Sources Sought for LCAC Rugged Network Switch Edge Device.

Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted

Solicitation number
N6331-26-SN-Q02
Agency
Responses due
Set-aside
No set-aside

Opportunity facts

Place of performance
Panama City Beach, Florida 32407, United States

Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division is conducting a sources sought survey for a commercial off-the-shelf rugged network switch edge device to support the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) program upgrade effort. This Request for Information seeks vendors capable of providing network switches with minimum specifications including eight Ethernet ports operating at 1Gb/s speed, non-blocking switching capabilities, VLAN support, 802.1X port-based authentication, and comprehensive Quality of Service features supporting IEEE 802.1p with eight priority levels. The device must provide advanced port management capabilities including individual port configuration, rate limiting, port mirroring, and channeling, along with multicast management through IGMP snooping and robust security features including MAC address filtering and DoS protection mechanisms. Remote management capabilities through SSH and SFTP are required, along with support for multiple configuration files and comprehensive monitoring features. Interested vendors must submit their responses by October 16, 2025, noting that this is an information-gathering exercise and not a formal request for proposals.

This opportunity does not include any set-aside designations and is open to all qualified vendors in the commercial marketplace. The notice does not identify any incumbent contractors or provide specific award values or budget ranges for the anticipated procurement. While specific quantities are not disclosed, the focus on a single rugged network switch edge device suggests this may involve either a prototype evaluation or limited quantity procurement for testing purposes. The 15-day response window from October 1 to October 16, 2025, indicates the Navy is moving expeditiously to gather market information to support their LCAC modernization timeline. The technical specifications suggest this procurement will support critical naval operations requiring reliable network infrastructure in harsh maritime environments.

Notice text

Request for LCAC Rugged Network Switch Edge Device

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division (NSWCPCD) is conducting a survey of potential sources for the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) program. NSWCPCD is seeking sources for a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Rugged Network Switch Edge Device for a system upgrade effort.

This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) for a Rugged Network Switch Edge Device for the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC).  THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. 

Key Parameters include but not limited to: 

Features/Capabilities:

  1. Ports and Physical Interface:
    1. Eight (8) Ethernet ports (threshold-minimum)
    2. 1Gb/s speed for all Ethernet ports (threshold-minimum)
    3. 10/100/1000BaseTX (or faster) port for local maintenance access (goal)
  2. Performance and Switching: (goal)
    1. Provides non-blocking switching capabilities
    2. Supports store-and-forward switching
    3. Switching capacity of twice the cumulative bandwidth of all Ethernet ports
    4. Supports switch stacking
  3. Port Management: (goal)
    1. Supports individual port configuration, including speed, duplex, and flow control
    2. Supports port rate limiting
    3. Allows enabling and disabling of individual ports
    4. Provides the capability to mirror individual ports
    5. Supports port channeling
  4. VLAN Support:
    1. Supports port-based VLANs and private VLANs
  5. Multicast Management:
    1. Supports IGMP snooping.
  6. Security:
    1. Supports 802.1X port-based authentication.
    2. Supports MAC address filtering
    3. Supports RADIUS or TACACS+ authentication
    4. Supports port security features, including violation modes (shutdown, restrict, protect) and actions
    5. Employs DoS protection mechanisms
    6. Supports SNMPv3
  7. Quality of Service (QoS):
    1. Support for IEEE 802.1p CoS with 8 priority levels (0-7)
    2. Supports DSCP
    3. Permits configuration of QoS policies based on Layer 2-4 criteria
    4. Allows at least four egress queues per port
    5. Supports Strict Priority queuing
  8. Management and Monitoring:
    1. Supports SSH and SFTP for remote management and file transfer
    2. Accepts multiple configuration files for backup and restore
    3. Supports configuration change logging and rollback
    4. Provides real-time system health monitoring
    5. Supports port mirroring (SPAN/RSPAN)
    6. Compatible with diagnostic tools (ping, traceroute, cable diagnostics)
    7. Capable of generating downloadable system event logs
    8. Provides individual port status monitoring and statistics
  9. Environmental Monitoring (if applicable):
    1. Provides environmental monitoring (temperature, humidity)

Electrical:

  1. Input Power Voltage Range: 18-32 VDC (28 VDC nominal)
  2. Protection: Reverse Polarity and Over-current protection (threshold)

Physical:

  1. Cooling: Conduction cooling with no internal or external forced-air required
  1. Corrosion Resistance: All connectors, fasteners, and the chassis material inherently corrosion resistant or treated (for example, anodized, chemical-filmed, or coated) to resist corrosion  
  2. Mounting: Flanged mounting
  3. Power-on Indicator: External indicator that indicates the unit is powered ON (goal)
  4. Dimensions:
    1. Height: <5” (goal)
    2. Width: <10” (goal)
    3. Depth: <12” (goal)
  5. Weight:  <15 lbs (goal)
  6. Connectors: RJ45, mini DB9, or MIL-STD grade, threaded or bayonet style, circular connectors for external interfaces.  No special pinout mappings required.  Low connector count desired.  Connector(s) not limited to single interface. (goal)
  7. Grounding/Bonding: Provisions for grounding the chassis with a grounding screw/stud or through the mounting flange

Environment:

NOTE: Unit has been qualified for the following testing (goal):

  1. MIL-STD-461F Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), Navy surface ship applications:
    1. CE101
    2. CE102
    3. CS101
    4. CS106
    5. CS114
    6. CS116
    7. RE101
    8. RE102
    9. RS101
    10. RS103
  2. MIL-STD-810F tailored environmental specifications
  1. Low Temperature: -25°C, operational
  2. High Temperature +71°C, operational
  3. Humidity: 95%, non-condensing, operational
  4. Vibration: 10 to 2000 Hz, operational
  5. Shock: 10Hz@ 5Gs, 500Hz@40G’s, and 2000Hz@40 Gs, operational
  6. Salt fog
  7. Dust (fine sand)
  8. Fungus

Vendors shall provide the following information:

  1. Responses for each key parameter listed in this document, i.e. how the proposed solution meets each parameter listed in this document. 
  2. Relevant documentation (data sheets, user manuals, test reports, etc.).
  3. Under separate cover, provide unit cost with price breaks up to a quantity of 100.  Range with not-to-exceed estimate is acceptable.
  4. Available reliability data with associated application conditions and measuring methods.
  5. Anticipated life-cycle of the proposed solution, e.g. anticipated active production years with follow on support years for existing customers.
  6. Lead-time for delivering first four units and standard lead-times thereafter should a production contract be awarded.
  7. Return for repair process with minimum estimated service charge.
  8. Technology maturity or technology readiness level (TRL) as defined by the Defense Acquisition Guidebook (DAG), and use in DoD programs.
  9. Description of any onboard diagnostic and/or fault identification/isolation capability.

RESPONSES: Interested parties may provide electronic or paper submittals to be received by the Government byOctober 16, 2025.  There is no specific format or outline that submittals must follow.  Each response must reference the RFI title.  Contractors responding should indicate whether they are a small business (S), a small disadvantaged business (SDB), 8(a), or large business (L). 

Telephone responses will not be honored.  Please email responses with any supporting attachments to trivia.s.massaline.civ@us.navy.mil and frances.j.negron.civ@us.navy.mil.  Paper submittals should be directed to NSWCPCD (Code 023), ATTN: Trivia Massaline, 110 Vernon Ave, Panama City, FL 32407-7001 and label with the Sources Sought number and title.

This is a Request for Information (RFI), a market survey for written information only.  THE SUBMISSION OF THIS INFORMATION IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE ANY ITEMS/SERVICES, NOR FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE INFORMATION RECEIVED.

In the event a solicitation is developed, it will be assigned a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) number and the announcement will be published in SAM.gov. This announcement should not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. NAICS Code 334511 applies, Size Standard is 750 employees, FSC 2090.

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