Land command support system life extension (LCSS LE) project

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Context

The Land Force tactical vehicle fleet is expanding, both in total quantity and in vehicle types. The inability to procure or produce more Tactile Command, Control and Communication System/IRIS tactical vehicle network equipment to support this expansion means that new vehicle network equipment must be acquired in order to equip new vehicles as they are fielded. In addition, mounted commanders, crew commanders and specialists have limited connectivity between their deployed vehicles and static headquarters or command, sensor and intelligence services.

The Land Command Support System is a highly integrated tactical command and control system composed of many sub-systems that support the Canadian Army-wide command function. It forms a part of every Canadian Army vehicle and platform-based weapon system and is made up of numerous hardware, firmware and software elements.

The Land Command Support System Life Extension (LCSS LE) project will improve the exchange of information within and between specific Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) vehicle fighting platforms through the delivery of two distinct capabilities.

Tactical Vehicle Network Modernization for selected Canadian Army tactical vehicles, which includes the upgrade of the current Local Area Network through the introduction of the Communications Selector Box and Power Distribution Unit – Small Form Factor; and

A new satellite communication on-the-move capability to be installed on a range of Army tactical vehicles to improve both command and control and the sharing of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information while mobile.

Additional Information

Updates

Updates

Project Details

Project deliverables

Communications Selector Box and Power Distribution Unit – Small Form Factor

On October 26, 2012, following a competitive process, the Government of Canada awarded a contract valued at $38.7 million to DRS Technologies Canada Ltd. of Carleton Place, Ontario, for the manufacturing of 13624 Communications Selector Boxes and 4937 Power Distribution Units – Small Form Factor, as well as spare parts, over three years.

The contract also includes two one-year options for the manufacture of additional quantities of Communications Selector Boxes, Power Distribution Units and spares.

The Communication Selector Boxes and the Power Distribution Units will be integrated within Canadian Army tactical vehicles, such as the upgraded Light Armoured Vehicle III, the new Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle, and the proposed Close Combat Vehicle, as they become operational. These devices will also improve the exchange of information within other existing Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) vehicle platforms.

The first 100 Communications Selector Boxes units and 50 Power Distribution Units – Small Form Factor are to be delivered within six months of contract award, and the remaining units are to be delivered on a monthly schedule up to three years after the contract award, from October 2012 to July 15, 2015. Vehicle fleets equipped with the improved Local Area Network are expected to be operationally ready by fall 2014.

Communications Selector Box

The Communications Selector Box is an intelligent routing / switching device that will replace the User Control Device, Network Access Unit, Radio Access Unit and Local Area Network Ethernet Switch that are currently used in most Army vehicles.

A number of Communications Selector Boxes will be installed in each supported platform to form the backbone of the Tactical Vehicle Network, which enables the operation of the Land Command Support System in vehicles.

CAF members will be able to communicate with their fellow vehicle crew members using a voice headset from any of the Communications Selector Boxes, and as well as exchanging operational data and information with other vehicle and unit headquarters using a computer connected to the Communications Selector Box.

Power Distribution Units – Small Form Factor

Power Distribution Units – Small Form Factor are compact power distribution devices that are specifically designed to provide filtered power to the Communications Selector Box. Filtered power is essential to prevent damaging a vehicle’s electronic equipment during brown-outs or spikes in power when the vehicle is either turned on or off.

Vehicle Interface Panel

The Enhanced Local Area Network enables information to be exchanged between radios, data terminals and other devices within a single combat platform. It also provides routing and switching capabilities for the exchange of information with other platforms and communications nodes.

In some operational circumstances, combat vehicles are required to go firm in a location for a period of time. In order to exchange information without creating a radio signature, to use the radios and devices of another combat vehicle, or to use radios and devices of another communications node, it is necessary to connect the vehicles / nodes physically by using a cable. A Vehicle Interface Panel provides an entry point on the outside of a vehicle to connect external cables to the internal Enhanced Local Area Network without needing to open doors or hatches. The Vehicle Interface Panel provides conversion between the copper cable used for the Enhanced Local Area Network inside the platform and the fibre optic cable used between platforms, and also provides power to support the export of information via the fibre optic cable. The Vehicle Interface Panel also provides other ports to enable remote Communication Selector Boxes, field telephones and various alarm systems to be connected from the outside of the vehicle.

The LCSS LE project must initiate the generation of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the manufacture of Vehicle Interface Panels Mark 25. The Vehicle Interface Panels Mark 25 is being designed under an existing DND contract and the designer will generate a technical design package of sufficient detail to enable industry to participate in a competitive bid process to manufacture the devices. A third party will be engaged to generate a turnkey test suite for use by industry during the manufacture of the Vehicle Interface Panels Mark 25. The turnkey test suite will aid industry and the DND in the conduct of quality assurance during manufacture.

An industry day was held on July 16, 2012, to provide information to industry. Further project milestones will communicated in due course.

Support Battle Command On-the-move

The LCSS LE project will also procure Satcom-On-The-Move terminals to fulfil the requirement to support Battle Command On-the-Move and install these on a range of vehicle platforms. This will enable an on-the-move, high capacity, tactical beyond line of sight voice and data reach-back for tactical commander and key sensors. The procurement of Satcom-On-The-Move capability will be completed through a competitive bid process.

Technical Information

Information for Industry

Disclaimer

The information provided on this web site does not constitute an Invitation to Tender, a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Price and Availability request for or on behalf of the Government of Canada. A contract will not result directly from this electronic publication. The documents provided are to be considered DRAFTS. A final version of one or more documents may be issued with any resulting RFP (issued by Public Works and Government Services Canada) and may differ to a lesser or greater degree. While comments are most welcome, the invitation to comment on DRAFT documents does not constitute a commitment to respond to such comments or to incorporate them into a final version of the documents.

Reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than in accordance with the following permissions:

  1. You may print or download to a local hard disk the contents of these pages for information purposes only. You are not permitted to incorporate the material or any part of it in any work or other publication, whether in hard copy or electronic or any other form. No part of these pages may be reproduced on or transmitted to or stored in any other Web site or other form of electronic retrieval system.
  2. You may recopy the material to third parties for their information only, but only if you acknowledge the LCSS LE page as the source of the material (you must include such acknowledgment and the LCSS LE Web address in the copy of the material). You must inform the third parties that these conditions apply to them and that they must comply with them.

How to make an enquiry:

All enquiries must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Authority.

Potential bidders should reference as accurately as possible the numbered item to which the enquiry relates.

Care should be taken by potential bidders to explain each question in sufficient detail in order to enable Canada to provide an accurate answer. Technical enquiries that are of a proprietary nature must be clearly marked "proprietary" at each relevant item. Items identified as "proprietary" will be treated as such except where Canada determines that the enquiry is not of a proprietary nature. Canada may edit the questions or may request that the potential bidder do so, so that the proprietary nature of the question is eliminated, and the answer may be posted on this web site. Enquiries not submitted in a form that can be posted on this web site may not be answered by Canada.

How to request information:

Available Information: Information is available on request for examination by potential bidders. The information will be provided on electronic media. The document versions that will be provided reflect those currently in use.

Information Requests: Potential bidders must present their request for information to the Contracting Authority in writing, either by email or letter, and shall include the mailing address to which the Information is to be sent.

Non-Disclosure Agreement: Requests for Information must be accompanied by a fully executed original copy of the Non-Disclosure Agreement. A copy of the Non-Disclosure Agreement can be requested from: LCSSLE-PVSACT@forces.gc.ca or (at 819-997-3519, Fax 819-994-3460)

Controlled Goods: The Information includes controlled goods that are subject to the Defence Production Act, R.S. 1985, c. D-1. As such potential bidders are advised that within Canada only persons who are registered, exempt or excluded under the Controlled Goods Program (CGP) are lawfully entitled to examine, possess or transfer controlled goods. Requests for Information must contain the potential bidder's CGP registration number or written proof of exemption or exclusion of the potential bidder and of any other person to whom the potential bidder will give access to the controlled goods.

Details on how to register under the CGP

Vehicle Interface Panels

The following documents are available on request for examination only from the LCSS LE project office: LCSSLE-PVSACT@forces.gc.ca. Do not email PWGSC for this request at this time.

The following document (s)
Version Document Title
0.1 Vehicle Interface Panel (VIP) DRAFT v.01 Data Package - CD
Content Canadian Controlled Goods available on request for examination by potential bidders.

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