US Army CERDEC issues RFI for satellite communications on-the-move

On June 29, the Army Contracting Command issued the following Request For Information (RFI)/Sources Sought notice (Solicitation Number: W56KGU15RA313) for satellite communications on the move.

U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC), Space & Terrestrial Communications Directorate, supporting U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) SOF AT&L PEO C4 is interested in identifying new technologies and/or off-the-shelf products that are capable of providing a low profile broadband SATCOM OTM (SOTM) terminal meeting performance requirements, reduced Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) requirements and recurring operational costs. A specific goal is to identify lightweight, low profile and capable SOTM antenna terminals, which can be easily integrated on a multitude of platforms and that can be operational in less than fifteen minutes as delineated in the Detailed Requirements below. These terminals should be lightweight and low profile; these antenna systems should maintain performance at all scan angles. An SOTM terminal with sufficient data rate capability (512 Kbps full duplex) or higher is required throughout the battlespace to support mission applications and services. Candidate’s terminals should maintain performance at all look angles. Data rate capacity should be sufficient to support services such as VoIP, VTC, Full Motion Video (FMV), etc. at all operational elevation and look angles. The frequency band ranges of interest are the following X (commercial and military), Ku, K/Ka (commercial and military).

USSOCOM mission operations require a robust situational awareness capability and reliable communications. Systems capable of transporting FMV, Command Control Intelligence and Surveillance data are necessary elements during these operations. For tactical elements, an all-weather and all-environmental conditions SOTM terminal capability is essential to fulfilling that demand. Besides performance and all weather capable solutions, factors such as SWaP of the sought after terminals is an important consideration given the range of field conditions and diverse network architecture that USSOCOM may utilize during operations. Additionally, SOTM terminal solutions shall be capable of being powered by worldwide AC power as well as DC vehicular power as specified in the Detailed Requirements below. USSOCOM has utilized commercial Ku Band and Wideband Global Satellite (WGS), X (commercial and military) and Ka bands (military) to date. COTM solutions supporting Ka Band (both commercial/military), as well as X Band for all weather-reliable communications are of interest. USSOCOM terminals require WGS certification and commercial licensing as applicable.

The scope of this effort; USSOCOM seeks to identify current and potentially near term fieldable, lightweight, low profile, COTM terminals that can provide high throughput solutions primarily in Ka band (both commercial/military). USSOCOM is also interested in COTM solutions for Ku band (commercial) and X band (both commercial/military). Lightweight, low profile, and low cost terminals that can maintain desired performance are of interest.

Full information is available here.

Source: FedBizOpps