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REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS (NWR) VHF TRANSMITTER SITE BROADCAST SERVICES 1.0 Introduction The National Weather Service (NWS) is an operating unit within the National ... REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS (NWR) VHF TRANSMITTER SITE BROADCAST SERVICES 1.0 Introduction The National Weather Service (NWS) is an operating unit within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency of the US Department of Commerce. NWS is charged with providing weather, water, climate data, forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy. The NWS has a critical function in ensuring society is prepared for, and responds to, weather-dependent events. Additional information about the organization is available at About the NWS. The NOAA NWS currently provides forecasts and weather information, weather watches, warnings and other emergency messages to the public and emergency managers through the NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) All-Hazards network. The primary purpose is to reliably deliver All-Hazards emergency warnings to those people most immediately at risk, with sufficient lead-time to allow them to take action to reduce the likelihood of property damage, injury or death. In addition, the network continuously broadcasts weather information and forecasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This RFI is to elicit feedback from the industry to identify alternative broadcast capabilities that satisfy NWR operational and budgetary requirements. Section 2 provides an overview of the current NWR dissemination system, and high-level requirements, Section 3 the specifications for the desired NWR broadcast, and Section 4 specifies the physical requirements the broadcast services are required to meet. 1.1 Purpose NOAA NWS is conducting market research to determine companies with competencies for providing the End-to-End lifecycle support for the NWR All Hazards program with improved efficiency and reduced operation and maintenance costs. The goal of the NWR program is threefold: To leverage industrial capability in providing operations and maintenance for the entire NWR program To leverage the industrial broadcast technology base and capabilities for a more sustainable life-cycle for some or all of the broadcast coverage area provided by the current network of greater than 1000 very high frequency (VHF) transmitter sites. To leverage new technologies to accomplish the NWR mission The NWS Dissemination Office (DISS) is issuing this RFI to elicit feedback from the industry to propose an outsourcing solution to deploy and operate the NWR. 1.2 Disclaimer THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS RFI OR REIMBURSE ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS RFI. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI marked Proprietary will be safeguarded adequately from unauthorized disclosure. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Whatever information is provided in response to this RFI will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for determining how to proceed in the acquisition process for NWR broadcast capability. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), RFIs may be used when the Government does not presently intend to award a contract, but wants to obtain price, delivery, other market information, or capabilities for planning purposes and responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This RFI is a request for interested parties to describe their technical capabilities and demonstrated tools, processes, and service capabilities. All interested contractors are requested to provide written responses to the questions below. A response to this RFI is necessary in order to improve the understanding of Government requirements and industry capabilities, thereby allowing potential offerors to judge whether or how they can satisfy the Government’s requirements, and enhancing the Government’s ability to obtain quality supplies and services, including market maturity, at reasonable prices, and increase efficiency in proposal preparation, proposal evaluation, negotiation, and contract award. The government will not use the information collected in this RFI to determine a small business set aside determination. 2.0 NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) Overview Today’s NWR is a nationwide system that comprises over 1000 narrow-band, very-high-frequency (VHF) radio frequency (RF) transmitters covering the United States, US territories (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, etc.), and the respective adjacent waterways and coastal areas. The network uses frequency modulation (FM) analog signal at a maximum of 1000 watts (at the input to the antenna) on one of seven Government licensed channels/frequencies; specifically 162.400 MHz; 162.425 MHz; 162.450 MHz; 162.475 MHz; 162.500 MHz; 162.525 MHz; 162.550 MHz. The majority of transmitter equipment is currently owned, operated and maintained by the NWS. The current NWS operational inventory of transmitters includes Nautel NG Series (NG300/NG1000), Armstrong B and Classic (G300/G1000/G300B/G1000B), Continental Electronics Corporation (WR300B/WR1000B) and Crown Broadcast (WR300/WR1000). The system continuously broadcasts weather information and forecasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Severe weather warnings, watches, advisories, and other hazard information are broadcast whenever they occur. The NWR is an “all hazards” radio network, making it a key source of comprehensive weather and emergency information. This broadcast system is also available to local, state, regional, and national emergency managers for disseminating non-weather emergency warnings (via the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System). Weather data and information is collected by 122 Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs), which is then processed to create the audio forecast and alerting products. These products are converted from text to audio by the WFOs Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) Broadcast Message Handler (BMH) application and interface. In addition, a set of indicators are included in the audio for alerting products in the form of tones and frequency-shift keying (FSK) sequences which specify the alert type and geographic area for the applicable alert. The audio distribution from the WFO to NWR transmitter sites uses leased analog telephone circuits, Audio over IP (AoIP) wireless links or point to point radio frequency links. The message format complies with the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) [NWS Directive 10-1712] and FCC Part 11.31 standards. NWS is seeking Federal, State, local, commercial, private and public non-profit broadcaster input to understand available solutions and identify geographical locations and areas with viable broadcast source alternatives. 2.1 NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) Outsourcing Requirements Provide a description of your capabilities on how to provide requisite infrastructure and operations support for NWR broadcast service based on specifications provided in Section 3, for providing approximately equivalent broadcast service coverage at the current 1033 broadcast stations. Provide a brief overview of the recommended solutions that can meet the specification provided in Section 3. Describe recommended broadcast site locations and coverage to service 95% of the US population. Describe your strategy for identifying broadcast locations and establishing contractual agreements with the location owners. Describe a strategy for getting NWR audio data from 122 Weather Forecast Offices (WFO), list attached. Describe security features that protect the infrastructure, information, and operations of the NWR broadcast service. Provide a short but succinct description on how the vendor proposes to comply with the FISMA (Federal Information Modernization Act of 2014) mandate for a High-impact system. Describe the administration, management and service performance reporting capabilities of the proposed solutions. Describe any technical issues or challenges of implementing the proposed solutions. What range of Key Performance Parameters (KPP) would you implement with the proposed solutions (e.g., availability, service restoration response time, throughput delay, etc.)? Describe modeling, simulation, emulation, testing, and deployment strategies to reduce the risk in operating the proposed solutions. Provide a life-cycle cost estimate for the recommended solutions. Identify the cost drivers. Include the initial (non-recurring costs) and recurring costs to deploy, operate, and manage the proposed solutions. Provide projected cost estimates for the next 10 years. Describe the use of third-party hardware, software, and services to support the proposed solutions. Describe the recommended solutions’ compliance with Standard TIA/EIA¬ 603 and conformance to NTIA “Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Radio Frequency Management,” Chapter 5, Attachment entitled “Technical Standards for Operations in the Band 162 to 174 MHZ.” If available, provide one or more references describing service installations of a size and complexity comparable to your proposed solutions. 3.0 NWR Broadcast Specifications 3.1 Broadcast Performance Considerations The requirements of the NWR broadcast are similar to those commercial based broadcast radio stations that are operational every day, all day, and must work at their best during adverse weather conditions. These stations broadcast warnings to the public based on many weather and non-weather hazardous situations. Although some telecommunication/broadcast systems may incur performance degradation during periods of adverse weather, the NWR broadcast must be a reliable, consistent and error free operation under adverse weather conditions. The NWR broadcast must accurately and consistently be capable of Public Alert activation for CTA-2009-B compliant receivers. Since a primary function of the NWR broadcast network is to disseminate life-protecting weather and all-hazards alerts under all conditions in the area of immediate threat, the provider(s) of this service must be acutely aware of operational considerations which are affected by such a requirement. Examples would be redundancy of equipment, immunity from power variations, soft failure schemes by which performance degrades gracefully with reduction in signal level as opposed to a precipitous degradation, and antennas and outdoor equipment that must operate, not just survive, under high wind and severe weather conditions. Information technology security for broadcast connections, equipment configuration and physical access is expected to be “commercial best practice” or better. 3.2 Service Coverage Broadcast service coverage is a line-of-sight propagation, with an achieved minimum signal level of 18dBuV for reliable coverage, from the broadcast antenna at the licensed RF Power Output. Service coverage is desired for all of the United States, US territories (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, etc.), and the respective adjacent waterways and coastal areas, however the specific objective is to replace currently existing NWR broadcast coverage service areas. Currently existing NWR broadcast service areas are described by NWR Coverage Maps at: https://www.weather.gov/nwr/Maps 3.3 Reliability, maintainability, and availability Reliability, maintainability, and availability of the broadcast service shall achieve a continuous broadcast monthly 96.0% Availability, including advanced planned service maintenance. Service maintenance shall be planned and announced 5 days in advance; however routine service maintenance shall not be performed during declared Critical Weather Days. 3.4 General Broadcast Signal Specifications a) Operated on Carrier Frequency Range: 162. 400 to 162.550 MHz. Seven individual government assigned/licensed channels at 162.400 MHz; 162.425 MHz; 162.450 MHz; 162.475 MHz; 162.500 MHz; 162.525 MHz; 162.550 MHz (+/- 100Hz). b) Audio source: 600 Ohm balanced input with automatic peak detecting gain such that a 1000 Hz tone from -20 dBm to +5 dBm will modulate from 10% up to 100% of the maximum deviation. Note: References to dBm are decibels relative to 1 mW across a 600 Ohm load. c) RF Power Output: Adjustable range between 100 to 1000 Watts set to licensed value. (All power output ratings are measured at cable feed to RF antenna) d) Transmission Mode: Narrowband Frequency Modulation in 25 kHz channels (channel carrier frequency as designated in license) - Emission designation of 16K0F3E for voice and 14K0F2D and 5K0F2D for digital coding. e) Maximum Deviation: ± 5 kHz. f) Carrier Frequency Stability: 0.0005%, g) Audio Response: Within +1 and -3 dB of 6 dB/octave pre emphasis from 200 Hz to 5,000 Hz (TIA/EIA-603, Section 4.2.6 extended to 200 Hz and 5,000 Hz). Input upper frequency to be limited by a 6 dB/octave low pass filter or greater at 5,000 Hz. h) Audio Bandwidth: 200 to 5,000 Hz, (See item (g) above) i) Audio Distortion: No greater than 1 %. j) FM Hum and Noise: Less than -40 dB as per 1.3.2.3.2. k) AM Hum and Noise: Less than -34 dB (TIA/EIA-603). l) Spurious and Harmonic Radiation: Less than -74 dB (TIA/EIA-603). m) Output Bandpass: 10 dB passband of no more than 2 MHz. n) VSWR: Broadcast sustained for antenna mismatch conditions up to 3:1 VSWR at nominally rated power at the output. Proper operation (maintain nominal power output ±1 dB) at a VSWR of 3:1 shall be maintained at all impedance points on the (3:1 +5%) circle on a Smith Chart. o) Remote Monitoring: Ability for the Government to remotely monitor or receive the operating performance status and service status parameters of the broadcast is desired. 3.5 Additional Broadcast Signal Specification Details 3.5.1 Modulation Each broadcast for the system shall be frequency modulation with a maximum of ± 5 kHz deviation on normal voice peaks. Instantaneous modulation limiting shall be provided such that the maximum operating deviation can be operated and maintained within the range of +3 kHz to ± 5 kHz. The audio frequency response shall meet the requirements of Section 4.2 of Standard TIA/EIA-603 except as otherwise specified in Paragraph 3.2.2(g). Residual FM-HUM and noise-level modulation shall be down at least 40 dB with respect to a modulation of 1000 Hz at 60% of rated deviation when measured in accordance with Section 4.2.8 of Standard TIA/EIA 603. There shall be no interference between a broadcast and the operation of any other equipment in close proximity. The broadcast shall be capable of 100% modulation without distortion. 3.5.2 Audio Input Interface VOX keying shall be used to turn off the transmitter carrier within 10-60 seconds (adjustable) after loss of audio input, and turn on the transmitter carrier within six seconds after the resumption of the audio input. 3.5.3 Electrical Interference The broadcast service shall minimize susceptibility to externally generated radiated interference and minimize internally generated radiated interference in accordance with the NTIA “Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Radio Frequency Management,” Chapter 5, Attachment entitled “Technical Standards for Operations in the Band 162 to 174 MHZ.” Interfering signals (fundamental and harmonics from other sources at operating locations) shall be attenuated to the maximum extent consistent with the broadcast service performance as specified in this specification. The broadcast service shall be such that all harmonic and spurious emissions will be attenuated in accordance with the manual of “Regulations and Procedures for Radio Frequency Management,” Chapter 5, Attachment entitled “Technical Standards for Operations in the Band 162 to 174 MHZ.” 4.0 Physical Requirements The broadcast service shall use equipment, interfacing circuits, and interconnections which will meet the broadcast performance requirements. The broadcast service shall conform to accepted commercial engineering standards and be suitable for continuous duty operation (24 hours per day, 365 days per year). Broadcast coverage capability is generally improved with higher broadcast antenna locations, based on both topographical location and tower based antenna mounting configurations. Reliability, maintainability, and stability of performance shall be prime considerations for component parts and subsystems used to provide the broadcast service. Physical access and security shall be provided to prevent unauthorized access to the component parts and subsystems used to provide the broadcast service. 5.0 Submission Instructions 5.1 Vendor Identification Responses shall include the (1) business name, address, and DUNS number; (2) name of company representative and their business title with contact information; (3) contract vehicles available that would be available to the Government for the procurement of the product and/or service, to include General Service Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedules (FSS), or any other Government Agency contract vehicle. 5.2 Responding to this RFI Vendors are asked to recommend commercial services or alternate approaches to provide the requested broadcast service capability. Advice and commentary should be provided on, but not limited to, the recommended solution and the information requested in Section 2. 5.3 Format The responses shall be in a white paper format, no longer than thirty (30) pages in length, and submitted in .pdf format. Address the capability questions posed in Section 2 above, and add one (1) appendix that provides a typical implementation schedule. Responses shall be submitted to cilenaadams@noaa.gov, and are due no later than Friday, December 18, 2020 at 1:00PM ET. Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to cilenaadams@noaa.gov. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified. 6.0 References: National Oceans and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) All Hazards Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/sym/pd01017012curr.pdf NWR Weather Forecast Offices https://www.weather.gov/nwr/wfo_nwr National Weather Service Instruction 10-1710 http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/sym/pd01017010curr.pdf National Weather Service Instruction 10-102 http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/sym/pd01001002curr.pdf National Weather Service Instruction 30-2107 http://www.nws.noaa.gov/directives/sym/pd03021007curr.pdf National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management, National Telecommunications and Information Administration Federal Communications Commission 47 CFR 11.31 - EAS protocol Other - Consumer Technology Association CTA-2009-B (ANSI) Receiver Performance Specification for Public Alert Receivers