AMOC Communications System Requirements

1. Introduction: The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Air and Marine (OAM), hereby issues a Request for Information (RFI) pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 15.201(e) to seek information for digital IP Communication systems to interface with their existing installed radios. 2. Description: The goal of this RFI is to identify companies that can provide digital IP system to remotely control the radios from the AMOC and that interfaces with a digital IP communications system. The system is required to support multiple workstations located at various locations to include the AMOC in Riverside, CA; the Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Center (CAMOC) located in Punta Salinas, Puerto Rico (PR); and an alternate location for Continuity of Operations (COOP). Additionally, the system is required to support multiple workstations located at various locations off-site. 3. Information Requested: CBP is interested in obtaining information (inclusive of commercial/market pricing or estimates) from companies that can provide the digital IP systems described above. The requested information shall address the capability to provide the system based on the potential system requirements below. 4. Overall Requirements: DHS / CBP / AMOC (Air and Marine Operations Center) are conducting a preliminary market study of digital IP Communication systems to interface with their existing installed radios. Currently, the AMOC is using an analog communications system, analog remote radio control, and analog telephone circuits. The AMOC will be upgrading the existing analog circuits to digital MPLS cloud circuits and requires a digital IP system to remotely control the radios from the AMOC and that interfaces with a digital IP communications system. The system is required to support multiple workstations located at various locations to include the AMOC in Riverside, CA; the Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Center (CAMOC) located in Punta Salinas, Puerto Rico (PR); and an alternate location for Continuity of Operations (COOP). Additionally, the system is required to support multiple workstations located at various locations off-site. The proposed circuit architecture is two DS-3/ETHERNET circuits (diverse routes) from the AMOC to the cloud and T-1/ETHERNET circuits from the cloud to each remote radio site within the United States. A similar architecture is required at the CAMOC to support radio sites in PR but will also require the ability for the AMOC to ingest the PR radio connectivity via MPLS circuits. Additionally, there is a requirement to assimilate voice communications with the AMOC via satellite connectivity from our COOP site. General System Requirements The digital IP communications system is required to interface/control 250 (expandable to at least 500) remote analog UHF Radios over ETHERNET circuits within the US to include any control equipment/cables required at the remote sites. Currently there are 30 Collins GRC171(v) and 154 General Dynamics URC200s. All future installations will be URC 200s. The digital IP communications system is required to interface/control 9 (expandable to at least 15) remote analog General Dynamics URC200 UHF Radios from the CAMOC in PR. The digital IP communication system is required to support analog, 4 wire interfaces for miscellaneous radios that will remain analog. The system is required to support RED / BLACK security. It is required to interface with Motorola MCC 7500 consoles. The system will initially be sized to provide 50 Operating Positions (expandable to at least 100) at the AMOC; 4 Operating Positions (expandable to at least 8) at the CAMOC; 10 Operating Positions (expandable to at least 20) at the COOP site. It would also need to support remote Operating Positions over ETHERNET circuits. Support a minimum of 10 HF (COTHEN) - analog, 4 wire, PTT, clear/secure indication from the radio to show clear or encrypted operation. Support a minimum of 6 Satcom radios - analog, 4 wire, PTT, always secure. Use a distributed architecture so a failure of one component will only result in the loss of one Operator Position or radio/telephone line. Consist of hot swappable modules/components to allow rapid replacements with no system disruption. Utilize diagnostics/alarms/indicators to pinpoint failures. Interface with NICE voice recorder to record black individual radios, telephones and Operating Positions. Capability to restrict pushing designated resources to specific workstations. Vendor will provide racks and recommended spares for the digital IP communications system. Vendor will provide operator and maintenance training at the completion of the installation. Vendor will provide warranty and support options. Digital IP Remote Control System Requirements Must interface/control 250 (expandable to at least 500) remote Collins GRC171(v) and General Dynamics URC200 UHF Radios over T-1/ETHERNET circuits. This would include any interface equipment/cables required at the remote sites. Minimum radio control required: Power radio on/off Check status of radio Adjust squelch Change frequency (frequency agile) Report forward power during transmit Report reflected power during transmit Operating Positions Requirements Utilize touchscreen for operator input. Display a radio/telephone/function on screen. Be able to "nest" screens to show additional radio/telephone/function icons that won't fit on the main screen. Support multiple Maintenance Positions for creating/editing Operating Position maps, running system diagnostics, etc. Screens should be easily created, edited, deleted from a maintenance position. Icons will indicate radio/telephone state - unmonitored, monitored, selected for transmit, patched. A function to manually indicate on the icon that the radio/telephone is down for maintenance and unavailable for use. This should be a global indication. The Icon will also indicate audio activity on a radio/telephone, so the operator can tell what radio/telephone the call came in on. Unanswered calls will go to a call queue so the operator can see what calls might have been missed. The timeout for queued calls shall be adjustable from each Operator Position. Ability to monitor multiple radios simultaneously and provide an indication that the limit has been exceeded if the operator tries to add another, if applicable. Ability to transmit on radios simultaneously (simulcast). Any radio activated to transmit will automatically block all audio from going out over an open phone line. Support at least 2 Telephone lines per position - digital 2 wire from Avaya PBX. Dial screen, global autodial, and private autodial. Support at least 4 Speakers at each Operating Position, w/volume controls for individual channels. Provide an interface for plugging in PTT handsets and/or headsets, w/volume controls and a monitor position at each workstation to hear each side of the conversation. Support at least 2 patch groups per OP - radio to radio, radio to telephone, or telephone to telephone. All radio circuits will be in "Default Monitor" when not selected in the Operate Mode. This will eliminate additional keystrokes to 'toggle' between Monitor and Operate. When an operator deselects or moves to another circuit it will automatically return to the monitor mode. Circuits in the Default Monitor Mode will have a visual indication of status. Each Operator position will have a function added that will mute selected circuits indefinitely (or until deactivated) so that when in the 'extended mute mode' calls will not be presented in the Call Que. Will have programming that WILL NOT permit any operator to select/operate simultaneously in the secure mode on one radio and have another radio selected for operate in the clear mode. In other words, when any operator selects the secure mode of operation any other radio selected for operate/transmit on that position must automatically revert to the default monitor position. The system should prevent the operator from inadvertently transmitting secured information over an unsecure radio! Intercom function between Operator Positions. The schedule for this RFI is: Questions are due from industry to the above email address by 12:00 PM EST, July 14, 2014. Answers will be provided by CBP via RFI amendment by 12:00 PM EST, July 25, 2014. The closing date for final submissions from industry to this RFI is 12:00 PM EST, August 6, 2014. 5. Disclaimer: This sources sought notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. CBP may seek proposals in the near future and will not accept unsolicited proposals at this time. This notice does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Participation does not imply any obligation on the part of the Government. Responders are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice; all costs associated with responding to this notice will be solely at the responder's expense. Not responding to this notice does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps) website. It is the responsibility of potential offers to monitor these sites for additional information. Proprietary information will be protected to the greatest extent provided by law. Any questions concerning this RFI or its accompanying documents must be submitted via e-mail to Shante.O.Melton@cbp.dhs.gov. 6. Responses: Responses to this RFI shall not exceed twenty (20) pages (including cover letter) and shall be received via email to Shante.O.Melton@cbp.dhs.gov no later than 12:00 PM EST, August 6, 2014 In outlining your company's response, please provide a cover letter, which includes the following: Number of years of corporate experience Business size Primary type of services provided Primary point of contact GSA schedule contract number, if applicable Address Telephone number Fax Number E-mail address for POC Contractors are encouraged to mark each page believed to contain corporate sensitive information with the note "Proprietary Information."