RFI for SATCOM J-A.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT FOR JUSTIFICATION

AND APPROVAL (J&A)

This request is to comply with the requirement at DFARS PGI 206.302-1 to post an RFI or Sources Sought seeking information for a J&A of only one responsible source.

The requirement was originally released as Request for Proposal W52P1J-18-R-0085, dated 24 AUG 2018, titled SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS (SATCOM) SUPPORT.

Product Manager (PdM) Wideband Enterprise Satellite Systems (WESS) has several mission essential tasks/projects to be completed within 8 months, these tasks/projects are described herein and the attached Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Respondents shall provide the information required for all tasks/projects. Respondents shall provide the information by 11 September 2020 at 1200 hours Central Time.

Misawa Power Upgrade: This increase in WESS’ requirement on behalf of AFWET will procure power equipment and associated accessories to meet the Air Force target power architecture. This power upgrade will include a site survey to Misawa Air Force Base, Japan, a design package, equipment procurement, installation, testing and inspection. This power upgrade is essential to replace obsolete equipment, including the UPS and power circuitry and to allow redundancy for maintenance and power emergency conditions. The power system at Misawa feeds the Modernization of Enterprise Terminal (MET), previously installed as well as the Baseband power distribution rack. 2

Information required:

1. The power upgrade will require a new A/B main switchboard with busbar and space for full utilization and secondary distribution panels, most likely purchased through Eaton. The respondent shall demonstrate purchasing methods for similar type Eaton equipment within the last two years.

2. The power upgrade will require a new 180 kVA A/B UPS with total 30 minutes run time at battery end of life. The respondent shall demonstrate purchasing methods for similar UPS equipment within the last two years.

3. The respondent shall demonstrate a plan for developing a power upgrade design package and implementing a power upgrade at an active SATCOM terminal facility.

4. The respondent shall demonstrate a relationship with a local Japanese engineering firm whom can provide the civil and electrical work required as part of this project, including recent, similar work done with this company in Japan.

5. The respondent shall demonstrate an understanding of the target power architecture including performing similar power upgrades at Air Force SATCOM terminal facilities.

Ka-Band Satellite Transmit and Receive Systems (KaSTARS) System Support and Repairs: The PWS of the SATCOM contract includes a requirement to provide support for the KaSTARS Terminals purchased by PdM WESS in the 1990s, and currently fielded at the Gateway locations worldwide. At this time, there are KaSTARS Terminals located in Germany, Italy, California, Virginia and Hawaii. Due to the 42 associated National Stock Numbers (NSNs) for expected repair parts requisition, the level of effort in support of the aging systems has increased by 22 since contract award and must be fully supported until End of Life (EoL) and de-installation activities commence. The current and potential increase in product/system support in replenishing “F” stock (items requiring repair) into “A” stock (items ready to be fielded, have been repaired and tested) to be fielded is critical to maintaining the KaSTARS Terminals.

Information Required:

1. The respondent shall document their ability to providing key Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on the KaSTARS terminals purchased in the 1990s and installed at Landstuhl, Camp Roberts, Lago, Northwest, and Wahiawa, including the SMEs experience on KaSTARS terminals over the last 10 years. The respondent shall provide the resumes of the SMEs.

2. The respondent shall demonstrate their ability to test KaSTARS Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) at the Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) test lab.

3. The respondent shall demonstrate their ability to repair obsolete equipment including intimate knowledge of the KaSTARS LRU vendors.

Regional Hub Node (RHN) Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Upgrade: NETCOM maintains five RHN Terminals co-located at SATCOM Gateway Sites. The RHN Terminals provide network connectivity to worldwide Army tactical satellite Terminals.

These SATCOM systems require an availability of 99.98%. The RHN Terminals includes a Radio Frequency (RF) shelter that houses high powered amplifiers, converters, frequency timing devices and other equipment critical to transmitting and receiving satellite communications. These Terminals include a 10 kVA UPS, which provides critical power should there be a failure in the terrestrial power grid. The current UPSs at the RHN site in Guam are obsolete and require replacement. The replacement UPSs will provide redundancy required to meet NETCOM’s N+2 power architecture and will include batteries that have a much longer life cycle. Upgrading these UPSs are critical to maintaining the RHN missions in Guam.

Guam Radome; Environment Control Unit (ECU) Kits: The Navy has purchased two 68 ft. radomes to protect the MET large fixed antennas in Guam. Based on the corrosive environment in Guam, these radomes will need ECUs to condition the air inside the radome to reduce corrosion control and the associated maintenance costs.

Based on a cooling analysis, it has been determined that each radome will require three, 5-ton ECUs. The ECUs will be purchased as a kit to include the ducting to interface with the radome panels. The ECUs to be purchased will be maintainable by site ECU technicians to minimize long term maintenance costs.

Information Required:

1. The respondent shall demonstrate their understanding of Guam environmental considerations and how this will impact the selection of 5-ton ECUs at the Guam SATCOM facility.

2. The respondent shall demonstrate proven methodology for installation of the ECUs in association with the radome installation at the Guam SATCOM facility which shall include experience installing and commissioning radome ECUs in the last two years.

3. The respondent shall demonstrate how the selected ECUs will minimize long term maintenance and sustainment costs.

Offutt Air Force Base (AFB) Terminal De-installation: Two MET Terminals were installed at Offutt AFB, NE in 2015 and 2016. In March 2019, Offutt AFB sustained historic, massive flooding severely damaging the MET Terminals. Much of the electronic equipment that was salvageable was removed a few months after the flooding, however the antennas and radomes remained in place. Since this equipment can be reused, the Air Force originally wanted to leave the antennas and radomes in place until they could be moved as part of a major Military Construction Army (MCA) project. This year the Air Force learned that the area where these items stood would need to be used for a Force modernization project. Based on this decision, the antennas and radomes need to be removed within the next 6 months. De-installing the antennas and radomes will consist of carefully removing the antenna and radome components so they can be reused. All components removed will need to be cleaned, marked, inventoried, and placed in transportable containers. It is essential that this project be accomplished in a timely manner so there is no impact on the other Air Force projects.

Information Required:

1. The respondent shall demonstrate their ability to de-install a MET compliant radome for reuse including its capability to assess the functionality of the radome and radome accessories.

2. The respondent shall document their experience in de-installing radomes for reuse and long-term storage in the last two years.

3. The respondent shall demonstrate their ability to de-install a MET large fixed antenna for reuse.

4. The respondent shall document their experience in de-installing 52 Modernization (52 MOD), large fixed antennas within the past two years.

Ft. Buckner Radome Procurement and Site Preparation: The MET antennas and their associated auxiliary components must be protected by a radome to maintain their operational availability and capability. Additional requirements exist to procure the radome and associated accessories, in conjunction with the MET installation schedule milestones at Ft. Buckner not previously captured in the initial IGE from 22 February 2018. This action will also cover the site preparation required for the radome to accommodate a 200-mph rated radome. The original Ft. Buckner radome foundations were built to accommodate 150-mph wind load rated radomes. Because of recent typhoons, which have sustained winds over 150-mph, the replacement radomes need upgrading to be rated at a 200-mph threshold. It is imperative these radomes be purchased in association with the MET installation schedule so that the antenna is always protected and operates efficiently and effectively at the appropriate measures.

Information Required:

1. The respondent shall demonstrate their capability in providing a specification for the Ft. Buckner radomes based on the existing site layout and changes as a result of the MET site prep and MET installation.

2. The respondent shall demonstrate their capability and experience providing radome foundation modification at Ft. Buckner to take an existing radome foundation and convert it from a 150-mph rating to a 200-mph rating.

3. The respondent shall demonstrate a consistent relationship with a local Japanese engineering firm to provide the civil work required as part of this project. Respondent must include recent and similar work done with such a company in Japan

Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT): PdM WESS requires the procurement and installation of 4 Ka-band and 4 X-band VSAT Terminals to be integrated with the digital (Intermediate Frequency) IF Baseband infrastructure at TYAD. The purpose of the digital IF project is to further the technology to modernize ground-based satellite communications to eliminate the conversion from RF to digital signals. Currently, conversion of RF to digital signals requires a large amount of equipment, including down converters, up converters, combiner/divider networks, switches, and control/monitoring devices. The VSAT Terminals need to be procured in X and Ka-bands to be compatible with the Wideband Global Satellite constellation.

Information Required:

1. The respondent shall demonstrate their capability to procure VSAT terminals in X and Ka-bands and timelines for the procurement process.

2. The respondent shall demonstrate their ability to install, integrate and test the VSAT terminals in a Prototyping lab setting.