Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Department of Administration (DOA), Division of Administrative Services (DAS), is seeking information from qualified firms who can provide statewide public communication services. Services in support of DOA’s and Alaska Public Broadcasting, Inc’s mission of providing state owned and operated rural television service, delivery of non-commercial broadcasting, distance education, and emergency communication services. This request for information (RFI) does not guarantee future work. The information gathered will aid DAS in conducting market research to ascertain the availability of resources including identifying companies that specialize in satellite public communication services for government entities and the services they provide. The system was constructed by the State during the 1970s and 80s and consisted of over 200 sites. Programing is assembled in Anchorage and sent to an uplink site at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which transmits programing to a satellite the state currently contracts for the use of. The current Fairbanks uplink is in the process of being moved to Anchorage. This is known as the Satellite Interconnection Project or SIP. Additional information related to ARCS can be found on the state’s DOA Alaska Public Broadcast Commission page located at https://doa.alaska.gov/apbc/arcs.html. The current system utilizes orbital position at 139 W, C-Band, DVB-s, MPEG2, SD, Audio. DAS is seeking information from qualified vendors who can take advantage of current technology for a spectral efficiency of bandwidth such as DVB-S2/S2X, MPEG4, HD/SD, Audio, or other efficient delivery protocols; as well as new technology which could utilize multiple delivery options, including existing satellite services as well as upcoming Low Earth Orbit (LEO) options and terrestrial options as available.
