Request for Information - Persistent Surveillance Dissemination System of Systems (PSDS2)

This RFI shall not be considered as an Invitation for Bid (IFB), Request for Quotation (RFQ), Request for Proposal (RFP), or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. All business types may respond to this RFI. Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or the Government use of such information. Responses to these notices are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or part, any contractor input resulting from this request. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort. The Army in developing its acquisition strategy, Performance Work Statement, Statement of Objectives and/or Performance Based Specification(s) may use the information provided. Parties responding to this RFI are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The Government does not intend to pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI.

Program Executive Office Intelligence Electronic Warfare & Sensors (PEO IEW&S), Project Manager Terrestrial Sensors (PM TS), and Product Director (PD) Aerostats, are conducting market research to determine potential vendors in the marketplace for the following services for Persistent Surveillance and Dissemination System of Systems (PSDS2), as detailed below. The current active Task Order ends on 30 November 2024.

System Description:

The PSDS2 is a system that networks existing video sensors into a common architecture to support persistent surveillance and rapid dissemination of actionable information for the Warfighter. The PSDS2 receives inputs from multiple sensors to provide situational awareness (SA) for forward operating bases (FOBs), Brigade level technical operation centers (TOCs), and Joint Operation Centers (JOCs). The PSDS2 disseminates real-time streaming video, autosensing available bandwidth and provides video in context for SA on terrain maps for common operational picture (COP) situational display. The PSDS2 also archives video and metadata for forensic analysis.

Requirement:

The system must have a current secret accreditation. 

Field Services Representatives (FSRs)

The contractor shall provide FSRs to provide system installation, deployment, and operations in both contiguous United States (CONUS) and outside the contiguous United States (OCONUS) locations. The FSRs shall perform PSDS2 system configuration, software updates, network configuration, system administration, information assurance, preventative and corrective hardware and software maintenance on all fielded systems, and hardware installation.

The FSRs shall minimize maintenance down-time with a goal of maintaining the PSDS2 main hub-sites and PSDS2 network. The FSRs shall maintain the systems in theater to meet operational readiness requirement of 85% or better. The FSRs shall ensure the PSDS2 systems current configuration for hardware and software requirements are as specified in the PSDS2 System Specification.

OCONUS Operators/Imagery Analysts

The contractor shall provide OCONUS Operators/Imagery analysts operating the PSDS2 systems processing, exploiting, and disseminating Full Motion Video (FMV) at designated OCONUS locations.

The PSDS2 Operator/Imagery analyst functions shall include: monitoring, analyzing overhead and aerial/terrestrial imagery, FMV, and photographic data. The Imagery Analyst(s) shall have previous experience as an Imagery Analyst and understand the capabilities and limitations of multiple platforms and sensors, use of aerial imagery, FMV, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI), and other electronic monitoring devices used to collect and analyze information in support of military operations. The Imagery Analyst(s) shall be skilled in the use of imagery analytical tools such as digital map applications and chat room applications to communicate between the sensor operator and the Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) controller on the ground. The Imagery Analyst(s) shall prepare precise and concise intelligence reports that increase situation awareness of commanders and operators on the ground or controlling units on the ground. The Imagery Analyst(s) shall understand how to analyze and exploit imagery to include visible, infrared, radar, and FMV. The Imagery Analyst(s) shall understand PSDS2 operations, video dissemination, map and geospatial interpretation, network connectivity, and other operational functions of the PSDS2's system. The Imagery Analyst(s) shall create intelligence products, video clips/still imagery, and forensic analysis reports as specified by the analyst's local commander.

The Government does not currently possess the full technical data package (TDP) that represents the currently fielded system. The Government purchased the Blue Eye software version 5.0.8 from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in July 2018. Since then, there have been 20 major software baseline releases from the OEM, which included substantial capability enhancements and multiple bug fixes. The Government does not own the TDP for software deliveries after July 2018. The Government does not own the TDP for the PSDS2 hardware which consists of commercial hardware integrated by the OEM.

Vendor Response Requirements:

All material submitted in response to this RFI must be unclassified. A fifteen (15) page response limitation is recommended. Interested parties possessing the capacity to deliver and sustain sensor system(s) that meet all performance capabilities outlined above are requested to provide a response in electronic format (Microsoft Office 2007 or later Suite format) describing the approach to meet the objectives established above and should address the following items:

1. Company information: Company Name, Contact Name, Position, Telephone, E-mail, Cage Code, Company URL, Business Size based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code provided.

2. Capabilities and approach to provide the services identified above.

3. Past and current relevant performance information.

Response Points of Contact:

Tian Chen, Engineer, tian.chen3.civ@army.mil ; Charles Compton, Contracting Officer  charles.t.compton5.civ@army.mil and Correy Brooks, Contract Specialist correy.g.brooks.civ@army.mil