Description
1. QUESTION: What is the RFI response due date? ANSWER: The RFI response date is hereby extended to 1600 EDT Monday 4/18/16. 2. The following statement under Content Delivery Capability - The system must be able to deliver customized content when directed by the Coast Guard. These can be files put or sent to a remote/shipboard media storage system for playback. 2a. QUESTION: Is this remote/shipboard storage system in-place? If so, what are the media requirements desired for delivery and onboard? ANSWER: No. 2b. QUESTION: Or, will this be up to the solutions provider? ANSWER : Yes 3. QUESTION: Will the on board WWETV system integrate with or stand alone in parallel to the onboard CVRS and / or FDVS? Or will the CVRS and / or FDVS need to be ported to this system for recording? REMARKS: There is no plan for the WWE to be combined with other systems at this time. 4. QUESTION: Will the WWETV system need to receive data / video from the JHOC's ANSWER: No. 5. QUESTION: Will the WWETV on board stowed media require remote monitoring of files? ANSWER : The Government anticipates onboard signal quality monitoring within the WWE system itself as a feature. There will be no 'remote' monitoring outside of the onboard WWE system by a third party government office. 6. QUESTION: Confirm that the vessels involved are already receiving licensed content (DRM). Please confirm whether the US Government has a direct relationship with movie and entertainment sources for DRM licenses of such entertainment content as specifically mentioned in the RFI (movies, television shows). ANSWER : Some vessels currently have TV-DTS with the Armed Forces Network (AFN) that is licensed by the Defense Media Activity. The WWE would not use the AFN DMA licensing - the WWE is intended to be a separate commercial based system. The Government will not be licensing anything on the commercial WWE side. That will be the responsibility of the commercial vendor to provide if licensing is required. The Government has no other licensing for military or commercial TV. Any other commercial TV is through subscriptions; like Direct TV or Dish TV service. 7. QUESTION: Will the entertainment content be distributed onboard each vessel by the currently installed Audio Video Head- end solution? ANSWER : It is intended that the WWE service would integrate with the onboard video distribution system installed onboard. The proposed solution/system must be compatible/integrate with the onboard VTS; and would connect to the VTS via an RG-6 connector. The onboard video distribution service is not part of this RFI, the WWE television service is. 8. QUESTION: Will the entertainment content be distributed onboard each vessel by the currently installed Audio Video Head-end solution? ANSWER : It is intended that the WWE service would integrate with the onboard video distribution system installed onboard each of the cutters. (See Question 6 above). The onboard video distribution service is not part of this RFI, the WWE television service is. 9. QUESTION: What sort of viewing devices (iPads, tablets, laptops, smartphones, etc.) do you wish to be able to offer entertainment content to? ANSWER: The WWE will integrate to an onboard video distribution service only. That onboard video distribution service is nothing more than a cable network connecting remote TV's to the service. WWE service is not intended to broadcast to tablets or other remote devices wirelessly. 10. Customized Content: 10 a. QUESTION: What type of content/commercially-available services do you wish to receive and playback onboard? ANSWER : Live News, On-demand Movies, Live Sport, Radio, CG Delivered Content. 10 b. QUESTION: Are there Coast Guard videos (trainings, briefings, etc.) that the USCG is interested in receiving over a satellite communications network for broadcast to specific vessels and/or cutter classes? ANSWER : USCG specific content would be provided to the WWE service provider who then can broadcast that content (or deliver) to the onboard WWE HDD's for replay by the cutter at a later date. 10 c. QUESTION: Are there other instances in which the USCG would want to utilize improved efficiencies in updating documents and files onboard vessels? ANSWER: No. Only the content identified within the RFI is applicable. 11. QUESTION: Confirmation that the desired weight and size of such an antenna, per class, are maximum option for this RFI. ANSWER : Yes. 12. QUESTION: Has an alternative method, outside the normal satellite data channels currently installed on each class of these vessels, ever been considered for such a content delivery concept? This would be a solution that specifically is used for receiving licensed entertainment content, and important Coast Guard customized content, to receive and store locally on board the vessel for playback in various manners and viewing devices. ANSWER : This is not part of the current WWE requirement. 13. QUESTION: Do all "Large Cutters" currently have access to the Armed Forces Network via Ku/C band "receive only" antennas? ANSWER : No. 14. QUESTION: Do any "small cutters" currently have access to the Armed Forces Network via Ku/C band "receive only" antennas? ANSWER : No. 15. QUESTION: Do all "small cutters" have traditional satellite TV-receive only antennas (for use with such services as DirecTV) installed? ANSWER: Yes. 16. QUESTION: Is the 270 cutter class considered Larger Cutter Class or Small Cutter Class (the actual vessel WMEC-270 is \listed under Large Cutter Class, however 270 ft. was confirmed as the difference between "Large" class and "Small" class). ANSWER: The Government is asking for a large cutter variant and a small cutter variant. The Government will decide what variant will go onboard which class cutter. 17. QUESTION: For purposes of potential TV system management, monitoring, and teaming opportunities what is the existing solution for IP Connectivity on the cutters? VSAT whether C/X/KU bands? ANSWER : The WWE system will be separate from any underway COMSAT IP connectivity solutions onboard the cutters. The WWE system will not share or cross connect to the existing underway COMSAT IP solutions.