Inside track: In brief

The Air Force needs local commercial communications services for Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Mass.Local services will include access for commercial business lines, digital subscriber lines, voice mail, number portability and operator and directory assistance. They also will include local and intralocal access and transport area access and interconnection with inter-LATA exchange carriers.The contract will be for five years. Responses are due by Nov. 3. Contact Debbie Speir at debbie.speir@tinker.af.mil.The Federal Aviation Administration needs VHF air-to-ground communications services in the Gulf of Mexico, where it has a network of communications facilities on land and on private offshore oil platforms.The agency's VHF extended range network improves direct pilot-to-controller VHF coverage in the Houston Center Flight Information Region. It augments the network by providing service from Key West, Fla., and from Progresso and Cancun in Mexico.Because FAA plans to phase out services to its agency-owned solution, it is interested in technologies that can provide direct pilot-to-controller communications. Vendors also must offer communications equipment, project and financial oversight, system engineering, logistics services and hardware and software maintenance support services.The contract could be for one year with two six-month options and start in March 2007. Responses are due by Nov. 3. Contact Matthew Asai at matt.asai@faa.gov.The Federal Highway Administration wants vendors that can perform highway traffic monitoring services for federal land management agencies, such as the National Park Service, Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife Service.Monitoring should include traffic collection, data program development, system development and related engineering services.The agency expects to award up to two contracts. Responses are due by Dec. 21. Contact Peggy Schaad at peggy.schaad@fhwa.dot.gov.