18 -- Remote Tracking Station (RTS) Block Change (RBC) High Power Amplifier (HPA)

Sources Sought Notice Remote Tracking Station (RTS) Block Change (RBC) High Power Amplifier (HPA) General Information: Document Type: Sources Sought Notice Solicitation Number: RBCHPASTARR2007 Posted Date: 18 December 2007 Original Response Date: 02 January 2008 Current Response Date: 02 January 2008 Original Archive Date: TBD Current Archive Date: TBD Classification Code: 18 ? Space vehicles NAICS Code: 541712 ? Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences Contracting Office Address: SCNG/PK 483 N. Aviation Blvd. El Segundo, CA, 90245-2808 Description: Satellite Control and Network Systems Group intends to issue a delivery order for the procurement of up to four (4) L-band RBC HPAs and four (4) S-band for the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN). The proposed action will be awarded to the existing Satellite Control Network Contract (SCNC) F04701-02-D-0006, which is a cost-plus-award fee contract for the satellite and network control services and support. The reason for this notice is because the original ordering period on the SCNC contract expired due to Government funding constraints and the complexity of the RBC HPA development. The RBC HPA is a key component in the RBC system design, allowing for the amplification and transmission of AFSCN modulation formats in the L-band uplink frequency band of 1.755-1.850 Gigahertz (GHz) (Space-Ground Link Subsystem [SGLS] Commanding, SGLS Ranging, Binary Subcarrier Commanding, and Pulse Code Modulation [PCM]/Phase Modulation [PM]), as well as modulation formats specific to Unified S-Band (USB) in the S-band uplink frequency band of 2.025-2.110 GHz (USB Subcarrier Commanding and USB Tone Ranging). Both frequency bands must support an Effective Isotropic Radiated Power of 104 dBm for nominal and 110 dBm for enhanced configurations. The AFSCN is the Department of Defense?s primary network for supporting launch and early orbit operations. The AFSCN provides telemetry, tracking, and commanding capability, mission data dissemination and processing, and is one of the nation?s primary high-powered networks for emergency recovery of space vehicles. The AFSCN currently consists of legacy Automatic Remote Tracking Stations (ARTS) and is in the middle of a modernization to state-of-the-art tracking stations known as the Remote Tracking Station (RTS) Block Change (RBC). There are 5 RBC projects currently on contract that will require new L/S-band HPAs. The new RBC HPA will replace the legacy ARTS HPA. The award of this delivery order is vital to ensuring uninterrupted operational capability to our AFSCN users. Delays to the modernization effort will result in the loss of satellite contacts and decrease commanders' ability to communicate with the battlefield. This new RBC HPA will include, but not be limited to, the following deliverables: 1. Project Management 2. Project Systems Engineering 3. Configuration Management 4. Procurement 5. Production 6. System Integration, Assembly, Checkout, and Shipping 7. Test and Evaluation 8. Data & Documentation 9. Integration Logistics Support 10. Environmental Engineering Compliance The value for these supplies and services is limited to the acquisition of up to four (4) L-band HPAs estimated at $11,000,000 combined total. The purpose of this synopsis is to determine the extent of whether potential offerors exist who are capable of achieving the program objectives within acceptable cost, performance and schedule parameters. Honeywell Technology Solutions, Inc. (HTSI) was awarded the Satellite Control Network Contract (SCNC) in December 2001 and is presently on contract for development of the Pre-Production L-band RBC HPA. The intent of the Pre-production unit was to establish the proof of concept for the HPA. The Government anticipates a sole source award to the incumbent contractor, HTSI, but all responsible sources may submit a Statement of Capabilities (SOC) that will be considered by the Government. The expected contract award date is the second quarter of fiscal year 2008. Responsible sources interested in this notice may submit their SOC, with documented evidence of their capability to meet all technical, performance, and schedule requirements electronically, no later than 2 January 2008 to: Ms. Marilyn Washington, Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO), Phone (310) 653-2072, Marilyn.washington@losangeles.af.mil Mr. David Starr, Lead Contract Manager, Phone (310) 653-1397, david.starr@losangeles.af.mil Capt Gregory Smith, Lead Project Officer, Phone 310-653-1399, Gregory.smith@losangeles.af.mil. Refer to the four (4) attached technical documents: RBC Requirements Document (RD), Performance Specifications for the Core Electronics (RNG-PRF-0004), Performance Specifications for the Antenna (RNG-PRF-0004), and Item Specification for the RBC HPA (SCNC-05-SEI-0893). The SOC package should provide a summary of capabilities and past experience with the following information: 1) Cover Letter: Provide company name, mailing address, contracting and technical POCs, CAGE code, and statement of business size classification. Small business offers please note that NAICS 541712 (1,000 employees) applies. The cover letter must be signed and dated by an authorized officer of the organization. 2) Executive Summary: Describe the proposed program, objectives, and approach for providing an L-band HPA. 3) Program Plan: Describe in detail the planned technical approach and how the approach will be executed. Include a concept of products, techniques, methods, materials, and a milestone chart identifying capability to meet requirements. 4) Past Performance: An outline of relevant and recent experience in High Power Amplifier development and integration for both L-band and S-band at nominal 104 dBm and enhanced 110 dBm. Include a list of Point of Contacts (POC) with phone numbers and email addresses. 5) Personnel and Facilities: Description of ability to provide qualified personnel and facilities to work at the appropriate security level. 6) Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Cost Estimate for development of an L-band HPA: Explain cost savings expected due to realization of learning curve. 7) Detailed description of how integration with the existing Honeywell RBCs, without redesign of the RBC system, will be accomplished, performed, and implemented. All responses must be signed, scanned, and submitted by email to the Points of Contact (POCs) listed below in MS Word or PDF format, conform to 8.5 x 11 inch pages, with no smaller than 12 point font. All responses are to be unclassified and should not exceed fifty (50) one-sided pages. The Government will not consider pages in excess of this limitation. All submitted SOCs will be evaluated to establish a pool of sources capable of supporting this requirement; small businesses that submit a SOC should indicate if they are interested as either potential prime contractor or subcontractor. The Government will then determine extent of competition based on, but not limited to, availability of responsible qualified sources and integration capabilities. This determination is solely within the discretion of the Government. The selection of one or more sources for determination of competition will be based on an evaluation of each offeror's SOC to determine the overall merit of capability. The SOCs will be evaluated utilizing a peer or scientific review process and shall be evaluated based on the following criteria that are listed in descending order of importance: 1) Cost as an Independent Variable (CAIV). 2) Ability to deliver the First Article L-band (104 dBm) HPA by 8 September 2008. 3) Capability of meeting requirements and performance parameters as listed in the attachments. DECLARATION: Submit questions to the e-mail addresses below. This synopsis is not a formal solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this synopsis, or to otherwise pay for the information solicited herein. Points of Contact: Ms. Marilyn Washington, Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO), Phone (310) 653-2072, Marilyn.washington@losangeles.af.mil Mr. David Starr, Lead Contract Manager, Phone (310) 653-1397, david.starr@losangeles.af.mil Capt Gregory Smith, Lead Project Officer, Phone 310-653-1399, Gregory.smith@losangeles.af.mil Place of Performance: Address: Since this is a component of the RBC, it will be located and integrated at the various Remote Tracking Station locations.