US Naval Communications Station Key West - NAR

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Naval Communications in Key West has a colorful history. The Naval Radio Station (NAVRADSTA) at Key West, Florida, was established in the year 1905, its purpose being to form a link in a chain of Wireless Telegraph Stations in what was then known as the Coastal Signal Service of the Navy. This chain extended from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, to New Orleans, Louisiana, and included Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Colon, Isthmus of Panama. The call sign NAR was established for communications station Key West, and has been in service ever since. This gives Detachment Key West the distinction of being the first, and the oldest continuously existing Telecommunications station in the Department of Navy. Although several name changes have taken place over the years, and the location has shifted to different buildings, NAR has never gone off the air, and has provided the best Naval Telecommunications services since it's inception. Here are the major highlights of this history: 

• 1905, “NAR” established and has been in continuous operation since then. 
• 1931, NAVRADSTA was the only active military function left in Key West. 
• 1962, NAVRADSTA was a key element in the Cuba Blockade providing ship-to-shore and shore-to-shore telecommunications support. 
• 1964 NAVRADSTA was re-commissioned as NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS UNIT (NCU). 
• 1968 NAVCOMMU was re-commissioned as NAVAL COMMUNICATIONS STATION (NCS).
• 1969 Boca Chica transmitter site changed to receiver site
• 1969 Saddlebunch Key transmitter site established - aerial photo
• April of 1979 - NCS began Contractor Operation and Maintenance of NRTF Saddlebunch Key. 
• September 1992 - NAVCOMTELSTA Key West was disestablished. NCTAMS LANT Detachment Key West was “stood up” as a component activity of NCTAMS LANT Norfolk.
• March 1993 - The last Active Duty sailor separates from the Detachment. 
• October 1993 - The Base Telephone Service (now BCO) function transferred from NAS Key West to NCTL Detachment Key West. 
• February 1997 - 10 additional HF Transmitters were moved to NRTF from NCTS Jacksonville as part of the DoN HF Re-Alignment process. 
• March 2000 - The Detachment Status changed again, becoming NCTS Jacksonville Detachment Key West as part of DoN regionalization. 

Key West - 1900's	Key West - 1900's	Key West - 1900's	Key West, 1922
1968 article
			1969 photo - ATCU trailer (thanks to Bob Roderick)

         
NCTS Jax Det Key West decal

2004 - Operations and Maintenance for Naval Computer and Telecommunication Station Jacksonville, FL Detachment Key West. - The Fleet Industrial Supply Center Norfolk Detachment Philadelphia intends to procure a 100% competitive small business set-aside in accordance with FAR part 12 for Operations and Maintenance for Naval Computer and Telecommunication Station Jacksonville, FL Detachment Key West. NCTS JAX DET Key West consists of operations and maintenance facilities primarily located on Naval Air Station Key West Fl within Buildings A1004 and A1005. The Detachment security CCTV and IDS system equipment is extended to and located in Naval Air Station Key West Building A324. The main Naval Radio Transmitter Facility (NRTF) at Saddlebunch Key consists of primary building J1561, and utility buildings J1700 and J1701, as well as some small sheds and storage containers. Requirements include responsibility for all preventive and corrective maintenance to ensure the continuance of all systems and equipment (including security and C4I networks) and interface with remote users at NCTS Jacksonville, NCTAMS LANT, JIATF South, and other local user supported locations to observe, assist and instruct as required any remote government sponsored user on the restoration of all NCTS JAX DET Key West equipment to meet complete mission performance requirements. Requirements also included include troubleshooting and timely repair of all NCTS JAX DET Key West mission related circuits, networks, transmitters, receivers, security systems, air conditioning, power generation, antennas, and all related or associated systems. Support is required on a continuing 24 hour per day, 7 day per week, 52 weeks per year basis and includes requirements for emergency call back. The Contractor shall furnish all management, supervision, labor, materials, equipment, tools and vehicles necessary to plan, schedule , coordinate and assure the effective operation of telecommunications at NCTS JAX DET Key West. Contractor personnel will be required to have a Secret security clearance at time of proposal evaluation to perform the duties outlined in the performance work statement. This requirement will be evaluated on a best value basis and offerors will be expected to submit both price and technical proposals for the consideration of the Government. All qualified small businesses are encouraged to submit proposals for consideration of the Government. A firm-fixed price contract is anticipated to result from the solicitation. It is the intention of the Navy to issue this RFP through electronic means only. This RFP s hall be available upon issuance at http://www.neco.navy.mil. All contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration. The NAICS code for this requirement is 5171 10.