Request for Information (RFI) For SPACE TT&C MODERNIZATION PROGRAM 1. This RFI is in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.215-3 (Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes - Oct 1997) and is published to obtain information for use by the United States Air Force Electronic Systems Center, Cryptologic Systems Division (CPSD), San Antonio, Texas, for market research and planning purposes only. 2. This RFI is NOT a Request for Proposal, Invitation for Bid, or an announcement of a solicitation; it is only intended for information or planning purposes. There is no bid package or solicitation document associated with this announcement. Response to this RFI is strictly voluntary and will not affect any potential offeror's ability to submit an offer if a solicitation is released. Any requests for a solicitation package will be disregarded. The government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or otherwise pay for the information solicited. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the government will arise as a result of preparing submissions in response to this RFI and the government's use of such information. Submittals will not be returned to the sender. Respondents to this RFI may be requested to provide additional information/details based on their initial submittals. 3. CPSD will complete the initial development of a Space Telemetry Tracking & Control (TT&C) Cryptographic Modernization (CM) project for the Aerospace Vehicle Equipment (AVE) End Cryptographic Unit (ECU) information assurance product. For this RFI, CPSD seeks to gather information regarding the capabilities of industry to modernize the KG-327/327A ECU to meet satellite information assurance requirements and timelines. 4. If a program were initiated, CPSD would utilize an acquisition strategy that incorporates one or more contracts to design solutions using existing technology to replace/modify the KG-327/327A Space TT&C products. The initial effort would consist of developing prototypes and creating design documentation through NSA Technical Review Board (TRB) #2 and USAF Critical Design Review after contract award. In addition, there may be opportunities for contract options for:a. Development and demonstration (develop, test, TRB #3, and NSA Type 1 certification), b. Future follow-on production efforts (delivery of option award - include any insight to long lead items that could affect this). This modernized information product will implement multiple algorithms for both up-link and down-link simultaneously (CAROUSEL and BELSHAZZAR). The final information product device(s) will be NSA Type 1 certified. 5. Upon receipt of a PKI certificate signed e-mail to
contact@example.gov or
contact@example.gov, the matrix the government developed to capture form/fit/function specifications of the equipment listed in paragraph 4 above will be sent to interested companies. This matrix may become the basis for constructing the Systems Requirements Document (SRD) if the government decides to release a formal RFP. 6. This RFI issued by CPSD solicits industry to provide information only. Responses should be sent via email to Brandon Jernigan (
contact@example.gov) or Javier Flores (
contact@example.gov) no later than close of business on 5 Dec 2011. PROGRAM QUESTIONS1) If this acquisition comes to existence, would you be interested in competing? If so, would you be proposing as a Prime Contractor or Subcontractor? 2) Please provide your cage code and business size. a) If you are a Small Business, do you also qualify under any of the sub-categories: 8(a), Small Disadvantaged Business, HUBZone, etc.) b) For small business consideration, would your firm be able to compete under NAICS 334111, 334210, 334220, 334290, 334419, 334511, 517919, or 561621? If not, why not? 3) Is your company foreign-owned, controlled or influenced?4) Are you on one or more GSA schedules? If so, which one(s)? 5) Do you have an existing contract that can be used to perform the required work? If so, what is the contract vehicle, how can we use it (describe the ordering / selection process), what are the names and contact information for the government contract officers? 6) Do you have experience in the development and/or production of space-qualified NSA certified Type 1 devices? Please describe your experience in one or two paragraphs. Please provide any Commercial COMSEC Evaluation Program (CCEP) program information as well including the length of time to develop and receive NSA certification. 7) Are you familiar with the CARDHOLDER algorithm? What is your experience with this algorithm? 8) Are you familiar with the CAROUSEL algorithm? What Government Furnished Information (GFI) or Equipment (GFE) would be required for your company to independently develop the Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Design (VHDL) for the CAROUSEL Algorithm? If the VHDL is provided as GFE, what documentation and/or special equipment would be required by your company to incorporate the CAROUSEL algorithm? 9) Do you envision a need to develop an interoperability specification to ensure interoperability with the ground operating equipment? 10) Based upon the KG-327/327A data packages, the government has identified four different options for modernizing these devices:a) Option 1 - Update the VHDL on the Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA); make any modifications required to the Key Management System (KMS), as well as make any required board changes to implement the CAROUSEL algorithm onto the target devices. Develop and deliver Special Test Equipment (STE) to support the ECU. The data package will be required to be updated.b) Option 2 - Replace the current embedded solution with a single FPGA and make any required changes to the board to implement CAROUSEL algorithm onto the target devices. Develop and deliver STE to support the ECU. The data package will be required to be updated.c) Option 3 - Develop a single printed wiring board with the crypto engines, and all other ECU functionality, embedded directly on it that can be inserted into both the KG-327/327A. Develop and deliver STE to support the new ECU. A re-procurement engineering data package will be required.d) Option 4 - Develop a form-and-fit replacement for the KG-327A, replacing the CARDHOLDER algorithm with the CAROUSEL algorithm. Develop and deliver STE to support the new ECU. A re-procurement engineering data package will be required. For each option, please provide the following information: a) Is this approach feasible? b) Describe any anticipated risks and how these risks can be mitigated. c) Define your schedule to meet the government events and mitigate your projections of project risk? Please provide past program information that your company executed to support your estimates? Provide information for elapsed time in months between events. (if you are using CCEP programs, please indicate)i) Awardii) System Requirements Reviewiii) Preliminary Design Reviewiv) Critical Design Reviewv) Qualification/Security Verification Testingvi) Functional Configuration Audit/Physical Configuration Auditvii) Production Readiness Reviewviii) Earliest production delivery d) What would be a typical Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate for each option discussed above? (Please assume either Firm Fixed Price or Fixed Price Incentive type contract with any recommendations on how to obtain the best price for the government.) e) Please provide lessons learned for any similar projects? 11) What is your recommended approach (from the four options above or any other)? 12) The government is considering an option to compete production for the effort. This will require the developer to deliver a new or revised re-procurement drawing package as well as government use rights for all the software/firmware. What is the ROM (a delta to the other ROMs already provided) to include this requirement as part of the development process? 13) The government has a requirement for all Critical Technology Elements (CTEs) to be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to enter formal development. For your recommended approach, please provide us a list of the CTEs and their TRL, with a brief explanation. 14) The government has a requirement for all Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 6 to enter formal development. For your recommended approach, please provide us an estimate of your MRL, with a brief explanation. 15) What is your understanding of the Versatile Depot Test Station (VDATS) program? What would be the impact (cost, schedule and risk) to your suggested approach if VDATS was required? 16) Explain your choice of already-established commercial standard interfaces for data, control, and power connections (physical layer architecture) for AVE. 17) The government is interested in understanding how we can take advantage of advances in the commercial market place. Are any of your commercial solutions capable of encryption/decryption with the same algorithm, mode, and key management plan? In addition, could you discuss your data dissemination plan?
