www.dhs.gov looking for input for future solicitations

k claffy kc at caida.org
Mon Dec 22 21:19:19 UTC 2003




for those who don't speak inside-dc-beltway,
the below is a request for information that 
a well-funded federal agency will use to write 
a proposal solicitation, to which folks 
(including but not limited to operators)
then write proposals to get ops research funding.
(and ultimately, presumably for implementations/
infrastructure.)

so if you want to influence what the U.S.
department of homeland security funds in
the area of IPS (not my meme), jan 2004 is 
an opportunity to tell them what to ask for.  
you are encouraged to take it, lots of people 
there trying to do the right thing and could 
use help from experts regarding what exactly 
that is.

formatted below, unreadable version of your very own at:
http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2003/11-November/23-Nov-2003/FBO-00474736.htm

k


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  NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
  
  INFORMATION ANALYSIS AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION DIRECTORATE, 
  DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
  
  INTERNET PRIORITY SERVICE (IPS) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
  
  1. INTRODUCTION
  
  1.1 Scope
  
  The National Communications System (NCS) of the Department of Homeland
  Security is soliciting information regarding assured communications
  through the Internet. This information is with respect to services or
  products that carriers, vendors, and third parties can provide, or plan
  in the future to provide, applicable to designing/developing an Internet
  Priority Service (IPS) capability to support national security and
  emergency preparedness (NS/EP) communications. This request for information
  (RFI) seeks technical information regarding Internet-based assured
  communications for data, including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
  Responses from all organizations including commercial entities, academic
  institutions, and Government departments and agencies, are encouraged.
  
  
  1.2 Background
  
  Under the provisions of Executive Order 12472, the NCS is responsible
  for ensuring that an NS/EP telecommunications infrastructure exists and
  is responsive to the needs of the President and the Federal departments
  and agencies using public and private telecommunications systems. In
  support of this mission, we have initiated several programs designed to
  overcome network failure and congestion during emergency situations,
  including the Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS),
  Telecommunications Service Priority (TSP), and Wireless Priority Service
  (WPS) to address priority services for Federal, State, and local Critical
  Infrastructure leadership personnel during an emergency.  
  
  The current implementations of priority service for NS/EP
  telecommunications consist of voice and voice-band data only in the
  circuit switched wire-line and wireless networks.  Due to the
  ever-increasing use of the Internet for transmission of all types of
  communications, we are looking at ways to provide similar types of
  assured communications for data applications and voice or video
  applications running over the Internet.  Information learned from this
  RFI will be used to help NCS achieve the following goals:
  
  	_ Identify plans and emerging technologies for providing 
  	priority services through the Internet.
  
  	_ Facilitate promising technologies as prototypes and 
  	proof-of-concept projects.
  
  	_ Identify any new areas requiring standardization.
  
  	_ Model technologies to determine what enhancements are required.
  
  	_ Develop an Internet Priority Service (IPS) program plan.
  
  
  
  2. AREAS OF INTEREST
  
  The following functional goals of an IPS concept should be considered:
  
  	Enhanced Priority Treatment
  	Secure Networks
  	Ubiquitous Coverage
  	International Connectivity
  	Interoperable
  	Scalable Bandwidth
  	Mobility
  	Voice Band Service
  	Broadband Service
  	Reliability/Availability
  	Restorable
  	Survivable
  	Non-Traceable
  	Affordable
  
  
  Ultimately, the service should be resilient to large-scale outages of
  the Internet infrastructure in addition to other infrastructures the
  Internet is dependent upon_such as electric power and telecommunications.
  It should also be resilient to cyber attacks originating within the
  Internet itself, such as denial of service, worms, etc.
  
  Solutions should have ubiquitous coverage in that they translate to
  various physical and link layer technologies, locations, applications,
  and network topologies.  Specifically, we are looking for solutions that
  will work in inter-AS cross-provider environments, as well as within
  single provider networks.
  
  To enable interoperability, we have IPS standards efforts underway
  through the Parlay Group 4 requirements; however, a lack of standards
  should not preclude a response--we are also interested in concepts and
  implementations that may be proprietary in nature, and have not yet been
  standardized. Responders are encouraged to review the T1A1.2 committee_s
  _Roadmap Standards in Support of Emergency Telecommunications Service
  (ETS)_ under the project T1A1-19 _Reliability/Availability of IP-based
  Networks and Services,_ whose concepts are reflected throughout this
  RFI.
  
  An IPS should have a large set of capabilities to potentially be of
  service during disaster recovery activities. Since not all of the
  following features are currently available, responses are not expected
  to meet all of these criteria; however, IPS features and objectives
  could include the following:
  
  	_ Multimedia and telephony services
  	_ Rapid user authentication
  	_ Security protection of user traffic
  	_ Preferential access to telecomm facilities
  	_ Preferential establishment of communications
  	_ Preferential routing of traffic
  	_ Preferential use of remaining operational resources
  	_ Preferential completion of user traffic to destination
  	_ Allowable degradation of service quality
  	_ Interchange of critical telecomm service management information
  	_ Optional preemption of non-emergency traffic 
  	  (where permitted by regulation)
  
  
  The objective is to provide priority service for Internet applications
  critical to essential personnel during a crisis. Preliminary analysis
  shows that numerous approaches are possible due to the design of the
  protocol model and state that makes up the Internet; however, prioritized
  delivery of individual packets at the lower layers of the Internet
  protocol model does not guarantee that transactions will gain priority
  processing on end systems and servers. Since any single protocol is
  likely to be insufficient to guarantee priority, several approaches may
  need to be combined to form an operational system.
  
  In addition to end-to-end solutions, we are interested in
  individual submissions that may consist of building blocks
  for an overall IPS architecture. Responses should address how
  these building blocks fit within the traditional Internet
  model to eventually provide an end-to-end solution. Specifically,
  the following areas should be addressed:
  
  	_ Link Layer. A large variety of layer 2 link level technologies
  	are incorporated within the Internet. Enhancements applicable
  	to priority services for High-speed optical backbone technologies
  	such as SONET, Packet over SONET, MPLS, Gigabit Ethernet, DWDM,
  	and ATM are of interest. Also of interest are enhancements
  	applicable to access technologies such as DSL, cable modem, and
  	fixed wireless, in addition to priority within mobile wireless
  	protocols such as messaging, 3G cellular data, and satellite
  	data.
  
  	_ Network Layer. Internet Protocol (IP) makes up the entire
  	network layer for the Internet. There are two versions of IP
  	applicable to this RFI. IP Version 4 is the current protocol
  	that operates the majority of the Internet. IP v6 will eventually
  	replace IP v4, with superior addressing, security, priority and
  	other features. We are interested in approaches that are applicable
  	to either or both versions of IP.
  
  	_ Transport Layer. Protocols designed to assure data transmission
  	end-to-end or hop-by-hop through the Internet often are considered
  	transport layer enhancements. The IETF has standardized a number
  	of approaches, so implementations of these are of interest to
  	us. Additional concepts and proprietary implementations in this
  	area are also of interest.
  
  	_ Application Layer. Applications control the Internet; as an
  	example BGP and DNS are applications that are considered core
  	infrastructure pieces of the Internet.  Applications also make
  	up the services that utilize the Internet. Of interest are
  	application enhancements that will lead to one or more of the
  	fourteen functional goals for an assured IPS. Applications of
  	particular interest include (but are not limited to) email,
  	messaging, web, VoIP, (transport and edge), and video.
  
  	_ Standards and APIs. We are also interested in standards or
  	APIs that have been developed in these areas, whether or not
  	implemented in products or services.
  
  3. RESPONSE GUIDELINES
  
  3.1 Scope
  
  Most organizations do not have expertise or capabilities in all of the
  areas described above; therefore, responses addressing only a subset of
  or single identified area(s) of interest are also welcome. Responses
  should be clearly labeled with the areas of interest that are discussed.
  Length of responses should be limited to no more than 40 pages.
  
  3.2 Structure
  
  Provide any materials, suggestions, and discussion you deem appropriate.
  In addition, please provide ample contact information, including telephone 
  numbers and e-mail addresses, to facilitate any needed clarification 
  or further discussion.  Include, as appropriate, the following:
  
  	_ Description of Products/Technologies/Research/Standards/APIs, 
  		including performance information
  	_ Plans for commercial use of these technologies
  	_ Corporate partners who will use the technology
  	_ Feasibility Assessment
  	_ Cost and Schedule Estimates
  	_ Existing Government Contracts
  	_ Corporate Expertise
  
  
  3.3 Format
  
  Electronic and hard copy formats are both acceptable, although electronic
  submission is preferred. If provided electronically, submissions should
  be in a Microsoft Office compatible format or Adobe Acrobat. Copies may
  be emailed to Mr. Dave Nolan at noland at ncs.gov or mailed to the address
  below.
  
  3.4 Deadline
  
  Responses are due 60 days after release of this RFI.
  
  4. DISCLAIMER
  
  There is no bid package or solicitation document associated with this
  announcement. The requested information is for planning purposes and
  does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement
  action will be issued or a contract awarded. No entitlement to payment
  of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as
  a result of the submission of information. Responses to the RFI will
  not be returned.  The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any
  consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary
  information. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance
  with the applicable Government regulations.  In accordance with FAR
  15.202(e), responses to this notice are not an offer and cannot be
  accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are
  solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this
  RFI.
  
  5. CONTACT INFORMATION
  Mr. David J. Nolan
  NCS/N2
  701 South Court House Road
  Arlington, VA 22204-2198
  (703) 607-6190
  noland at ncs.gov
  

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