SOLICITATION NOTICE
59 -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
- Notice Date
- 6/26/2009
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 334220
— Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Other Defense Agencies, U.S. Special Operations Command, Headquarters Procurement Division, 7701 Tampa Point Blvd, MacDill AFB, Florida, 33621-5323
- ZIP Code
- 33621-5323
- Solicitation Number
- SOF-AIRBORNE-FM-BROADCAST-ANTENNA
- Point of Contact
- Madeline Y. Baumgartner,
- E-Mail Address
-
madeline.baumgartner@socom.mil
(madeline.baumgartner@socom.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SOF AIRBORNE FM BROADCAST ANTENNA RFI 1. The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is conducting a Special Operations Forces (SOF) FM broadcast antenna performance enhancement study to meet the requirement for a commercial FM and military VHF transmission capability. The application for this study is the Long Range Broadcast System (LRBS), a developmental USSOCOM airborne Psychological Operations (PSYOP) radio broadcast pod designed to be carried by either manned or unmanned aircraft to medium altitudes. To complete the study and consider programming initiatives, USSOCOM requires current industry sources and capabilities information. 2. The objective of this Request for Information (RFI) is to identify solutions to an airborne FM broadcast requirement for a commercial FM (87.5-108 MHz) broadcast antenna capability, assess technology and manufacturing readiness, and prepare budgetary planning estimates for possible programming initiatives. A single antenna capable of operating in the commercial FM and military VHF (138-144 MHz) bands is an objective. The transmitter broadcasting the FM audio messages is rated at 500 Watts and requires the antenna's Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) to be 2.0:1 or less. The antenna's gain must be able to broadcast the audio messages with sufficient strength and quality to reach target audiences using consumer FM receivers within a 50 mile diameter footprint beneath the airborne platform operating at 15,000 - 23,000 ft. The broadcast FM antenna must fit in the lower portion a cylindrical aerial pod. The space allocated to the antenna is approximately 9 in high by 22 in wide by in 70 long. The antenna's weight should not exceed 30 lbs. 3. USSOCOM seeks information from responsible sources and interested parties who have proven solutions that can meet or exceed systems integration requirements; can be validated by performance testing, including flight test. To meet the program fielding schedule, commercially available, Non-Developmental Item (NDI), or minimal development solutions are desired. 4. For the purpose of this RFI, the term "proven" means solutions at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) "6" or higher, preferably TRL "7" or higher. Adaptation of NDI or commercial solutions is encouraged. Recommended solutions must be sustainable through 2020. Key performance parameters include FM signal strength and footprint. Pod conformal antenna solutions are preferred, minimal external protrusion designs will be considered. 5. Interested parties should provide capabilities, qualification statements, and examples that demonstrate their ability to satisfy the required performance enhancement challenges with low integration risk to the SOF LRBS program. Respondents are encouraged to provide information on all or any subset of the areas listed. No adverse evaluation will result from responses, which address only those specific areas applicable to one's core business expertise. 6. Respondents are to use a minimum number of pages to describe in detail the information requested. Limit responses to no more than 25 8 ½" x 11" single sided pages, including attachments, figures and/or drawings. Responses are due 27 July 2009, 3:00 pm Eastern. 7. This notice is part of Government Market Research, a continuous process for obtaining the latest information on the ‘art of the possible' from industry with respect to their current and near-term abilities. The information collected may be used by the Government to explore future strategies for possible uses of platforms within the military. Information received as a result of this request will be considered sensitive and protected as such. All company proprietary information contained in the response shall be separately marked. Any proprietary information contained in response to this request will be properly protected from unauthorized disclosure. The government will not use proprietary information submitted from any one firm to establish the capability and requirements for any future systems acquisition so as to not inadvertently restrict competition. Special Note: Respondent's attention is directed to the fact that contractor consultant and advisors to the Government will review and provide support during evaluation of submittals. When appropriate, non-government advisors may be used to objectively review a particular functional area and provide comments and recommendations to the Government. All advisors shall comply with procurement integrity laws and shall sign Non-Disclosure and Rules of Conduct/Conflict of Interest statements. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Submissions in response to this RFI constitutes approval to release the submittal to Government Support Contractors. 8. U.S. and non-U.S. firms with appropriate Export Control status are permitted to respond to this RFI. Responses to questions from authorized interested parties will be promptly answered and provided equally to all interested parties unless some release of proprietary information is involved or the answer addresses a question peculiar to a company or that company's response. One-on-one information gathering sessions with respondents are currently not contemplated. If one-on-one sessions with interested parties are conducted, they will be offered to those responders that meet the requirements contained in this RFI. The purpose would be to clarify understanding of the submittal, the capability ramifications, or to discuss the form of agreement to cover any flight demonstrations. Information feedback sessions may be offered to respondents after all qualitative assessments are completed. 9. Per FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997): The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Although the terms "proposal" and "respondent" are used in this RFI, your response will be treated as information only and shall not be used as a proposal. Any proposed solution must meet all Operational, Safety, Suitability and Effectiveness (OSS&E) requirements mandated by the Department of Defense.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/USSOCOM/SOAL-KB/SOF-AIRBORNE-FM-BROADCAST-ANTENNA/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: N/A, United States
- Record
- SN01858320-W 20090628/090627000536-2e3a63e3ed7133b722db2d5438336f0b (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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