Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF JULY 18, 2003 FBO #0596
SOURCES SOUGHT

D -- Cellular User Registration

Notice Date

7/16/2003
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

Contracting Office

Defense Information Systems Agency, Acquisition Directorate, DITCO-Scott, 2300 East Drive Bldg 3600, Scott AFB, IL, 62225-5406
 

ZIP Code

62225-5406
 

Solicitation Number

NCS16JULY2003
 

Response Due

7/30/2003
 

Archive Date

8/14/2003
 

Point of Contact

Sally Gettleman, Contract Specialist, Phone 618-229-9719, Fax 618-229-9508,
 

E-Mail Address

gettlems@scott.disa.mil
 

Description

INFORMATION ANALYSIS AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION DIRECTORATE, NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CELLULAR USER REGISTRATION REQUEST FOR INFORMATION 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Scope The Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate, National Communications System (NCS), Department of Homeland Security desires to better understand the user registration process used by U.S. cellular networks (for roaming users and users in their home networks) and to identify the roles that carriers, vendors, and third parties play in the process. This request for information (RFI) seeks technical information regarding the cellular registration process. Responses from all organizations, including commercial entities, academic institutions, and Government departments and agencies, are encouraged. The NCS has researched publicly available information on normal registration procedures, architectures, third party service providers, and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Standard 41 and would like to verify public source information and gain additional knowledge by discussing user registration with knowledgeable industry players. The NCS is focused on generic serving areas, but information on specific areas would be welcomed. Within the cellular registration process, the NCS is most interested in aspects that impact the ability to successfully complete calls under all network contingencies, including congestion and damage scenarios. 1.2 Background The NCS is responsible for providing assured connectivity for the President and Federal departments and agencies under all circumstances, including crises and national emergencies. Under the provisions of Executive Order 12472, the NCS is responsible for ensuring that a national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) telecommunications infrastructure exists and is responsive to the needs of the President and the Federal departments and agencies through the use of public and private telecommunications systems. In support of this mission, the Office of the Manager, NCS (OMNCS) has initiated several programs designed to overcome network failure and congestion during emergency situations. The NCS developed the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS), Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP), and Wireless Priority Service (WPS) to address priority service for Federal, State, and local personnel during an emergency. WPS provides NS/EP users with priority access to resources at key bottleneck points in U.S. cellular networks during call set-up. However, WPS does not address the process of user information exchange performed whenever a cellular user activates his/her handset in a different network or service area. Cellular users may receive service from many cellular switches as they travel across the nation. Each cellular switch must be able to access information about the user's service to process calls appropriately. Thus, it is important that the NCS understand the information exchange process. Working with industry to enhance the user information exchange process is currently outside the current scope of WPS, but may be of interest to the OMNCS in the future. 2. AREAS OF INTEREST The NCS would like to gain additional information regarding the following areas: 2.1 Players and Roles The NCS requires information on the role played by various industry organizations in the cellular user registration process, including carriers, equipment vendors, and third parties such as clearing houses. Specifically, the NCS is interested in identifying the entities on which carriers rely to support user registration, their role, and their criticality to the ability of users to initiate or receive calls. 2.2 User Data Distribution The NCS requires technical architecture information about the physical distribution of home location registers (HLR) or other databases critical to the registration process. Information regarding the typical number of HLRs in both metropolitan and rural areas is requested, as well as information on the number of users and geographic area served by these databases and their relation to other key network components such as visitor location registers (VLRs) and mobile switching centers (MSCs). 2.3 User Data Redundancy The NCS requests information regarding redundancy of cellular user information in the HLR and other databases critical to the registration process. The NCS is also interested in the time and effort needed for the HLR recovery after data or network problems occur. 2.4 Registration Components The NCS requests information regarding the components and processes involved in cellular user information exchange under different scenarios, ranging from antenna-to-antenna movement within the same Base Station Controller (BSC) through MSC-to-MSC movement across carriers and regions. 2.5 Network Connectivity The NCS requests information regarding the logical and physical connectivity among nodes involved in the registration process (e.g. HLRs, VLRs, MSCs, and Signal Transfer Points [STPs]) as well as registration processing capacity within the network. 2.6 Data/Network Problems The OMNCS requests information about past problems in the registration process, such as congestion and failures within the system, and their impact on users. 2.7 Process Evolution The NCS requests information on how the user registration process is anticipated to change over the next 10 years. This information may include expected interaction with other evolving capabilities such as wireless local number portability (LNP). 3. RESPONSE GUIDELINES 3.1 Scope It is understood that most organizations do not have expertise or capabilities in all of the areas described above. Respondents do not need to address all areas of interest discussed previously. Responses addressing only a subset of the identified areas of interest would be welcomed. 3.2 Structure Please provide any materials, suggestions, and discussion you deem appropriate. In addition, please provide ample contact information, including telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, to facilitate any needed clarification or further discussion. 3.3 Format Electronic and hard copy formats are both acceptable, though electronic submission is preferred. If provided electronically, submissions should be in a Microsoft Office compatible format or Adobe Acrobat. Copies may be emailed to Mr. Jim Manzuk, OMNCS at manzukj@ncs.gov or mailed to the address below. 3.4 Deadline Responses to this RFI are due no later than 14 calendar days after its posting. 4. DISCLAIMER There is no bid package or solicitation document associated with this announcement. The requested information is for planning purposes and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued or a contract awarded. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of information. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. In accordance with FAR 15.202(e), responses to this notice are not an offer and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. 5. CONTACT INFORMATION Mr. Jim Manzuk National Communications System Critical Infrastructure Protection Division (N3) 701 South Court House Road Arlington, VA 22204-2198 (703) 607-4944 manzukj@ncs.gov
 

Place of Performance

Address: National Communicaitons System, 701 South Court House Road, Arlington, VA

Zip Code: 222042198

Country: USA
 

Record

SN00372434-W 20030718/030716213104 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

---

| FSG Index  |  This Issue's Index  |  Today's FBO Daily Index Page |