This is Request for Information (RFI) for Long Term Evolution (LTE) Tactical Base Station. This RFI is for planning purposes only (Market Research) and SHALL not be considered as Request for Proposal (RFP), or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. No formal solicitation document exists at this time. General: The Technology Application Office (TAO) is issuing this RFI as a means of conducting market research to determine the state of industry to support LTE cellular base station technology in three separate tactical configurations in accordance with (IAW) requirements documented as follows: Manpack, Manned Fixed Wing, and Fixed Site. The Government requires an end-to-end capability including external Ethernet capabilities for connected services and radio frequency (RF) connections to provide 2 x 2 multiple in multiple out (MIMO) LTE services. Each base station configuration will include the Enhanced Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) architecture made up of either a single or multiple eNodeB radios and the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) architecture, which includes the user, and control plane services. The Government requires the ability to seamlessly connect any of the three configurations together via backhaul signaling with the ability to hand off connected users between tactical base stations without any service degradation. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 517210, Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite). 1.1. Response Guidance: Interested concerns that consider themselves qualified to the level of services described in this document are invited to submit a Capabilities Statement. The Capabilities Statement should include the following: a) Organization name, address, e-mail address, web site address, telephone number and CAGE code; b) MUST be submitted in chronological order of all sub-paragraphs beginning with 2.1 and ending with 2.13. Each sub-paragraph and bullet statement within each sub-paragraph MUST BE ADDRESSED in the returned submission. c) Please keep your responses to a maximum of 6 pages. 2. LTE Tactical Base Station Requirements: 2.1. Size and Weight: Manpack: Threshold (T) 3.7 quote mark H x 10.5 quote mark W x 9.6 quote mark D 9.8 lbs. (without battery) Objective (O) 3.2 quote mark H x 7.4 quote mark W x 8.8 quote mark D 8 lbs. (without battery) Manned Fixed Wing: (T) 10 quote mark H x 18 quote mark W x 20 quote mark D 60 lbs. (O) 5 quote mark H x 18 quote mark W x 18 quote mark D 30 lbs. Fixed Site: (T) 15 quote mark H x 18 quote mark W x 20 quote mark D 80 lbs. (O) 10.5 quote mark H x 18 quote mark W x 18 quote mark D (6 Rack Units) 60 lbs. 2.2 Power: Manpack: 9-30 VDC powered by a 5590/2590 battery or a battery eliminator. The Manpack shall have at least 10 seconds of power without losing any capabilities if the primary battery is removed while swapping to a new battery ( hot swappable battery threshold). The Manpack shall support full LTE and internal network services operation for a minimum of 2 hours (T), 4 hours (O) Manned Fixed Wing: 28 VDC powered by the on board aircraft generator. Fixed Site: Input power of 110/220 VAC supplied by native infrastructure or generator. 2.3. LTE eNodeB Bands: Manpack: The Manpack LTE base station shall have at a minimum a total of four unique LTE bands installed at any time. The unique cellular bands can be any combination of commercial LTE bands, including a combination of TDD and FDD LTE bands. Only one eNodeB radio will be active at any time in either the LTE receiver diversity of 2x2 MIMO mode. The Manpack shall also have the ability to have the user easily swap any one of the four installed LTE bands for another unique LTE band in the field without vendor assistance. Each LTE band will have a configurable transmit/receive center frequency and adjustable bandwidth options of 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz (if allowed by the LTE band specification). Manned Fixed Wing: The Manned Fixed Wing LTE base station shall have at a minimum a total of two unique LTE bands (T) / four unique LTE bands (O) installed at any time. The unique LTE bands can be any combination of commercial LTE bands, including a combination of TDD and FDD LTE bands. The Manned Fixed Wing LTE base station shall have the ability to have either one or two eNodeB radios transmitting simultaneously in either LTE receiver diversity or 2x2 MIMO mode. The Manned Fixed Wing LTE base station shall also have the ability to have the user easily swap any of the installed LTE bands for another unique LTE band in the field without vendor assistance. Each LTE band will have a configurable transmit/receive center frequency and adjustable bandwidth options of 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz (if allowed by the LTE band specification). Fixed Site: The Fixed Site LTE base station shall have at a minimum a total of two unique LTE bands (T) / four unique LTE bands (O) installed at any time. The Fixed Site LTE base station shall have enough eNodeB radios for each unique LTE band to provide coverage for up to three different sectors in either LTE receiver diversity or 2x2 MIMO mode. The unique LTE bands can be any combination of commercial LTE bands, including a combination of TDD and FDD LTE bands. The Fixed Site LTE base station shall have the ability to have either one or two eNodeB radios transmitting at once for up to three sectors per band in either LTE receiver diversity or 2x2 MIMO mode. The Fixed Site LTE base station shall also have the ability to have the user easily swap any of the installed LTE bands for another unique LTE band in the field without vendor assistance. Each LTE band will have a configurable transmit/receive center frequency and adjustable bandwidth options of 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz (if allowed by the LTE band specification). 2.4. Radio Frequency (RF) Connections: Manpack: The Manpack LTE base station shall have two physical transmit/receive N-Type coaxial connections to allow for LTE receiver diversity or 2x2 MIMO mode. Only one of the installed LTE bands shall be active at any time. If the user switches to another installed LTE band, the Manpack shall automatically route the RF connection from the selected LTE radio to the physical connections without additional user input. One physical GPS antenna connector shall be configured to allow GPS receive only antenna access to the Manpack. The user shall be able to change antennas quickly and easily without the use of special tools. Manned Fixed Wing: The Manned Fixed Wing LTE base station shall have four physical transmit/receive TNC coaxial connections to allow for simultaneous use of two unique LTE bands using either LTE receiver diversity or 2x2 MIMO mode. The Manned Fixed Wing LTE base station shall be configurable by the user to select if one or both physical transmit/receive connections are active depending on the antennas available on the aircraft. One physical GPS antenna connector shall be configured to allow GPS receive only antenna access to the Manned Fixed Wing base station. The Manned Fixed Wing LTE base station shall connect to and be compatible with the Manned Aerial Relay Antenna (MARA) airborne platform antenna operating between 1.7 and 2.5 GHz. Fixed Site: The Fixed Site LTE base station shall have two physical transmit/receive N-Type coaxial connections per installed eNodeB radio to allow for LTE receiver diversity or 2x2 MIMO mode. The Fixed Site LTE base station shall be configurable to contain six (T) / 12 (O) eNodeB radios with the necessary physical N-type coaxial connections for each installed eNodeB radio. One physical GPS antenna connector shall be configured to allow GPS receive only antenna access to the Fixed Site LTE base station. The single GPS connection will provide GPS timing to all attached eNodeB radios and EPC. 2.5. Fiber Connectors: Manpack: The vendor shall include a single external fiber connector that will allow the Manpack LTE base station to connect to a remote eNodeB radio. While connected to a remote eNodeB radio, the Manpack LTE base station shall still provide all EPC services. Manned Fixed Wing: No external fiber connector required. Fixed Site: The vendor shall include six external fiber connectors that will allow the Fixed Site LTE base station to connect up to six separate remote eNodeB radios. While connected to a remote eNodeB radios, the Fixed Site LTE base station shall still provide all EPC services. 2.6. Amplifiers: Manpack: The Manpack LTE base station shall have an internal amplifier of 5 watts for each transmit connection. The vendor shall allow the capability to reduce the power down to 1 watt. The Manpack LTE base station shall be able to operate a remote eNodeB radio via fiber connection with an output power of 60 watts for each transmit connection. The vendor shall allow the capability to reduce the power of the external eNodeB radio amplifier down to 10 watts. If fans are required for cooling, the fans must not exceed 30 dB noise level. Manned Fixed Wing: The Manned Fixed Wing LTE base station will have an internal amplifier of 60 watts for each transmit connection. The vendor shall allow the capability to reduce the power down to 10 watts. Fixed Site: The Fixed Site LTE base station shall have an internal amplifier of 60 watts for each transmit connection. The vendor shall allow the capability to reduce the power down to 10 watts. The Fixed Site LTE base station shall be able to operate a remote eNodeB radio via fiber connection with an output power of 60 watts for each transmit connection. The vendor shall allow the capability to reduce the power of the external eNodeB radio amplifier down to 10 watts. 2.7. LTE Backhaul and Internal Architecture: All three LTE base station configurations shall have a common backhaul protocol that shall pass all LTE signaling, enterprise services data and any applicable reach back data from an externally connected TCP/IP network. While deployed, all three LTE base station configurations shall seamlessly search for and connect via backhaul protocol to other deployed LTE base station configurations without any input from the user and without any impact to data services. Each LTE base station configuration shall have the capability to operate in a GPS-denied state at a minimum of four hours (i.e. GPS quote mark flywheel quote mark ). All three LTE base station configurations shall be able to connect to an external commercial or Government owned LTE network through standardized diameter signaling protocols stated in 3GPP LTE and System Architecture Evolution (SAE) specifications. All three LTE base station configurations shall include all the necessary components within the E-UTRAN and EPC necessary to provide LTE data services and connections to external IP networks. The EPC shall contain at a minimum the MME, HSS, SGW, PGW, and PCRF with the ability to communicate among all EPC components without any input from the user while deployed. All three LTE base station configurations do not require any components to interface with legacy networks (2G/3G). The vendor shall identify a solution to have all three LTE base station configurations synchronize EPC information among all LTE base stations that establish a backhaul connection to allow seamless user data roaming among all connected LTE base station configurations. 2.8. Internal Server and Local Data Services (Manpack and Air node): The Manpack LTE base station configuration shall have an internal server capability to provide local data services if there is no reach back to an enterprise service. The internal server solution specifications at a minimum shall be: 16GB of RAM, 512GB storage, and i7 CPU or equivalent. The user shall be able to configure the internal server by Ethernet connection from an external device or computer. 2.9. Graphic User Interface: The graphical user interface shall be common for all three LTE base station configurations. All LTE base station configurations shall be designed to allow a user with a single laptop or computer to connect via an exposed Ethernet connection. All LTE base station configurations shall have two different administration tiers: User and System Admin. 2.10. Hardware User Interface (Manpack Only): The Manpack LTE base station shall have an external interface mounted to the Manpack. The external interface shall allow the user fill access to all modifiable interface entries used in the graphical user interface for both the quote mark User quote mark and quote mark System Admin quote mark tiers. The Manpack LTE base station shall also have dedicated buttons to power the system on/off and a quote mark zeroize quote mark button that will completely wipe all stored data, any security keys and base station settings. 2.11. Coverage Range, Throughput, and Maximum Users: All three LTE base station configurations shall be capable of sustaining a constant transmit and receive data capability form the base station to the LTE user equipment (UE) anywhere within the coverage area created by the LTE base station. The required redial coverage range from each base station configurations is stated in Table 1. Table 1: Coverage Range, Throughput and Connected User Requirements by LTE Frequency Band Type LTE Frequency Band LTE Base Station Configuration Coverage Range (Radial) Throughput Simultaneously Connected Users (At Least) Uplink Downlink Low Frequency (Under 1000 MHz) Manpack 300 m (T) / 1 km (O) 2 Mbps (T) / 5 Mbps (O) 2 Mbps (T) / 10 Mbps (O) 32 Manned Fixed Wing 25 km (T) / 50 km (O) 2 Mbps (T) / 5 Mbps (O) 2 Mbps (T) / 10 Mbps (O) 200 Fixed Site 3 km (T) / 10 km (O) 2 Mbps (T) / 5 Mbps (O) 2 Mbps (T) / 10 Mbps (O) 200 High Frequency (Over 1700 MHz) Manpack 100 m (T) / 500 m (O) 10 Mbps (T) / 30 Mbps (O) 10 Mbps (T) / 60 Mbps (O) 32 Manned Fixed Wing 20 km (T) / 30 km (O) 10 Mbps (T) / 30 Mbps (O) 10 Mbps (T) / 60 Mbps (O) 200 Fixed Site 1.5 km (T) / 5 km (O) 10 Mbps (T) / 30 Mbps (O) 10 Mbps (T) / 60 Mbps (O) 200 LTE UEs located within the coverage area shall be able to maintain a network connection reliable enough to transmit and receive error free TCP/IP and UDP (video and voice) data through to either the base station or another LTE UE network 85% of the time at the Throughput and range as stated in Table 1. Within the coverage area, each LTE base station configuration shall be able to connect a certain number of users simultaneously as stated in Table 1. Within the coverage area, each LTE base station configuration shall be able to connect a certain number of users simultaneously as stated in Table 1. 2.12. Intellectual Property: The Government requires full Government Purpose Rights to all vendor intellectual property associated with the three LTE Tactical Base Stations. All other rights afforded the Government based on the Federal Acquisition Regulations and associated contract type. Note: this notice should not be construed as a request for proposal or any obligation on the part of the U.S. Government. No award will be made from this announcement. Mail and telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. All capabilities statements are to be submitted as an electronic response, in Microsoft Office format and/or Portable Document Format (PDF) to this RFI Notice by no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the 24th of April 2015. All responses submitted shall be unclassified. All responses under this RFI MUST be emailed to: Primary Point of Contact:
[email protected], PEO-EIS Technology Applications Office 1671 Nelson St. Ft Detrick, MD, 21702