This is a sources sought synopsis only, not a solicitation announcement and is issued solely for informational and planning purposes. This posting is not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or a Request for Quotations (RFQ), and it is not considered to be a commitment by the Government to award a contract nor is the Government responsible for any costs incurred in furnishing information provided under this sources sought. No basis for claim against the Government shall arise as a result from a response to this sources sought or Government use of any information provided. Further, The Coast Guard is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response to this sources sought. The Government reserves the right to use any information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate, including using technical information provided by respondents in any resultant solicitation. Responses will assist the Government in determining the availability of potential solutions and commercial products in the market. At this time no solicitation exists; therefore, do Not Request a Copy of the Solicitation. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) is conducting market research to determine industry capability to provide Airborne Software Defined Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) P25 Transceiver.

The USCG aviation assets are required to be capable of communication protocols utilizing Type 3 encryption which is a sensitive but unclassified standard. This is accomplished by airborne transceiver installations that perform encrypted voice communications by employing the Data Encryption Standard (DES) or the more modern Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Additionally, the USCG is interoperable with various agencies by using APCO Project 25 (P25) conventions. Existing P25 users operate on “Phase 1 trunking” protocol for bandwidth compression. A more stringent “Phase 2” is being implemented nationwide and the Coast Guard will necessitate an improvement to maintain interoperability. Current transceivers are also equipped to operate on all Air Traffic Control (ATC) frequencies as well as a wide selection of civil and military channels. Due to obsolescence of materials, sustainability and the aging technology associated with solid state electronics, the Coast Guard desires to recapitalize with more modern software-defined transceivers as they provide better reliability as well as potential for growth.

Requirements:

An Airborne Software Defined APCO P25 Transceiver shall include:

1. Global ATC capability with worldwide International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) approval. 
2. Capability to operate on all maritime as well as Land Mobile Radio (LMR) frequencies to include the military 380-400 Mhz range. This should include Type 3 encryption with Over The Air Rekey (OTAR) capability and P-25 Phase 2 interoperability.
3. Software manipulation with legacy RP-WIN and Motorola XTS management systems not required but preferred.
4. Simultaneous monitoring of all “guard” frequencies: 121.5, 156.8, 243, Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Channel 70,
5. Ability to rebroadcast incoming received audio (as either a relay or a repeater) and multi-radio broadcast (transmit on multiple frequencies at the same time).
6. Be capable of channel step size 1.25 kHz when step tuning. This would include 6.25 kHz, 8.33 kHz, 12.5 kHz and 25 kHz channel spacing.
7. Mode FM/AM/P25/Trunking (APX only)
8.  Frequency Spectrum Requirements:
   (a) 29.700-50.000 MHz Mobile Radio
   (b) 50.000-88.000 MHz Military
   (c) 88.000-107.999 MHz FM Broadcast (Receive Only)
   (d) 108.000-118.000 MHz VOR Voice
   (e) 118.000-154.000 MHz ATC and Civil Air Patrol
   (f) 136.000-173.999 MHz Mobile Radio
   (g) 156.000-174.000-MHz Maritime Radio
   (h) 225.000-400.000 MHz Military
   (i) 380.000-960.000 MHz Mobile Radio
9. Secure Transciever FM/P25 Frequency Requirements, Phase 1 and Phase 2/ FDMA-TDMA:
   (a) Channel Spacing 12.5 kHz and 25 kHz channel spacing capable
   (b) 136-174 MHz VHF
   (c) 380-520 MHz UHF Range
   (d) 764-870 MHz 700/800 MHz

(10) Growth capability to allow for future 3 kHZ spacing preferred.

(11) Must meet all DO-160G Environmental testing requirements.

(12) SDR must ultimately become Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Certified within individual parts 15, 22, 80, 87 and 90. Must comply with FCC Rules and Regulations specified in Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 2.947, 2.1033(c), 2.1041, 2.1046, 2.1047, 2.1049, 2.1051, 2.1053, 2.1055, 2.1057.

SOURCES SOUGHT RESPONSES:

Responses to this notice should include Company Name, Address, Telephone Number, Point of Contact (POC), and Cage Code.

Please respond to the following questions when submitting your response:

1. Is your activity capable of manufacturing this component?
2. Provide a specification sheet and mounting requirements/layouts for any proposed antenna solutions. This also can include a capabilities statement.
3. Is the solution currently in production?  If not, when is the product planned for production?
4. Please indicate an estimated lead-time your company needs to facilitate the development of your platform to meet our needs.
5. Please provide the details and terms of any standard warranty and support for repair included with the product.
6. Is your Airborne Software Defined APCO P25 Transceiver listed on a General Services Administration (GSA) schedule or the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)?
7. Is your firm a certified hub zone firm, woman-owned or operated or certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned?  If so, indicated which apply.
8. Is your business a large or small business?
9. What additional information would be needed from the USCG to better provide an answer to this RFI or any potential RFP for this type of solution?

After the review of the responses to this sources sought announcement, and if the USCG still plans to proceed with the acquisition, a solicitation announcement will be published on Contract Opportunities, formerly known as the Federal Business Opportunity (FBO) website. Responses to this sources sought synopsis are not an adequate response to any future solicitation announcements. All interested offerors will have to respond to the solicitation in addition to responding to this sources sought synopsis. Responses to this sources sought synopsis are NOT a request to be added to a prospective offeror’s list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. 

Email responses are preferred and may be sent to [email protected].  Please indicate “Airborne Software Defined Transceiver 70Z03821IE0000009” in the subject line.