Iridium Satellite Services | SAM.gov Opportunity | G2X

Iridium Satellite Services

Solicitation1305M318QNRMA0072Notice typeJustification (J&A)SEATTLE, WA

Attachments

1 file

Name	Type	Posted	Actions
JOFOC_Iridium_Satellites_-_final.pdf	PDF	Sep 18, 2018	Download

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Iridium Satellite Services

J&A1305M318QNRMA0072Sep 18, 2018 · v2

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Opportunity Summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) intends to award a sole-source contract to Inmarsat Solutions, Inc. for satellite telecommunications services supporting the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL). This requirement includes Router-based Unrestricted Digital Internetworking Connectivity Solutions (RUDICS), Short Burst Data (SBD), and voice services to facilitate data transmission for ships, buoys, drifters, floats, and other oceanographic equipment. The procurement falls under NAICS code 517410 for Satellite Telecommunications and PSC code D. Performance is located in Seattle, Washington, under solicitation number 1305M318QNRMA0072.

The service requires global 24/7 coverage and bi-directional communications with baud rates of at least 2400bps for mobile-originated and mobile-terminated calls. PMEL currently manages over 400 active SIM cards through the incumbent vendor, requiring new activations within two days and deactivations within seven days. Technical requirements specify that any transition must guarantee minimal downtime of less than four hours to prevent data loss or connection errors with PMEL servers.

A sole-source rationale is based on the logistical constraints of physical SIM card replacement, which requires NOAA ship time and is estimated to take seven years to complete during regularly scheduled service intervals. Maintaining the current provider mitigates the risk of losing thousands of dollars in equipment and invaluable scientific data associated with non-retrievable instruments. This notice of intent was published on September 18, 2018, and includes one attachment containing the justification for other than full and open competition.

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Opportunity Summary

Opportunity Details

Response deadline: —No deadline provided
NAICS: 517410 (opens in new tab)
PSC: D (opens in new tab)
Set aside: —
Published: Sep 18, 2018
Updated: Sep 18, 2018
Agency: NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (opens in new tab)
Office: DEPT OF COMMERCE NOAA
Department: —
Source: View on SAM.gov (opens in new tab)

Contact and place of performance

Point of contact: JULIA L. HAMILTON

Place of performance

SEATTLE, WA

USA

Original Description

This publication serves as notice of intent to procure services for the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), on a sole source basis with Inmarsat Solutions, Inc., in accordance with the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1), One Responsible Source. Using FAR Part 12 and 13.5, procedures, the Government intends to negotiate a contract with Immarsat Solutions, Inc. for Routerbased unrestricted digital internetworking connectivity solution (RUDICS), Short Burst Data (SBD), and voice service. This satellite service allows sending and receiving of data to ships, buoys, drifters, floats, and other oceanographic equipment. As new equipment gets deployed, PMEL must have new services activated and initiated within 2 days, this is done by activating and initiating SIM cards that are held on the NOAA campus. Requested activation/initiation information must be provided within 2 days of request. Deactivation must occur within 7 days of the request. Inmarsat Solutions Inc. is the vendor that currently provides this service. PMEL has over 400 active SIM cards with Inmarsat. Currently no vendor is able to offer a transition to their service with a guarantee of an error free transition with minimal downtime (less than 4 hours). There is a concern that the data after a switch won't be able to properly port to the PMEL server. Additionally, switching the physical SIM cards requires NOAA ship time. Travel time to get to each SIM card location can be anywhere from 1 to 10 days depending on location and weather conditions. PMEL estimates that switching the SIM cards at scheduled service intervals would take seven years to complete. If a transition was to take place and there was any issue causing the new value added reseller (VAR) not to be able to activate any of the SIM cards for not-retrievable instruments, thousands of dollars in equipment could be lost and invaluable amount of data could be lost. Engineering requirements: Global 24x7 Coverage Bi-directional communications Baud rates >=2400bps Mobile Originated and Mobile Terminated Calls RUDICS (Router-Based Unrestricted Digital Internetworking Connectivity Solutions) Short-burst data (SBD) Voice