Cellular Over the Horizon Enforcement Network (COTHEN) Support Services

Active

Contract Opportunity

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is seeking information from industry partners regarding innovative, cost-effective solutions and services for the maintenance, support, and enhancement of the Cellular Over the Horizon Enforcement Network (COTHEN) infrastructure components and supporting systems. This Request for Information is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation.

PURPOSE

This public posting is for informational, planning, and market research purposes only and constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) and a Sources Sought Request (SSR) only for United States, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This announcement does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a solicitation or procurement will be issued. This is not a solicitation, Request for Proposal (RFP), or Invitation for Bids (IFB). No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests.

All information received resulting from this RFI will be used by CBP for acquisition planning and market research purposes only. However, your response may be releasable to the public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552, and the DHS FOIA regulation, 6 C.F.R. Chapter 1 and Part 5. If you wish CBP to consider any portion of your response as "confidential commercial information," you should clearly mark the portion as "confidential commercial information." The procedures for identifying "confidential commercial information" are set forth in the DHS FOIA regulation cited above and are available on the DHS website: http://www.dhs.gov/xfoia/editorial0579.shtm. CBP, at its discretion, may request respondents to this RFI to meet with CBP program and contracting officials and to elaborate on information in their written response. Respondents to this RFI will not be notified of any results derived from a review of the information provided. All information contained in this RFI is preliminary and is subject to revision and is not binding on the Government.

The purpose of this public posting is to give Contractors the opportunity to provide information regarding their capability to support the Cellular Over The Horizon Enforcement Network (COTHEN).

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the first line of defense in and between the various land border crossings, airports, seaports, rail crossings, mail handling and express cargo consignments for the detection, identification, and interdiction of illegal persons, illicit drugs, terrorist materials, and other contraband items entering the United States by using complex technical tools and communications.

CBP manages and sustains the High Frequency (HF) COTHEN communications radio network to meet CBP’s tactical long-range radio communications requirements.

This international network is comprised of land-based, fixed station systems, remote command and control systems, airborne and marine mobile systems, transportable transceivers, and many special purpose ancillary systems controlled by cellular switching technology. COTHEN is a primary means of long-range communications for many agencies and therefore it is critical that network integrity be maintained.

The COTHEN HF radio network was initially designed in 1984 to support Customs' drug interdiction efforts. The network has since evolved to include 22 Fixed Antenna Sites (FASs) and multiple Remote Communications Consoles (RCCs) providing HF coverage throughout the United States, Central and South America, and into the Atlantic and Pacific areas of operation. The network supports secure voice and data communications for multiple agencies.

SCOPE

The Government is seeking a contractor to provide innovative, cost-effective solutions and services for the maintenance, support, and enhancement of COTHEN infrastructure components and supporting systems, as well as the introduction of new capabilities and functionality.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this RFI are to:

• Identify potential vendors with the capability to provide the required services.


• Gather information on potential solutions and approaches.


• Understand the capabilities and experience of potential vendors.

INFORMATION REQUESTED

Vendors are requested to provide the following information:

1. Company Information:
   
   
   
   
   • Company name
   
   
   • Address
   
   
   • Point of contact (name, phone, email)
   
   
   • DUNS number
   
   
   • Business size and classification
   
   
   
   


2. Capabilities Statement:
   
   
   
   • Description of your company’s capabilities and experience in providing HF radio network support services.
   
   
   • Examples of similar projects completed, including client references.
   
   
   
   


3. Technical Approach:
   
   
   
   • Proposed technical approach for maintaining, supporting, and enhancing the COTHEN infrastructure.
   
   
   • Description of any innovative solutions or technologies that could be applied to this project.
   
   
   
   


4. Program Management:
   
   
   
   • Description of your program management approach, including staffing, risk management, and quality control.
   
   
   • Proposed key personnel and their qualifications.
   
   
   
   


5. Security and Compliance:
   
   
   
   • Description of your approach to ensuring compliance with federal security standards and regulations.
   
   
   • Experience with FISMA, NIST, and DHS security policies.
   
   
   
   


6. Cost Estimates:
   
   
   
   • Rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost estimates for the proposed solutions and services.
   
   
   
   

QUESTIONS TO VENDORS

Please provide responses to the following questions:

Experience and Expertise:

1. What is your experience in providing HF radio network support services similar to those described in the SOW?


2. Can you provide examples of past projects where you have successfully maintained and enhanced HF radio networks? Please include client references.

Technical Capabilities:

1. What innovative solutions or technologies do you propose for improving the COTHEN infrastructure?


2. How do you handle the integration of new software and hardware with existing systems to ensure interoperability and backward compatibility?


3. What is your approach to ensuring maximum system availability and eliminating single points of failure in the network infrastructure?

Compliance and Security:

1. How do you ensure compliance with federal security standards and regulations, including FISMA, NIST, and DHS policies?


2. Do you have personnel with current CBP background investigation clearance? If so, please provide details.

Program Management and Execution:

1. What is your approach to program management, including staffing, risk management, and quality control?


2. What are your proposed key personnel for this project, and what are their qualifications? Proposed number of personnel for each labor category and annual labor hours?

Cost Management:

1. Can you provide a rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost estimate for the proposed solutions and services?

Subcontractor Management:

1. How do you manage subcontractors and vendors to ensure delivery of quality services?

7. Disclaimer

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

The anticipated NAICS Code: 541330 - Engineering Services

Interested parties are encouraged to respond to this notice if they have the capability and capacity to provide the identified services. Please do not submit capability statements at this time. If provided, the vendor will be considered non-responsive to this RFI.

Please be advised, no questions will be addressed at this time. Please be advised, the Government has not identified a contractual vehicle or contract type at this time.

The due date and time for responses is no later than 1:00 PM EST, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 2025. The RFIs shall be submitted via email to the following CBP personnel: debbie.d.dean@cbp.dhs.gov with the subject line " COTHEN Support Services RFI to be considered.

All responses must adhere to the page limits of 6 pages total. Please note, cover pages do not count towards the page limit. The submission shall be logically assembled. Each response section shall be clearly identified and shall begin at the top of a page. All pages of each response section shall be appropriately numbered and identified by the complete company name, date, and referenced number listed on the Notice in the header and/or footer.

POINT OF CONTACT

For any questions regarding this RFI, please contact:

Primary Point of Contact:

Contracting Officer/Contract Specialist

DHS - Customs & Border Protection

Enterprise Network Technology Services (ENTS) Contracting Branch

Information Technology Contracting Division (ITCD)

1331 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington DC 20029

Contact: debbie.d.dean@cbp.dhs.gov

RFI ATTACHMENTS

• (RFI Attachment 1) Statement of Work DRAFT


• (RFI Attachment 2) BOM and Pricing Template

Attachments/Links