IBS CUS RFI.pdf

Request for Information (RFI) Sustainment and Modernization of the Integrated Broadcast Service CIB Uplink Site (IBS

CUS)

10 October 2023

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience required for the sustainment and modernization of the Integrated Broadcast Service Common Interactive Broadcast (CIB) Uplink Site (CUS) system located in multiple locations both inside and outside of the Continental United States (CONUS/OCONUS.) The Contractor will be required to work with teams consisting of military, civilian, national partners, foreign partners and contract personnel from various services and agencies. This is a TS/SCI program and requires all personnel to either possess a TS/SCI clearance or else to maintain eligibility during the adjudication process for TS/SCI clearance.

The Government does not have access to the data for the IBS CUS, associated software products, and CMF. Technical data will not be provided to any Contractor as Government Furnished Information/Property (GFI/GFP).

Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The Government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

The Government respectfully requests that interested parties respond to this RFI. However, this RFI does not commit the Government to issue a contract for any material, supply, or service.

The Government is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.

Responders are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred as a result of responding to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the expense of the interested party. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation for proposals, if any is issued.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Below is a document containing a functional requirement for the sustainment and modernization of the IBS CUS and a Contractor Capability Survey, which allows you to provide your company’s capability.

2. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company’s capability in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.)

3. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research.

Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.

4. Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to Malisa Prue, chelsa.prue@us.af.mil, with copy to Joseph Jones, joseph.jones.81@us.af.mil.

Electronic communication shall be received no later than 4:00pm EST, Thursday, 9 November 2023. Vendor’s email response to this RFI shall be addressed to Joseph Jones, joseph.jones.81@us.af.mil, and have in the subject line, the RFI title.

REQUIREMENTS DESCRIPTION

Background IBS is the worldwide Department of Defense (DoD) standard network for transmitting tactical and strategic intelligence and targeting data to all levels of DoD, National Partner, and Foreign Partner users. IBS is the primary delivery method for providing users across the United States (US) and Joint forces with information in Near-Real-Time (NRT) to ensure continuous and improved situational awareness needed to accomplish diverse mission objectives. The IBS vision is to provide filtered and prioritized NRT intelligence information to the warfighters. IBS-Network Services (IBS-NS) is the major message-processing segment of IBS and is composed of two types of interface nodes; Global IBS Network Server (GINS) and Theater Interface Node (TIN). Both the GINS and TINs process high-side and low-side messages of multiple security levels. These nodes are distributed worldwide and are aligned with the Combatant Commands (CCMD) to provide maximum information availability. These nodes receive, translate, prioritize, store, filter, and disseminate intelligence messages via a number of interfaces including the IBS-CUS. The IBS-CUS nodes transmit and receive IBS data over the satellite infrastructure to providing global dissemination and processing to disadvantaged users. There are four IBS-CUS sites globally located for optimal interaction with the satellite infrastructure.

The IBS Network and CIB broadcasts both utilize the IBS Common Message Format (CMF) for all intelligence data transfers; CMF is a member of the Tactical Datalink (TDL) family of standard DoD messages and is managed by IBS along with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) for dissemination. MIL-STD-6018 defines the CMF data elements, allowing the efficient and interoperable transfer of IBS data among DoD systems and supports the standardized forwarding of TDL data in accordance with MIL-STD-6020. CMF data processing is supported by a unique software capability, the CMF Parser Library (CMFPL). The CMFPL allows host applications to decode, encode, manipulate, and validate the structure of CMF Data. The CMFPL is used throughout the IBS community by all Tactical Data Processors (TDPs) that ingest and/or produce CMF data.

mailto:chelsa.prue@us.af.mil

Performance Requirements

1. Refine the IBS-CUS and IBS Data Formats to support organizational structures as required to enhance program success.

2. Provide investigation, analysis, evaluation, testing and solutions for problems identified in

IBS products.

a. Problems resulting from material deficiency reports, design deficiencies, quality assurance deficiencies, Vanishing Vendor Issues (VVI), failures and malfunction of material or components shall be identified to the Government. The Contractor shall provide corrective actions on a consistent basis, with solutions that can be merged and fielded with no additional rework.

3. Support efforts as necessary with other agencies/contractors to ensure that systems, equipment, and training support requirements are formally configuration controlled as properly established and implemented within authorizations approved.

4. Provide the necessary support for installation and system acceptance test of software updates deployed into operational systems.

5. Provide engineering services for support to configuration management of the IBS data format and include a designated IBS representative to the Joint Multi-TDL Configuration Control Board (JMTCCB) who shall also perform as the IBS co-chair for the Information Standards Message Standard (IMSG) working group. The Contractor shall support other IBS related working groups, message format design, and sustainment activities as necessary.

6. Provide the systems engineering services required to sustain and modernize the IBS-CUS as directed by the Government in order to meet mission requirements.

7. Provide engineering services for CMF subject-matter expertise and other sustainment and modernization support of the IBS data format including:

a. Analysis and preparation of format design modifications, change proposal preparation to maintain compliance with MIL-STD-6018 and MIL-STD-6020.

b. Perform as principal participant in the Message Standard Working Group

(MSWG).

c. Investigate and develop updates to the IBS CMF Implementation files.

d. Support other IBS-related working groups and format design and sustainment activities as necessary.

8. Provide on-site support for all CONUS and OCONUS CUS locations to provide systems engineering technical assistance, analysis of field reported problems, recommendations for corrective actions, and sustainment and troubleshooting of on-site equipment.

9. Sustain and modernize (as needed) CIB suite of software products, including:

a. Tactical Information Processor On-Line Fusion Facility & Network Translator

(TIPOFFNT) – Also known as TNT – This provides connectivity to the CIB networks and allows intelligence and collections assets to broadcast time critical information directly to theatre combat forces via CIB. It provides users with maps, textual and alert displays that can be customized by the operator. TNT supports connectivity to the JTT-SR and ENTR.

b. Reconfigurable Joint Network Engine (RJNE) – This is a cross platform distributed system composed of Interchangeable Component Environment (ICE) components.

It supplies connectivity between IBS-NS and the CIB. It offers redundant access to the GINS with automatic switching if a preferred feed is lost. The RJNE also presents users with data flow metrics and KML maps.

c. ICUSMon Toolkit (Acronym definition unknown) – This is a set of monitoring tools designed to help Field Service Representatives (FSRs) and watch personnel troubleshoot Radio Frequency (RF), hardware and network related issues at the CUS. The toolkit includes iStatMon, iTempMon, iMonUpLink, ISpecMon and iMonDataXFER.

d. A Search Tool for Event Reconstruction of Intelligence Data (ASTEROID) – This is a data analysis tool that allows the user to run queries and report against CMF data, including, but not limited to, data collected from Common Interactive Broadcast (CIB) Uplink Site (CUS) operations. These queries and reports can be used to answer operational questions about CIB and/or Network performance. In addition to queries and reports, ASTEROID includes a powerful data export utility that allows the user to export specific data fields into CSV (Comma Separated Value) files. This exported data can be used directly by Microsoft Excel or other COTS software to perform additional data analysis including the use of pivot tables, histograms, and various other charts and graphs.

e. Common Message Format Parser Library (CMFPL) – This provides generic parsing software capable of using a commercial based DTD file to identify and parse data elements to and from a CMF data stream. The CMPFL is designed to be used by a variety of Tactical Data Processors (TDPs) executing on a diverse set of operating systems (Windows, LINUX, VxWorks, and others). The contractor shall include corresponding updates to the companion Java CMF Parser Library (JCMFPL), which is used applications supporting the XML Schema.

f. Multi-Arena Remote Simulator and Network Tester (MARSNT) - This software is used to support test, troubleshooting and analysis of CIB and CMF data.

10. Specific knowledge and experience required, but is not limited to Satellite Communication (SATCOMM), the Common Interactive Broadcast (CIB), a Common Message Format (CMF), the IBS-Network Services (IBS-NS), the over-the-air Ultra High Frequency (UHF) linkage to enhanced Terminals (e.g., Joint Tactical Terminals (JTT)), Mobile-User Objective System (MUOS), Extremely High Frequency (EHF) technology, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), the Integrated Waveform (IW)

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners:

• Company/Institute Name:

• Address:

• Point of Contact:

• CAGE Code:

• Phone Number:

• E-mail Address:

• Web Page URL:

Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code:

541330

Based on the above NAICS Code, state whether your company is:

• Small Business (Yes / No)

• Large Business (Yes / No)

• Woman Owned Small Business (Yes / No)

• Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes / No)

• 8(a) Certified (Yes / No)

• HUBZone Certified (Yes / No)

• Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes / No)

• Service Disabled Veteran Small Business (Yes / No)

• System for Award Management (Yes / No)

• A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership).

A. General Capability Questions:

1. Describe your company's past experience on previous projects similar in complexity to this requirement. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, agency/organization supported.

2. Are there specific requirements in the documentation that we provided that would currently preclude your company from providing the sustainment and modernization support described in this document?