Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Transmission Services

Description

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is seeking information fromNations and their Industry regarding the availability of current and future UHF space segmentcapabilities, which could be offered to NATO to support secure, narrowband, Tactical Satellite(TACSAT) communications for deployed land, maritime and air forces to address current gap inservices available for NATO use. The services are currently fulfilled through a multi-nationalconsortium under the NATO Military SATCOM Service 6th Generation Memorandum OfUnderstanding (NSS6G MOU).

NATO requires UHF space segment capacity to support secure, narrowband and wideband, TacticalSatellite (TACSAT) Communications for deployed land, maritime and air forces. The UHF spacesegment will be used in support of the C2 needs of the deployed Commander through the provision ofreliable netted secure voice and secure data communications to NATO elements operating inenvironments that require a flexible and continuous communications capability. The StrategicCommands (SCs) have directed that the required UHF SATCOM space segment resources shallsupport the next generation of TACSAT radios, as part of the Core SATCOM Capability. Theserequirements are currently fulfilled under the NSS6G MOU.

Project Serial Number in 2016/0CM03103 Provide UHF SATCOM Space Segment Services includedin Capability Package CP9A0130 “Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Transmission Services”.Current request is to acquire one 25 kHz Wide Band SATCOM channel in UHF or in a different band,using proper adapters and antennas included in the service, in a different band. The 25 kHz channelshall be capable of operating in narrowband multiple access (FDMA), wide band single access andIntegrated Waveform (IW) modes of operation. A future transition to the waveforms of the US DODMobile User Objectives System (MUOS) is currently not planned due to the lack of a suitable UHFTACSAT ground segment, but can be considered as part of the mid-life upgrade of the UHF groundsegment capability, and planned accordingly.

The channel shall be provided for the period from September 2023 until December 2024, in addition tothese UHF channels provided under the NSS6G.This Market Survey aims to clarify what capabilities are available for procurement to fill currentrequirements.

The following is a high-level statement of requirements:

1. UHF channel or other bands channel (using proper adapters and antennas included in theservice) shall be provided from national military SATCOM programmes or commercial providers.

2. UHF channel or other bands channel (using proper adapters and antennas included in theservice) shall be provided under a lease arrangement, i.e. resource(s) committed for sole NATO use,for the duration of the lease period.

3. The channels (UHF or other bands channels (using proper adapters and antennas included inthe service)) shall be nominal 25 kHz channels, with adjacent channels separated by 25 kHz.

4. UHF up- and down-link channel frequencies shall comply with the allocation as agreed in theNATO UHF reorganisation process and as published in ACP190 (UHF Allotment Plan and Procedures2017).

5. For usage in single access or IW mode, no frequency restrictions apply.

6. The channels (UHF or other bands channels (using proper adapters and antennas included inthe service)) shall have sufficient performance to support disadvantaged users (low - or Omnidirectionalantennas) in all modes of operation.

7. The channels (UHF or other bands channels) shall be offered with one or more coveragefootprints, providing Global coverage centred on Europe.

Opportunity closing date

13 June 2023

Value of contract

to be confirmed

The buyer is happy to talk to

manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, agents, consultants