Ku Band Beyond Line of Sight Digital Datalink (BLOSDD) System

The purpose of this modification on 01/20/2012 to this Draft RFP is to remind all interested parties that DHS/CBP will not accept proposals for this announcement at this time. The cut-off date for questions and comments passed on 01/13/2012.

The questions received from industry with regards to this DRAFT RFP are currently in review. Answers to the questions will be posted to FedBizOpps.Gov at a future date and time.

Please continue to monitor FedBizOpps.Gov for additional updates.

The purpose of the modification to this draft RFP on 01/06/2012 is to add the Draft SF33 and Draft RFP. The deadline for submission of questions is now extended to 3:30 p.m. EST on 01/13/2012.

Submit all questions/comments to Jason.W.Bailey@dhs.gov by the above deadline. Telephonic questions will not be entertained.

Solicitation Number:
HSBP1012R0018
Notice Type:
Presolicitation
Synopsis:

This is a pre-solicitation notice in accordance with FAR 5.203(a) as well as a DRAFT Request for Proposal. This pre-solicitation notice includes a DRAFT solicitation (see attachments). Any questions about the DRAFT RFP shall be submitted in writing by Friday, January 6, 2012 at 3:30PM Eastern Time to Jason.W.Bailey@dhs.gov. Telephonic questions will not be entertained.

Under the authority of Title I, Sec. 101 Homeland Security Act of 2002 as amended, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States; reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism; and minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery, from terrorist attacks that do occur within the United States. Aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art multi-mode sensors are an effective means of detecting, sorting and tracking border incursions. Customs and Border Protection
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) currently operates a fleet of manned and unmanned aircraft, including manned P-3 and DHC-8 patrol aircraft and the Predator B Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Each of these platforms has an electro-optical imaging sensor, but only the Predator B UAS has the capability to transmit the sensor video to the CBP ground facilities for exploitation.

Digital backhaul capability from manned aircraft has already been demonstrated using three (3) CBP P-3 aircraft equipped with INMARSAT Datalink systems, but this implementation has proven to be very expensive to operate and provide inadequate bandwidth to effectively downlink video. The primary purpose of this Ku Band Beyond Line of Sight Digital Datalink (BLOSDD) System, with its higher bandwidth capabilities, shall be to demonstrate the real-time transmission of data and imagery from onboard sensors on the P-3 and DHC-8 to an appropriate ground station while exploiting existing surplus CBP Office of Air and Marine (OAM) Ku-band capacity already on contract to support UAS operations.

This DRAFT RFP is posted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15 for the purpose of acquiring a Ku Band Beyond Line of Sight Digital Datalink (BLOSDD) System. The purpose of the Ku Band BLOSDD System effort is to design, develop, install, and test software and a hardware system that will provide a Ku Bandwidth, satellite-based, datalink capability for P-3 Long Range Tracker (LRTs), P-3 Airborne Early Warning (AEW), and DHC-8 (200 and 300 series) aircraft as well as the necessary ground-based operation centers. The Ku Band BLOSDD System will assist CBP mission operators to rapidly and efficiently deliver and receive point-to-point and general broadcast data sets, thereby enabling all operators in the field and decision makers in operations centers to have "near real-time" access to audio-visual information required to effectively perform the mission of protecting the homeland.

The NAICS code for this procurement is: 334511.
The anticipated official solicitation issuance date is unknown. DHS makes no representation that a final solicitation will be issued or that a contract award will result from the solicitation (when issued).