FY22-27 AN/SPQ-15 Data Distribution System Production

4/16/2021 - Update to Description This update is not a supplemental Request for Information, nor is this a Request for Proposal, and the Government is not seeking additional capability statements. The purpose of this notification is to inform industry that this effort is intended to be set-aside for small business. To obtain the TDP documentation and drawings, interested companies shall submit an Intent to bid, provide a current copy of their approved DD Form 2345, Military Critical Technical Data Agreement, verifying eligibility and authority to receive export-controlled information. In addition, interested companies must complete the Unclassified Terms of Use Agreement. The DD Form 2345 and completed Terms of Use Agreement shall be submitted via e-mail to the Contract Specialist Brittani Peyton, Brittani.Peyton@navy.mil with a copy to the Contracting Officer, Kevin Deal,kevin.l.deal@navy.mil. The purpose of this notification is also to inform industry that the Contracting Officer has changed from Reese Van Wyen to Kevin Deal. Lastly, the purpose of this notification is to clarify that this effort is for future solicitation N00178-21-R-2501 not N00178-21-R-2500 which was a typo in the initial RFI. End of Update SECTION 1: SYNOPSIS The Government is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) for future Solicitation No N00178-21-R-2500 for FY22-FY27 AN/SPQ-15(V) hardware production and Combat System Engineering Agent (CSEA) services. Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Dam Neck Activity (NSWCDD DNA) is requesting assistance from industry to conduct market research in accordance with FAR Part 10. The Government anticipates making future decisions regarding the procurement process utilized for a potential solicitation based on the responses received from industry that both indicate an interest, and show a capability to provide the required production and CSEA services. The basis for production of AN/SPQ-15(V) hardware is contained in the Technical Data Package (TDP), portions of which will be provided as Government Furnished Information (GFI) under this RFI. It is NSWCDD's intent to procure Build-to-Print AN/SPQ-15(V) hardware under a competitively awarded contract in FY22. The term Build-to-Print in this context means producing to the exact specifications, drawings, and design contained within the TDP, with modifications only allowed for the purposes of addressing obsolescence, non-compliance with system specifications (A-Specifications) and reducing life-cycle costs of all AN/SPQ-15 systems. The basis for software development, software and system integration and test, and software maintenance of the AN/SPQ-15(V) is contained within the Software Development Plan (SDP) portions of which will be provided as GFI. SECTION 2: GENERAL INFORMATION Pursuant to FAR 52.215-3 this RFI is for planning purposes only and is issued solely for conducting market research in accordance with FAR Part 10. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any questions submitted or information provided as a result of this notice. This does NOT constitute a Request for Proposal. The Government is NOT seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals. This notice shall not be construed as a contract, a promise to contract, or a commitment of any kind by the Government. Specific responses will not disqualify or have an impact on participation and evaluation on future solicitations. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation. If a solicitation is issued in the future, it will be announced via Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) and interested parties must comply with that announcement. It is the responsibility of interested parties to monitor FBO for additional information pertaining to this requirement. The Government's estimated dollar range for this effort is >$100M - $250M. Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing via e-mail to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer's e-mail addresses. Verbal questions will not be accepted. Questions shall not contain classified information. SECTION 3: REQUIREMENTS OVERVIEW The AN/SPQ-15(V) Data Distribution System (DDS) provides for distribution of radar video data over an open architecture LAN to Open Architecture Computer Environment (OACE) compliant display consoles and legacy consoles. The DDS architecture, allows for direct interface to standard Navy radars and IFF sensors. Radar Interface Modules (RIM) provide conversion from analog radar signals to an open architecture Internet Protocol (IP) delivered over an Ethernet LAN. The DDS also provides software-based scan conversion of the radar video to facilitate interfacing to open architecture compliant display consoles implemented on Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) computer hardware. An Application Program Interface (API) provides the ability for the software on the display console to be modified to take advantage of the DDS scan conversion. Display Interface Modules (DIM) provide the conversion from the IP protocol data back into analog signals for legacy consoles. Legacy equipment requires zero modification for connection or operation. System interfaces are identical to existing systems with far fewer components and the replacement of copper cabling with light-weight fiber optic cabling. Radar Data Scan Converter: The DDS provides software-based Radar Video Scan Conversion to provide raster-based image data to OACE compliant display consoles. The scan conversion is implemented on OA COTS Linux servers that off-load the scan conversion computations from the display console. The scan conversion provides real-time image updating for PPI, A-Scan, and B-Scan format displays. The scan-converted video is used to create a bitmap layer that may be displayed alone or combined with tactical information overlay and map data underlay graphics. An API provides the application software engineers with function calls to select the desired radar to be viewed, size of window, coverage area, fading options, etc. Distribution Network: Distribution of radar data is accomplished in a publish/subscribe scenario using the multicast capabilities of a gigabit Ethernet LAN Switch. The number of ports on the switch is dependent on the compliment of radars and display consoles to be supported. The capacity of the gigabit Ethernet LAN switch may be tailored to specific installation requirements. Analog Radar Interfaces: The system is designed utilizing RIMs in a 6U VMEbus form factor. The RIMs are housed within an independent Signal Data Converter (SDC) located in the radar equipment room. SDCs provide conversion for as many as four radars. The RIM design accommodates multiple radar azimuth data interfaces, such as 5-Wire Synchro, Parallel Sin/ Cos, ACP/ARP, and 6-Wire (UYA-4). However, other azimuth formats are easily adapted. The RIM design accommodates both azimuth sweeping and azimuth hopping radars. RIM modules are hot-swappable. Each RIM digitizes two radar video signals at a 40 MHz rate, with 8 bit samples. The 40 MHz samples are combined to minimize the data rate while ensuring the range cell of the radar is accommodated. The 8 bit range of each video sample is used to normalize to a 4 bit sample with respect to a maximum input voltage. The digitized video is combined with the appropriate azimuth, trigger, and True Bearing Indicator (TBI) signals in IP packets and output via a gigabit Ethernet fiber optic interface. Legacy Display Console Interface: DIMs are also designed around 6U VMEbus technology. They are housed in the Radar Video Converter (RVC). The DIM accepts gigabit Ethernet fiber optic data stream from the multicast switch, decodes the incoming messages, then converts the digitized video to analog format. DIM modules are hotswappable. IFF Interface: IFF Interface Modules (IIM) are also designed around 6U VMEbus technology. They are housed in the Converter-Receiver Control (CRC). This unit provides the translation of the IFF video and control interfaces from the AN/UPX-24 CP-1273 into a standard video data format, which is available to the scan conversion servers to allow the overlay of the IFF Video with the synchronized radar video. This video is provided over a gigabit Ethernet fiber optic interface. SECTION 4: SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES Responses to this RFI should be submitted by 14 September 2020 ET via e-mail to the Contract Specialist Brittani Peyton, Brittani.Peyton@navy.mil with a copy to the Contracting Officer, Reese Van Wyen,Reese.Vanwyen@navy.mil. Respondents will NOT be notified of the results of this evaluation. All information will be kept confidential and will not be disseminated to the public. SECTION 4.1: CONTENT Companies responding to this RFI should provide a response not to exceed thirty (30) pages. The Navy has provided the requested format in the attached Market Research Questionnaire to assist Industry with formatting its responses and addressing all the Navy's questions at this time. Please answer the questions found in the Market Research Questionnaire (Attachment 4) to the best of your ability. Submissions shall be single spaced, typed or printed in Times New Roman font with type no smaller than 12-point font. Paper should be 8 1/2 x 11 inches with a minimum of 1 inch margins around the page. Any text contained within tables, graphs, etc. should be 8-point Times New Roman font or larger. Included files should be created/prepared using Microsoft Office 2010 compatible applications. Graphics, photographs, and other data that may not be compatible with Microsoft Office 2010 should be submitted in Adobe Acrobat format. Submitted electronic files should be limited to the following extensions: .docx Microsoft Word .xlsx Microsoft Excel .pptx Microsoft PowerPoint .pdf Adobe Acrobat .mmpx Microsoft Project Submitted electronic files should not be compressed. SECTION 5: REQUESTING GOVERNMENT FURNISHED INFORMATION IMPORTANT: For purposes of this RFI, each company must be able to receive controlled unclassified information. However, performance of this contract will require access to classified information. Therefore prime contractors interested in bidding under any subsequent solicitation must be able to receive classified documents and must be a United States Company or an independent US Subsidiary. The Navy will consider foreign contractors acting as subcontractors to US prime contractors. The export of defense articles, defense services, and related technical data is subject to the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and requires the issuance of an export license by the U.S. Department of State. To obtain the TDP documentation, interested companies shall provide a current copy of their approved DD Form 2345, Military Critical Technical Data Agreement, verifying eligibility and authority to receive export-controlled information. In addition, interested companies must complete the Unclassified Terms of Use Agreement. The DD Form 2345 and completed Unclassified Terms of Use Agreement (Attachment 1) shall be submitted via e-mail to the Contract Specialist Brittani Peyton, Brittani.Peyton@navy.mil with a copy to the Contracting Officer, Reese Van Wyen,Reese.Vanwyen@navy.mil. Please make the request as soon as practicable as it may take several days for the Government to review and approve access to the documents. The Government plans to host one-on-one sessions to allow for interested Contractors to provide feedback regarding this requirement. The one-on-one sessions are available on a first come first serve basis beginning 15 September 2020 through 16 September 2020. Each session is limited to one (1) hour beginning at 0900 and concluding by 1500 each day. The one-on-one sessions will be UNCLASSIFIED and each interested Contractor is limited to eight (8) participants. Interested Contractors should contact Brittani Peyton Contract Specialist, via e-mail at Brittani.Peyton@navy.mil no later than COB 9 September and include the following information: Subject line: "N00178-21-R-2500 for AN/SPQ-15 Production One-On-One Discussions" *Company name, attendees' names, email addresses, phone numbers, and company address in the email response. *Three (3) requested dates and times In light of the current travel/occupancy restrictions associated with COVID-19, the one-on-one sessions will either be held telephonically or via MS Teams. The Navy intends to post a sanitized version - removing any indication of the company that submitted the question, as well as any company proprietary information - of all questions and answers resulting from the Industry Day and/or the GFI provided under this notice.