SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- EQUIPMENT AND/OR PERSON MOUNTED HYPOXIA MONITORING SYSTEM
- Notice Date
- 3/23/2006
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Navy, Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Pax River, Building 441 21983 Bundy Road Unit 7, Patuxent River, MD, 20670
- ZIP Code
- 20670
- Solicitation Number
- N00421-06-R-0103
- Response Due
- 4/24/2006
- Description
- The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Patuxent River, MD is seeking information for potential sources for information regarding industry technologies applicable to monitor pilot state for the ultimate goal of detecting and/or preventing hypoxia. This request is for INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE: There is a risk of hypoxia (lack of oxygen) associated with high altitude flight, exposures to +Gz-stress, and high mountain operations. Hypoxia can cause breathing difficulty, mental confusion, poor judgment, loss of muscle coordination, dizziness, fatigue, visual impairment, nausea, tingling, numbness, and unconsciousness. These symptoms also occur in spatial disorientation and Almost Loss of Consciousness (A-LOC) episodes. The insidious nature of hypoxia is such that the onset of symptoms is often unrecognized until it is too late. This can result in loss of situational awareness, may impact mission success, and has led to aircraft mishaps when loss of consciousness occurred. A complicating factor is that there are wide individual differences in tolerance to acute and chronic exposures to reduced oxygen environments. Hypoxia is an issue in both military and civilian air and land (e.g. Afghanistan) environments. Hypoxia related mishaps occur even at relatively low altitudes (three recent incidents ranged from 3,000 to 10,000 feet above ground level). For high flying aircraft hypoxia can occur due to mechanical problems, such as cabin pressurization failure or failure of the oxygen system. The oxygen breathing gas itself may have been contaminated. Current technology allows monitoring of aircraft oxygen system pressures and purity (i.e. percent oxygen concentration) on the aircraft. However, failure of the oxygen mask or other component downstream of the aircraft?s oxygen purity sensing equipment may go undetected and can result in pilot hypoxia from lower purity oxygen being delivered at the pilot?s mask. Actual oxygen purity concentration in the oxygen mask (i.e. being delivered to the pilot) cannot currently be monitored due to the bulk and weight of existing oxygen sensing technology. Other indices of the pilot?s physiological state, such as carbon dioxide production, breathing rate, blood oxygen saturation, etc., are not currently monitored because of a shortfall in existing miniaturized sensors and physiological models. POTENTIAL NEEDS: Due to the insidious nature of hypoxia there is a potential need for better equipment and person mounted pilot state monitoring. Such a system should be independent of the aircraft and in a portable configuration thus allowing for non-aviation applications (i.e. high altitude mountainous terrain operations by ground forces). The system should monitor oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, workload, breathing rate (possible hyperventilation) and temperature through the use of noninvasive miniaturized sensors. These data should be incorporated into a physiologic model that can detect hypoxia and predict and provide a warning of the onset of symptoms. Research and testing (human testing to be performed by NAWCAD) would be required to optimize the sensing and warning package into a robust and affordable system that is applicable to air and mountain operations. PURPOSE: The Government is interested in written submittals of concepts and rough-order-of magnitude (ROM) cost estimates. Product samples and 3-D models are highly encouraged. Additionally, the Government is interested in any commercial off the shelf (COTS) products or non-developmental items (NDI) that could be modified to meet these needs. Applicants must: 1.) Demonstrate an extensive knowledge of hypoxia and its effects. 2.) Have the capability to produce and/or acquire non-invasive miniaturized sensors capable of monitoring oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, workload, breathing rate (possible hyperventilation) and temperature, preferably in a wireless manner. System should consider both man-mounted and equipment mounted alternatives. 3.) Have the capability to produce a physiologic model for input of collected data, for prediction, detection, and prevention of hypoxia. Interested parties will be evaluated as they are received to determine the following merit criteria; (a) technical and scientific merit; (b) offer?s ability to demonstrate/execute feasibility; (c) offer?s existing capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques or unique combinations of the above that will enable the vendor to achieve the intended objective; (d) ability to demonstrate and execute cost savings alternatives. INFORMATION AND MATERIALS REQUIRED: Interested parties are invited to submit no more than a ten (10) page written abstract of concepts, technology, capabilities and experience, and rough-order-of-magnitude cost estimates for the above. In addition, respondents must clarify if their firm can provide COTS or NDI that could be modified, or the technology and expertise for development to meet NAWCAD?s needs. Furthermore, samples and 3-D models are encouraged. Submittal Information: This IS NOT a Request For Proposal (RFP) nor does the Government intend to pay for any information or items in response to this synopsis. This synopsis does not commit the Government to award any future contracts. Companies responding to this Request For Information (RFI) should provide detailed information as stated in the ?Information and Materials Required? section to DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, AIRCRAFT SUPPORT CONTRACT DEPARTMENT (AIR 2.5.1.3.2), ATTN: MS. JULIE BLEW, AIR CODE 2.5.1.3.2.2, 21983 BUNDY ROAD UNIT 7 BLDG. 441, PATUXENT RIVER, MARYLAND 20670-1127. Written responses should be submitted no later than 24 April 2006 and reference this synopsis number on both the mailing envelope as well as on all enclosed documents. In addition, respondents interested should indicate whether or not they are a small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), or large business. Please address all technical questions to Dr. Barry Shender, Code 4.6.5.6, (301) 342-8881. Proprietary information MUST be marked as such, on a page-by-page basis. This announcement is NOT a Request For Proposal nor does the Government intend to pay for any information/items submitted in response to this synopsis. Data, samples and 3-D models WILL NOT be returned. This synopsis does not commit the Government to award a contract. This synopsis is for market research only and any procurement resulting from this announcement will be published separately on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBiz Ops) website.
- Place of Performance
- Address: N/A
- Zip Code: N/A
- Country: N/A
- Zip Code: N/A
- Record
- SN01013650-W 20060325/060323212739 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |