A--Request for Information on COMMUNICATIONS INFASTRUCTURE SYSTEM by the US Army Communications-Electronics Research, Developmentand Engineering Center (CERDEC) and the US Army Corp of Engineers (ACE) NY District

I. PURPOSE. The purposes of this Request for Information (RFI) are to solicit early industry involvement in defining a communications infrastructure system for data and voice to support municipal operational agencies, and to seek information about potential bidders. The system will transmit and receive data related to Near Real Time Video (Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)) for alarm assessment and surveillance, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Electronic Access Control (EAC), as well as to provide for land mobile radio type of service. The area of interest spans nine NY state counties: Westchester, Ulster, Schoharie, Sullivan, Green, Duchess, Putnam, Delaware, and Orange. Note that this area includes mountains. The system will support up to 1500 voice and data sources, including up to 750 mobile voice and (some) mobile low rate data users. The system should reach all fixed users and provide 85% coverage for mobile users in the area of interest. For the purposes of traffic assumptions, assume that there will be 6 to 12 centers that have concentrated traffic requirements from other users, and between these centers with an additional traffic requirement between up to 3 of these centers related to database information exchange. Most traffic except CCTV is full dup lex. If your proposed solution involves towers, assume that perhaps 10-15 existing towers in the area could be used and any additional would have to be constructed. Buying or leasing of spectrum is an option to the extent that such spectrum might be avai lable. Licensed band operation is strongly preferred. II. TARGET CAPABILITIES. The communications infrastructure shall provide connectivity to fixed sites and mobile voice users throughout the 9 county area and include the following capabilities: (a)Provide voice, data, and (compressed) video infrastructure. (b)Serve voice users in f ixed facilities, vehicles, boats, aircraft, and on foot. (c)Operate in various terrain and weather conditions. (d)Be reliable, scalable, secure, and resilient (including resistance to cyber attack). (e)Provide robust routing and the ability to automatically reroute in case of link or node failure (i.e., avoidin g single point of failure and delays in rerouting). (f)Minimize training requirements for both users and systems personnel. (g)Provide awareness of outages automatically, isolating to specific problem to the extent practical, and also provide quality of service information. (h)Provide for interoperability between users of different systems. (i)Use affordable, proven commercial approaches to minimize cost and management burdens. (j)Minimize operational, maintenance, and sustainment costs. III. INFORMATION REQUESTED. Responses to this RFI should identify the most promising opportunities; recommend the approach, architecture, implementation strategy, and transition/migration strategies and timelines, which should be considered in optimizing the fixed and deployable infr astructure. The responses should be structured into sections according to the following outline: (a)System Concept should include (1)Advantages, disadvantages, and constraints. (2)Known risks and risk mitigation strategies. (3)Time to implement. (4)Training expectations. (b)Technical Alternatives should (1)Describe thelikely alternative architectures. (2)For each alternative identified discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each and provide a rationale for the recommended approach. (3)Briefly discuss risks and their mitigation and change management for the recommended approach. (c)Implementation Strategy should (1)Discuss the conceptual basis for obtaining the best value on the services and products necessary. (2)Identify metrics to best evaluate return on investment. (3)Include a recommended strategy for the development, imple mentation, migration support, licensing, training, operations, and maintenance. (4)Include a description of the methodology to identify and evaluate users needs and to ensure the needs are addressed in the communications system. (5)Discuss why respondents approach is preferred and how it assures the technical, cost and schedule success of the program and maintain competition . (d)Previous Success should provide a description of the respondents expertise in (1)radio frequency (RF) design engineering, (2)construction and maintenance of communications systems including (3)the expertise of firm principles and senior project manager s. IV. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS. This is considered a new requirement; therefore there is no previous contract information available. This notice is for planning purposes only. Firms are invited to submit the appropriate documentation as described above in addition to any literature, br ochures, and references necessary to support their capabilities necessary to meet or exceed the stated requirements. There is a limit of thirty (30) pages of information, specifically prepared in response to this Sources Sought Notice. Additional previou sly developed information such as preprinted brochures operating/maintenance/users/ training manuals may be included along with responses and shall be submitted via e-mail to US Army Communications-Electronics Research Development and Engineering Center (C ERDEC), at e-mail address contact@example.gov or by mail to US Army Communications- Electronics Research Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC), ATTN: AMSRD-CER-HLS, Fort Monmouth, NJ 07703. V. RESPONSE FORMAT. Responses must include the following: (1) name and address of firm; (2) size of business including: average annual revenue for past three years and number of employees; (3) ownership, indicating whether: Large, Small, Small Disadvantaged, 8(a), Women-Owned , HUB-Zone, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned, and/or Veteran-Owned Business; (4) number or years in business; (5) two points of contact including: name, title, phone, fax, and e-mail address; (6) DUNS Number (if available); (7) affiliate information, includi ng parent corporation, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners, prime contractor (if potential sub) or subcontractors (if potential prime); (8) a list of customers for relevant work performed during the past five years, including a summary of wo rk performed, contract number, contract type, dollar value for each contract referenced, and a customer point of contact with phone number. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the government. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement, or any follow-up information requests. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. The government reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside or 8(a) set-aside based on responses hereto. The closing date for responses is 16 September 2004. Original Point of Contact is Carmel M. Costa, Contract Specialist at +1 (555) 000-0000. E-mail your questions to contact@example.gov .army.mil or Julianne M. Magee, Contracting Officer at +1 (555) 000-0000. E-mail contact@example.gov