Added: Jun 09, 2008 2:33 pm
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes awarding a follow-on contract to Hughes Network Systems (HNS), Inc. of Gaithersburg, MD for specialized engineering support, and proprietary software maintenance on the NAS Data Interchange Network II (NADIN II). This service is presently under contract DTFAWA-03-C-03050 with HNS.
The maximum estimated value of the follow-on contract is estimated to be $900,000 with a minimum estimated value of $5,000 for a per-call software maintenance contract. The contract duration is expected to be not more then five years. The FAA Telecommunication Infrastructure (FTI) program will incorporate NADIN II in an estimated two (2) to three (3) years.
Description of NADIN II Services: NADIN II is a Hughes 9000 Strategy and Radiant equipment Packet Switch Network (PSN) that provides operational Wide Area Network (WAN) services to the NAS community, Department of the Interior, Department of Treasury, Commercial Airline Carriers, and 22 Foreign Countries. This network was purchased from Hughes Network Systems (HNS), the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), and commissioned in 1995. NADIN II PSN switching equipment is located at the National Network Control Centers (NNCCs) in Atlanta, GA, Salt Lake City, UT, and in all of the CONUS ARTCCs, Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam.
The NADIN II System supports critical and essential data communications services used by the FAA. The NADIN II PSN is a network that provides long-haul data communications support for the NAS and consists of 25 packet switching nodes interconnected by T1 and fractional T1 leased backbone links.
Each node contains a packet switch with X.25 and Frame Relay interfaces via RS-232 and EIA-530 physical interfaces. In addition, the two nodes located at the NNCCs contain network control equipment providing system monitoring and control. Each node provides communication services to a large number of subscribers and to two or more trunks to other network nodes.
A new vendor would immediately be required to have the qualifications and capabilities to identify NADIN II proprietary software service malfunctions, interruptions and/or failures and provide the required technical assistance to restore telecommunications software services to normal operation.
The Contractor will provide, on a per-call basis, all labor, supervision, tools, materials (including manuals and schematics and transportation necessary to maintain third-level support to the NADIN PSN software. This will include providing an eight hundred (800) telephone number 8 hours a day, five (5) days a week for support to NADIN PSN users, operators, NADIN Network Control Center (NNCC), and second-level support personnel (AJW-177). A test bed composed of Strategy 9000 NADIN PSN hardware and software will be maintained as an alternative method of trouble shooting any difficult malfunctions.
If anyone feels they can immediately meet the criteria please contact Dixie Harper at dixie.harper@faa.gov.
