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FBO DAILY ISSUE OF APRIL 16, 2005 FBO #1237
SPECIAL NOTICE

99 -- Industry Input for Near Real Time Asset Visibility

Notice Date
4/14/2005
 
Notice Type
Special Notice
 
Contracting Office
U.S. Army Field Support Command, ATTN: AMSOS-CCA, Rock Island, IL 61299-5000
 
ZIP Code
61299-5000
 
Solicitation Number
USA-SNOTE-050414-001
 
Archive Date
6/13/2005
 
Description
This notice requests input from industry prior to release of any resultant solicitation. The information in this notice is based on the best and most current information available to date. This information is subject to change and is not binding on t he Government. SCOPE: HQ US Army Field Support Command (AFSC) and HQ US Army Joint Munitions Command (JMC) require a methodology to track equipment and munitions throughout the entire supply chain. The Commands are requesting concepts for solution sets of enabling technology for near real time asset visibility, including health monitoring when required, for ordnance and war reserve asset management throughout the life cycle of the commodity. Specific attention should be paid to depot level operations, logis tics and distribution functionality. All potential solution sets will be Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO) certified for munitions operations and provide for encrypted transmission of data. HERO certified devices will be approved for use by the Department of Defense. Documented verification of HERO certification will be provided with responses. Responses without verification will not be considered (see Submittal Info below). Identification of assets shall occur, at a minimum, at layer 4 (container), and to the desired level of visibility, i.e., pallet (layer 3), outer pack (layer 2), inner pack (layer 1), or at the item (layer 0) and transmitted in a state of the art communications environment which requires little or no infrastructure. Any solution, including hardware and software must be American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standard, non-proprietary (the government will own the protocols), interoperable and open systems compliant. Objectives of this effort are: a.) Improve the c onnectivity, timeliness, and integrity of location and status data for equipment and munitions. b.) Provide near-real-time location visibility of major end items and other assets. c.) Provide near-real-time status visibility of major end items and other as sets. d.) Improve worker productivity by automating source data collection. e.) Eliminate/minimize redundant data entry, paper logbooks, manual entry and data ambiguities. f.) Improve efficiency of data searches. g.) Introduce electronic data management (o pposed to managing paper forms). h.) Provide accurate and near-real-time Automated Identification Technology (AIT) data to enhance readiness. i.) Communicate data both vertically and horizontally. j.) Support existing and planned systems. k.) Incorporate e xisting 2D Bar codes for the electronic collection, storage, and management of source data traditionally collected by manual means. BACKGROUND: The HQ AFSC provides global logistics and joint munitions essential to the combatant commanders' ability to cond uct peacetime and wartime operations. The HQ JMC secures munitions readiness by providing logistics, industrial capability and acquisition support to the joint services and allies. Both the AFSC and JMC are in the business of distributing equipment and mun itions worldwide for the purposes of training troops and supporting operational contingencies. Munitions and equipment stores can be found in the Continental United States (CONUS) and throughout the European and Pacific Theaters. Efficient movement and dis tribution of munitions and equipment within the Theaters of Operation is an integral part of supporting the Global War on Terrorism and supporting troops in the Theater of Operation. FACTS: a.) 2.8M tons of munitions worldwide of which 2.0M tons are stored in CONUS depots. b.) Army Prepositioned Stocks and munitions are stored in CONUS, the European and Pacific Theaters, Southwest Asia and afloat. ISSUE: The JMC has a mature and well established inventory and accountability process. The Accountable Property Officer for munitions resides at the JMC. Systems are in place at all CONUS installations to account for munitions and track movements within the depots and ov er the road. All munitions within the CONUS base have been 2D bar coded to enhance and streamline the inventory and accountability processes. CONUS depots use a system called SDS (Standard Depot System) to account for munitions. SDS feeds the Command Commo dity Supply System (CCSS) at the HQ for reconciliation of records and accountability purposes. All of this takes place within a systems architecture that can be electronically transmitted to users and customers throughout the US. In the past, JMC had the r esponsibility to manage munitions at the wholesale sites. In this case, wholesale includes the CONUS installations with a Supply Depot Operations (SDO) mission. Accountability of munitions was forfeited to the military units when stocks were transferred to retail sites. In this case, retail pertains to post, camps and stations that maintained their own Ammunition Supply Point (ASP). With the implementation of the Centralized Ammunition Management (CAM) concept, JMC manages munitions throughout the supply ch ain as a unified whole, essentially erasing the differentiation between wholesale and retail. This has created a unique problem in the Theater of Operation in SWA. Munitions are routinely shipped to Camps in Europe, Pacific and SWA for resupply initiatives and training activities in-country. Stocks are tracked up to the point of receipt at the ASPs. Munitions are issued out of the ASPs in bulk quantities to units moving into Theaters of operation. Bulk quantities are often times broken down to smaller units of issue while moving throughout the Theater and are positioned at Ammunition Holding Areas (AHA) strategically placed in close proximity to deployed troops. It is at that point in time when the accountability of munitions becomes particularly challenging . Deployed units do not have the necessary systems to automatically track and report munitions movement, nor do they have the required trained personnel. Therefore, it is difficult to determine if stocks issued out of the primary ASPs are in the hands of t he troops, expended and/or reserved for troops rotating in. The AFSC manages Army Field Support Brigades and Combat Equipment Battalion facilities worldwide. Integration of AIT is imperative in assuring warfighter material needs are satisfied. (AIT is defi ned as a suite of technologies that enable the automatic capture of source data, thereby enhancing the ability to identify, track, document and control deploying and redeploying forces, equipment, personnel and sustainment cargo.) The goals of the Army Pre positioned Stocks (APS) AIT effort are to optimize facility operations through improved connectivity of existing data systems, better visibility of asset location and status, and improved source data automation. AIT facilitates automated data collection wi th regard to operational materiel (equipment, repair parts, tooling, rolling stock) and the processes they pass through (stores, maintenance, quality assurance, handoff). Once collected, this data is used to improve communication, data integrity, and produ ctivity. SUBMITTAL INFO: Firms shall have documented verification of HERO certification, and such documentation shall be provided within the first 5 pages of the response. Responses without HERO verification will not be considered. Restrictive markings/lan guage placed on use of any of the information submitted will eliminate that submission from any further consideration. If you are interested and certified/qualified to perform the services sought, please submit a concept paper (4 paper copies required) for review by no later than COB May 2, 2005 to U.S. Army Field Support Command, AMSFS-CCA-IS, Mrs. Michelle Kolar, Bldg 350, 5th floor, Middle Bay, Rock Island, IL 61299-6500. E-mail, fax or telephonic submittals will NOT be considered. There is no certain fo rmat for the concept paper, other than the requirement for hard copy submittals and HERO certification within the first 5 pages. Pictures, graphs, charts, drawi ngs, etc. may be included in your response (if necessary). This is not a solicitation, and no funds are available at this time for purchase. There are no specifications available for this notice. Should there be questions, they shall be submitted via e-mai l ONLY to kolarm@afsc.army.mil. Due to time constraints and limited availability of government technical personnel, the government may not be able to answer all questions prior to the deadline for receipt of proposed solutions. You are encouraged to procee d with submitting proposed solutions prior to the deadline, even if unanswered questions remain. Late submissions will not be considered. This is not a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract as a result of this notice, or to pay for a ny costs borne out of replying to this announcement. This notice neither constitutes a Request for Proposal or Invitation for Bid, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. This notice should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose.
 
Record
SN00788241-W 20050416/050414212210 (fbodaily.com)
 
Source
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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