SImple Key Loader (SKL) Production, Engineering and Sustainment Support Services Redacted J&A

THIS IS A REUQEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS THERE WILL NOT BE A SOLICITATION, SPECIFICATIONS, OR DRAWINGS AVALABLE AT THIS TIME The Army Contracting Command Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) on behalf of Program Executive Office Command Control Communications Tactical (PEO C3T), Project Manager Tactical Radios (PM TR) and Product Lead Communications Security (PdL COMSEC) intends to award a contract modification to increase the ceiling of Contract Number W15P7T-20-D-0030 awarded to the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) 444 Solomon Circle, Sparks Nevada pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1)

One Responsible Source (Reference: Justification & Approval for Other Than Full & Open Competition Control Number JA-19-B-239). The intended ceiling increase is $257,013,689 which will bring the total contract ceiling to $575,965,913. The SKL is a ruggedized, battery-powered, hand held device used to manage key materiel which was originally designed to replace the AN/CYZ-10 Data Transfer Device (OTO).

The SKL is a Controlled Cryptographic Item (CCI) that is utilized by the Army, Navy, Air Force, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), FMS, Coalition partners, and multiple non-Department of Defense (DoD) agencies [e.g. National Security Agency (NSA), Department of Homeland Security (OHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the White House] as a key component of the NSA's Electronic Key Management System (EKMS) to encrypt data being transferred to other secure electronic devices.

The SKL is capable of securely protecting electronic data for transport up to the Top Secret classification level. The SKL serves as an external, portable hard drive, to store and distribute encryption keying material, Signal Operating Instructions (SOI), software information, and data files for over 183 tactically deployed equipment platforms that are supported by the DoD Services, civil agencies, and foreign partners. The SKL is a nonnetworked device and therefore a low risk to any cyber security threat.

The SKL meets NSA Specifications for Functional Security Requirements for a Telecommunications System (FSRS), and uses service-specific User Application Software (UAS) to automate the loading process for field and mobile Communications-Security (COMSEC) components. Furthermore, the SKL consists of a host computer and a NSA-developed Information System Security (INFOSEC) embedded cryptographic Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) Type II card.

The internal cryptographic card that will encrypt data being transferred to other secure electronic devices has a designated nomenclature of KOV-21 card and will be furnished under the contract as Government Furnished Material (GFM). The SKL cannot operate without a KOV-21 internal cryptographic card.