NSF RFI: Satellite Based Broadband Communications Services in Antarctica
The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) as a means of conducting market research to identify industry recommendations for means to obtain satellite-based broadband communications services between the continental United States and McMurdo Station, Antarctica located at the end of Hut Point Peninsula, Ross Island (77.8464° S, 166.668° E).
Aerospace presently provides support to the National Science Foundation (NSF), an Executive Branch independent agency of the United States Government, via an interagency agreement between NSF and the U.S. Air Force Space and Missiles Systems Center. On behalf of the NSF, Aerospace is seeking information on approaches to meet the Government’s long term broadband communications needs anticipated for U.S. Antarctic Program science research/mission operations and partner Federal agency mission operations conducted at McMurdo Station during the 2019-2040 timeframe.
NSF will use information received as part of its strategic planning efforts to identify and characterize a range of communication services options for supporting U.S. activities in Antarctica.
This RFI provides a broad statement of the Government’s needs and seeks industry suggested approaches to satisfy those needs and provide insight into the associated technology, resource availability and risk.
Of particular interest are commercial approaches that would allow the NSF to better plan acquisition strategy. Of consideration would be the lead of the acquisition – NSF, the NSF Antarctic Support Contractor (presently Lockheed Martin of Centennial, CO) or another venue, and the terms of the acquisition – e.g., a long term lease of communications services versus other approaches..
Responses to this RFI will be treated as information only and will be considered as part of the Government’s market research efforts to guide future strategic planning.
