VSAT SYSTEM FOR MOC - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

NAICS Code: -- Telecommunications/517410 -- Satellite Telecommunications Request for Information NOAA OMAO VSAT Bandwidth and Support Services THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION/SOURCES SOUGHT (RFI/SS) ONLY. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. REQUESTS FOR A SOLICITATION WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. This request is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute a Request for Proposal, Solicitation, Request for Quote or an indication that OMAO will award a contract for the services or products contained in this RFI. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of OMAO to award a contract, nor does OMAO intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. OMAO does not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submission of the information being requested or, reimburse expenses incurred for responses to this RFI. This RFI notice seeks the latest information from industry with respect to their current and near-term abilities, and interest in supporting satellite communications services for the global NOAA fleet. The information in this RFI is intended to provide an overview of the existing VSAT services in place through the current contractor. The RFI is not intended to imply nor indicate what OMAO is expecting from the next contract awardee. OMAO is seeking qualified sources, from all facets. Companies are requested to respond to this RFI, Sections 4.0 and 5.0, a maximum of 10 pages text and tables in Times Roman font size 11, plus any additional pages containing graphics (i.e. satellite coverage). Responses to this RFI are due NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, 15 AUGUST 2012 at 2:00 P.D.T. Submit responses by email to Josh.J.Dodson@noaa.gov DO NOT INCLUDE A PRICE QUOTE. Again, this is a request for information only. After information is received and reviewed, OMAO intends to use the information gained to develop a future Request for Proposal (RFP). Request for clarifications or questions concerning any aspect of this RFI shall be submitted in writing via email to Josh Dodson by 2:00PM PDT, FRIDAY, 10 AUGUST 2012. All companies are advised that OMAO will make available to the public any questions and comments and associated OMAO responses; therefore companies shall not provide questions or comments of a proprietary nature. OMAO will use its best efforts to respond to questions and comments NLT 2:00PM PDT MONDAY, 13 AUGUST 2012; however, responses are not guaranteed. 1.0 Introduction The NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) manages the fleet of NOAA vessels that operate within the United States coastal waters and oceans worldwide. Ships have been outfitted with C-band or Ku-band Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) maritime systems, and one ship with a 3.7-m high bandwidth antenna system. These systems are connected to the NOAA terrestrial network via contractor-provided satellite earth-station uplink/downlink and NOAA's private network (OPSnet). OMAO requires: (a) VSAT satellite communication system bandwidth services for 24/7 network and voice communications, (b) collocation of an OPSnet network terminus at the earth-station for connectivity to the NOAA Network Operations Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, and (c) installation, maintenance and training services to implement and support VSAT systems on NOAA vessels and selected shore facilities. This RFI also seeks industry input on alternative services and technical solutions capable of meeting these requirements in an economical manner. 2.0 Background Global VSAT services are currently provided by MTN Government Services. OMAO anticipates a new Indefinite Delivery-Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract in FY13, a maximum dollar value of up to $10 Million, against which services shall be ordered by issuance of task orders for up to 24 NOAA vessels and 5 land-based VSATs in an iDirect network. The contract will be structured to accommodate a changing fleet size over the performance period. There are currently 6 C-band and 12 Ku-band ships (Table 1). Table 1 - NOAA Ship Summary Terminal Number Installed Ship length (ft) 3.7 meter Circular C-band, SeaTel 14600, 400w 1* 2008 224 2.4 meter Circular C-band, SeaTel 9797, 80w 5 2008-2012 274, 224 1.5 meter Ku-band, SeaTel 6006, 6006RZ, 16w 9 2008-2012 224, 209 1.0 meter Ku-band, SeaTel 4006, 8w 3 2008-2011 186, 170, 124 Land-based Ku-band VSAT (none) - - * NOAA Ship OKEANOS EXPLORER Additional information about the NOAA ships is available online at www.moc.noaa.gov. 3.0 Specific Requirements OMAO requires a maritime communication system to continue, partially replace, or provide a complete alternative system to maintain present global operations of C-band/Ku-Band terminal equipment on an iDirect-based high-data-rate Internet Protocol (IP) network. Equivalent services may comprise 1) segmented services and type of terminal approach to regions near-shore U.S. / Bering Sea / global / OKEANOS EXPLORER, 2) terminals all VSAT or mix of other technology, and/or 3) include a complementary backup / fail-over terminal system that also replaces InmarsatB. The NOAA Strategic Plan also calls for communication features supporting delivery of observation data to shore, cloud computing (non-real time Internet), and remote management of ocean observation (data) collection and ship administrative IT systems. 3.1 NOC, Earth-station The vendor shall provide a 24 / 7 manned network operations center (NOC) to include telephone and email support. The Government shall have access to information about service performance, including bandwidth usage statistics and availability, by ship and by fleet, updated in near real-time and viewable through a password secured website. NOAA OPSnet will supply a 3xT1 or higher circuit and terminating equipment for the fleet primary secure connection at a location provided and supported by the vendor. NOAA also provisions a separate OPSnet DS3 circuit at the earth-station for UDP/TCP data to and from NOAA Ship OKEANOS EXPLORER, and multicast data from the ship. The iDirect data from the OKEANOS EXPLORER is routed separately to the aggregate fleet 3xT1 from the earth-station. The throughput of vendor network circuits shall be capable of supporting anticipated fleet network and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) traffic crossover. The vendor shall provide network connectivity from the primary and an alternate earth-station (3xT1 only) to OPSnet, such that any earth-station failure does not affect connectivity. Alternative terrestrial solutions may also exist in N-Wave (http://noc.nwave.noaa.gov/). 3.2 Bandwidth NOAA ships operate an unlimited-use full duplex minimum (CIR) 128 kbps/128 kbps uplink/ downlink iDirect managed space segment, dedicated C-band and dedicated shared Ku-band. Bandwidth increases shall be available in intervals up to 5 Mbps (with advance notice) to satisfy specific cruise objectives. A minimum burst capability of twice CIR is used. Bandwidth requires lease portability between global ocean regions (see also 3.2.2.1). Satellite coverage for existing and future shipboard systems is described in the following sections. Alternative space segment(s) shall collectively provide similar coverage. 3.2.1 Ku-Bandwidth Ku-band coverage is used throughout 200 miles off the United States East and West Coasts, the Gulf of Mexico, and the southern and western coasts of Alaska below 70 North Latitude. Bandwidth segments are shared among 3 or more ships in a region. NOAA may have occasional need of the Ku bandwidth for a ship in another region, including southern Gulf (SatMex5) and eastern Canadian off-shore (Telstar12). 3.2.2 Global C-Bandwidth NOAA uses global circular C-band beams throughout the Atlantic (AOR) and Pacific (POR) ocean regions between 60 North and 45 South Latitude. 3.2.2.1 NOAA Ship OKEANOS EXPLORER operates with two dedicated bandwidths (high and low) concurrently on global C-band, circular A-pol and interchangeable to linear-pol. The ship requires high bandwidth (not iDirect managed) between 50 North and 50 South Latitude throughout AOR and POR without lease portability. AOR also includes but is not limited to Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Sargasso Sea and other regional seas. POR also includes but is not limited to Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea, Philippine Sea, Celebes Sea, Banda Sea, Coral Sea and other regional seas. The high bandwidth UDP/TCP data ship-to-shore in intervals up to 40 Mbps, and TCP shore-to-ship from 1 Mbps in intervals up to 5 Mbps, is tasked for days, weeks or months, represent high-value missions subject to complex technical and ship operation issues that require ongoing coordination up to the actual start date. 3.3 System Maintenance and Support NOAA ships sail with a Chief ET capable of supporting daily operational issues. The Vendor shall provide VSAT technicians to perform maintenance and repairs, or provide an alternative always-on communication system for which support is delivered in a different manner. An alternative system may include a multi-year plan to phase-out/replace existing terminals. For on-site support, technicians shall meet the ship at ports in North America within 72 hours, or at remote seaports such as Dutch Harbor, Alaska or Bitung, Indonesia within 120 hours of notice. Technical staff shall be able to meet the NOAA physical requirements for sailing when required (http://www.omao.noaa.gov/medical/NHSQ_Final_wi_Instructions_fill.pdf). Annual VSAT maintenance shall be provided by a certified VSAT technician visit to each ship. Use of foreign nationals as VSAT service personnel requires additional multistage processing, clearances and job-site restrictions, for which the Contractor shall fully support (http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/ames/administrative_orders/chapter_207/207-12.html). 4.0 Relevant Experience 4.1 Describe the experience your company, or the company you might team with, has had with the supplying the services described in Section 3.0. Include your company name, address, point of contact (POC), telephone number, e-mail address, NAICS code, GSA schedules or existing federal contracts held, company size (small, large business); if small, indicate type (8(a), small disadvantaged business, HUB zone, minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, etc.). 4.2 Describe the experience of your technical support individuals and Key Personnel. Include the title, education, professional qualifications, and a description of duties. Note which individuals to be Key Personnel. For those elements in your response to 4.1 where no experience exists, describe the personnel and resources of your company, or the company you might team with, that would be the basis of an interest to supply these services. Or, for those elements in your response to 4.1 where no experience exists, and your interest is in supplying alternative services and technical solutions (Section 5.0), describe those personnel and resources (include personnel title, education, professional qualifications, and a description of duties). 4.3 Describe three relevant contracts you had in the last 5 years providing global satellite services to vessels. Based on transition of an active fleet into these contracts, what concerns would you have in transition of NOAA fleet communications into a new contract? 4.4 Describe specific experience you have in the last 5 years installing or maintaining satellite equipment on vessels. 4.5 Describe at least three experiences you have repairing satellite equipment electronics on a vessel. 4.6 If your response is to provide an alternative system to maintain present global operations, what technology is proposed? Describe specific experience you have in the last 5 years installing and commissioning a complete fleet-wide system. For all applicable installations, what terminal technology was replaced, and what terminals were installed? What phase-in options were considered, including partial replacement and multi-year, with what projected duration of return on investment (ROI) for each. What phase-in option was selected, with what actual ROI? 4.7 Based on the information provided in Section 4.0, provide reasons why you believe you can put together a winning proposal for a future solicitation. 5.0 Alternative Services and Technical Solutions OMAO seeks information on global communication systems as improvement to the current operations described in section 3.0. The following topics and questions are provided for consideration in a response to this RFI. For each response please indicate the applicability to OKEANOS EXPLORER, if any. 5.1 Bandwidth Burst capability is an essential element of ship operational data transfers. Describe and quantify the C-band and Ku-band burst capabilities above the CIR, including burst duration and maximum burst level (burst bandwidth shall not create a bandwidth deficit in the data rate of another ship). 5.2 Increased System Reliability At-sea operations may be improved through reduced terminal administration and maintenance aboard ship. What contractor provided shipboard equipment suite and space segment solution could support this? Would - Out of Band management be available, and how implemented? Describe the expected reduction in maintenance, in comparison to the existing NOAA terminals. Describe the lowest replaceable units (LRU) individually or in comparison to the existing terminals. 5.4 Communication Features Describe any features that support delivery of observation data to shore, cloud computing (non-real time Internet), and/or remote management of ocean observation (data) collection and ship administrative IT systems. 5.5 Earth-station to NOAA NOC What alternative terrestrial solution from the earth-station to the NOAA Network Operations Center in Silver Spring, Maryland would be enhanced with N-Wave? (http://noc.nwave.noaa.gov/) Outline the implementation, and describe the benefit(s). 5.6 Television/Entertainment Systems and Service Describe any provision of global (more than 200-miles off shore) entertainment delivery systems (such as TV-receive only terminal, or via the existing C-band VSAT terminal with the addition of a decoder). Identify the applicable ocean region(s), primarily Pacific and Atlantic, and provide a "footprint" coverage map for each solution. Describe the typical installation and maintenance of entertainment delivery systems in comparison to the existing NOAA terminals. 5.7 Requirements Feedback What section 3.0 Specific Requirements appear restrictive or obsolete? Restate the requirement, describing the usage scenario(s) for a global fleet communications. 5.8 Price/Performance Tradeoffs What flexibility in the requirements would obtain price/performance tradeoffs and a more economical solution? For example, what block bandwidth purchases render an economy of scale, or what suspension of bandwidth during scheduled winter down time (inports of two to four months) would be an economy. (Remember that price information is not to be included in any response to the RFI.) 5.9 Promoting Competition What alternative approach to services (including bandwidth, maintenance, training, installation, and logistics) would enhance the market's capability to support NOAA fleet communications, which might generate additional industry interest in supplying global communications, or anything that might enhance the industry's overall ability to supply communications?