Next Generation Transponders (NGT) Sources Sought/RFI #2

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE: 7G22 – IT AND TELECOM – NETWORK: SATELLIETE AND RF COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS (HW, PERPETUAL LICENSE SOFTWARE)

NAICS CODE: 33411 Electronic Computer Manufacturing

Description: Next Generation Transponders (NGT) Sources Sought/RFI

This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI), for planning/market research purposes only, and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Government.

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response.

The Government will not be liable for payment of any response preparation expenses.

This is NOT a request for quotations or proposals.

No solicitation exists and a formal solicitation is not guaranteed to be issued by the Government as a result of the responses received to this RFI.

Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained within their response known and labeled accordingly.

To reiterate, this is a RFI ONLY. No solicitation will be issued at this time. The U.S. Government is not obligated to answer any additional questions received.

Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary with no cost obligation to be incurred by the U.S. Government.

Any information received as a result of this RFI will become the property of the Government and will not be returned to the respondents. Respondents are responsible for properly marking proprietary or sensitive information contained in their response.

Scope: 

NGT technology consists of cellular, satellite, and cellular / satellite (hybrid) transponders which will be utilized within DoD to track assets world-wide. This RFI will address the availability of non-proprietary, Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) products and technical engineering services to support this initiative.

Description:

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Rock Island (ACC-RI) is seeking potential sources and information related to a possible acquisition for Next Generation Transponders (NGT) across the suite of cellular and satellite transponders with world-wide coverage that support logistics and asset in-transit visibility.   

Products:

Under an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, the Contractor shall provide transponders capable of the following: activate, commission, decommission, deactivate, reuse, and track assets from point A to point B world-wide.

The Army seeks to acquire products which may include, but is not limited to:

• Battery-Operated Cellular Transponder(s)
• Battery-Operated Satellite Transponder(s)
• Battery-Operated Hybrid Transponder(s) (cellular and satellite)

Goal:

This RFI is to gather Industry comments and advice on products to support DoD’s interests in Next Generation Transponders (NGT) for asset tracking through the use of cellular, satellite, and hybrid transponders.  Industry responses will be used by the Government to refine the scope of the potential future requirements for described products.  Companies are encouraged not to include marketing informational materials that do not relate to the products / services described in this RFI, however, responses may include URL links to technical documentation materials (i.e., technical data sheets).

The Government is seeking answers from Industry for the following questions:

1. How long is the current expected battery life of cellular transponders operating with 1 ping every two hours while in motion / 1 ping every four hours at rest?
2. How long is the current expected battery life of satellite transponders operating with 1 ping every two hours while in motion / 1 ping every four hours at rest?
3. How long is the current expected battery life of hybrid transponders operating with 1 ping every two hours while in motion / 1 ping every four hours at rest?
4. What are the benefits and limitations of satellite vs cellular vs hybrid transponders?
5. How do low / high temperature extreme conditions impact the ability to operate transponders world-wide?
6. Are devices capable of using a mandated 14 numeric character transponder ID?  What additional characteristics are available to ID transponders?
7. Are transponders compliant with ISO/IEC 18000 or other standards?
8. What is the price range for current cellular, satellite, and hybrid (cellular / satellite) transponders?  What other costs are associated with purchasing each type of transponder, examples:  activation, network access, and a data plan (one ping every two hours while in motion / one ping every four hours while at rest for a minimum of 120 days) for a period of two years.
9. Are devices on any other Government contract vehicles?  Are services plans able to be obtained from other sources?
10. What is the average lead time from order to delivery on an order of 100, 500, 1000, 5000 transponders?  Are there any identified supply chain risks related to manufacturing?
11. What types of encryption capabilities are available for satellite/cellular transponders?
12. What, if any, methods are used by transponders to identify the battery state of charge and, when needed, to fully charge the transponders before use?
13. Are transponders’ capable of using common USB-C, wireless, solar-power or other common off the shelf charger to recharge batteries?     
14. Can transponder data be sent directly to a DoD server or middleware?
15. What methods does Industry recommend for aggregating transponder data from multiple sources? 
16. Are transponders capable of using a dedicated, secure DoD Iridium gateway narrowband device capability via Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS)? 
17. Are transponders capable of communication without external antenna protrusions?
18. Are currently available off the shelf transponders tested and certified to meet DoD standards for hazards of electromagnetic radiation for ordnance, people and fuel (HERO/HERP/HERF)?
19. Are transponders M-Code compliant?  Is industry willing to become M-Code compliant?  What are the cost impacts to being M-Code compliant?
20. What different methods are transponders able to be attached to assets?  Are any special tools required?
21. Can cellular capable transponders communicate using, at a minimum, 5G/4G LTE networks with 3G/2G network fallback coverage?
22. Is there an ability for remote sleep, temporal fencing, and geo fencing?
23. What capabilities exist for transponders to be turned on, off or standby?
24. Are there any countries that are known to disallow use of cellular towers or restrict satellite communication?
25. Can users set the priority order of communication for a hybrid satellite/cellular transponder or is there a standard protocol?
26. Can a single transponder be used for rail, land, sea and air?
27. What other types of tagging technology does Industry recommend to the Government that can provide in-transit visibility with examples of how they are being employed by customers?  Some examples might be Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), mesh technology, etc.

RESPONSE TO THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION:

All interested companies that possess the capabilities addressed herein are encouraged to respond via email to the RFI by providing the information requested within this announcement to the following:

Mr. John Kerch, [email protected] and Mr. Benjamin Geringer, [email protected]

Please ensure the Subject Line contains the following: "Company Name – Cage Code – NGT RFI #2 – Date Submitting the Email”