Tactical Local Area Network (TACLAN) and Satellite Deployable Node (SDN) "King for a Day" Request for Information (RFI)

Key Dates

Due Date

Posted Date

Agency & Value

Agency

U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (USSOCOM)

Contract Value

Not provided

Codes & Classification

Solicitation Number

—

NAICS

—

Classification Code

—

Additional Details

Set Aside

None

Place of Performance

Tampa, Florida, UNITED STATES

SourceSAM

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. It is important to note that this is not a Request for Proposal (RFP); rather, it is an invitation for industry to provide innovative concepts and capability statements that will help shape future acquisition strategies. No contracts will be awarded as a result of this notice, and the government will not reimburse any costs associated with responding. **Purpose and Scope** The primary objective of this RFI is to solicit forward-thinking solutions from industry partners to address capability gaps in legacy TACLAN and SDN systems. USSOCOM is seeking input on how to architect a holistic, modular, and capability-driven C2 solution, unconstrained by existing programmatic or hardware limitations. The envisioned end state 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** Respondents are encouraged to adopt a "King for a Day" perspective, proposing solutions as if they were free from legacy constraints. The government is particularly interested in Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS)-based architectures that are modular and adaptable. The required capabilities include: - **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:** Solutions must support seamless traffic routing 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 system should provide localized processing, virtualization, and 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 architecture 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) addressing the following focus 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:** Methods 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:** Solutions for true transport agnosticism via SD-WAN and robust localized services during enterprise cloud disconnection. 5. **Signature Management & Spectrum Awareness:** Techniques to minimize physical and electromagnetic signatures and provide organic spectrum analysis for EW threat mitigation. 6. **Policy & Integration:** Strategies for continuous modernization, interoperability with allied/NATO networks (e.g., FMN standards), and security, assuming a policy shift toward rapid adoption of NIAP/APL-approved COTS hardware. All submissions must be unclassified, with proprietary information clearly marked. Responses should be sent to Chad Skiendziel at [email protected] no later than noon EST on June 26, 2026. **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. **Procurement Type and Special Considerations** This notice is classified as a Special Notice for market research purposes only. There are no set-aside requirements or procurement actions associated with this RFI at this stage. The information gathered will be used to refine the government’s acquisition strategy, with the potential for a competitive solicitation in the future. **Contact Information** - **Primary Contact:** Chad Skiendziel - **Email:** [email protected] **Additional Information** The notice was posted on May 15, 2026, and remains active. The official notice and any updates can be found at [SAM.gov Opportunity ID d505988e051c4c7b84b519cd900d8ec2](https://sam.gov/opp/d505988e051c4c7b84b519cd900d8ec2/view). **Summary for Contractors** This RFI represents an opportunity for industry partners with expertise in modular C2 network architectures, tactical communications, edge computing, SD-WAN, and EW resilience to influence the future direction of USSOCOM’s deployable communication infrastructure. Contractors with relevant COTS solutions, innovative approaches to network survivability and agility, and experience in secure, multi-enclave tactical environments are encouraged to respond. The government seeks to identify potential sources and inform future acquisition strategies, making this an ideal opportunity for organizations with advanced, adaptable technologies and a vision for next-generation tactical communications.