Market Research is being conducted to find sources that can meet the requirements to enhance and upgrade the existing the Wideband Training and Certification System (WTCS) baseline; to include but not limited to: update, add, and integrate software releases; update the technical data package; and produce, field and test additional devices.
The intent of this Sources Sought Notice (SSN) is to request Capability Statements from respondents interested in participating (as a Prime or Subcontractor) in the forthcoming acquisition for the Wideband Training and Certification System Version 2.0 (WTCS Ver 2.0. Capability Statements will be reviewed by the Government for the purpose of supplementing current market research, as well as to inform the WTCS Ver 2.0 acquisition strategy. Only experienced/qualified potential offerors should respond to this SSN.
The Government is contemplating conducting an Industry Day for WTCS Ver 2.0, which may include a demonstration, by the Government, of the current WTCS. Respondents to this SSN are requested to identify, in its capabilities statement, whether they would be interested in participating in an Industry Day and demonstration of the current WTCS. Respondent's interest will determine whether an Industry Day will be conducted.
The current WTCS contract was awarded on the basis of full and open competition to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation. A determination regarding the overall acquisition strategy/competitive approach (e.g. Full & Open, Small Business Set-Aside) for WTCS Ver 2.0 has yet to be determined. However, it is anticipated that WTCS Ver 2.0 will be issued as a Single Award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract and will include Fixed Price and Cost Plus Delivery Orders. The estimated value of the Contract is $48.5M, with an anticipated 5 year period of performance. Award is anticipated in the second quarter of FY20.
The Program Executive Office for Simulation Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) has a requirement to modernize the Wideband Training and Certification System (WTCS), currently being produced and fielded by Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation. The WTCS is an interactive training system for the Army's Satellite Controllers, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 25S 1C. The WTCS trains satellite controllers on the Wideband Satellite Operating Management System (WSOMS) and its associated subsystems. It supports initial training for the MOS 25s 1C at the United States Army Cyber Center of Excellence (USACCoE) and sustainment training for the civilian and military controller personnel at the Wideband Satellite Operations Centers.
WTCS Ver 2.0 upgrades and modifications will be provided to the United States Army Cyber Center of Excellence (USACCoE), Wideband Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Communications Operation Centers (WSOCs), Regional SATCOM Support Centers (RSSCs), Consolidated Satellite System Expert (C-SSE), 1st Space Brigade, 53rd Signal Battalion, and the Integration Team (IT). With the exception of the IT, the WTCS Ver 2.0 will be used for operator certification and sustainment training and the WTCS at the IT shall be used for testing. This WTCS Ver 2.0 effort will be based on the existing WTCS baseline that involves a combination of software virtualization, application simulations, data stimulation, Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI), and Learning Management System (LMS) to support WSOMS task training, evaluation, and certification activities completed at the WSOC, RSSC, C-SSE, 1st Space Brigade, 53rd Signal Battalion, IT, and USACCoE locations.
Satellite control and training are built around fast moving, constantly changing requirements. The WTCS must be kept up-to-date to support training in the dynamic environment of satellite control.
a. Upgrade and modify the existing WTCS baseline to incorporate software developmental changes of the WSOMS sub-systems to correspond to the current material release versions.
b. Provide a networked training capability between all locations except the CCoE.
c. Ensure WTCS Ver 2.0 meets Government defined requirements for Cybersecurity and the Department of Defense (DoD) Risk Management Framework (RMF), with the upgraded system classification of "Secret."
d. Produce, install, test, and conduct training at all locations.
e. Update system documentation, training modules and Electronic Technical Manuals.
f. Update the LMS and IMI as new enhancements or modifications are made to the WTCS baseline.
a. Conform to the WSOMS network infrastructure requirements. This includes conforming to WSOMS Network (WSOMSNet) Public Key Infrastructure requirements.
b. Conduct an analysis of bandwidth, processing time, risks and capabilities requirements for the system to be deployed on a WSOMS network infrastructure.
c. Provide a networked training capability between all locations except the USACCoE at Ft Gordon and the WIC.
d. Provide a networked testing capability between multiple WTCS nodes.
2. The second delivery order shall include installation of the WTCS in the RSSCs, C-SSE, and with the Integration Team (IT).
Respondents are requested to provide capability statements, not to exceed twenty (20) pages, including the cover sheet. Font shall be Government standard 12-point Arial. The cover page should include company name, address, and points of contact, including phone numbers and email addresses. The Government requests capability statements be provided, via email NLT 3:30 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST), on Friday 8 March 2019 to Francis Sierra (Contract Specialist) at: francis.d.sierra.civ@mail.mil with a copy to lisa.t.bird.civ@mail.mil .
1. Describe your approach to meeting the objectives defined in this Notice, and specifically describe software, hardware and technical data from the current WTCS contract, the potential offeror may need to fulfill the objectives of WTCS Ver 2.0, described in this Notice.
2. Information relating to the company and personnel that would be assigned to this effort. Also indicate whether personnel have direct (past and current) wideband satellite communication expertise and experience, as relates to the defense satellite communications system and wideband global satcom system, and possess the design and production capabilities to meet the requirements specified in this Notice.
3. The Government desires non-proprietary solutions for WTCS Ver 2.0, with (at minimum) Government Purpose Rights (GPR) for Software Hardware and Technical Data (to the maximum extent practicable). Respondents are requested to address whether its potential solution for WTCS Ver 2.0 would include a proprietary or non-proprietary solution, and if its potential solution would (at minimum) Include GPR for planned Software, Hardware and Technical Data delivered.
Responses to the above Intellectual Property/Software and Technical Data Rights question (2) will be utilized for the purpose of Market Research and to inform the Government's acquisition strategy. A ny potential Solicitation for WTCS Ver 2.0. will include the appropriate Federal Regulations (FAR, DFARS) regarding applicable Software and Technical Data Rights Assertions of Use, Release, or Disclosure Restrictions (e.g. DFARS 252.227-7017, etc.).
Additionally, the Government is aware that there may be certain inherit restrictions/limitations, relating to commercial hardware, software and technical data (e.g. Software Licenses, Commercial Manuals & Publications, etc.), that would render obtaining a solution that is 100% non-proprietary, with 1000% Government Purpose Rights (GPR), difficult, or potentially impossible. The Government welcomes any questions, comments and/or clarification questions, pertaining to the Government's desire to receive a non-proprietary solution with GPR for WTCS Ver 2.0.
4. A Rough Order Magnitude (ROM) that identifies the labor categories, labor rates, material, and indirect costs (e.g. Overhead, G&A, etc.) to accomplish the objectives identified in this document. To clarify the Government is not requesting respondents provide a Cost/Price Proposal, complete with a Basis of Estimates, or a Work Breakdown Structure, as would be requested in a formal Request for Proposal. Please contact Mr. Francis Sierra for any questions regarding the Government's request for a ROM.
5. All responses should be unclassified and marked appropriately. All responses should be compatible with Microsoft Office 2013.
Respondents are requested to provide a statement indicating its Business Size Standard, Socio-Economic Category (if applicable) and registered NAICS Code(s), in accordance with the current WTCS contract NAICS 333318 , Other Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing and NAICS Code 541512, Computer Systems Design Services. Although the current NAICS Code, under the existing WTCS Contract, is 333318 , Other Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing; the Government is contemplating a change to the NAICS from 333318 to 541512, Computer Systems Design Services. Respondents are requested to provide input regarding the Government's potential NAICS change, to include any potential impacts (Positive or Negative) and encouraged to provide information regarding related NAICS Code(s) respondents may have performed under for efforts similar to the WTCS Ver 2.0 requirements described below.
If the respondent is classified as a small business, under either of the aforementioned NAICS (333318, 541512), and are interested in participating as a prime contractor for the WTCS Ver 2.0 acquisition, respondents are requested to describe its plan to meet the limitations on subcontracting per FAR 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting. If the respondent is a small business and is only interested in subcontracting opportunities, respondents are requested to specify the requirements they are interested in supporting. The Government welcomes all questions, comments, and clarifications relating to the described WTCS Ver 2.0 requirement, as it will assist the Government with completion of its market research, as well as inform the overarching acquisition strategy.
7. Questions, comments or clarifications need to be provided to the Government, NLT than 3:30 EST, on Friday 1 March 2019, to ensure respondents have adequate time to complete its capabilities statements (due Friday 8 March 2019).
8. Marketing material is not a sufficient response and is not desired for inclusion in responses.
DISCLAIMER : This notice does not constitute an invitation for bids or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not a commitment by the U.S. Government to procure subject products. No solicitation document exists at this time. The submission of this information is for PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. The information received from respondents WILL NOT obligate the Government in any manner, nor will the Government reimburse companies for any costs associated with submittal of this responses to this SSN. This SSN does not constitute an Invitation for Bid or a Request for Proposals, nor should it be considered as a commitment on the part of the Government. Any information obtained as a result of this SSN is intended to be used by the Government on a non-attribution basis for program planning, acquisition strategy development, statement of work/statement of objectives, and performance specifications.
CONTRACTS POINT OF CONTACT : Primary - Mr. Francis Sierra francis.d.sierra.civ@mail.mil , (407) 208-3317, Alternate - Mr. Phil Davis, Procuring Contracting Officer, (407) 384-5335, phillip.b.davis16.civ@mail.mil .
TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT: Primary - Ms. Lisa Bird, Lisa.t.bird.civ@mail.mil , (407) 384-5533. Alternate - Mr. Ben Little, Benjamin.j.little.civ@mail.mil , (407) 208-3438.


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7 Latinx Artists That Are Pushing The Boundaries of Music
January 8, 2021 /0 Comments/in Fall 2020 Digital Print -- Boundaries /by Alize Magaña
Arca –
Arca, also referred to as Doña Arca, is a trans Venezuelan singer, songwriter, producer, and DJ. Known for her experimental sound, she tastefully blends genres, deconstructs samples, and opens up in a beautifully vulnerable and raw manner. Arca's image, sound, and art evoke a sense that she is a futuristic visitor from another planet. However, her music touches upon the most human senses of all: love, nostalgia, and finding freedom in being yourself. Arca's gender transition has occurred throughout her prolific career both in making music for herself and songwriting for artists like Kanye West, Björk, and FKA Twigs. Her music is almost a real-time documentation of this experience as she taps into the various emotions that come with exploring your gender identity. Her frustration and excitement is most explicitly showcased in the single, "Nonbinary," off of her latest release KiCk i. KiCk i, is an avant-pop album that blends reggaeton, pop, and electronic music in a distorted and accentuated fashion. In true Arca fashion, the record takes all elements of both the natural and unnatural, challenging listeners to peer inside and consider the alien in themselves.
Check out Arca's latest release, KiCk i
Pelada –
Pelada is a Montreal-based electronic duo, made up of producer Tobias Rochman and vocalist Chris Vargas. Together, the two create music that is impossible not to dance to by blending techno and house club genres. Their music explores themes of power, gender, and even environmental politics. Vargas' raw and cutting lyrics – written and performed in Spanish – are enhanced by Rochman's trippy, acidic techno background that make the duo a fan favorite in Montreal's underground club scene. Their debut album, Movimiento Para Cambio, covers various styles of dance music from NY house to cumbias, all with overarching punk themes that force listeners to reflect on oppressive structures of society with songs like 'A Mí Me Juzgan Por Ser Mujer' ('I Am Judged Because I'm a Woman') and 'Habla Tu Verdad' ('Speak Your Truth') which urges women to overcome the stigma around discussing sexual harassment. Printed in their liner notes, Pelada states their message loud and clear: 'ABRE TUS OJOS, LA BESTIA SE ALIMENTA DE LA EXPLOTACIÓN ('OPEN YOUR EYES, THE BEAST FEEDS ON EXPLOITATION')."
Check out Pelada's latest release, Movimiento Para Cambio
Tomasa del Real –
Valeria Cisternas, or better known by her stage name, Tomasa del Real, is a Chilean reggaeton artist often referred to as "La Reina de Neoperreo." But what is Neo-perreo? Neo-perreo is a social-media inspired offshoot of Reggaeton, a new version with ingredients of auto-tune, EDM, and even punk influences. Neo-perreo culture gained popularity through social media as a hashtag and Youtube channel. The internet allowed accessibility for like-minded artists throughout Latin America to express and share their similar sounds and styles. The aesthetic is based on do-it-yourself culture, often coupled with Y2K aesthetics and other artsy online trends from Tumblr and Instagram. Tomasa del Real is one of the pioneers of the genre, championing a new way to listen to Reggaeton, liberating women and the LGBTQIA+ community in a previously male-dominated genre. One of Tomasa Del Real's main intentions with the creation of this new sound was to promote gender and sexual equality at Neo-perreo parties. Neo-perreo is about taking control, having agency over your own body, and being genuine. Neo-perreo is more than just a genre, it's a movement.
Check out Tomasa del Real's latest release, TDR
Pacoima Techno –
Representing the 818 is of the utmost importance for Pacoima Techno, an underground electronic music duo, composed of Aarum Alatorre and Pedro Alejandro Verdin. Based in Los Angeles, Alatorre and Verdin use their experiences growing up in the San Fernando Valley as inspiration for their music and community organizing. Their mission is to create spaces that bring people together through music, community, and dance. Pacoima Techno regularly holds parties in Highland Park called GOT 2B REAL, meant to be a safe space for POC and LGBTQIA+ folks to dance, sing, and party freely. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Pacoima Techno has taken these parties online, broadcasting "audio performances" under the same name with Dublab. Their music and performances draw upon the duo's experience as students at art school in the San Fernando Valley, and often work collaboratively with other underground Latinx artists in Los Angeles. Pacoima Techno are co-founders of the underground record label CASA/TECA that embraces experimental music and art that wildly blend components of dance, electronic, latin, and synth music. Pacoima Techno is an art project, a community, and overall, an experience.
Check out Pacoima Techno's latest release, Pinches Perros (feat. Soltera)
Telescopios –
Telescopios is an Argentinian alternative indie rock band that is unafraid of bending and distorting the sounds of beloved Latin Rock and Pop. Based in Cόrdoba, the band is composed of artists Rodrigo Molina, Bernardo Ferrón, Nicolás Moroni, and Alberto Ortíz who all met in university. This band is actively defining new-wave alt-rock in the Argentinian musical landscape. The music takes cues from contemporary psych-rock artists like Tame Impala and Unknown Mortal Orchestra but with fresh and creative twists that embed trippy textures with hard-rock guitars and drums. Their latest release showcases the band's more electronic and ambient future, including some of the band's most rhythmic work to date. Telescopios is a band without limits – blazing the trail for indie and alternative rock without steering too far away from the fan favorite Argentinian genres of Latin Rock and Pop.
Check out Telescopios' latest release, Doble de Riesgo
Lorelle Meets the Obsolete –
Hailing from Guadalajara, Mexico, Lorelle Meets The Obsolete is stationed at the intersection of garage rock, kraut-rock, and dream pop. The husband and wife duo, Alberto González and Lorena Quintanilla, create dark-hued psych rock that embeds all kinds of murky and fuzzy textures to distort and perfect their sound. Lorelle Meets the Obsolete discography has spanned over 10 years, each album more expansive and avant-garde than the last, with their more recent releases reflecting the couple's relaxing new home in Ensenada, Baja California, where they practice and record. The duo's latest release, De Facto, is sung entirely in Spanish, being the band's first album to do so. Quintanilla's decision to sing in Spanish was prompted by the increase of political and social turmoil in Mexico in response to the Trump administration, and hoped the decision would offer comfort to Mexican and Latinx listeners alike. Tapping into multiple genres like shoegaze, post-punk, and psych-rock, Lorelle Meets the Obsolete is one of bands at the forefront of the dreamy and dark psychedelic scene.
Check out Lorelle Meets the Obsolete's latest release, De Facto
Lido Pimienta –
Lido Pimienta is a Colombian-Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter. Her music traverses many styles of pop and electronic music, as well as taking influences from traditional indigenous and Afro-Colombian musical styles. Her latest album, Miss Colombia, was made to raise awareness of challenges faced by Indigenous and Black women in Colombia and draws from her own experiences as a queer Black Colombian woman of African and Indigenous Wayuu descent. She recorded the majority of Miss Colombia in her home studio and wrote and arranged each song herself. Pimienta calls this album a "cynical love letter to Colombia" as she addresses racism, misogyny, and homophobia in her home country. Her lyrics are unafraid to express the pains of these violences as well as making a call to action, with songs like 'Resisto y Ya' ('I Resist and That's It') as she asserts her lived experiences are forms of resistance in themselves. The album is filled with beautiful messages of love, heartbreak, and strength in the face of adversity, all within beautiful percussion, woodwinds and electro-infused rhythms that draw from reggaeton, cumbia and porro, a Colombian folk genre from the Caribbean coast.
Check out Lido Pimienta's latest release, Miss Colombia
To view this article in its full designed glory, head over to our Issuu to view our Fall 2020 Boundaries Issue!
Tags: latinx artists, music, pushing boundaries
https://lagente.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Alize_Piece.png 750 1080 Alize Magaña https://lagente.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/LAGENTE156H.png Alize Magaña2021-01-08 12:00:362021-01-09 22:55:157 Latinx Artists That Are Pushing The Boundaries of Music
Daring Music for the Silenced Voices of Latin America
Hole in the Wall: The Honey Tones
Hole in the Wall: Jorge Lopez
Dancing Beneath the Stars
Escaping la 'Oscuridad' with Jasper Bones
Latinx Punks
All in a Day's Work where i'm from

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Japans new energy strategy aims to reduce emissions by 5-9 pct by 2020 and some 20 pct by 2030.
Japan's 10 major power companies produced and bought 455.34 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in the first six-month period of 2012, down nearly 8.3 pct from the level in the first half of fiscal 2010. The drop in production and demand reflects energy-saving efforts according to the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan.
The cattle will be processed in Japan and the meat will be sold to upscale restaurants in the United States. Livestock farmers hope the resumption of exports will help to erase concerns about radioactive contamination.
Since November last year, Japans' Ministry of the Environment has been investigating radiological effects on wild plants and animals mainly within the no-entry zones in Fukushima Prefecture.


As consolidation continues in the mobile ad space — with Greystripe most recently getting bought by ValueClick (NSDQ: VCLK) — one of the remaining, larger independent players is making sure it will have the scale to go the distance for the near term. Jumptap, the targeted mobile ad network, today announced that it has picked up $25 million in funding.
This looks like the official, and revised, confirmation of $20 million in funding that was reported by TechCrunch in April, based on an SEC filing. This round will take Jumptap's total funding to over $90 million to date.
This round included participation from existing big-name investors AllianceBernstein, General Catalyst, Redpoint Ventures, Summerhill Ventures, Valhalla Partners and the advertising giant WPP. Jumptap noted in its emailed release that there were also several new investors — although they were unnamed.
The funding underscores the continuing growth we have been seeing in the mobile advertising space in the last year, as the number of ad-supported apps and mobile web content continue to rise, and more people take up smartphones to use them.
Jumptap says that its ads — which run the gamut from rich-media units to self-service text-based targeted ads — currently reach 83 million consumers worldwide, via 10,000 sites and apps; and in April the company had over 10 billion ad requests. That represents a 30 percent increase on traffic over last year.
One other potentially valuable asset that Jumptap has: a portfolio of around a dozen technology patents related to mobile advertising and rich media services. It has announced at least one partnership, with Dentsu subsidiary cci, licensing that technology for cci to use on its own platform.
Now the big question is: will all this be enough for Jumptap to go it alone — or at least continue to look like an attractive add-on in this increasingly consolidated field?


VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As the celebration of Christmas draws near, the plight of the Holy Family calls to mind the sufferings of the many men, women and children escaping war and persecution, Pope Francis said.
Educating young migrants will give them the tools to find "work in the future and participate in the common good as informed citizens. At the same time, we educate ourselves in order to welcome and show solidarity so that migrants and refugees do not meet indifference or, worse, intolerance on their journey," he said Dec. 14.
"The languages of music and art, linked to the Christmas season that celebrates the coming of the Son of God, help to manifest our generous support" for those most in need, Cardinal Versaldi said.
Just like many migrants and refuges today, he added, the Holy Father experienced "the anguish of persecution" when fleeing to Egypt.
"Little Jesus reminds us that half of today's refugees in the world are children, blameless victims of human injustice," the pope said.
The pope said that initiatives, like those in Iraq and Uganda, are an opportunity for the church to respond to the tragedies that countless men, women and children face and to offer them a chance not only to receive an education, but also the means for them "to get back on their feet" with dignity, strength and courage.
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