SOURCES SOUGHT
15 -- Sources Sought for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
- Notice Date
- 7/11/2003
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- DHS - Border and Transportation Security, United States Customs Service (USCS), Procurement Division, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 1310 NP, Washington, DC, 20229
- ZIP Code
- 20229
- Solicitation Number
- CBP-RFI-0001
- Response Due
- 7/28/2003
- Archive Date
- 8/12/2003
- Point of Contact
- William Stevens, Contracting Officer, Phone 202/927-5703, Fax 202/927-1812, - Thomas Thompson, Contracting Officer, Phone (202) 927-0911, Fax (202) 927-1190,
- E-Mail Address
-
william.m.stevens@customs.treas.gov, thomas.l.thompson@customs.treas.gov
- Description
- 1.0 INTRODUCTION Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security is seeking industry interest and information on commercial-off-the-shelf availability of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to explore the feasibility and practicality by a vendor-sponsored demonstration. CBP is intent on awarding a contract in the future to a contractor that can satisfy all or a large portion of the general requirements stated below. 2.0 MINIMUM OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS Each demonstrated UAV system should have the following operating abilities and equipment: SUPPORT, DEPLOYMENT AND OPERATION 1. Each UAV package will be fully supported, deployed, operated and maintained by vendor-supplied means under the direction of DHS/CBP field personnel. 2. Decisions regarding mission parameter and sensor manipulation will be the responsibility of the agency. Proposed systems shall have the means to allow the control and manipulation of sensor(s) by agency personnel apart from the control and manipulation of flight by vendor(s). 3. Appropriate coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration for flight within the national airspace system will be the joint responsibility of the UAV flight controller and the agency prior to undertaking each flight. AUTONOMOUS FLIGHT 1. Ability to fly a preprogrammed flight plan including varying altitude and route patterns with return to launch site without controller input; 2. Ability to change the preprogrammed flight plan while in flight; 3. Ability to conduct autonomous flight to automatically return to launch site or other designated site for recovery in the event of loss of contact with controller; 4. Ability to track, follow or remain on station above a designated, mobile patrol unit for the maximum duration of flight; 5. Ability to override an automated flight program with manual flight control and then return to an automated flight program; PERFORMANCE 1. Ability to fly during day and night conditions; 2. Ability to carry aloft a high performance sensor package (see sensor requirements) 3. Ability to fly at sufficient altitude from which data is transmitted so as to ensure no data loss during transmission to control center from maximum range; 4. Demonstrated range of not less than 75 nautical miles; 5. Demonstrated flight duration of not less than 4 hours; 6. Low noise signature relative to operating altitudes above ground so as not to be easily recognizable or audible by persons on the ground; 7. Ability to maintain complete functionality and flight during high density-altitude conditions of at least 10,000 feet above mean sea level (MSL); 8. Ability to maintain complete functionality and flight during wind conditions of up to 35 knots SENSOR(S) 1. High definition color, NIIRS Level 5 quality, video image during day and lowlight conditions; 2. High definition, near-NIIRS Level 5 quality, thermal imaging with minimum resolvable temperature so as to allow operator to distinguish between hidden human forms and warm desert backgrounds of sand, rocks and brush during summer months; 3. Ability to remotely and easily switch between color/low light camera and thermal imager in order to maintain continuous surveillance; 4. Ability to direct (point) optical sensors to survey specific GPS latitude and longitude while in flight; 5. Ability to direct (point) optical sensors to survey specific traffic thoroughfares and addresses using ?point and click? digital mapping (i.e. GIS) and street address input while in flight; 6. Digital transmission of camera video from point of maximum mission range to controlling agency via line-of-sight telemetry link, an over-the-horizon satellite link, or other demonstrable means; 7. Electronic telemetry, video and control links to and from the aircraft must meet latest advanced encryption standards (AES); 8. Image magnification sufficiency so as to allow UAV to ?stand off? at a distance so as not to be easily recognizable or audible by persons on the ground during the daytime, yet provides very detailed images. 9. Ability to monitor sensor images from remote, mobile vehicles; 10. Image auto-tracking capability for all cameras; 11. Eye safe laser target identifier/designator/range finder. Laser viewable from mil-spec night vision goggles to allow agency personnel on the ground or in other aircraft to easily identify the exact target being viewed by the UAV cameras AVIONICS 1. Must be equipped with FAA-approved Mode C transponder; 2. Operator must have ability to precisely monitor the aerial vehicle?s location and immediately navigate it to specific GPS coordinates as directed or input by agency personnel; 3. Operator or agency personnel must have ability to precisely navigate the aerial vehicle to specific traffic thoroughfares and addresses using ?point and click? digital mapping technology and street address input while in flight; COLLISION-AVOIDANCE TECHNOLOGY The full potential of UAV systems cannot be realized until they demonstrate the ability to operate safely and routinely within the existing U.S. air traffic management system. See 3.0 Additional Desired Capabilities, Avionics; 1. FAA-approved anti-collision and position lighting, remotely activated and de-activated COST ESTIMATES 1. Vendors must provide estimated hourly direct operating costs for each UAV system, including maintenance reserves and other customary aircraft operating cost data, for evaluation purposes of DHS/CBP; 3.0 ADDITIONAL DESIRED CAPABILITIES While not required for demonstration purposes, the following capabilities may be sought for operational systems and information describing the vendor?s potential ability to meet these requirements should be presented in proposals and information made available during demonstrations: PERFORMANCE 1. Ability to be launched in remote areas from mobile launch platforms or short, unimproved runways 2. Ability to land on short, unimproved runways or other recovery procedure/apparatus resulting in safe recovery in confined or remote areas after completion of controlled or autonomous flight. SENSOR(S) 1. Advances in sensor magnification technology allowing extremely detailed identification of vehicles, aircraft and vessels, such as reading license plates and registration numbers, during the daytime while aerial vehicle ?stands off? at a distance so as not to be easily recognizable or audible by persons on the ground; 2. Ability to simultaneously carry aloft and operate radar with the ability of detecting aircraft in flight and vehicles on the ground; 3. Ability to simultaneously carry aloft an agency mobile two-way communications repeater (transmission relay); AVIONICS 1. Mode C transponder with remote reset and code reprogramming capability; 2. FAA-approved two-way communications ability so as to allow the controller to communicate with pilots of other aircraft or FAA air traffic control officials in the vicinity of an operating aerial vehicle in controlled airspace as if a pilot were actually aboard the aerial vehicle; 3. Ability to maintain a level of safety consistent with the see-and-avoid concept for all flights as would exist if a pilot were on board; i.e. Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) or other system from which data is viewable or available to the controller so as to receive audible and visual alerts to allow immediate maneuvers of the vehicle to avoid collision with other aircraft; 4. Detect, see and avoid system with the ability to alert the controller or pilot of any possible conflict with sufficient time to allow for evasive action. System should automatically take control of the aircraft and deviate if there is not enough time for the controller to do so; Subject to FAA guidance, item number two (2) may be waived if the vehicle is demonstrated as able to conduct flight above Class A controlled airspace limits, so long as the UAV controller has the means to meet the responsibility of communicating/coordinating with FAA air traffic control officials during the ascent and descent stages of flight. EMERGENT SITUATIONS 1. Ability to disable, destroy or render useless the UAV and its technological equipment in the event of uncontrollable flight into hostile environments or circumstances rendering the vehicle as unrecoverable 2. Ability of the controller or pilot to take immediate control of the aircraft in emergency situations 4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PROVIDED FOR VENDOR CONSIDERATION: PROPOSED DEMONSTRATION TIME PERIOD The CBP anticipates that the demonstrations would take place during the period of September 14 though October 31, 2003. FUTURE SUPPORT, DEPLOYMENT AND OPERATION 1. Each operational system offered may require multiple aerial vehicles or other capability so as to allow for mission continuity, i.e. reserve or backup aerial vehicles or components that will provide for uninterruptible mission support during periods of maintenance or unforeseen lack of availability of primary vehicles for whatever reason; 2. Each operational UAV system potentially acquired is projected to be fully supported, deployed, operated and maintained by vendor-supplied means under the direction of DHS/CBP field personnel. 3. Once operational, appropriate coordination and flight clearance with the Federal Aviation Administration or other appropriate authority for the airspace used for flight within the national airspace system will be the responsibility of the UAV flight controller/vendor prior to undertaking each flight. The agency will provide assistance and coordination where appropriate and necessary. An operational flight protocol will be developed with the appropriate agencies governing the national airspace system. 4. Personnel provided by the vendor to operate UAV systems may be subjected to detailed background and suitability checks for appropriate security clearances. 5.0 RESPONSES: This Sources Sought is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Government to issue a Request for Proposal or award a contract. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted, for the vendor-sponsored demonstration or the Government's use of such information. Sources responding to this Sources Sought should submit the minimum information necessary for the government to make a determination that the source is capable of satisfying the requirements. Responses to this Sources Sought should include information as to the type of sensors, operating capabilities and price range. Acknowledgment of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the Government's evaluation of the information received. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this Request For Information or the Government's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. Responses should be identified with CBP-RFI-0001, and are due no later than 3:00 P.M. (EST) on July 28, 2003. Please submit four copies of your response to: Customs and Border Protection, Office of Finance, Procurement Division (Room 1310), ATTN: William Stevens, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20229. Questions and comments should be directed to Contracting Officer William M. Stevens (202) 927-5703, FAX (202) 927-0288 or Email: william.m.stevens@dhs.gov and to Thomas Thompson (202) 927-0911 or email thomas.l.thompson@dhs.gov. Please submit all questions by email to both points of contact.
- Place of Performance
- Address: To Be Determined.
- Record
- SN00369231-W 20030713/030711213040 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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