A--RDTE/Aircraft-Demonstration/Validation-AMUST Wideband RF(radio frequency) Network

NA The Request for Proposal (RFP) planned issue date is 23 May 2002, with proposals due 24 June 2002, 4:00 p.m. local time. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) applicable to this RFP is 54171. The size standard is 500. The Government intends to award, on or around 3 July 2002, an Indefinite Delivery In definite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with issuance of cost plus fixed fee task orders. No options are included in this acquisition. The requirement is for a wideband mobile network prototype system for concept evaluation pursuant to congressional plus up. Negotiations will be limited to Sierra Research, Buffalo, NY, manufacturer of a network solution that is available now, with minor modification, to meet the Government's requirement within the necessary time frame. There is no other known system that affo rds the capabilities of the Sierra network. Specifications, plans or drawings relating to the procurement described below are not available and cannot be furnished by the Government. The first task order will be for proof of concept effort. If successfu l, subsequent task orders may be issued for continued work within the general scope of the contract. While the Government does not anticipate competition, any responsible source may submit a proposal which shall be considered. Written proposals should be sent to the address shown above, ATTN: Ms. Pattie Wells. Proposals may be submitted electronically, email contact@example.gov. Electronic inquiries are encouraged. Background. An AMUST Wideband RF (radio frequency) Network will build on lessons learned during the Army's Rotorcraft Pilot's Associate (RPA), Airborne Manned/Unmanned System Technology (AMUST), and Airborne Manned/Unmanned System Technology - Demonstration (AMUST-D) projects. RPA was largely focused on assisting combat helicopter pi lots in making better, quicker decisions through the use of data fusion and artificial intelligence, when attempting to identify and engage enemy targets. AMUST was focused on allowing a manned aircraft to control an unmanned aircraft, thereby remaining f arther away from a target and reducing the vulnerability of the crew to hostile fire. In the AMUST vision each manned vehicle will be able to control, manage, and interact with multiple unmanned vehicles, and unmanned vehicles will interact and collaborat e with each other to execute a common mission. A critical enabling technology for achieving this capability is a wideband, mobile network, which will transmit data and video to numerous nodes in a mode transparent to the user and application software. Suc h a network must treat each vehicle as an addressable node, and dynamically route and re-route information on multi-node pathways using the least amount of retransmissions to get the message to its destination in the shortest time. This will be very impor tant in situations where direct transmission is not possible because line-of-sight communications are impeded or transmission distances are great. It must also be able to broadcast information to multiple nodes at the same time. Tactical battlefield info rmation must flow from one vehicle through any number of intermediate vehicular network nodes to its intended vehicle without regard for specific paths, much as email and web page information traverses the internet. In order for a wideband mobile network to be practical for AMUST application, the network must utilize components small enough to be installed on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), yet powerful enough to communicate over long distances. The network must be ad-hoc to allow participants to enter a nd depart the network without prearranged context and must function without the need for specialized network management equipment so that any two vehicles can come together to form a network. It must have the capability to allow numerous (100 or more desi red) aircraft to be in the network at the same time. It must have sufficient bandwidth for participants to share critical information for airspace deconfliction and mission execution (millions of bits per second or more desired). The system must be resistant to enemy jamming and operate in severe weather conditions, and be capable of supporting multiple Army rotorcraft platforms. The period of performance for the first task order for proof of concept is 11 months after date of contract award; the entire contract period of performance is 52 months after date of contract award. The inspection/ac ceptance and FOB Point are Destination Fort Eustis, VA. Point of Contact is Mrs. Wells at +1 (555) 000-0000, facsimile +1 (555) 000-0000, email contact@example.gov. The following CBDNet Numbered Notes apply: Note 8, 22, and 26.