Request for Information (RFI): USCG Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS) Support Services in Alaska

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines requirements for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to secure comprehensive maritime communication services in Alaska. Operating 24/7, the contract aims to enhance maritime domain awareness and search and rescue capabilities by addressing geographic communication gaps. The scope covers four primary functions: terrestrial Automatic Identification System (AIS) data reception, shore-to-ship AIS message transmission, Very High Frequency (VHF-FM) maritime voice communications (VHF Channel 16), and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) data communications (Channel 70). Services must extend beyond existing Rescue-21 Alaska coverage areas, targeting priority zones such as Petersburg, Wrangell, Kodiak, and the North Slope. Key contractor responsibilities include providing a dedicated Project Manager, managing qualified U.S. personnel, and delivering actual receive and predictive transmit coverage maps. The contractor must meet strict performance standards, including maintaining a 96% operational availability for AIS receiver, regional composite, and transmission networks, and a 98% availability for VHF-FM/DSC radio sites. Additionally, the contractor must achieve formal IT Security Accreditation within six months of award, adhering to strict federal guidelines, including DHS Sensitive Systems Policy 4300A, NIST SP 800-53, and DoD Manual 8140.03 for cyberspace workforce qualifications. Government-furnished resources include interconnection hardware and software, while the contractor must supply standalone operator consoles for two Sector Command Centers. The contract features a one-year base period starting March 30, 2027, with four subsequent one-year option periods.

This federal solicitation (Standard Form 1449, Solicitation Number 70Z0G326QOIPL0003) is issued by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) C5I Contract Operations Division II in Kearneysville, West Virginia. It seeks commercial services to support the Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS) in Alaska. The solicitation is structured as a Firm-Fixed-Price contract comprising a one-year base period and four subsequent one-year option periods, spanning from March 30, 2027, through March 29, 2032. The core services required across all periods include: - AIS Data and Maintenance Services - AIS Transmission Services - VHF-FM Maritime Voice Communications - DSC (Data) Communications The solicitation includes three attachments: USCG Questions to Industry, a draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) for NAIS Alaska, and a Request for Information (RFI) document. Offers and responses are due by July 28, 2026, at 3:00 PM Local Time.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) / Sources Sought notice (70Z0G326QOIPL0003_NAIS Terrestrial) to conduct market research for comprehensive Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS) support services in Alaska. The agency seeks to identify capable vendors to provide continuous 24/7 AIS data reception and transmission, VHF-FM voice communications (extending Channel 16 coverage), and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) data communications (extending Channel 70 coverage) to augment existing infrastructure and close coverage gaps in designated Alaskan regions and ports. Key performance requirements include achieving 98% operational availability for VHF-FM/DSC sites, 96% availability for AIS sites, and delivering 96% of AIS messages in under two seconds. Additionally, the selected contractor must obtain formal IT Security Accreditation within six months of award and comply with federal cybersecurity and Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) standards. This inquiry is for planning purposes only, and no contract will be awarded directly from this notice. The USCG encourages submissions detailing both terrestrial network architectures and alternative technologies, such as satellite or aerial platforms. Interested vendors must submit written capability statements of 10 pages or less, along with responses to the government's questions (limited to 3 pages or less), to the designated procurement contacts by 3:00 PM EST on July 28, 2026.

This document consists of a targeted questionnaire for vendors bidding on a government maritime communications project in Alaska. The inquiry focuses on technical capability, resilience, and logistics in extreme Arctic environments. Key areas of interest include: - **System Resilience and Redundancy:** Ensuring VHF/DSC lifeline communications remain 100% operational during AIS failures, managing wind and ice loading on towers, and prioritizing power during degradation. - **Coverage and Performance:** Details on satellite latency in the Alaska Area of Responsibility (AOR), VHF voice/data ranges, and propagation mapping for high latitudes. - **Environmental Adaptability:** Solutions for autonomous power (solar, wind, TEG) at remote sites, mitigation of icing-related signal loss, and protection against solar flare or Aurora Borealis interference. - **Logistics and Support:** Lead times for technician deployment to fly-in communities, local parts caching to reduce Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), and remote diagnostics over low-bandwidth backhauls. - **Integration and Security:** Compatibility with the U.S. Coast Guard's Rescue 21 (R21) system, alternative delivery options to Command Centers, and support for AES encryption standards. The questionnaire serves to evaluate whether vendors can deliver reliable, upgradable, and secure communications infrastructure under strict environmental and budgetary constraints.