Sources Sought Synopsis - CANSv3.docx

KC-135 Commercial Satellite Communication Access to Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router (NIPR) and Secure Internet Protocol Router (SIPR) Networks (CANS)

CAUTION:

This market survey is being conducted to identify potential sources that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the requirements for qualification and production of an airborne system to access Department of Defense secure and non-secure internet protocol router networks via commercial satellite communications pathways. This proposed system is intended for use in the United States Air Force (USAF) KC-135 Aircraft. The level of security clearance and amount of foreign participation in this requirement has not been determined. 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 as this survey is for planning purposes and may not result in a solicitation or contract. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. This document contains a description of the Commercial Satellite Communication Access to NIPR/SIPR program requirement 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. Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business.

4. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged. All submissions will be reviewed IAW FAR Part 19 procedures.

Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to:

KC-135 Commercial Satellite Communication Access to Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router (NIPR) and Secure Internet Protocol Router (SIPR) Networks (CANS)

PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION

The KC-135 program office is exploring possibilities for future communications capabilities for the fleet. The need for seamless and resilient communications and adaptable data pathways out to the tactical edge is critical. The intent is to increase the number of communications pathways by developing a commercial satellite communications option for the KC-135 platform to achieve the resiliency and adaptability necessary to remain relevant across the spectrum of competition. The system should employ a real-time Ku-band commercial SatCom antenna to allow beyond line-of-sight fast internet capability. Potential applications are to increase aircraft situational awareness communication; to improve mission planning; to improve aeromedical missions with real-time communications between onboard medical staff and specialist care, and to transfer patient medical information to destination medical facilities; to send flight or mission changes to an aircraft display device from the C2 node; to show NIPR / SIPR connectivity (voice communication, email, web); and to provide weather and airfield updates to an aircraft display device. As an example, a KC-135 performing a normal refueling mission would utilize a communications profile that provides the minimum required bandwidth to maintain situational awareness and exchange command and control messages at the lowest cost. When that same KC-135 switches to an aeromedical evacuation mission, the communications profile changes to one that enables a much higher bandwidth and allows for additional capabilities to execute the new mission. The flexible communications profile will enable a variety of tactical missions across the spectrum of competition.

Key features include:

· A service to transport IP-based data from an airborne aircraft to desired end points, and from end points to an airborne aircraft.

· Airborne hardware and software components developed to a common airworthiness qualification baseline.

· Separated, federated mission systems, meaning that the secure and non-secure IP stacks are separate, and both are not integrated with the flight-sciences portion of the aircraft and will not affect aircraft system program office certifications. CANS components are however required to meet either Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and/or Air Force airworthiness requirements.

· System integrates with the Real-Time Information in the Cockpit (RTIC)-modified version of the KC-135 as a platform baseline.

· System meets Air Force mandatory Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) such as net-readiness, operational availability, environmental survivability, cyber survivability, and electromagnetic survivability.

There are 326 C/KC-135 aircraft based throughout the United States (U.S.), Pacific, and Europe that will receive the CANS upgrade. The KC-135 CANS upgrade will consist of: SATCOM antenna(s), SATCOM transceivers (receiver/transmitters), and all associated Group A/B components. Projected timeline for KC-135 CANS fielding is FY25 with installs continuing through FY28.

The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources possessing the production data/repair data, expertise, capabilities, and experience to provide internet access solutions(s) and integration of this planned upgrade into the current KC-135 platform with RTIC communications system. The contractor shall have the ability to leverage on-going, planned or future satellite communications system developments that could contribute to reducing total lifecycle cost and risk to the program.

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

KC-135 Commercial Satellite Communication Access to Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router (NIPR) and Secure Internet Protocol Router (SIPR) Networks (CANS)

Part I. Business Information

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

· Phone Number:

· E-mail Address:

· Web Page URL:

Is your company interested in possible subcontracting opportunities? If so, please describe in detail what part or parts of this requirement that your company is capable of or interested in performing.

All responses should be sent via email to Mr. Jacob Booth at jacob.booth@us.af.mil and Mr. Richard Warcup at richard.warcup.1@us.af.mil. Responses must be received no later than close of business: 16 October 2023.

Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to: Mr. Jacob Booth jacob.booth@us.af.mil and Mr. Richard Warcup at richard.warcup.1@us.af.mil.

Part II. Capability Survey Questions

A. General Capability Questions:

1. Describe briefly the capabilities of your facility and the nature of the goods and/or services you provide. Include a description of your staff composition and management structure.

2. Describe your company's 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, and individual point of contact (Contracting Officer or Program Manager).

3. What quality assurance processes and test qualification practices does your company employ? Please provide a description of your quality program (ISO 9001:2015, AS9100, ISO/IEC 2701, ISO/IEC 27032, etc.)

4. Describe your company's capabilities for generating, handling, processing, and storing classified material and data.

5. Describe your company's capabilities and experience in generating technical data, engineering drawings, and manuals. Identify what software programs are utilized to generate these data products and what formats are available for delivered items.

6. Describe your company’s capability to obtain or manufacture molds/tooling. Also, provide information on your type of molding processes.

7. What is your company’s current maximum production capacity per month? Provide information on any facility reserves you may possess to increase production capacity in the event of an immediate need do to critical operational mission requirements.

8. Are there specific requirements in the documentation that we provide that would currently preclude your product from being a viable solution to our requirement?

9. Include a detailed listing of facilities and equipment, including quantities, required to satisfy the requirements of this effort.

a. Provide an outline of the proposed process, including inspections.

10. Which communications capabilities do you propose for CANS?

11. What geospatial coverage is provided?

12. What satellites and/or infrastructure does your proposed service(s) utilize?

13. What bandwidth ‘tiers’ and/or cost models does your proposed service(s) offer?

14. What network guarantees and min, max, or committed data rates does your proposed service(s) offer?

15. What latency for IP-based communications should the government expect for your proposed service(s)?

16. What spectrum does your proposed service(s) utilize?

17. What are the Global Coverage limitations, if any, of your proposed service(s)?

18. What help-desk like support does your service(s) provide?

19. What would be your notional data path, for example ground entry points, terrestrial routing options, etc. that your service(s) provides?

20. What is your supply risk management plan / approach for hardware and software?

B. Hardware Production Questions:

1. Describe your capability and experiences in the manufacturing/fabrication of components.

2. What hardware would be included in your proposed solution?

3. What general form-factor (size, weight, power) should the government expect for the proposed hardware?

4. What is your proposed strategy for installation, maintenance, and upgrade of vendor provided hardware and software?

5. What provisions are there for USAF personnel to install and maintain vendor hardware and software where contractors are prohibited?

6. What provisions are there for remote management?

C. Software Development Questions:

1. Is your company's software process improvement approach certified to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Integration certification? If so, what level of certification have you achieved and what is the date of your certification?

2. Describe your capabilities and experience in managing software development projects, including subcontractor involvement. Include any experience in project planning, work breakdown structures, resource allocations, schedule tracking, risk analysis and cost management.

3. How does your proposed service(s) enable rapid deployment and software upgrades (e.g., DevSecOps) to edge devices?

4. Does your proposed service record data that could be used for preventive maintenance of the vendor-provided hardware, and what model for data access should the government expect?

5. Does your system support zero trust networking? If so briefly describe.

6. Do you have the capability to perform static code analysis, and if so is that test built into any automated build process?

D. Repair Questions:

1. Describe your capabilities and experience in modifying existing systems/equipment (hardware and software) to solve maintenance and support problems in the USAF aircraft depot environment.

2. Describe your capabilities and experience in developing/modifying repair or maintenance procedures. Include associated upgrade of technical orders and preparation of new technical orders.

3. Describe your configuration management processes and how you identify and resolve parts obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages (DMSMS) problems?

4. Describe your process for maintaining inventory records and reporting on hand/in work balances and repair status to your customer.

E. Commerciality Questions:

1. Are there established catalog or market prices for our requirement? If you offer this product and/or service to both U.S. Government and commercial sources, is the same workforce used for both the U.S. Government and general public? Is our requirement offered to both under similar terms and conditions? Briefly describe any differences.

2. Describe your standard warranty and return process for goods and services furnished to the government for items similar in nature to this requirement.

F. Services Questions

1. Describe your services capabilities and experience with regard to the requirements of this effort.

2. Describe your capabilities and experience in developing/modifying procedures. Include associated upgrade of technical orders and preparation of new technical orders.

3. Demonstrate your ability and experience for the same or similar services, which are currently provided in the commercial and/or military environment by providing the following information on the same or similar items:

a) Contract Number

b) Procuring Agency

c) Contract Value

d) Services Provided

4. Describe your capabilities and experience in any required test, evaluation, and repair processes/procedures with regard to the required items.

5. Describe how you/your organization will identify and resolve parts obsolescence and diminishing manufacturing sources problems?

6. Discuss your process for addressing any fit, form, and or function issues that may arise out of the requirements of this effort.

7. Describe your process for maintaining inventory records and reporting on hand/work-in-process balance and manufacturing status to your customer as required.

8. How will your organization address the absence of drawings, specifications, technical data, test procedures, etc.

9. If your company cannot perform the entirety of the requirement, what part could or would your company be able to perform? Provide specific info on what could be broken out for your company’s performance.

G. Contract Strategy Development

1. USAF has historically utilized long term contracts that are structured as Indefinite Demand Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) and Requirements strategies. From your company’s experiences, can you provide your company’s understanding of each strategy to include a preference of the different strategies?

2. USAF has historically utilized long term contract strategies that have a base period of performance with either Option Years or Award Term years. From your company’s experiences, can you provide your company’s understanding of each strategy to include a preference of the different strategies?

3. USAF utilizes DCMA Quality Assurance Representatives (QAR) for production/remanufacture/repair contracting efforts. Can you provide your experiences with DCMA QARs? Do you have a DCMA QAR in your local area or do you utilize a regional QAR?