High Frequency (HF) Radios for Project Manager Tactical Radios (PM TR) - Request for Information

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) High Frequency (HF) Radios for Project Manager Tactical Radios (PM TR) 1.0 Description 1.1 The Project Manager for Tactical Radios (PM TR) seeks industry interest regarding availability of representative High Frequency (HF) radios to meet communications requirements supporting Army ground platforms. PdM Helicopter and Multi-Mission Radios (HAMMR) is interested in HF radios currently available from industry that are capable or can be quickly adapted for use in existing radio configurations without removing or replacing the entire installation kit. PdM HAMMR is interested in responses for products that can be delivered in production quantities that satisfy functional and performance requirements. The HF Radio will support open interface standards (both hardware and software) such as VICTORY, and are implemented with Army interoperable message formats for receiving and sending data, and for remotely managing the system. Initial HF Radio acquisition will include plans to replace specific legacy single-channel HF receiver-transmitters, using a one-for-one ratio. The HF Radio may later augment current HF radio fielding allocations, including those employed on mobile platforms. 1.2 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not promise a Statement of Intent or constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue either in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supplies or services whatsoever. Further, the Government is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in responding to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested parties' expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if issued. If a Statement of Intent or RFP is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of the potential responder to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement. 2.0 Background PM TR released a RFI on FedBizOpps dated 17 April, 2019 (W15P7T-19-R-HF01). Since that time, there have been changes within PM TR's plan to modernize the Army's HF capability. The aforementioned RFI stated an initial quantity needed by the Army of approximately five hundred radios and also discussed HF solutions for the Army's aviation platforms. The purpose of this revised RFI is to focus solely on the HF capabilities currently available for the ground tier. PM TR will be releasing an aviation specific RFI for HF capabilities in the coming months. The requirements within section 3.0 have been updated, where appropriate, to reflect only the ground tier. The High Frequency Radio provides both Line of Sight (LOS) and Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) secure voice communications and data capabilities. The HF Radio operates in the High Frequency range (1.5 to 30 megahertz or MHz) using ground and sky-wave propagation over extended distances and operational ranges. HF Radio communications will utilize Automatic Radio Control System (ARCS) that require minimal operator interaction to establish and maintain connections between nodes. The HF Radio is a Software-Defined Radio (SDR) or similar technology supported by a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) supporting numerous configurations including platform mounted or dismountable/man-portable/handheld capabilities. The HF Radio supports flexible and robust terrestrial and air-ground Army and Joint Service communications interoperability essential to Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). The HF Radio will employ measures to reduce the effect of threat electronic warfare (EW) capabilities and to address shortfalls and capability gaps described in the 2020/2024 Gap Analysis. HF Radios will support Common Operating Environment (COE) tenets and support information transport between Mounted, Mobile/Hand-held, and Command Post computing environments. 3.0 Requirements 3.1 Delivery Date: It is anticipated that the Army will procure up to approximately fifteen thousand (15,000) radios over the lifespan of this effort, which will start FY20. 3.2 Security Requirements: Not Specified at this time. 3.3 Salient Features: One channel operating in the HF band in tactical networks providing LOS and BLOS air-to-ground and ground-to-ground communications. 3.3.1 Security: a) Cryptographic modernization including AES-256 encryption and Tactical Secure Voice Cryptographic Interoperability Specification (TSVCIS) b) Type 1 and Type 2 encryption c) SECRET and SBU/CUI d) Compatible with coalition partners (e.g. NATO) e) Capable of Plain text (voice only) 3.3.2 Radio Frequency Bands: a) 1.5-30 MHz operating frequency range 3.3.3 HF Radio Modes: a) Legacy HF modes and emissions b) HF ECCM c) Wideband HF 3.3.4 HF Automatic Link Establishment (ALE): a) MIL-STD-188-141B/D Appendix A b) MIL-STD-188-141B/D Appendix B (Linking Protection, AL-1) c) MIL-STD-188-141B/D Appendix C (3rd Generation) d) STANAG 4538 FLSU (3rd Generation) e) MIL-STD-188-141D Appendix G (4th Generation) 3.3.5 Data Modes and Standards: a) Legacy data modes and emissions b) Wideband data MIL-STD-188-110C Appendix D c) Encrypted data MIL-STD-188-110C, serial tone modem, App. C, App. D STANAG 4415 STANAG 4539 3.3.6 Integration: 3.3.6.1 Ground Platform a) Physical Installation Constraints. Installation dimensions of the HF Receiver-Transmitter must securely fit in existing installations without removing or replacing all or most of the entire AN/VRC-104 (v)6 installation kit. Adapter plates and minor cabling changes are permissible. b) Environmental, including Shock, Vibration, and Gunfire. Relevant performance capabilities across the range of ground platform environmental conditions are specified in MIL-STD-810G. Ground platform variants include, but are not limited to, Bradley, Abrams, MRAP, Stryker, and HUMMVs. c) Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). When transmitting, the HF Radio Set must have control features which can be used to prevent its emissions from degrading the performance of other spectrum dependent systems on the platform. d) Reliability: The HF Radio Set reliability should not be degraded as a consequence of modifying the installation in order to incorporate the new Receiver-Transmitter. 3.3.7 Certifications and Accreditations: a) Committee on National Security Systems Certification b) Risk Management Framework (RMF) Certification and Accreditations (for the HF vendor provided components (e.g. radio, power amp)). c) Cryptographic architecture compliant with NSA Management Directive 237 Number 10 (MD-10) 4.0 Responses 4.1 White Paper: Interested parties are required to respond to this RFI with a white paper. White papers shall be in Microsoft Word for Office 2000 compatible format. Respondents are requested to address the questions in paragraph 4.3 and may provide supporting documentation along with the response. Responses shall be limited to no more than 5 pages for the entire submission (including company information, answers to technical questions, supporting documentation, etc.) Responses are due No Later Than 5 NOV 2019, 5pm Eastern Time, and must be submitted via FedBizOpps. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. 4.2 Company Information. The response should provide the following information: 4.2.1 Contact Information: Company name, CAGE Code, mailing address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), phone number, fax number, and e-mail of designated point of contact. 4.2.2 Security Clearance: State the security clearance level of the company facility. 4.2.3 Small Business Designation: Please represent whether you are/are not a small business under NAICS Code 334220 4.3 Technical Questions. Respond to the following questions: 4.3.1 Describe the extent to which your Software Defined Radio (SDR) will accommodate new versions of the HF waveform, cryptographic processing, information assurance (cyber), radio services and operating environment in order to make code fixes, updating and upgrading algorithms, and adding features or capability. 4.3.2 Describe your approach of adapting your Receiver-Transmitter to the existing AN/VRC-104 (v)6 radio set 4.3.3 Describe the electrical and performance compatibility of your Receiver-Transmitter to the existing AN/VRC-104 (v)6 radio set. 4.3.4 How soon after contract award are you able to begin delivering upgrade kits, including the Receiver-Transmitter to the government. 4.3.5 What is your projected maximum production rate per month and how quickly will it take to ramp up to this production capacity? 4.3.6 What is the expected quantity range tables typically used by your company? 4.3.7 What test equipment, tools, test software and/or analysis methodologies do you use to verify Built In Test (BIT) detection and isolation? Describe your test and analysis methodologies in detail. 4.3.8 Describe any testing you have conducted on your proposed solution (e.g., Environmental, Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3), EMI/EMC, interoperability, performance). 4.3.9 Provide a brief description of your approach to software/waveform updates and integration of new capabilities. 4.3.9.1 Would you provide an upgrade to the waveforms at no cost to the government and for how many upgrades would that be? 4.3.9.2 What is the typical timeframe for your company to port new features or capability to the HF waveform or cryptographic algorithms onto an SDR radio? 4.3.10 The Army would like to establish government organic Hardware and Software sustainment to the greatest extent possible. 4.3.10.1 What is your company familiarization with establishing organic repair capabilities at government facilities such as a government depot? 4.3.10.2 What is your company's experience/familiarizations with facilitating a government depot? 4.3.10.3 Do you have established/proven Technical Data Package and Intellectual Property licensing strategies for Hardware/Software required to support organic sustainment? To what degree would you provide one of the following: unlimited rights, Government purpose rights, limited rights? 4.3.10.4 To what percent are you willing to support government organic repair/sustainment support? 4.3.10.5 What is your experience with establishing and executing a Private Public Partnership with a government? 4.3.10.6 What is your ability to support Government supply provisioning/cataloging? 4.3.11 What is the longest duration your company is willing to provide a Failure Free warranty? What are the terms and conditions of the warranty? 4.3.11.1 Are there options for the Government to purchase extended warranties? 4.3.12 What is your process for addressing obsolescence issues for fielded systems and spare parts? 4.3.13 What is the expected sparing strategy? 4.3.14 What is your projected/current repair cycle time for in warranty repairs? 4.3.15 Provide costs/quantity cost range tables for the prototypes and production assets (Reference: Government currently uses cost points at 1-25, 26-50, 51-100, 100+ for similar products.). 5.0 Meetings and Discussions The Government representatives may or may not choose to meet with respondents to this RFI. Such meetings and discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements. 6.0 Questions Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted via FedBizOpps using the attached excel HF RFI Question/Comment Matrix, in which potential industry vendors must label their questions either Proprietary or Non-Proprietary, by using the appropriate matrix tab. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Answers to questions will be administered via the Question/Comment Matrix. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 5pm Eastern Time October 29, 2019 will be answered. 7.0 Summary THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide HF Radios. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Army has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.