Description:  MARKET RESEARCH/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT EXISTS. The Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) is conducting a market survey to determine the availability of commercial or Non-Developmental Item (NDI) equipment to fulfill the requirement for the radio receiver/transmitter that is a part of the Army Navy/Mobile Radio Communications (AN/MRC)-145B system.  Each AN/MRC-145B system contains two radios and two amplifiers.  A total of 986 radios and 986 amplifiers are needed to meet the requirement of 493 AN/MRC-145B systems.  This market research/announcement is a Request for Information (RFI) only.  If the MARCORSYSCOM decides to purchase this equipment, there will be a Request for Proposal (RFP) Published. 

BACKGROUND: The AN/MRC-145B is one system within the Multiband Radio (MBR) II Family of Systems (FoS).  The MBR II FoS consists of an advanced, software reprogrammable, multiband radio that operates across the frequency spectrum from 30-2,000 megahertz (MHz). It provides interoperability with all currently fielded tactical radios and the following waveforms: Very High Frequency (VHF)/ Ultra High Frequency (UHF) line-of-sight, Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), Dedicated Satellite Communications (SATCOM) (5 and 25 kHz), Demand Assignment Multiple Access (DAMA) and Integrated Waveform (IW) SATCOM (5 and 25 kHz), and HAVEQUICK II. The radio meets Software Communications Architecture (SCA) 2.2 standards, and will be interoperable with future Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) network architectures using the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) and Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW).  The AN/MRC-145B is capable of bridging Internet Protocol data connectivity across two separate wideband networks.  The AN/MRC-145 is capable of retransmitting the narrowband waveform pairings: SINCGARS to SINCGARS (threshold); or SINCGARS to: VHF/UHF LOS, HAVEQUICK II, UHF SATCOM DAMA, and UHF SATCOM Dedicated.

The AN/MRC-145B will be fielded to all echelons of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), primarily supporting company and platoon operations. The fielded system will provide a self-forming/healing mobile ad hoc network and man pack and vehicular wideband networking communications. Network connectivity will facilitate the exchange of critical information required for command and control (C2). The AN/MRC-145B enables mobile forces to collaborate and access information resources to exchange voice, data, and video information. AN/MRC-145B systems must be interoperable with both legacy radios and future Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) radios. The AN/MRC-145B is anticipated to exist as a complementary capability to JTRS within the MAGTF through 2025. AN/MRC-145B systems are software defined radios, capable of software capability upgrades that do not require costly hardware replacements.

MARCORSYSCOM is looking for radios as a part of the AN/MRC-145B system to meet the following requirements threshold requirements at a minimum.

KPP	Threshold	Objective
Key Performance Parameter (KPP): Frequency Bands	Very High Frequency (VHF)/AM Frequency: 116.0-149.975 MHz Power: 10 Watts (3 dB Selectable)	VHF/AM Frequency: SAME Power: 20 Watts (3 dB Selectable)
	VHF/FM Frequency: 30-88.975 MHz Power: 10 Watts (3 dB Selectable)	VHF/FM Frequency: SAME Power: 20 Watts (3 dB Selectable)
	VHF/FM (PUBLIC SERVICE) Frequency: 136.0-174.0 MHz Power: 10 Watts (3 dB Selectable)	VHF/FM (PUBLIC SERVICE) Frequency: 136.0-174.0 MHz Power: 10 Watts (3 dB Selectable)
	Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/AM Frequency: 225.0-399.975 MHz Power: 10 Watts (3 dB Selectable)	UHF/AM Frequency: SAME Power: 20 Watts (3 dB Selectable)
	UHF/FM (PUBLIC SERVICE) Frequency: 403.0-512.0 MHz Power: 10 Watts (3 dB Selectable)	UHF/FM (PUBLIC SERVICE) Frequency: SAME Power: 20 Watts (3 dB Selectable)
	UHF Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Frequency: 225.0-399.95MHz Power: 20 Watts (3 dB Selectable)	UHF SATCOM Frequency: SAME Power: SAME
KPP: OTAR/OTAT	OTAR	OTAT
KPP: Size/Weight	No greater than 500 in3 and 15 lbs  including battery	No greater than 300 in3 and 8 lbs including battery
KPP: Environmental	Air Drop with Individual: 30,000 ft Operating Temperature: -40-150° F Storage Temperature: -50-160° F Waterproof: 3 FSW for 30 min Humidity: 0-100%	Air Drop with Individual: SAME Operating Temperature: SAME Storage Temperature: SAME Waterproof: 66 FSW for 2 Hr Humidity: SAME
KPP: Power	BB 590 Battery Life: 8 Hr BA 5590 Battery Life: 8 Hr Battery Eliminator -90-240 VAC (50-440Hz) / 12-28 VDC	BB 590 Battery Life: 12 Hr BA 5590 Battery Life: 12 Hr Battery Eliminator: SAME
Key Attribute: High Throughput Network Communications	Ad-hoc, Self Healing, High Bandwidth, Networking Radio	Same as Threshold
Key Attribute: Software Communications Architecture	SCA Version 2.2 Joint Tactical Radio Systems Test and evaluation Laboratory Certified	Same as Threshold
Key Attribute: Cryptography	National Security Agency Certified Type-l Reprogrammable Crypto	Same as Threshold
Key Attribute: Interoperability	Joint Interoperability Test Command Interoperability Testing / Assessment	Same as Threshold
Narrowband Waveform Retransmission	SINCGARS to SINCGARS	SINCGARS to VULOS SINCGARS to HAVEQUICK IIII SINCGARS to UHF DAMA SATCOM SINCGARS to UHF IW SATCOM SINCGARS to UHF Dedicated SATCOM
Key Attribute: Wideband Waveform Network Bridging	ANW2toANW2	ANW2 to SRW ANW2 to WNW SRW to WNW WNW to WNW

The proposed equipment will also need to meet the following requirements:

•-          Software Communications Architecture (SCA) 2.2 standards

•-          Interoperable with the future Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) network architectures using the Soldier Radio Waveform (SRW) and Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW). 

•-          Compatible with current the MBR II Family of Systems (AN/PRC-117G, AN/VRC-114(V)1, AN/VRC-114(V)2, and already procured AN/MRC-145B systems).

•-          Must be interoperable with all currently fielded tactical radios and the following waveforms: Very High Frequency (VHF)/ Ultra High Frequency (UHF) line-ofsight, Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System(SINCGARS), Dedicated Satellite Communications (SATCOM) (5 and25 kHz), Demand Assignment Multiple Access and Integrated Waveform SATCOM (5 and 25 kHz), and HAVEQUICK II.

MARCORSYSCOM is looking for amplifiers as a part of the AN/MRC-145B system to meet the following requirements threshold requirements at a minimum.

KPP: Size/Weight	Height: 10 in Width: 15 in Depth: 14 in Weight: 55 lbs	Height: 10 in Width: 7.5 in Depth: 14 in Weight: 25 lbs
KPP: Environmental	Operating Temperature: -40-150° F Storage Temperature: -50-160° F Humidity: 0-100% Altitude (Storage/Transport): 15,000FT Rain -Rain/Blowing Rain/Drip Immersion (Fording): 1 39/1 Salt Fog -48h/48hll.04-1 oz per hr/5% Ice/Freezing Rain: .2-1.5/1	Operating Temperature: SAME Storage Temperature: SAME Humidity: SAME Altitude (Storage/Transport): SAME Rain: SAME Immersion (Fording): SAME Salt Fog: SAME Ice/Freezing Rain: SAME

The proposed amplifier must also meet the following requirements:

• The amplifier must be able to have the ability to be incrementally selectable up to 50W. 
• The amplifier will be able to integrate with current and future USMC vehicle platforms and accommodate emerging technologies utilizing the common interface shock mount MT-6352/VRC. 

•·        Must be able to meet the following POWER REQUIREMTENTS:

18-34 VOLTS DIRECT CURRENT (VDC) with 26.4 VDC nominal.

MARCORSYSCOM will not pay or provide reimbursement for any costs incurred in the preparation or delivery of responses to the request for information.  Industry firms capable of providing the required systems, in whole, are invited to submit a response to this notice.  Firms should include literature, brochures, price lists, and capabilities summaries limited to 15 pages directly addressing their ability to meet the aforementioned needs to include the required delivery schedule.  The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this effort is 334220, Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing, Size: 750 employees.  Firms shall indicate their business size based upon NAICS code 334220.  The Marine Corps will use the results of this announcement to determine what capabilities exist in the marketplace to fulfill the Government's requirements outlined above.  Interested firms are requested to respond NLT 30 August 2013.  Submissions will be in Microsoft Office compatible format.  Interested sources should respond via email to: Albert Whitley, Marine Corps Systems Command, [email protected].

Email inquiries to the above address for questions you have is encouraged.

THE SUBMISSION OF THIS INFORMATION IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE ANY ITEMS/SERVICES, NOR FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE INFORMATION RECEIVED.