SOURCES SOUGHT
12 -- SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR CLIP-ON NIGHT VISION DEVICE-SENSOR FUSION (CNVD-SF)
- Notice Date
- 9/21/2005
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- N00164 300 Highway 361, Building 64 Crane, IN
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- N0016405R4876
- Response Due
- 12/30/2005
- Description
- This synopsis is being posted to both the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) page located at http://www.eps.gov and the Navy Electronic Commerce on Line (NECO) site located at http://www.neco.navy.mil. While it is understood that FBO is the single point of entry for posting of synopsis and solicitations to the Internet, NECO is the alternative in case FBO is unavailable. Please feel free to use either site to access information posted by the NSWC Division Crane. PURPOSE: This is a preliminary sources-sought announcement seeking comment from free-world industry, academia, and government. This announcement is issued as part of a market research effort to support a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessment of the state of the art of Clip-On Night Vision Device ? Sensor Fusion (CNVD-SF). This TRL assessment will be used by US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to determine if and when a CNVD-SF acquisition project will be undertaken, and may also be used provide parameters for initial performance specifications. BACKGROUND: When night approaches in combat, most night vision sights for rifles and carbines require that the basic day riflescope be removed and replaced with a night vision scope. The process is reversed each morning as the sun rises. This design methodology has been in place since the earliest passive night vision scopes of the 1960?s. a. While passive night aiming capability is critical in modern warfare, this changeover method is plagued by a number of problems: (1) Despite the best mounting and dismounting hardware and procedures, there is never any real assurance that either the day or night scope have returned to ?zero? after the exchange procedure, especially in sandy or muddy operational conditions. This causes lack of confidence and occasional missed enemy targets both day and night. (2) The combatant must carry two full sighting subsystems, increasing the rucksack load. (3) The day and night scopes normally have different fields of view, different aiming reticles, and other operational and technical differences, doubling the operator?s burden of training, zeroing, and fine motor skill performance in combat. (4) The combatant must change rifle/carbine sights at dawn and dusk, two very dangerous tactical times of the day. To alleviate the above problems, the contemporary SOF combatant sometimes opts to carry his carbine or machinegun equipped with the night sight 24/7, increasing the load on his arms, decreasing his daytime capability and decreasing the effective life of the expensive night sight. b. Clip-on Night Sighting: In the 1980?s, the concept of the Clip-on Night Vision Device (CNVD) emerged, a different design than the traditional method. Instead of replacing the daylight riflescope, the new concept was to clip on a night vision device to the basic riflescope. The CNVD is clipped on only when needed, without disturbing the basic daylight riflescope or its mounting. The CNVD concept eliminates nearly all of the problems found in the earlier method, however, the technology was much less mature and far more expensive. This CNVD capability was fielded on sniper rifles beginning the late 1980?s on a very limited basis due to the high cost and technical complexities of early CNVD?s. c. Program and Background: The USSOCOM Special Operations Peculiar Modification (SOPMOD) program provides small arms accessories to Army, Navy, and Air Force Special Forces Operators. In 1993, USSOCOM arranged with the Naval Sea Systems Command to establish the SOPMOD Program Management Office at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division, at Crane, Indiana. Since then, the SOPMOD Program has provided joint Special Operations Forces (SOF) with standardized, versatile weapons accessories to meet all needs across SOF mission scenarios. These accessories increase SOF survivability and lethality by providing enhanced weapon performance, target acquisition, and day and night precision aiming. The SOPMOD program provides these accessories to SOF operators when the accessories are developed to the point that they are operationally suitable, affordable, sustainable, and funded. SOPMOD is an evolutionary acquisition program that continues to change and to upgrade its subsystems with new combat technologies. d. Requirements and Prior Contract Activity: In October of 1999, USSOCOM validated the requirement for a SOPMOD CNVD scaled to perform on carbines. In July of 2000, the SOPMOD program issued SOL N00164-00-R-0135, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, which sought to initiate a variety of new capabilities for SOF weapons and accessories research and development, to include an advanced CNVD called ?Sensor Fusion Module.? Later, on 24 May 2002, NSWC Crane, Code 805, issued SOL N00164-02-R-8512. This resulted in the fielding of the Universal Night Sight (UNS, AN/PVS-22) to SOF Snipers. The AN/PVS-22 is based on Image Intensification (I2) technology. In February of 2002, the SOPMOD Program issued a subsequent solicitation, SOL N0016402R0014, MINI DAY/NIGHT SIGHT (MDNS) DEVELOPMENT, which contained a requirement for a miniaturized CNVD to be scaled in cost and size for proliferation on carbines and machineguns. This effort is resulting in two types of miniature CNVD, one based on image intensification (CNVD-I2, currently designated Night Vision Device AN/PVS-24) and the other based on thermal imaging (CNVD-T, currently designated Thermal Sight SU-232/PAS). However, no vendor that participated was able to demonstrate a working prototype system that contained both types of sensing, or other multi-spectral capabilities. Since that time, various industrial, government, and academic research efforts have continued to seek a tactical sensor-fusion aiming capability for small arms. e. System Acquisition Planning: The SOPMOD Acquisition Top Map contains a next-generation future fusion CNVD that is termed the CNVD-Sensor Fusion (CNVD-SF). SOF system planners are aware that such capabilities now exist in prototype form, but at prohibitive cost and weight. Earlier spiral development acquisition planning estimated this capability for fielding in the 2012 time frame. This estimate was based on the time that it would take industry to develop the CNVD-SF capability in a package under 2 pounds weight and $15,000-$20,000 per copy, these being the absolute maximum portability and affordability parameters acceptable to SOF for an individual small arms aiming system accessory intended for widespread fielding. However, some recent informal industry and government estimates forecast the CNVD-SF capability at this size and price much earlier than 2012. SYSTEM CONCEPT: The below concepts represent a start-point for system information exchange among government, industrial, and academic interests. The intent of this dialog is the eventual development of a future performance specification and possibly, a solicitation. a. General System Summary: The CNVD-SF will provide SOF combatants a ?daylight-in-darkness? target acquisition and aiming capability. The CNVD-SF may provide full-color or false-color output. The output might be analogous to daylight when used during night, sandstorms, fog, and rain or in caves, tunnels, or dark structures. A further objective of CNVD-SF might be to provide ?better than daylight? optical features that enhance the SOF Operator?s ability to detect, locate, identify, and engage the enemy. It will provide optimized target acquisition capabilities in different environmental conditions. While the core client weapon systems envisioned for the CNVD-SF are carbines and machineguns, the CNVD-SF should be compatible with as many current and future SOF weapons/day optical sights as practical. The CNVD-SF should be ambidextrous in operation. It should incorporate design features that maximize battery life. The external housing should exhibit open architecture attachment interface surfaces that provide space and footprint for the addition/accessorizing of future spiral-development capabilities, such as clip-on lasers, back-up sights, and rangefinders. CNVD-SF should be miniature and highly portable, weighing less than 1 pound (Objective), 2 pounds (Threshold). The CNVD-SF should have a production cost less than $15,000 (objective), $20,000 (threshold). In addition to performance, portability and cost are envisioned as key factors in future source selection and determination of fielding quantities. A rough fielding estimate would be from 5,000 to 20,000 systems for SOF, depending on cost and performance. Interest also exists in the CNVD-SF system in other USG services and agencies. b. Fundamental Operational Concept: The CNVD-SF has a single, most-important fundamental operational concept, and three (or more) less-important, but desirable supplemental concepts. Fundamentally, the CNVD-SF is envisioned as a miniature, highly portable, collimated unity-power system that clips on the MILSTD 1913 rail space in front of the objective lens of existing daylight weapon sights. It uses a quick-detach throw-lever type mount to attach to the MILSTD 1913 rail surface(s). Its operational use is analogous that of the AN/PVS-22, the AN/PVS-24, and the SU-232/PAS, except that the CNVD-SF would be much more operationally effective than those earlier systems due to greatly enhanced target acquisition capability and miniaturization. c. First Supplemental Operational Concept: While the CNVD-SF is primarily conceived as an in-line or clip-on system that is placed in front of the objective lens of existing day optics, it might alternatively be considered for use as a stand-alone sight, if this feature is low-cost. This stand-alone capability might allow the CNVD-SF to be used on unforeseen future weapons sighting applications. If such supplemental stand-alone capability is found cost effective, the CNVD-SF could have programmable reticles, an intuitive menu-based system operation, and modular lens/digital magnifying power capabilities. d. Second Supplemental Operational Concept: The CNVD-SF, when not in use as a weapon sight, could alternatively be used as a ?pocket scope? or ?monocular?, either alone or in conjunction with lasers, range finders, or other accessories that clip-on to the CNVD-SF housing. e. Third Supplemental Operational Concept: The CNVD-SF could alternatively be mounted on a MILSPC 1913 rail arrangement in front of optical camera systems, and/or might have a digital imagery output interface. f. Other Operational Concepts: Responders to this announcement are invited to provide other capabilities or design features that may be of benefit to SOF Operators. TRL ASSESSMENT: The Government is interested in conducting a TRL determination of the CNVD-SF with enhanced capabilities beyond those found currently in CNVD-type systems in the SOF field inventory and near-term development programs. The government plans to conduct this TRL assessment through the evaluation of oral presentations, outdoor and indoor demonstrations, and in some cases, live fire range demonstrations. The time and location of the TRL assessment is to be determined, currently planned for March or April 2006 at or near Coronado, California. During this event, interested vendors may brief and demonstrate their research and prototype capabilities relevant to CNVD-SF in closed sessions to US Government representatives. The government invites participating vendors/researchers to travel at their own expense to the TRL assessment site with their briefing(s), prototypes(s), and a self-supporting capability for batteries and other expendables. The government will provide audio-visual support for oral presentations and range support to the extent practical. f. Scope of Presentations: During the TRL assessment activity, Government representatives will engage in free dialog with the vendors, but without any commitment by the US Government or the vendors. Each vendor will have approximately 3 hours to display, discuss and demonstrate concepts and prototypes(s). While it is hoped that vendors can show fully working CNVD-SF prototypes, vendors are also invited to display working items or solid models that are not fully sensor-fusion capable, but which provide a platform for future adaptive design. g. Presentation Topics: The discussions/presentations should be summarized in written hard-copy vendor handouts to facilitate note taking by vendor and USG participants. Topics of discussion/presentation should be relevant to the development of the CNVD-SF and should, if possible, include predicted system characteristics, detection and identification performance, weight, battery life, operating modes, display features, system optical features, technical plans for miniaturization, cost/plans for production cost reduction, safety, maintenance, and field operation. Vendors are requested to provide CNVD-SF prototype descriptions during oral presentations, to include the technical approach, prototyping or production history, any previous involvement by the US Government, test data, performance information, physical characteristics, estimated schedules, and estimated costs. Technical, schedule and cost risk should be identified and a preliminary risk mitigation approach discussed. h. Vendor Coordination and Firing Safety: If a particular system or prototype will be ready by the time of the TRL assessment for a day/night demonstration, either non-firing or live fire, the vendor should coordinate range, lighting, and target requests by the closing date stated below. If live fire is appropriate, vendor representatives may be required to fire their own systems throughout all firing scenarios due to government safety restrictions. i. Intellectual Property: The oral presentations, and if appropriate, range and live fire demonstrations will be scheduled in a secure, private environment to protect vendor Intellectual Property (IP). Government attendees will sign non-disclosure agreements with the vendors, provided that USG legal authorities clear the text prior to the meeting. The USG representatives will abide by all legal proprietary markings on vendor media left in USG possession. The government has no interest at this point in the acquisition of vendor IP. However, the government wishes to maintain open system architectures, and will have very limited interest in items that restrict future spiral development by using proprietary interfaces. Prior to production, the government will most likely require drawings/production processes of open interfaces to establish Interface Control Documents (ICD?s) and allow for future competitive spiral developments and follow-on accessories. j. Participation: This announcement is a public invitation by the government. Failure to participate in this TRL assessment will not preclude vendors who do not attend from bidding on future solicitations for the CNVD-SF. However, this announcement is part of the full-free-and-open competition process, which encourages industry and academia to help shape government specifications to match what is possible, affordable, and timely. Failure to participate in this open dialog process may result in a government performance specification over which the abstaining vendors have limited influence in the acquisition process, and may deprive abstaining vendors of potentially valuable direct early interaction with end-users, contracting officials, and acquisition planners. k. Technical and Schedule Risk: This TRL assessment activity contemplates development, production, and fielding of the CNVD-SF capability to combat units in a time frame relevant to ongoing hostilities. As such, the USG participants will have limited to no interest in basic research or initial applied research presentations, unless a clear, rapid path to testing and production can be shown in the near term. COMMENTS: Interested vendors are requested to comment on this announcement, responding to the POC below by 30 December 2005. A revised announcement will then be published to responsive parties that incorporates information gathered from the comments, to include a schedule for vendor presentations / demonstrations. Please provide the information requested above by no later than 30 December 2005 to the technical Point of Contact (POC), Mr. Michael H. Jones. Mr. Jones may be reached via e-mail at: michael.h.jones@navy.mil, or via phone at 812-854-6230. Alternate Point of Contact is Mr. Fred E. Justis, e-mail: fred.justis@navy.mil, phone: 812-854-1292. The mailing address is: NAVSURFWARCENDIV Crane, ATTN: Mr. Michael H. Jones, Code 4081, Bldg 2521, 300 Highway 361, Crane IN 47522-5001. It should be noted that during the evaluation of all information submitted, the government plans to utilize employees from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and Wexford Group International (WGI), and possibly other direct Government contractors as advisors to the Government evaluators. This sources sought synopsis does not constitute an Invitation for Bids (IFB), a Request for Quote (RFQ), or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and it should not be construed as a commitment of any kind by the Government to issue a formal solicitation or ultimately award a contract. The U.S. Government is in no way liable to pay for or reimburse any companies or entities that respond to this announcement. Any costs incurred by interested companies in response to this announcement or incurred for participation in the TRL assessment will NOT be reimbursed. All information marked as proprietary information will be safeguarded to prevent disclosures to non-government personnel and entities. Your interest in this response is appreciated. All interested sources are encouraged to submit information to NAVSURFWARCENDIV Crane by close of business 30 December 2005. Questions regarding this announcement may be directed to the Contracting Specialist (CTR-SAIC), Mr. Scott Bingham, Code 0562R3, Bldg. 2521, NAVSURFWARCENDIV, Crane, IN 47522, telephone (812) 854-8525, or e-mail scott.bingham@navy.mil.
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