Unmanned Carrier Aviation (UCA) Mission Control System (UMCS) Integration

This Sources Sought/Request for Information (RFI) is posted for planning and market research only. This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal, Request for Quote, or Invitation for Bids. This RFI does not commit the Government to issue any type of solicitation or award a contract. This RFI does not restrict the Government from a particular acquisition approach. The Government will not reimburse any respondent for any cost associated with information submitted in response to this Sources Sought RFI.

Background

The Unmanned Carrier Aviation (UCA) Mission Control Station (UMCS), designated the MD-5 A/B, is the Navy's core unmanned mission control system of systems, comprised of scalable computing and display hardware, open architecture-based mission systems software, communication equipment, and connectivity to networking environments as required for both carrier (CVN) and shore-based control of the MQ-25A Stingray aircraft.

PMA-268 requires an Integrated Communication System (ICS) capable of transporting voice communications from an Earth Bound Air Vehicle Operator (AVO) to local audio switches, local radio terminals, and remote radio terminals for retransmission and reception. The ICS hardware and software solution provides an interface with UMCS and audio related data exchange systems aboard the Carrier, such as the Shipboard Air Traffic Control Communications System (SATCC) and the Tactical Variant System (TVS). The ICS system will receive an audio stream from the AVO audio interface equipment and convert it to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), for retransmission and reception.

Requirement

PMA-268 wants to emulate the user interface functions available on the SATCC Touch Entry Display (TED) with interface software produced by a third party to be hosted in the PMA-268 UMCS. The PMA-268 CVN ICS solution will be an integral part of the shipboard UMCS, providing a single system for all data and audio communications from the air vehicle operator to other SATCC operators. This interface software will need to communicate with hardware similar to that found in the TED in order to interact with the SATCC switch. The SATCC switch is the Navy's system of choice for air traffic control on U.S. aircraft carriers and is already deployed on all carriers.

PMA-268 requires an Integrated Communication System (ICS) capable of transporting voice communications from an Earth Bound Air Vehicle Operator (AVO) to local audio switches, local radio terminals, and remote radio terminals for retransmission and reception. The ICS hardware and software solution provides an interface with UMCS and audio related data exchange systems aboard the Carrier, such as the Shipboard Air Traffic Control Communications System (SATCC) and the Tactical Variant System (TVS). The ICS system will receive an audio stream from the AVO audio interface equipment and convert it to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), for retransmission and reception.

PMA-268 is requesting information on industry's ability to build an ICS that will be integrated with the shipboard UMCS and will interface with existing CVN communication systems and needs to have red-black communication separation.

Please provide whitepapers, commercial pamphlets, or any other documentation that would describe the company's ability to meet the above requirements.