70--The purpose of this Sources Sought is to obtain potential solutions to provide a personal digital assistant (PDA) for the Netted Iridium Radio.

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS: This synopsis neither constitutes a Request for Proposal or Invitation for Bid, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. This Sources Sought Synopsis should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION: no award will be made as a result of this request. This request is for informational purposes only. All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this synopsis. The Government will not pay for information and materials received in response to this synopsis and is in no way obligated by the information received. 1. SCOPE: 1.1 Background: The mission of the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) is to rapidly increase mission capability while reducing risk to Soldiers and others by equipping operational commanders with off-the-shelf (government or commercial) solutions or near-term developmental items that can be researched, developed and acquired quickly. The REF receives requirements from operational commanders in war zones setting forth the capabilities needed. The REF is chartered by the Senior Army leadership to provide material solutions to meet these requirements in a significantly reduced timeline compared to traditional Department of Defense acquisition procedures. 1.2 20 1.3 Experience and information obtained from this request for information will be provided to Army Product Manager REF who will evaluate the information and feasibility of issuing a procurement action to resolve the stated problem. 1.4 The REF is looking for equipment that is on-the-shelf, or is currently being manufactured. If the equipment is being manufactured, the REF needs to know delivery times. If the equipment is under development, the REF needs to know when the production versions will be available. 2. REQUIREMENTS: 2.1 The REF has an immediate need for PDAs that will connect with Netted Iridium Radios, support equipment and training. The REF would like for each of these capabilities to be addressed, if there is a solution available: 2.1.1 Each PDA will have the following capabilities: 2.1.1.1 Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.X operating system or equal. 2.1.1.2 Microsoft Office Mobile or Microsoft Office Professional or software capable of reading Microsoft Office documents. 2.1.1.3 Capable of sending and receiving text messages (objective being simultaneous duplex). 2.1.1.4 Capable of displaying maps. 2.1.1.5 Capable of displaying Personally Identifiable Information (PII) information from Netted Iridium radios on the users networks on the PDA Maps. 2.1.1.6 Capable of calculating the distances and courses between locations of the other Netted Iridium radios or features on the map. 2.1.1.7 Capable of show course, direction and speed of the user. 2.1.2 A laptop computer to interface with the PDA, to update PDA data, and to monitor Netted Iridium radio network, providing: 2.1.2.1 Maps of the local Area 2.1.2.2 PDA Application software and Maintenance updates. 2.1.2.3 The Laptop needs to be capable for use in a rugged environment: waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, operating temperature: -10F to 110F. 2.1.2.4 Capable of displaying PII information from Netted Iridium radios on the users networks on the PDA Maps. 2.1.2.5 Capable of calculating the distances and courses between locations of the other Netted Iridium radios or features on the map. 2.1.3 The Vendor will need to provide PDA Application Software Updates, Maintenance and Support for 12 Months. 2.1.4 The contractor shall provide five (5) Days On-Site Training and Support at a U.S. government facility in Italy. 2.1.5 The contractor shall provide three (3) Days Training at the REF location in Ft. Belvoir VA, or the company's location if it is local to FT. Belvoir, and at a location is acceptable to the REF. 3. INSTRUCTIONS TO POTENTIAL RESPONDENTS/DELIVERABLES: Specific information on industry capability to produce a system that can meet the requirements identified in paragraph two (2) above. This is NOT a Request for Proposal. Companies who desire to participate in this market survey are encouraged to submit a white paper which supports the company's claim that it presently has the technology, qualifications, and capabilities to satisfy one or more of the performance and technical objectives described above. The white paper should discuss the company's ability to provide existing equipment to meet the need. Company should provide a ROM (rough order of magnitude) price and its anticipated delivery for the solution proposed. The company should provide information as to if this equipment has been purchased by the US Military, and if it has been tested by a DoD Agency. The white paper should also discuss related company experience and include point(s) of contact. The white paper should be prepared in MS Word, limited to ten (10) pages, and submitted electronically to the contracting specialist listed below. RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN FRIDAY 22 April, 2011 AT 5:00 PM EST. The company shall be responsible for any costs associated with preparing responses to this market research. All requests for further information must be made in writing or via email; telephone requests for additional information will not be honored. The government will review submissions as they are received. The government reserves the right to close this Sources Sought Synopsis once they have received adequate response(s). For questions potential respondents shall contact the contract specialist, Monique Marshall at contact@example.gov to obtain information.