.” What is the difference between maneuverability and multiple transmission paths?

Maneuverability is the physical aspect of moving a spacecraft from one location to another in the GEO plane, whereas multiple transmission paths include the use of satellite and terrestrial paths to get a signal to the necessary end point.

15 PWS

SECTION II, Sect 2.7.3 (Subtask 7.3) sole para;

Sect 2.71 (Subtask 7.1) first para / Also see RFI Questions Context/Background/Observations

This combination of maneuverability using decentralized, spatially dispersed small and medium satellites increases the resilience of both the service overall…”. Can “small and medium” be removed from the above language and retain the same desired effect to provide resilient SATCOM services?

The Government will take this under advisement, but will not commit to the removal of this language and may specify SV size based on government requirements.

16 PWS

SECTION VI – 6.0 Security Requirements / Also see RFI Questions Context/Background/Observations

The third and fourth paragraphs of this section currently include the following provisions—but in separate paragraphs:

a. Third Paragraph: “The contractor’s NOC shall be manned by cleared SECRET U.S. Citizen and English-speaking technicians available 24 hours a day 7 days a week as the focal point for any problems encountered with the leased services.”

b. Fourth Paragraph: “. . . The reliance of the contractor on a business partner with appropriate clearances and security devices to supply this capability or use of appropriate commercial standard encryption devices and NATO or allied cleared personnel is acceptable.”

Questions: Can the above language be replaced with the following language which is a provision included in the EUCOM BPA? “The contractor shall have English speaking technicians available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as the focal point for any problems encountered with the leased services. The technicians shall be able to troubleshoot or escalate to the next tier any problems encountered on the leased services. The contractor shall support U.S. SECRET voice capability and personnel with U.S. SECRET security clearances to discuss sensitive information. The reliance of the contractor on a business partner with appropriate clearances and security devices to supply this capability or use of appropriate commercial standard encryption devices and NATO or allied cleared personnel is acceptable.”

The Governmnet acknowledges the request and PWS Section 6 may be updated in the final draft to clarity the security clearance requirements.

17 FA2

Section L, Functional Area 2, Subfactor 2, para

a. / Also see RFI Questions Context/Background/Observations

The capability to support operational managed and/or leased-resource services via GEO commercial satellites globally”. Given that many vendors provide services on a regional basis and task orders may be regional in nature, can "globally" be removed from above language?

No. Global support is required, and as the solutions are not being priced at the IDIQ level, regional support will be identified and priced at the task order level.

18 MGEO_RFI2_Letter_Signed Requested Information

Will all RFI Comment Matrixes and additional documents described in Response Guidelines which are provided by interested parties be made public? Or will only Q&A be made public?

All RFI responses will be treated as proprietary and shared only with Government individuals working the sollicitation.

Question Element Government Response (Specific PWS References) Explicit in PWS? Clarification Action

Coordination before/during maneuver

Addressed in Section 2.9.5 (Communications and Escalation Plan) and Section 2.2.1 (Task 1 – Spacecraft Operations), which require coordination and regulatory activities associated with spacecraft operations and maneuvers. Implicit

The Government will consider adding explicit reference to pre- and concurrent coordination activities, including timeline expectations.

Spacecraft repositioning

Addressed in Sections 2.1 and 2.2.1 (Task 1 – Spacecraft Operations), which require on-orbit operations including maneuverable spacecraft and repositioning. Explicit

The Government will cross-reference Tasks 2 and 6 to ensure supporting activities are clearly tied to repositioning requirements.

ITU approval

Covered in Section 2.9.8 (Frequency Clearances and Approvals), which requires contractors to obtain all necessary national and international approvals to operate. Implicit

The Government will consider explicitly including “ITU filings for geosynchronous slot operations.”

Coordination with adjacent satellites Addressed in Section 2.2.1 (Task 1 – Spacecraft Operations) under “any required regulatory or coordination activities.” Implicit

The Government will consider adding explicit mention of coordination with adjacent satellite operators.

Host nation approval / landing rights Covered in Section 2.9.8 (Frequency Clearances and Approvals), which requires host nation approvals (HNAs) as applicable. Implicit

The Government will consider explicitly including “host nation approvals and landing rights.”

Ground infrastructure / teleports

Addressed in Section 2.2.2 (Task 2 – Ground Infrastructure), which requires the contractor to establish and operate TT&C facilities and network entry points, including gateways and teleports. Explicit None. Clarification will occur at the task level.

Security validation (physical/cyber) Explicitly covered in Sections 6.4 (Information Security), 6.6 (NIST SP 800-171 Compliance), and 6.7 (Cyber Incident Response). Explicit None. Clarification will occur at the task level.

Secured DoDIN connectivity

Addressed in Section 2.2.2 (Task 2 – Ground Infrastructure), which requires network entry points to support service delivery, and Section

6.4 (Information Security), which requires information assurance and encryption. Implicit

The Government will consider adding explicit requirement for “secured connectivity to authorized DoDIN Points of Presence.”

Comprehensive task scope Addressed across Section 2.1 (Purpose), Tasks 1, 2, 4, and 6, and Section 2.9 (Service Continuity/Management). Partially

The Government will consider adding an overarching statement defining “maneuver communications” as encompassing all operational, regulatory, and infrastructure activities required to ensure resilient SATCOM support to the warfighter.