klas voyager eck

Press kit no. 1738-01

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Press Kit | no. 1738-01

Press release only in English

Klas Telecom's Voyager Executive Communications Kit (ECK) wins Red Dot Product Design Award

• Klas Telecom

For its sleek design and easy-to-use functionality, VoyagerECK - a mobile, secure voice, video, and data package for executive communicators -  wins Red Dot international design competition.   

The Voyager Executive Communications Kit (VoyagerECK or “ECK”) from Klas Telecom won over a 38-member jury and received the internationally recognized Red Dot Design Award in the category of product design. Red Dot is an internationally recognized quality label for excellent design that is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. With its mobile, all-inclusive, handheld secure communications system for deployed communications, Klas Telecom, in partnership with Dolmen design firm, proved its engineering and design excellence in the most recognized international competition for product design.

The international jury experts discussed and assessed each of the 4,928 entries from 56 countries. But only the designs with the highest quality and innovative power were given an award. This rugged and secure communications kit from Klas Telecom succeeded in being the first of its kind to convince jury members that it deserved to win the sought-after Red Dot seal of quality.

A statement by the jury relays that VoyagerECK’s dependable functionality was what sealed the deal. “Helpers on the spot and other institutions in crisis zones must be able to rely on communication equipment – the highly functional VoyagerECK fulfils this demand convincingly,” one jury member said.

“VoyagerECK is really for anyone that needs to communicate securely on the move,” Klas Telecom Chief Technology Officer Ryan Kendrick said. “It provides users with simultaneous voice, video and data access in the convenience of a lap-top sized, discreet package. Now, any government or federal executive, first responder, or state and local law enforcement agent can be equipped with a secure, mobile workplace.”

More information on VoyagerECK can be found here .

Among VoyagerECK’s other descriptors is a built-in Cisco 5915 Embedded Services Router (ESR) and an Ethernet switch to deliver voice, video and data access to both unclassified and classified enclaves simultaneously to multiple users and optional wireless access to public Internet. The kit comes with an innovative Voyager Ignition Key (VIK) on the red-side switch that facilitates rapid change of classified enclaves and enables persona portability for phone numbers and network settings by any operator, without special networking training required. The built-in VoSIP handset provides easy access to classified voice networks and is easily accessible through an external door. The router and switch are also removable and able to scale up to support larger operations.

For the past 60 years, the most-respected design experts have been convening every year in Essen, Germany to seek out the best designs. Professor Dr. Peter Zec, Founder and CEO of the Red Dot Award, said that this year, a record number of almost 5,000 products were entered. Zec went on record saying that this year in particular presented a huge amount of work for the jury members, who assessed each individual product. “This year, the laureates of the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2015 have demonstrated exceptionally high achievements and have thus been deservedly successful in the world’s largest design competition,” Zec said.

The internationally respected product competition will culminate in the Red Dot Gala in Essen on June 29, 2015. The glamorous award ceremony with more than 1,200 guests will be hosted by Professor Dr Peter Zec in Essen’s Aalto-Theater. At the subsequent Designers’ Night after-show party, the winners celebrate into the early hours in the midst of award-winning products in the Red Dot Design Museum Essen. The winning products are then presented for four weeks in the special exhibition “Design on Stage” before being included in the museum’s permanent exhibition.

About the Red Dot Award

In order to appraise the diversity in the field of design in a professional manner, the Red Dot Design Award breaks down into the three disciplines of Red Dot Award: Product Design, Red Dot Award: Communication Design and Red Dot Award: Design Concept.

The Red Dot Award was created by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen and with around 17,000 entries each year is one of the best-respected design competitions in the world. In 2015, it is celebrating its 60th anniversary: It was in 1955 that a jury convened for the first time to assess the best designs of the day. The sought-after award, the “Red Dot”, is the revered international seal of outstanding design quality.

Award-winning designers, manufacturers and agencies use the Red Dot winner label and receive numerous other winners’ privileges, such as the presentation of the award-winning product on Red Dot Online, in the Red Dot Design Yearbook, the Red Dot App and on Red Dot 21. Additionally, the winning products are communicated in the international PR activities of Red Dot and exhibited in the Red Dot Design Museum Essen for a whole year. More information is available at www.red-dot.org/press .  

About Klas Telecom

Founded in 1991, Klas Telecom is an engineering and design company with over 23 years of experience developing highly capable, lightweight communications solutions for use in austere environments where low size, weight, power and ruggedization are required. With over 80% of the company dedicated to engineering and design, Klas Telecom is able to stay on the forefront of the remote communications market. Klas Telecom operates in the U.S. and international defense, first responder, disaster relief, law enforcement and transportation markets. The company employs staff across four offices located in Washington, DC; Reston, VA; Tampa, FL; and Dublin, Ireland. More information is available at www.klastelecom.com.

About Dolmen

Recently Dolmen was featured in the British Design Museum as part of the Designs of the Year 2015 exhibition. They design firm won the 2014 Grand Prix at the Irish Design Awards. Dolmen is a creative design and innovation consultancy. Dolmen uses design thinking to better understand your customers and deliver world class, internationally award winning products and services. Dolmen generates IP & patents for clients and lean product development underpins everything that they do. Over the past 24 years Dolmen have consistently delivered products and services to their clients that significantly impact their bottom line. Dolmen makes ideas work. More information is available at www.dolmen.ie.

Press contact at Klas Telecom:

• Carrie Sarver | Marketing and Communications Director

[email protected]

+1 202-2886342

Press contact at Red Dot:

Catharina Hesse

Communications Manager

Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen

Gelsenkirchener Str. 181

45309 Essen

Tel.: +49-201-30104-50

[email protected]

www.red-dot.org/press   

For more information

• www2.klastelecom.com/requestinformati...

Media contact

• [email protected]
• +1 202-288-6342

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• Klas Telecom

For its sleek design and easy-to-use functionality, VoyagerECK – a mobile, secure voice, video, and data package for executive communicators –  wins Red Dot international design competition.   

The Voyager Executive Communications Kit (VoyagerECK or “ECK”) from Klas Telecom won over a 38-member jury and received the internationally recognized Red Dot Design Award in the category of product design. Red Dot is an internationally recognized quality label for excellent design that is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. With its mobile, all-inclusive, handheld secure communications system for deployed communications, Klas Telecom, in partnership with Dolmen design firm, proved its engineering and design excellence in the most recognized international competition for product design.

The international jury experts discussed and assessed each of the 4,928 entries from 56 countries. But only the designs with the highest quality and innovative power were given an award. This rugged and secure communications kit from Klas Telecom succeeded in being the first of its kind to convince jury members that it deserved to win the sought-after Red Dot seal of quality.

A statement by the jury relays that VoyagerECK’s dependable functionality was what sealed the deal. “Helpers on the spot and other institutions in crisis zones must be able to rely on communication equipment – the highly functional VoyagerECK fulfils this demand convincingly,” one jury member said.

“VoyagerECK is really for anyone that needs to communicate securely on the move,” Klas Telecom Chief Technology Officer Ryan Kendrick said. “It provides users with simultaneous voice, video and data access in the convenience of a lap-top sized, discreet package. Now, any government or federal executive, first responder, or state and local law enforcement agent can be equipped with a secure, mobile workplace.”

More information on VoyagerECK can be found here .

Among VoyagerECK’s other descriptors is a built-in Cisco 5915 Embedded Services Router (ESR) and an Ethernet switch to deliver voice, video and data access to both unclassified and classified enclaves simultaneously to multiple users and optional wireless access to public Internet. The kit comes with an innovative Voyager Ignition Key (VIK) on the red-side switch that facilitates rapid change of classified enclaves and enables persona portability for phone numbers and network settings by any operator, without special networking training required. The built-in VoSIP handset provides easy access to classified voice networks and is easily accessible through an external door. The router and switch are also removable and able to scale up to support larger operations.

For the past 60 years, the most-respected design experts have been convening every year in Essen, Germany to seek out the best designs. Professor Dr. Peter Zec, Founder and CEO of the Red Dot Award, said that this year, a record number of almost 5,000 products were entered. Zec went on record saying that this year in particular presented a huge amount of work for the jury members, who assessed each individual product. “This year, the laureates of the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2015 have demonstrated exceptionally high achievements and have thus been deservedly successful in the world’s largest design competition,” Zec said.

The internationally respected product competition will culminate in the Red Dot Gala in Essen on June 29, 2015. The glamorous award ceremony with more than 1,200 guests will be hosted by Professor Dr Peter Zec in Essen’s Aalto-Theater. At the subsequent Designers’ Night after-show party, the winners celebrate into the early hours in the midst of award-winning products in the Red Dot Design Museum Essen. The winning products are then presented for four weeks in the special exhibition “Design on Stage” before being included in the museum’s permanent exhibition.

About the Red Dot Award

In order to appraise the diversity in the field of design in a professional manner, the Red Dot Design Award breaks down into the three disciplines of Red Dot Award: Product Design, Red Dot Award: Communication Design and Red Dot Award: Design Concept.

The Red Dot Award was created by Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen and with around 17,000 entries each year is one of the best-respected design competitions in the world. In 2015, it is celebrating its 60th anniversary: It was in 1955 that a jury convened for the first time to assess the best designs of the day. The sought-after award, the “Red Dot”, is the revered international seal of outstanding design quality.

Award-winning designers, manufacturers and agencies use the Red Dot winner label and receive numerous other winners’ privileges, such as the presentation of the award-winning product on Red Dot Online, in the Red Dot Design Yearbook, the Red Dot App and on Red Dot 21. Additionally, the winning products are communicated in the international PR activities of Red Dot and exhibited in the Red Dot Design Museum Essen for a whole year. More information is available at www.red-dot.org/press .  

About Klas Telecom

Founded in 1991, Klas Telecom is an engineering and design company with over 23 years of experience developing highly capable, lightweight communications solutions for use in austere environments where low size, weight, power and ruggedization are required. With over 80% of the company dedicated to engineering and design, Klas Telecom is able to stay on the forefront of the remote communications market. Klas Telecom operates in the U.S. and international defense, first responder, disaster relief, law enforcement and transportation markets. The company employs staff across four offices located in Washington, DC; Reston, VA; Tampa, FL; and Dublin, Ireland. More information is available at www.klastelecom.com.

About Dolmen

Recently Dolmen was featured in the British Design Museum as part of the Designs of the Year 2015 exhibition. They design firm won the 2014 Grand Prix at the Irish Design Awards. Dolmen is a creative design and innovation consultancy. Dolmen uses design thinking to better understand your customers and deliver world class, internationally award winning products and services. Dolmen generates IP & patents for clients and lean product development underpins everything that they do. Over the past 24 years Dolmen have consistently delivered products and services to their clients that significantly impact their bottom line. Dolmen makes ideas work. More information is available at www.dolmen.ie.

Press contact at Klas Telecom:

• Carrie Sarver | Marketing and Communications Director
• [email protected]

+1 202-2886342

Press contact at Red Dot:

Catharina Hesse

Communications Manager

Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen

Gelsenkirchener Str. 181

45309 Essen

Tel.: +49-201-30104-50

www.red-dot.org/press   

  – 30 – For more information:

• www2.klastelecom.com/requestinformation/VoyagerECK
• +1 202-288-6342

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Enhanced Tactical Radio Integration Kit Now Supports Over 25 Radios

Intelligence on the battlefield is crucial to our Troops and quick reaction to ever-changing environments enables them to be in the right location with the right firepower to effectively engage the enemy. Communication and sharing of this intelligence using radios has traditionally been disjointed. As a response, Klas created the Voyager TRIK in 2016 to enable seamless sharing of information and communications over a variety of radio networks. Klas has integrated radios into the Voyager 8 chassis through the use of innovative, custom-designed radio brackets that fit securely in an IP67 rated enclosure that’s backed by AC, DC and battery power.

The use of radio brackets allows easy integration of traditional radio network data into tactical networks used by military communicators. Since the initial release of the Voyager TRIK, Klas Government has made enhancements to the classic Voyager 8 and has released a new battery-backed chassis and case, the Voyager 8 Plus, in order to support the increasing demand of integrating commonly used manpack and handheld tactical radios with higher power requirements. Klas has also integrated CISTECH Solutions’ software on the VoyagerEMm to complete a small form factor and rugged Radio over IP capability that’s compatible with the system. Some examples of commonly used tactical radios that can be integrated into the Voyager TRIK include:

• Silvus StreamCaster 4200
• Viasat BATS-D AN/PRC-161
• Persistent Systems MPU5
• L3Harris Falcon III AN/PRC-152A
• TrellisWare TW-950
• Thales AN/PRC-148 JEM

MajGen (Ret.) Mark Clark, USMC said, “Communications on the battlefield are critical to mission success across the spectrum from near peer competition, to gray zone conflict and humanitarian operations. The Voyager TRIK gives commanders better and more reliable communications. It gives units the size, weight power, simplicity, scalability and expeditionary requirements they seek and need, not only in a joint environment but in coalition and other governmental agencies as well. No mission or condition is too difficult for the Voyager TRIK.”

Tactical radios that are compatible with the Voyager TRIK fall into several categories:

• UHF/VHF radios from L3Harris and Thales
• Public Safety radios from Motorola
• MANET radios from Persistent Systems, Trellisware & Silvus
• ISR devices that include video feeds and Tactical Data Link from L3Harris, Viasat and Collins Aerospace

By incorporating each type of tactical radio into the Voyager TRIK, users can ingest data from disparate networks, analyze the data using Voyager network modules, and disseminate that data over Beyond Line-of-Sight and Line-of-Sight networks. This model has been recently adopted by PEO C3T in order to accomplish the ITN construct within Capability Set 21 and is being evaluated by all branches of the U.S. Military along with public safety organizations.

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[SatNews] Klas Telecom has announced that the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has added the VoyagerECK, a secure, portable, laptop-sized voice, video and data executive communications package, to the Department of Defense (DoD) Unified Capabilities (UC) Approved Products List (APL).

The UC APL consists of hardware and software products that have completed Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) interoperability and information assurance testing and is therefore an approved set of equipment purchasable by DoD components. Once products are listed on the UC APL, it eliminates the need for using organizations to individually certify and accredit solutions.

Currently, Klas Telecom’s VoyagerECK is also approved for use on the new DISA DoD Enterprise Classified Travel Kit Gateway (DECTK-GW). The DECTK-GW provides users with a portable solution to pull DISA classified voice, video and data services over any Internet connection anywhere in the world. Initially available as a specialized service to select users, the DECTK-GW is now fully operational and available to users DoD-wide. The built-in VoSIP handset provides easy access to classified voice networks and is easily accessible through an external door. The router and switch are also removable and able to scale up to support larger operations. Another benefit of the kit is its low barrier to adoption. Government executives can connect to it whatever laptop computer or phone they are accustomed to using and aren’t constrained to interfaces of unfamiliar GOTS personal electronics devices.

VoyagerHAIPE Brackets provide easy mounting for HAIPE encryption devices to any Voyager network module with a Voyager 1 Chassis attached. The VoyagerHAIPE bracket secures the encryption device to the Voyager network module. The entire secure network enclave can then easily slide into a Voyager chassis such as Voyager 8 , Voyager 8+ and Voyager 2.

Voyager HAIPE Bracket

Key features.

• Provides quick release mount for ViaSat KG-250X (additional mounting brackets and cabling for Harris KIV-54 SECNET and L3 Communications Mini-Catapan sold separately), General Dynamics TACLANE-Nano (KG-175N)
• Includes cable management features

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How soviets used ibm selectric keyloggers to spy on us diplomats, highly sophisticated bugs went undetected for 8 years during the cold war..

Dan Goodin - Oct 13, 2015 6:15 pm UTC

A National Security Agency memo that recently resurfaced a few years after it was first published contains a detailed analysis of what very possibly was the world's first keylogger—a 1970s bug that Soviet spies implanted in US diplomats' IBM Selectric typewriters to monitor classified letters and memos.

The electromechanical implants were nothing short of an engineering marvel. The highly miniaturized series of circuits were stuffed into a metal bar that ran the length of the typewriter, making them invisible to the naked eye. The implant, which could only be seen using X-ray equipment, recorded the precise location of the little ball Selectric typewriters used to imprint a character on paper. With the exception of spaces, tabs, hyphens, and backspaces, the tiny devices had the ability to record every key press and transmit it back to Soviet spies in real time.

A “lucrative source of information”

The Soviet implants were discovered through the painstaking analysis of more than 10 tons' worth of equipment seized from US embassies and consulates and shipped back to the US. The implants were ultimately found inside 16 typewriters used from 1976 to 1984 at the US embassy in Moscow and the US consulate in Leningrad. The bugs went undetected for the entire eight-year span and only came to light following a tip from a US ally whose own embassy was the target of a similar eavesdropping operation.

"Despite the ambiguities in knowing what characters were typed, the typewriter attack against the US was a lucrative source of information for the Soviets," an NSA document, which was declassified several years ago, concluded. "It was difficult to quantify the damage to the US from this exploitation because it went on for such a long time." The NSA document was published here in 2012. Ars is reporting the document because it doesn't appear to have been widely covered before and  generated a lively conversation Monday on the blog of encryption and security expert Bruce Schneier.

When the implant was first reported, one bugging expert cited in Discover magazine speculated that it worked by measuring minute differences in the time it took each character to be imprinted. That theory was based on the observation that the time the Selectric ball took to complete a rotation was different for each one. A low-tech listening device planted in the room would then transmit the sounds of a typing Selectric to a Soviet-operated computer that would reconstruct the series of key presses.

In fact, the implant was far more advanced and worked by measuring the movements of the "bail," which was the term analysts gave to the mechanical arms that controlled the pitch and rotation of the ball. According to the NSA document:

In reality, the movement of the bails determined which character had been typed because each character had a unique binary movement corresponding to the bails. The magnetic energy picked up by the sensors in the bar was converted into a digital electrical signal. The signals were compressed into a four-bit frequency select word. The bug was able to store up to eight four-bit characters. When the buffer was full, a transmitter in the bar sent the information out to Soviet sensors. There was some ambiguity in determining which characters had been typed. NSA analysts using the laws of probability were able to figure out how the Soviets probably recovered text. Other factors which made it difficult to recover text included the following: The implant could not detect characters that were typed without the ball moving. If the typist pressed space, tab shift, or backspace, these characters were invisible to the implant. Since the ball did not move or tilt when the typist pressed hyphen because it was located at the ball’s home position, the bug could not read this character either.

The implants were also remarkable for the number of upgrades they received. Far from being a static device that was built once and then left to do its job, the bugs were constantly refined. The document says:

The Soviets continually upgraded and improved their implants. There were five varieties or generations of bugs. Three types of units operated using DC power and contained either eight, nine, or ten batteries. The other two types operated from AC power and had beacons to indicate whether the typewriter was turned on or off. Some of the units also had a modified on and off switch with a transformer, while others had a special coaxial screw with a spring and lug. The modified switch sent power to the implant. Since the battery-powered machines had their own internal source of power, the modified switch was not necessary. The special coaxial screw with a spring and lug connected the implant to the typewriter linkage, and this linkage was used as an antenna to transmit the information as it was being typed. Later battery-powered implants had a test point underneath an end screw. By removing the screw and inserting a probe, an individual could easily read battery voltage to see if the batteries were still active. The ingenuity of the Soviets was remarkable because they did not merely move from batteries as a source of power to alternating current. There were early versions and later versions of bugs that used both sources of power. NSA found that the first three implants were battery powered. The first of these was shipped to Moscow in October 1976, and the other two were shipped in April of 1977. The first bug that used alternating current as its source of power was shipped to Moscow in November 1977. The remaining nine machines that were found in Moscow used alternating current as their source of power and were more advanced than the first AC-powered bug. Five of the advanced model AC bugged typewriters were delivered to Moscow in February 1982. The remainder were delivered in January of 1984. The later battery-powered bugged typewriters found in the consulate in Leningrad were shipped in April of 1977 and March of 1982. All of the implants were quite sophisticated. Each implant had a magnetometer that converted the mechanical energy of key strokes into local magnetic disturbances. The electronics package in the implant responded to these disturbances, categorized the underlying data, and transmitted the results to a nearby listening post. Data were transmitted via radio frequency. The implant was enabled by remote control. Another advantage of these bugs was easy installation. Engineers estimated that a skilled technician could install an implant in a typewriter in a half hour. The integrated circuits were very sophisticated for that time period. The circuits contained one bit core memory, an advancement that NSA engineers had never seen.

The devices could be turned off to avoid detection when the Soviets knew inspection teams were in close proximity. Newer devices operated by the US may have had the ability to detect the implants, but even then an element of luck would have been required, since the infected typewriter would have to be turned on, the bug would have to be turned on, and the analyzer would have to be tuned to the right frequency. To lower this risk, Soviet spies deliberately designed the devices to use the same frequency band as local television stations.

The account of "Project Gunman," which was the name given to the once-covert operation to discover and respond to the implants, underscores how drastically hacking has changed in the past 40 years.

"It's a lot easier now because everything is connected," Schneier, who is chief technology officer of Resilient Systems Inc., told Ars. "Everything is computerized and [that] makes it so much easier. When you just have to hack into somebody's computer, even if it's completely separate from the Internet, it's a much easier job, and that's why everybody can do it, including the criminals."

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KLAS VoyagerECK

• Expired 7 years, 50 weeks and 5 days ago

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the solicitation. (ii) Solicitation FA2517-16-Q-6029, KLAS VoyagerECK is being issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). (iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-89, dated 15 August 2016. (iv) This brand name acquisition is being solicited as 100% small business set-aside. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 334220, Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing with a size standard not to exceed 1250 employees. A single award will be made as a result of evaluation of quotes received. (v) The following is a list of contract line item number(s) and items and respective quantities: CLIN 0001 - KLAS-VOY-ECK1-R1.0-WK1, VoyagerECK with warranty and access to KTAC (Qty: 1 Each) CLIN 0002 - KLAS-SRVC-SN85, Cisco SMARTNet provides: global 8x5 access to Cisco Technical Assistance Center (TAC) (Qty: 1 Each) CLIN 0003 - KLAS-CABL-0515, VoyagerECK Vehicle Power Cable (Qty: 1 Each) (vi) DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUIREMENT: The item being obtained for this acquisition is a KLAS VoyagerECK configured for SOCNORTH. (vii) Delivery terms is 30 days after date of contract award. All deliverables are FOB Destination, shipped to SOCNORTH, Peterson AFB, CO 80914. (viii) PROVISION FAR 52.212-1 -- INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS, applies to this acquisition. (ix) FAR 52.212-2 - EVALUATION - COMMERCIAL ITEMS (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The Government will award to the lowest priced offeror that is determined technically acceptable. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Factor 1: Technical Capability Factor 2: Price (b) Factor 1: Technical Capability 1. Technical capability of the item offered to meet the Government requirement shall be evaluated based on an evaluation of Technical Capability Factor; the factor will be rated as "Technically Acceptable" or "Technically Unacceptable." 2. Offeror shall meet all the requirements in RFQ Paragraph vi and submit documentation to verify. 3. "Technically Acceptable" is defined as the item offered to the Government that meets the minimum requirements of the solicitation. 4. "Technically Unacceptable" is defined as the item offered to the Government that does not meet the minimum requirements of the solicitation. (c) Factor 2: Price 1. Price will be evaluated in order to determine if it is reasonable in accordance with FAR Parts 13.106-3 and 15.402(a)(2). Offers should be sufficiently detailed to demonstrate their reasonableness. (d) AWARD PROCESS: 1. The Government will first evaluate all quotations to ensure the quotation complies with all material aspects of the request for quotation thereby being determined as either "Responsive" or "Non-Responsive." 2. Responsive quotes will then be submitted for Technical Evaluation to determine those that are either "Technically Acceptable" or "Technically Unacceptable." 3. "Technically Acceptable" quotations will be then ranked according to Price. 4. The lowest priced offeror who is technically acceptable will receive the award. (x) FAR 52.212-3 - OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS - COMMERCIAL ITEMS The offeror shall complete only paragraphs (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) Web site accessed through http://www.acquisition.gov . If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (r) of this provision. (xi) FAR 52.212-4 - CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS - COMMERCIAL ITEM All terms and conditions identified under this FAR Clause are applicable to this Request for Quotation. (xii) FAR 52.212-5 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS and FAR 52.212-5 -- CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS (DEVIATION), applies to this acquisition. See Attachment 1 for full text. (xiii) Additional Contract Requirements and/or Terms and Conditions 1. See Attachment 1 for applicable provisions and clauses. 2. FAR 13.004 - LEGAL AFFECT OF QUOTATIONS (a) A quotation is not an offer and, consequently, cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Therefore, issuance by the Government of an order in response to a supplier's quotation does not establish a contract. The order is an offer by the Government to the supplier to buy certain supplies or services upon specified terms and conditions. A contract is established when the supplier accepts the offer. b) When appropriate, the contracting officer may ask the supplier to indicate acceptance of an order by notification to the Government, preferably in writing, as defined at 2.101. In other circumstances, the supplier may indicate acceptance by furnishing the supplies or services ordered or by proceeding with the work to the point where substantial performance has occurred. (c) If the Government issues an order resulting from a quotation, the Government may (by written notice to the supplier, at any time before acceptance occurs) withdraw, amend, or cancel its offer. (See 13.302-4 for procedures on termination or cancellation of purchase orders.) (xiv) The Defense Priorities and Allocation Systems (DPAS) does not apply to this request for quote. (xv) Attachment 2 - Contractor Submittal Form must be fully completed and submitted with the quotes. Quotes are due via e-mail not later than 2:00 PM MST, Friday, 2 September 2016. If you have any questions, please submit them in writing not later than 2:00 PM MST, Friday, 26 August 2016. All quotes and questions (if applicable) shall be submitted to: [email protected] [email protected] (xvi) All communications with the requiring activity concerning this solicitation shall cease until the award is announced. During this period, interaction is only allowed with the Contracting Officer and the Contract Specialist. (xvi) For additional information regarding this solicitation please contact Contract Specialist SSgt Jemimah Estrella at [email protected] or the Contracting Officer Elizabeth Kennedy at [email protected] . Ensure you reference the solicitation number in the Subject Line. KRISTIE L. FORD Contracting Officer Attachments: 1. Terms and Conditions 2. Contractor Submittal Form 3. Redacted Brand Name Justification Jemimah Estrella, Contract Specialist, Phone 7195566118, Email [email protected] - Elizabeth J. Kennedy, Contracting Officer, Phone 7195564124, Email [email protected]

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Internet and Cable TV in Moscow

High-speed internet, 4g and wimax in moscow.

The modem and SIM can be bought at any telecom shop, such as Euroset, Svyaznoy, etc – there are plenty of them everywhere in Moscow.

Otherwise, you've also got high-speed internet connection in Moscow provided by local area networks (LAN), ADSL (Broadband), or cable TV. LAN's prices are often OK, but their service is not so good and the connection may sometimes go off. However, when it works, it is the fastest option (speed ~ 8Mb/sec).  ADSL (Broadband)  is provided by a few companies, such as MTU-Intel,  Comstar  (tel. +7 (495) 956-0000),  Combellga  (tel. +7 (495) 931-9950). The latter two offer good packages for businesses, however, if you just want high speed internet in your flat, the  Stream  (tel.: +7 (495) 105-5545) service is the best choice. They offer flatrate for about €30 / month with no contract, the connection speed is up to 3 Mb / sec, the setup costs wouldn't be more than $100 (including equipment) or free if there's a promotion. By the way, Yota (see above) also offers routers, which could be used at home, but you need to check the coverage first. Some  cable TV  providers offer internet in addition to their TV packages, but their prices and speed is not so good. In any case, you can try to Google Kosmos TV or Divo and see what they have on the offer.

Dial-Up Internet

Wi-fi (wireless internet) access points - wifi hotspots - in moscow:.

All you need is a special wireless internet adaptor card (already installed on Apple Macbook computers (airport) or PCs with Intel Centrino technology, otherwise available at any computer shop for about $30-$50). Wireless internet connection is free at most cafes and restaurants in Moscow, but some greedy places charge you about $10 per hour . It can be purchased online on the spot or at the counter (special pre-paid cards).  Free WiFi Internet Access Points in Moscow:

American Bar & Grill: American-style restaurant chain, average bill: $20 per person. 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya, #1 (metro Mayakovskaya), Opened 24 hours. And Zemlyanoy Val, #59 (metro Kurskaya, Taganskaya), Opened 12.00-2.00 (until 5.00 on sunday). Provider: Yandex , Price: Free

Santa Fe Restaurants: Mexican cuisine. Mitulinskaya st., #5/1, bld 6 (metro Ulitsa 1905 Goda). Opened 12.00-24.00, and until 3.00am on thursday, friday, saturday. Provider: Yandex , Price: Free

TGI Friday's: A typical American restaurant famous for its cocktails. Lunchs for $10. Tverskaya #18/2 (next to Kodak Cinema, metro Pushkinskaya or Tverskaya - center), Leninsky prospekt #1/2, 1 (metro Oktyabrskaya - center), Zemlyanoy Val, #33, Garibaldi, #23 (metro Novye Cheremushki - south Moscow). Opened 12.00 to 24.00 daily. Provider: Yandex , Price: Free

Il Patio Restaurants: a chain of Italian restaurants in Moscow. (#1 - metro Kropotkinskaya, Volkhonka st., #13a - near Christ the Saviour church, #2 - metro Smolenskaya, Smolenskaya street, #3). Provider: Yandex , Price: Free

Starina Myuller Restaurant : Beer restaurant. Shmitovsky proezd, #2 / 1 (metro Ulitsa 1905 Goda). Provider: Yandex , Price: Free

Grand Imperial Restaurant: Russian cuisine, average bill: $30 per person. metro Kropotkinskaya, Gagarinsky pereulok, 9/5, opened 12.00 till the last visitor. Provider: Yandex , Price: Free

Boarhouse: A popular hang-out for expats. Zemlyanoy Val, 26A (opposite metro Kurskaya). Provider: EWi-Fi.Net , Price: Free

Wireless Internet at Moscow Airports.

TGI Friday's restaurant at Shermetyevo 2 airport (2nd floor, departures hall), Opened 24 hours. Provider: Tascom , Price: $10 / hour

Domodedovo airport (international departures hall, 2nd floor, VIP hall), opened 24 hours . Provider: Tascom , Price: $10 / hour

Wireless Internet at Moscow Hotels.

Mariott Hotels (the access is purchased at the reservation desk, access available in all Mariott hotels, reception, lobby, rooms). Provider: Moscom

Wireless Internet at Moscow Cafes.

Coffee Shops Coffemania (trendy coffee-shops chain). Provider: Moscom Price: $10 / hour, $70 for 300Mb or $110 for 1.5Gb 1. Rozhdestvenka street, building 6/9/20 2. Bolshaya Nikitskaya street, building 13/6 3. Kudrinskaya Plozhad', building 46/54.

Starlite Diner (American-style cafes and restaurants). Provider: Moscom Price: $10 / hour, $70 for 300Mb or $110 for 1.5Gb 1. m. Mayakovskaya, Bolshaya Sadovaya, 16; 2. m. Dobryninskaya, Koroviy Val, 9;

Delifrance Cafe: Mayakovskaya Metro, conservatory. Provider: EWi-Fi.Net Price: from $10 / hour

Shokoladnitsa coffee chain (metro Barrikadnaya, Bolshaya Gruzinskaya st., 2/12, opened 24 hours . Provider: Tascom , Price: $10 / hour

Metropolis (Cafe): Sadovaya Triumfalnaya 4-10. Provider: EWi-Fi.Net Price: from $10 / hour

Wireless Internet at Moscow Restaurants.

Scandinavia Restaurant (an upscale and expensive restaurant). Provider: Moscom , Price: $10 / hour, $70 for 300Mb or $110 for 1.5Gb. Palashevsky per, #7. (metro Tverskaya)

La Gateau (a French restaurant) Tverskaya St., #27 (metro Tverskaya, Pushkinskaya)

Restaurant SNOBBS , 1rst Obydenskiy pereulok, building 3, 4th floor. (this restaurant is for stuck-up snobbish creatures, so use it only in emergencies or if you are a snob yourself :). Provider: Moscom , Price: $10 / hour, $70 for 300Mb or $110 for 1.5Gb Bakhus: Malaya Bronnaya St, 20A (metro Mayakovskaya or Pushkinskaya). Provider: EWi-Fi.Net Price: from $10 / hour

Etazh: Tverskaya Street 14 (metro Tverskaya). Provider: EWi-Fi.Net Price: from $10 / hour

Hard Rock Cafe: Stary Arbat 44 (metro Smolenskaya). Provider: EWi-Fi.Net Price: from $10 / hour

Junka - (Chinese restaurant): Tversckoy Bulvar 22, Theatre "MHAT Gorkogo" (metro Pushkinskaya, Tverskaya). Provider: EWi-Fi.Net Price: from $10 / hour

La Cantina: Tverskaya Street 5/6 (metro Okhotny Ryad). Provider: EWi-Fi.Net Price: from $10 / hour

Silvers (Irish Bar): Bolshoy Nikitisky Per. Provider: EWi-Fi.Net

Trivia Taverna: Spiridonovka Per . Provider: EWi-Fi.Net Smolensky Passage Trading Center (metro Smolenskaya) locations at Pizza Express restaurant, opened mon-fri 8.30-23.00, sat-sun 11.00-23.00. Provider: Tascom , Price: $10 / hour Restaurant Maner at Berlin House: metro Teatralnaya, Kuznetsky Most, Petrovka st., #5, first floor. Provider: Tascom , Price: $10 / hour

Cable TV Providers in Moscow

Below is a list of Moscow cable TV operators and their offers.

Comcor-TV (antenna, not all areas are covered yet) Internet: http://www.comcor-tv.ru Telephone: (495) 231-3333 Offers: 17 foreign channels for $13,4 / month, 10 channels for $9.1 / month, additionally internet packages for $33 / month (unlimited 256/128) or $15 / month (200Mb, 64/64) can be purchased. Installation fees vary from $20 to $50. They speak English.

Kosmos-TV (through antenna pointed towards Ostankino TV tower, good coverage) Internet: http://www.kosmos-tv.ru/ Telephone: (495) 730-0000 Offers: 23 foreign channels for $20 / month , installation fees start at $100. They speak English. Divo TV (through a standard TV cable, simple installation, cheap equipemtn, but not all areas in Moscow are covered yet) Internet: http://www.divotv.ru Telephone: (495) 787-0000 Offers: Installation fees are from $79 to $129, 21 channel package costs $10 / month, 32 channel package costs $18 / month. Film-on-demand feature is $2 one-time fee.

NTV Plus (satellite dish, available in the whole Russia) Internet: http://www.ntvplus.ru/calculator Telephone: (495) 755-5545 Offers: 40 channels (including Russian ones) for 19$ / month

• Park Live Festival (July 12-14)
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Comments, Questions, Feedback?

Most recent articles:.

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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