RFI_MRC Wireless Comms_08282025.pdf

MRC Approved RFI_Wireless Comms_08082025

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Low-Latency Wireless Communications

1.0 Description

1.1 The United States Army, Program Executive Office Missiles and Space (PEO MS), TF STRIKE, Midrange Capability (MRC) Project Office, is seeking information from industry to characterize current capability to deliver a very low-latency, low probability of intercept (LPI), two-way wireless data communications system to connect a single land-based operations cell to four land-based outpost cells, in a hub-spoke arrangement.

1.2 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue a RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, the Army is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondees are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on www.sam.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

2.0 Background

The Mid-Range Capability (MRC) is a road-mobile, C-17 transportable, ground-launched weapon system capable of conducting multi-domain offensive fires. The MRC Ground Support Equipment (GSE) for each battery consists of four (4) Launchers, a Battery Operations Center (BOC), a BOC Support Vehicle (BSV), and a reload capability. Each Launcher is equipped with a Payload Deployment System (PDS) using a modified Vertical Launching System (VLS) capable of carrying four (4) U.S. Navy Tomahawk and/or Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) missiles. The MRC PDS and BOC are housed in 40-foot International Organization for Standardization (ISO) intermodal containers, mounted on trailers containing generators, and towed by a M983A4 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT). The BSV is an M1152A1 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) and trailer capable of carrying and laying fiberoptic cables used to connect the BOC and Launchers. The BOC includes four (4) federated command and control includes Tomahawk Tactical Weapon Control System (TTWCS), Aegis Weapon System (AWS), Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS), and the Joint Automated Deep Operations Coordination System (JADOCS).

The MRC BOC system is currently connected to the four PDS Launchers via fiber optic cable in http://www.sam.gov/ a hub-spoke arrangement. The Army desires the capability to connect wirelessly. An interface kit has already been developed to allow for a wireless communications system to connect to each node. Messages from BOC to Launcher occur on three channels, and some are time-critical. The capability will focus on very-low latency technologies as a primary design element.

The Key Performance Parameters (KPP) required for this to be successful are as follows:

• Range from hub to each spoke > 1000m

• Throughput 5Mbps at hub

• Latency < 5ms roundtrip

In addition to the KPPs, the capability must be able to operate in a contested RF environment between 30MHz – 20GHz, be able to setup and teardown within 30 minutes, and be transportable in a package not to exceed 4m3 and 50kg. Line of sight is assumed.

MRC may elect to host a demonstration in Q1FY26 to better characterize qualified candidate systems. No vendor funding for this demonstration is planned.

2.1 Delivery Period: Delivery of up to 5 wireless communications systems for demonstration purposes by September 2025, and up to 45 wireless communications system nodes through FY26

& FY27.

2.2 Planned Integration: Integration of the wireless communications system to begin in Q3 FY2026.

2.3 Limitations: Latency is the primary challenge for this application.

2.4 Security Requirements: Wireless communication system will connect to Army encryption devices. Inherent encryption is desired but not required.

2.5 US-Only Manufacturing: Buy American Act provisions will apply for this program.

3.0 Requested Information

3.1 The Army is seeking companies with the capability to deliver very low-latency two-way wireless communication nodes. The system must be mature and fieldable by Q2 FY2026.

Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper addressing the following questions:

3.2 General Capabilities:

3.2.1 What candidate wireless communication system are you considering offering?

3.2.2 What technology makes your system uniquely qualified to offer very low-latency two-way wireless communications?

3.2.3 What is the TRL of your candidate system?

3.2.4 What other DoD programs currently utilize your system? Identify the contract vehicle being used for this procurement.

3.2.5 What other programs are utilizing the very low-latency features of your system?

3.2.6 Are you available to demonstrate your system at an organized event at Redstone Arsenal in the presence of other candidate systems?

3.3 Technical Specifications:

3.3.1 What band(s) does your candidate system operate?

3.3.2 What is the bandwidth of your candidate system?

3.3.3 What is the throughput of your candidate system?

3.3.4 What is the two-way latency of your system? How was this measured?

3.3.5 What is the range of your candidate system?

3.3.6 What types of antennas are used with your system?

3.3.7 What is the Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP) of your candidate system?

3.3.8 What allows your candidate system to operate in a contested RF environment?

3.3.9 What is the packet error rate (or successful packet delivery rate) of your candidate system?

3.3.10 How much does the performance of the candidate radio degrade if the system is deployed in an environment that is non-line of sight (e.g. buildings, trees, etc.)?

3.3.11 What techniques/characteristics/technologies does your solution implement to maximize LPI?

3.3.12 What are the environmental limitations to your solution (i.e. min/max temperature, weather, etc)?

3.3.13 Is your solution interface agnostic or require proprietary accessories?

3.3.14 What external connector types can be utilized?

3.4 Regarding Production & Certification:

3.4.1 Is your candidate system in production?

3.4.2 Do you have the ability to deliver 50 units by FY2027?

3.4.3 Does your system have a JF-12 certification?

4.0 Responses

4.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper.

4.1.1 All written responses shall be submitted no later than 17 SEP 2025, at 1600 hours EDT via email submission.

4.1.2 Subject line must read RFI/MRC Wireless Comms -[Company Name]. Example:

RFI/MRC Wireless Comms -ABC Inc.

4.1.3 Please submit all RFI responses in writing to Ashley Lewis, ashley.m.lewis48.civ@army.mil only.

4.1.4 Limit response length to ten pages (single space, no smaller than size 12 font) including graphics.

4.1.5 Contractors shall not contact any Government personnel regarding this RFI other than the individual designated below. Contacting any Government personnel other than the individual designated above may result in an organizational conflict of interest (OCI) and may result in a contractor being excluded from any subsequent related competition and corresponding consideration for award.

4.1.6 Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

5.0 Industry Discussions

TF STRIKE Midrange Capability representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential offerors. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements, especially any development and certification risks.

6.0 Questions

Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Latasha Porter; Latasha.y.porter.civ@army.mil and Contract Specialist, Ashley Lewis, ashley.m.lewis48.civ@army.mil. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions will be answered by posting answers to the www.sam.gov website; accordingly, questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions submitted 3 days prior to submission date will be answered. To access the website, go to www.sam.gov. Interested parties are invited to subscribe to the website to ensure they receive any http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov./ important information updates connected with this RFI.

7.0 Summary

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide very low-latency two-way wireless communications systems. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Army has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought.

All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.