Minutes to the High Band Subsystem (HBSS) Bidders’ Briefing

Minutes to the High Band Subsystem (HBSS) Bidders' Briefing

Presented by ASC/RAJ on 5 June 1997

The HBSS Bidders' Briefing convened at 1330 in room 105, building 557, WPAFB, Ohio. An attendance list is attached (Attachment 1).

Col Richard Leclaire welcomed the bidders, expressing the importance of the HBSS source selection to the Joint SIGINT Avionics Family (JSAF) program and commented that he left a Low Band Subsystem (LBSS) design review to be at the briefing. He stressed that proposed designs must be compliant to the JASA architecture, and that this requirement is included in the RFP's "Go/No-Go" requirements. Col Leclaire emphasized how helpful the open exchange with potential offerors was in preparing the HBSS RFP and stated that many offeror inputs were incorporated into the RFP. He expressed his expectations that offerors will respond with quality proposals. Col Leclaire explained he will be the Source Selection Authority for the HBSS Source Selection, and that following the briefing's questions and answer session, all further questions must be directed to the Contracting Officer. In answer to a verbal question, Col Leclaire stated that the JASA Standards Handbook will be required for compliance as stated in the SRD and explained in the RFP.

Mr. Steven Case, the Contracting Officer discussed arrangements for picking up the RFPs , submittal dates relating to the offerors' past performance proposals and the dates for the offerors' oral presentations. He then briefed contractual information relating to the RFP. Mr. Terry Kasten, the High Band IPT Manager, then briefed details of the changes made to the RFP since release of the Draft RFP. Copies of these briefings have been provided to the offerors.

Written questions were accepted from the offerors and the meeting was briefly adjourned while the Government prepared responses. When the meeting reconvened Mr. Kasten answered the questions verbally, with the exception of several which required additional research to answer. A complete list of the questions and answers is attached. (Attachment 2).

Col Leclaire thanked the offerors for attending, and adjourned the Bidder's Briefing at 1515.

Minutes Approved

/SIGNED/

STEVEN W. CASE

Contracting Officer

2 Attachments

Attendee list
Questions with Answers

HBSS BIDDERS CONFERENCE

ATTENDEE LIST

        NAME                     ORGANIZATION                 TELEPHONE     

                                                                            

A. Fred Hinte         AIL Systems                         (516) 595-6590    

Kenway Wong           Applied Signal Technology           (408) 522-3433    

Mark Knudson          Raytheon E-Systems/Garland          (972) 205-7964    

Bob Kahane            Raytheon E-Systems/Falls Church     (703) 876-1951    

David Ford            Condor Systems                      (408) 371-9530    

Betty Delorio         TRW                                 (408) 743-4288    

Tom Kenyon            TRW                                 (408) 743-6319    

Anton Horvath         Hughes Aircraft Company             (310) 335-6397    

J. L. Fernandez       Hughes Aircraft Company             (310) 335-6401    

M. G. Gallegos        Hughes Aircraft Company             (310) 429-5429    

Stephen Lianos        Sanders                             (603) 885-4013    

Col Rich Leclaire     ASC/RAJ                             (937) 255-9968    

Capt Doug Armstrong   ASC/RAJH                            (937) 255-3326    

Joan Cole             ASC/RAJR                            (937) 255-4632    

Sandy Davis           ASC/RAJI                            (937) 255-4326    

Gloria Clark          ASC/RAJH                            (937) 255-6616    

Velerie Williams      ASC/RAJH                            (937) 255-4359    

William H. Dungey     ASC/RAJH                            (937) 255-4288    

LtCol Roland Dixon    ASC/RAJR                            (937) 255-7562    

Lt Col Michael        ASC/RAJR                            (937) 255-3815    
Ausserer                                                                    

Capt Kelly Noga       ASC/RAJP                            (937) 255-4680    

LCDR Mike Wilcox      ASC/RAJP                            (937) 255-9962    

Mike Whelan           ASC/RAY                             (937) 255-4977    

Russ Peterson         ASC/RAY                             (937) 255-2538    

Jeff Wiviott          ASC/RAJI                            (937) 255-2578    

Riley Driver          ASC/RAJH                            (937) 255-4558    

Peter H. Lee          ASC/RAJR                            (937) 255-4641    

Gerald D. Laurin      ASC/RAJ                             (937) 255-4624    

Jim Kreider           ASC/RAJH                            (937) 255-9973    

Tina Stuard           ASC/RAKP                            (937)255-2512     

Capt Al Helm          ASC/RAKP                            (937)255-4625     

Steve Case            ASC/RAKP                            (937)255-3245     

Bill Cavanaugh        AFMC/JANS                           (937)255-5270

Attachment 1

HBSS BIDDERS' BRIEFING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

5 June 1997

Note: The first five questions relate to information provided at the High Band Prototype Capabilities Demonstration hosted by TRW.

In response to a question concerning MC, TRW provided conflicting answers concerning whether the hardware and software was Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). Could the government identify as to which components were provided as GFE and which components were designed and built by TRW? In addition, could the government provide the vendors of the GFE supplied equipment?

Answers: (a) For several of the MC items, both GFE and TRW buy items are used on the HBP contract. The MC items not installed on the EP-3 that could be made available for use on the HBSSDU contract are identified below. (b) The RLP, D2 and CP were designed and built by TRW. (c) The vendors of the equipment are identified below.

ITEM          GFE      Source    Qty    

WBCR          GFE      WJ        1      

IFP1                   AST       1      

RLP                    TRW       1      

D2            GFE      TRW       1      

CP                     TRW       1      

Snapshot               AST       1      

Control2/Powe GFE      Harris    1      
r

1 255AE unit w/o HBP control; rack mount; not flight certified

2 Control SW modified by TRW

What is the size, weight, and power requirements for the various racks of Highband Prototype (HBP) equipment as shown in the static display?

Answer: A summary of the size, weight and power of the various boxes used in the HBP system are identified below. Additional information is available in the HBSS Reading Room.

ITEM                 Calculated Measured  Weight  x     Y Dim  Z     Volume     
                     Power      Power             Dim          Dim              

                     (watts)    (watts)   (lbs.)  (in.) (in.)  (in.) (cu. in.)  
                                                                                

CMC-1 BD2/5          520        491       88      27.4  7.5    15.6  3206       

CMC-2 BD2/5          363        463       71      27.4  7.5    15.6  3206       

CMC-3 WBP            473        502       70      27.4  7.5    15.6  3206       

CMC-4 IFD            666        544       94      27.4  7.5    15.6  3206       

CMC-5 IFD            666        544       94      27.4  7.5    15.6  3206       

CMC-6 FFT/FOS/PSC    388        452       59      27.4  7.5    13    2672       

VME-1 CPU            435        405       61      14.6  11.7   19.5  3320       

VME-2 CPU            435        405       61      14.6  11.7   19.5  3320       

VME-3 CPU            435        405       61      14.6  11.7   19.5  3320       

VME-4 CPU            435        405       61      14.6  11.7   19.5  3320       

VME-5 ANT CTRL       336                  58      14.6  11.7   19.5  3320       

MC-1 Composite Rack  510                  138     16    23.5   21    7896       

   - WBCR             65                   20                                     

   - IFP              88                   20                                     

   - RLP              80                   21                                     

   - D2               57                   20                                     

   - CP               70                   21                                     

   - Control/Power    75                   14                                     

MC-2 Snapshot Mem    200                  30      17    7      15    1785       

MC-3 MC Server       575                  68      17    7      18    2142       

HBP-1 RSA            80                   20      11    4      12    528        

HBP-2 Server         575                  68      1.7   5.75   8     78         

HBP-3 WB TAPE        15                   11      17    7      18    2142       

HBP-4 HBP Hub        380                  47      19    7      18    2394

The security level set for this meeting (the HBP demonstration) appeared higher than was required for the static display provided. How does the HBP equipment handle the various security levels of data being processed when it is in a dynamic signal processing mode?

Answer: The HBP always operates in System High.

Since the XQUEST software was prominently displayed on various graphics on the laboratory walls, should the contractor assume the government would like this software package used for the JASA HBSS? If so, would it be provided as GFE? If provided as GFE, can the government provide technical information concerning this software?

Answers: (a) The Government has stated the HBSS requirements and it is industry's option how to propose an approach. (b) The Government may provide GFE as it is requested by industry and as available. Each request will be reviewed individually and any restrictions, limitations and/or caveats will be identified at that time. (c) The Government may provide GFI technical information concerning software as it is requested by industry and as available. Each request will be reviewed individually and any restrictions, limitations and/or caveats will be identified at that time.

At the beginning of the meeting (the demonstration), the government stated an assumption that all of the contractors understood the HBP system and no further architectural or performance discussions were required. Unfortunately, offeror does not have a current contract with the JASPO that could provide this information. Through the Reading Room, the government previously provided to offeror electronic copies of unclassified documents, however, copies of key classified documents were not available/provided. Could the government provide copies of the key classified documents that describe the current HBP architecture and performance goals?

Answer: The documents requested already reside in the HBSS Reading Room, and a list of documents in the Reading Room was made available to the offerors. Specific requests for copies of any item from the read room will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Is the WBS included in the page count limitation?

Answer: No. The CWBS is not included in the proposal page count limitation and Section L instructs that it be submitted as an attachment to the Statement of Work volume.

Is the "non flight hardware" from the EP-3 HBP program considered flight-worthy for the AFS HBSS?

Answer: The hardware in question has not been qualified for the AFS.

Is compliance with SE4221, Rev D, required ? (AFS environmental specification)

Answer: Yes, as specified in the HBSS System Requirements Document.

Is the sole-source production award of 16 subsystems the maximum to be awarded? i.e., downward revision only?

Answer: The current forecast is for 16 subsystems. We forecast neither upward nor downward revision. We cannot guarantee a specific number of subsystems nor rate of production.

Is 2010 Capstone Requirements Document available to industry?

Answer: The Capstone Requirements Document is a draft ACC document and cannot be released by the JASPO. However, a draft has been placed in the HBSS reading room and is available for review. No copies of this document can be released to industry at this time.

Why did the value change from $28 to $29.6M?

Answer: More funds became available for the HBSS effort.