INTEGRATED FIXED TOWERS

Integrated Fixed Towers Program Update The Integrated Fixed Towers (IFT) Program (see: original Request for Information #HSBP0111RIFT) is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) effort focused on acquiring fully-integrated, non-developmental systems having an open system architecture for use by United States Border Patrol (USBP) Agents. The IFT system will assist agents in detecting, tracking, identifying and classifying items of interest along our Nation's borders through a series of fixed sensor towers and command and control center equipment that displays information on a common operating picture (COP). The acquisition will consist of surveillance equipment (e.g., ground surveillance radars and surveillance cameras) mounted on fixed (i.e., stationary) tower(s); all necessary power generation and communications equipment to support these tower sites; and command and control (C2) center equipment (including one or more operator workstations) capable of displaying information received from surveillance towers on a COP. The Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition (OTIA) IFT Program is hereby notifying Industry of its plan to release a draft Request for Proposal (RFP) in early December 2011 to solicit industry feedback and to release a final RFP in January/February 2012. Additional information concerning the IFT Program is contained below. The information provided in this notice is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. IFT Capabilities: CBP intends to select from among non-developmental (i.e., commercial, commercial-off-the-shelf, government-off-the-shelf) offerings which represent the best balance between system performance and cost. The RFP will provide a framework for performance/cost trades. In other words, the IFT system will be a "capability-based" acquisition and the RFP will indicate a set of desired capabilities in priority order. Offerors are expected to propose a solution that is affordable, immediately producible after award, and that offers an effective and sustainable persistent surveillance capability for the USBP. The successful offeror's performance work statement (PWS) for the proposed IFT capability and the associated price will become the basis for firm fixed price contract award. The IFT contract will include provisions for full Contractor Operational Support and Maintenance for the duration of the period of performance which is estimated to be 10 years. Examples of Desired IFT System Performance Parameters: The following are examples of the highest priority desired system capabilities. Performance objectives below are referenced to the geographic position of an individual Fixed Surveillance Tower (FST), with all associated equipment. 1. A single IFT FST shall be able to detect a single, walking, average-sized adult human at a range of up to 7.5 miles under the following conditions: daylight and darkness, line of sight (LoS) ranging from clear LoS to partial obstruction (50% to 95% blockage of the individual for periods of 1-3 seconds), and sustained wind speeds up to 10 MPH with gusts up to 15 MPH. Rationale : This level of performance ensures that USBP will be able to detect the types of threats encountered under typical operating conditions. A single individual is likely the most difficult type of threat to detect at range, and the foliage conditions in rural and remote areas are such that individuals may disappear from LoS for brief periods of time. The sustained wind condition prescribed covers most conditions observed along the Arizona Border. While wind gusts greater than 15 MPH occur, the data available suggest that such gusts represent a very small portion of the operational envelope. 2. The IFT system shall provide video of sufficient quality and resolution to enable an operator to determine that a single, walking, average-sized adult is a human at a range of up to 7.5 miles relative to each individual IFT FST under the following conditions: daylight and darkness; LoS ranging from clear LoS to partial obstruction (50% to 95% blockage of the individual for periods of 1-3 seconds); sustained wind speeds up to 10 MPH, with gusts up to 15 MPH; moderate atmospheric turbulence. Rationale : This level of performance ensures that USBP will be able to identify the types of threats encountered under typical operating conditions. 3. The IFT system operational availability (A o ) shall be equal to or greater than 90%, where A o is defined as mission capable time (sum of all mission critical subsystems and units) divided by total time (mission capable time plus down time). Rationale : USBP must perform critical mission elements 24/7 without significant disruption or degraded capability. A system is considered operationally available when it can perform in accordance with the operational requirements. A system is not mission capable under any condition that precludes the detection, tracking, identification or classification of items of interest (when the system would otherwise be capable of doing so). IFT Fixed Surveillance Towers (FST): The maximum FST height is expected to be 120 feet above grade. The RFP will provide the specific geographic coordinates (and permanent impact area allowed) of all FSTs to be deployed by the Contractor; the Contractor shall not deviate from these specific locations. Additionally, the Government will acquire necessary land rights (e.g., purchase or lease), clear the site to a construction-ready state, and provide access via an unpaved road; the IFT Contractor will not be expected to perform these activities. The Government will provide detailed soil data (i.e., geotechnical report) for FSTs identified in the RFP. IFT Communications Tower Sites: The Contractor shall install communications links at each FST, the designated Command and Control (C2) facility and any intermediate locations needed to accommodate the proposed IFT system design. The Government has predetermined the availability of certain communications-only sites for intermediate and C2 facility links for potential use by the Contractor in installing point-to-point microwave relay communication capability. Note that while the FST locations identified in the RFP are mandatory, communication-only sites predetermined by the Government may be used at the Contractor's discretion. Information regarding communication-only sites in the RFP shall serve only as a guide for communication linkage between FSTs and the C2 facility. For those communication-only sites (as predetermined by the Government) requiring new construction that the Contractor elects to use, the Government will acquire necessary land rights (e.g., purchase or lease), clear the site to a construction-ready state, and provide access via an unpaved road. The Government will provide detailed soil data (i.e., geotechnical report) for communications-only tower sites identified in the RFP, for those requiring construction. Should the Contractor elect to employ alternate communications-only sites (i.e. sites not included in the RFP) or communications technologies, the Contractor will be required to perform all associated construction and installation activities, including access road construction and site clearing. IFT C2 Center Facilities: The C2 center equipment, including operator workstation(s), for each Border Patrol Station AOR included in the RFP will be provided by the Contractor. The Contractor shall provide all equipment, materials, and labor necessary to install the operator workstation(s) and associated C2 equipment into existing CBP facilities. Operator workstations shall include desks, consoles, and cabinets designed for an office environment. The RFP will identify the facility square footage available for the installation of the C2 equipment. All necessary facility services (e.g. power, HVAC) will be provided by the Government. The Contractor shall identify in their proposal any unique requirements that their C2 center equipment may require. IFT System Demonstrations: It is anticipated that a competitive range may be determined. The Government may also limit the number of proposals in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated proposals. Contractors included in a competitive range will be required to perform system demonstrations prior to contract award at their own expense. The Government will provide guidance for the system demonstrations in the RFP and will witness the event. Demonstration objectives are: 1. To confirm selected aspects of the offeror's proposed system; and 2. To reduce the Government's risk by confirming that the offered system is available for immediate deployment, and to confirm that it contains mature products and is integrated to perform critical functions. All communication with OTIA IFT can be submitted to [email protected] . The Government does not intend to respond to inquiries regarding this notice until after the Draft RFP is released for industry comment. Additionally, the IFT program staff will no longer be scheduling industry one-on-one meetings due to the pending release of a draft RFP.