Provision of Technical Support to the UK Link 16 Frequency Clearance Agreement

The Situational Awareness Command and Control Deliver Team, (SACC DT), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), intends to award a new Contract for the support, repair, maintenance and storage of the Frequency Clearance (FC) System. This Contract will be for an initial period of 24 (24) months with two (2) twelve (12) month extension options. The principal requirements of the Link 16 Frequency Clearance Support contract are as follows: • To undertake compatibility testing of Link 16 with Communications Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) systems operating in the 960-1215MHz frequency band, using the government furnished FC Test equipment, known as the 8 Net Signal Source. This is a collection of bespoke test equipment enabling interference testing of Link 16 on civilian aeronautical CNS equipment, as required by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) under the terms of the FC Agreement (FCA). • To support of all aspects of Link 16 network management, monitoring, design, planning and the technical aspects of the FCA to support the Joint Data Link Management Organisation (JDLMO), including working with the JDLMO to maintain compliance with the terms of the FCA, including the CAA audit process, and maintaining clearance to radiate for all Link 16 platforms in the UK Flight Information Region. • To manage and maintain the Link 16 FCA Safety Management System (FCA SMS) and all associated documentation on behalf of the MoD and CAA. The FCA SMS includes the Safety and Environmental Management Plan, Baseline Safety Case, Terminal Safety Cases (Generic and Specific variants) and Platform Safety Cases. A Subject Matter Expert is required to manage the FCA SMS including technically reviewing Terminal and Platform Safety Cases and staffing them though the FCA Safety Committee approvals process. A detailed knowledge of the background and content of the above documents is required to deliver this requirement. • In order to deliver this requirement a detailed knowledge of how Link 16 interferes with CNS systems, and the ability to undertake interference assessments against the following equipment is required: Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), Tactical Air Navigation Aids (TACAN), Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR), Automatic Dependent Surveillance (Broadcast) ADS-B, 1090 MHz Multilateration, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and L-Band Digital Aeronautical Communications (L-DAC