D -- Cable Television (CATV) Programming / High-Speed Cable Modem Internet Access

Request for Information and Sources Sought Inquery No. FA5205-07-I-3502for Cable Television (CATV) Programming / High-Speed Cable Modem Internet Access at Misawa Air Base, Japan Notice to Contractor: This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) issued IAW FAR 15.201(e). The provision at FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes, is hereby incorporated in this RFI. This RFI cannot be accepted by the United States Government to form a binding contract. Responders are soley responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI Description: 1. The intent of this Request for Information is to improve the Government?s understanding on the current availability of industry service capabilities in the Misawa Air Base area. Contractors interested in providing information are free to present their capabilities, services offered, employed commercial practices and standards, current and prior completed service contracts, estimated pricing, estimated time between contract award and contract performance desired, and viability of servicing Misawa Air Base. The Government contemplates a sales type contract or franchise agreement for the services listed below. The Government is seeking information on the most common commercial contract vehicles used for this type of service. Contractors are encouraged to ask questions and or seek clarification on any information provided in this request. 2. The 35th Contracting Squadron, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base Japan is considering soliciting offers at some time in the near future for the services listed below. If the solicitation for these services is issued by Misawa Air Base, the requirements in this document may be included. We solicit feedback from prospective service providers on the ?art of the possible? with respect to these requirements as well as any other information that may best service our Misawa Air Base customer base. Services of Interest: 3. Provide end-to-end communications for cable television programming and high speed cable modem internet access to over 3,000 customers at 300 residential facilities and 50 military organizations housed in approximately 200 buildings across Misawa Air Base (see appendix A & B for details). Currently, all on-base family housing units, dormitories and most military facilities have cable infrastructure. Prospective service providers are encouraged to consider use of this existing U.S. Government owned infrastructure during the proposal process, as a means of reducing upfront costs. The US Government anticipates negotiating ?in kind? services for the use of this existing CATV infrastructure, specifically at all military use facilities. Please see RFI FA5205-07-I-3501 for Telephony / High Speed Internet Access Data Service at Misawa AB, Japan. These services are expected to be awarded on separate contracts for simultaneous performance. Services Contracts in Japan: 4. Contracts to be performed in Japan are subject to the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the United States and Japan, which governs the rights and obligations of the United States forces in Japan. Unless a contractor is present in Japan solely to perform under a contract with the United States for the sole benefit of the United States armed forces in Japan and is accorded privileges under SOFA XIV, it and its employees shall be subject to all the laws and regulations of Japan. The contractor shall comply with the instruction of the Contracting Officer concerning the entry of its employees, equipment, and supplies into Japan and shall comply with the applicable Japanese laws and regulations as well as United States Forces Japan (USFJ) and USFJ component policies and regulations during the performance of this contract. 5. Contractors interested in submitting information should contact the 35th Contracting Squadron via telephone at 011-81-3117-66-3895 or email jon.hobart@misawa.af.mil. Please include your company name, address, telephone number, point of contact, fax number, and e-mail address in all correspondence. Please submit your information before 4:00 pm 15 December 2006 (JST). APPENDIX A Cable Television Programming 1. Cable television programming must be made available to all base housing residents for purchase and identified U.S. Government facilities. Residential television programming subscription services are included in this solicitation. Currently, the cable television infrastructure on Misawa Air Base is owned and operated by the 35th Communications Squadron. In instances where there is no existing cable infrastructure at a facility requiring television programming, the contractor will provide and install all needed equipment for each facility at no additional cost to the U.S. Government. The contractor will be responsible for cable maintenance. Minimum Cable Television/video requirements shall include: 1.1. Fully integrated television services with US (stateside) programming to include basic channels, premium channels, digital premium channels, Video-On-Demand, and High Definition (HD) broadcasts. Real-time stateside programming is desired for sports and news. 1.2. Digital video; English-language channels TV programming 1.3. Video-on-Demand and/or Digital video recording capability 1.4. Original program broadcasting sound features to be retained in delivery (i.e. if surround sound, surround capability will be required) 1.5. Digital radio broadcast shall include news, weather and a variety of music style programming 1.6. Parental Control: Content filtering shall be available 1.7. United States National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) television formatted programming 1.8. Provide free-tier channels to all locations for the Government Access Channels and local Japanese public broadcasts at no programming rebroadcast fee to Misawa Air Base. Such channels may include but not limited to: 1.8.1. Base Commanders Channel (Commanders Access Channel) 1.8.2. Base Weather Channel 1.8.3. Services Squadron and Moral/Welfare/Recreation Channel 1.8.4. Swap or Bulletin Board Community Channel 1.8.5. Department of Defense Schools (DoDDS) Channel 1.8.6. All present and Future Armed Forces Network (AFN) Channels (at present there are 10 AFN Channels) in accordance with AFI 64-101 and DoDD 5120.20 APPENDIX B High-Speed Internet Access 1. High-speed cable internet access must be available to all base housing residents for purchase. Minimum High-Speed Data Requirements shall include: 1.1. Always on connection 1.2. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) and Post Office Protocol (POP) based e-mail services 1.3. Content filtering at the request of the subscriber 1.4. Local caching capabilities 1.5. Deliver wireless data services / wireless hotspots in common recreational areas (Approximately 5-7 areas) 1.6. State whether new subscribers will be required to buy and/or rent equipment to access data services 1.7. Minimum 2.5 Mb/sec capable download speed