Tactical Local Area Network (TACLAN) and Satellite Deployable Node (SDN) "King for a Day" Request for Information (RFI)
Key Dates
Due Date
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Posted Date
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Agency & Value
Agency
U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (USSOCOM)
Contract Value
Not provided
Codes & Classification
Solicitation Number
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NAICS
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Classification Code
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Additional Details
The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has issued a Special Notice Request for Information (RFI) titled "Tactical Local Area Network (TACLAN) and Satellite Deployable Node (SDN) 'King for a Day'." This RFI is part of USSOCOM’s ongoing market research efforts, conducted in accordance with FAR 15.201, to inform the modernization of tactical Command and Control (C2) networks. The focus is on addressing capability gaps in legacy TACLAN and SDN systems, with an emphasis on innovative, modular, and survivable solutions suitable for future Special Operations Forces deployable communication infrastructure.
Purpose and Scope:
The primary objective of this RFI is to solicit innovative concepts and capability statements from industry partners that can help shape the future architecture of tactical C2 networks. USSOCOM is seeking input on how to overcome current limitations by leveraging Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technologies and modular designs. The "King for a Day" challenge encourages respondents to propose holistic, capability-driven solutions unconstrained by legacy hardware, programmatic mandates, or traditional acquisition silos. The envisioned outcome is a unified, modular ecosystem that enhances survivability, agility, low probability of intercept/detection (LPI/LPD), and user simplicity, particularly for Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO).
Key Requirements and Objectives:
USSOCOM’s vision for the future tactical network includes several critical capabilities:
- **Modular "Warehouse" Architecture:** A standardized, lightweight chassis system ("blade and card") that allows for hot-swappable components, enabling tailored configurations for various operational echelons (Team, Company, Battalion, JSOTF) without the need for entirely separate systems.
- **Transport Agnosticism & Automated SD-WAN:** The solution must seamlessly route traffic across multiple transport options (pLEO/Starshield, LTE/5G, local ISP, SD-WAN mesh) with automated failover and minimal user intervention.
- **Tactical Edge Compute & Organic CDS:** The architecture should provide localized processing, virtualization, and essential services (e.g., TAK, RoIP, PXE boot, local Exchange) to ensure operational effectiveness in Disconnected, Disrupted, Intermittent, and Limited (DDIL) environments. Integrated Cross-Domain Solutions (CDS) are required for secure intelligence sharing at the edge.
- **Signature Management & EW Resilience:** The system must feature low-profile antennas with rapid acquisition (under 60 seconds), built-in spectrum analysis, and automated dynamic routing to maintain connectivity and evade detection during electronic warfare (EW) attacks.
Expected Deliverables:
Respondents are asked to submit a white paper (maximum 20 pages, excluding cover sheet, table of contents, and acronym list) that addresses the following areas:
1. **Architecture, SWaP, & Power:** Design of a scalable, COTS-based hardware ecosystem that integrates WAN, LAN, server compute, and radio in a TSA checked-baggage compliant form factor (<70 lbs per case), with considerations for environmental hardening and power management.
2. **Automated Orchestration:** Approaches to eliminate manual configurations, resolve domain drop issues, and enable reliable over-the-air updates, supporting rapid "plug-and-play" deployment by non-technical users.
3. **High-Throughput Security & CDS:** Solutions to overcome current encryption bottlenecks (100 Mbps limit) and natively integrate CDS for secure, multi-enclave data flow at the tactical edge.
4. **Transport, Edge Compute & DDIL:** Methods to achieve true transport agnosticism via SD-WAN and maintain robust localized services when disconnected from enterprise cloud resources.
5. **Signature Management & Spectrum Awareness:** Strategies to minimize physical and electromagnetic signatures and provide organic spectrum analysis for EW threat mitigation.
6. **Policy & Integration:** Plans for continuous modernization, interoperability with allied/NATO networks (e.g., FMN standards), and security, assuming a policy shift allowing rapid adoption of NIAP/APL-approved COTS hardware.
Contracting Entity and Location:
The contracting entity for this RFI is the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), a federal agency under the Department of Defense. The place of performance is Tampa, Florida, United States.
Submission and Contact Information:
Responses must be unclassified and clearly mark any proprietary information. Submissions should be sent electronically in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat format to Chad Skiendziel at [email protected] no later than noon EST on June 26, 2026. The government will review all submissions for relevance, maturity, and applicability, and may contact respondents for further discussion, though such engagement does not constitute a commitment to contract.
Procurement Type and Special Considerations:
This notice is for market research purposes only and is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). There are no set-aside requirements or binding commitments at this stage. The information gathered will be used to refine the acquisition strategy for future competitive solicitations. Respondents are advised not to submit classified or sensitive information and will not be compensated for their submissions.
For further details and updates, interested parties should refer to the official notice on SAM.gov (Opportunity ID: b0e6132a71694f12a09d5d6949803175).
This RFI represents a significant opportunity for industry partners with advanced C2, networking, and tactical communications capabilities to influence the next generation of Special Operations Forces deployable communication infrastructure.