Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF FEBRUARY 09, 2008 FBO #2266
SOURCES SOUGHT

A -- Autonomous Sling-Load Hook-Up for Manned and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)

Notice Date

2/7/2008
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

NAICS

336411 — Aircraft Manufacturing
 

Contracting Office

US Army Aviation and Missile Command (Missile), ATTN: AMSAM-AC, Building 5303, Martin Road, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
 

ZIP Code

35898-5280
 

Solicitation Number

W31P4Q-08-R-0267
 

Response Due

3/31/2008
 

Archive Date

5/30/2008
 

Point of Contact

Cheryl Daniels, (256) 842-2227
 

E-Mail Address

Email your questions to US Army Aviation and Missile Command (Missile)
(Cheryl.Daniels@us.army.mil)
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

This Request for Information (RFI) is the initiation of market research under Part 10 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and is not a Request for Proposals (RFP). The US Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Cent er (AMRDEC), Redstone Arsenal, Alabama is seeking sources of information on current or near near-term automatic flight-worthy linking/load-bearing mechanisms to be used with during vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) external slingload operations for mann ed and/or unmanned missions. The AMRDEC is currently conducting a series of experiments and associated studies examining the enabling technologies and concepts necessary to employ a VTOL UAS in an unmanned aerial resupply (UAR) role. In this role the UAS would autonomously pick-up and deliver payloads. While this concept presents numerous technological challenges, the focus of this RFI is to address the mechanical linking mechanism between the UAS and the payload. Because of the desired autonomous end-st ate of this concept, the male and female components of the mechanism must be able to safely and securely link the UAS to the external load (i.e. without a man-in-the-loop requirement to manipulate the components) and be airworthy for the range of mil itary slingload operations. The proposed mechanism should be compatible with or adaptable to some or all of a broad range of current and/or anticipated military payloads, to include 463L pallets, cargo nets, standard containers, and military vehicles. Id eally, this linking mechanism will have a scalable design, allowing it to be produced in different sizes and weight capabilities to accommodate the different range of external payload capabilities limitation (i.e. 5 lbs to - 60,000 lbs.) of current or proj ected platforms. While meting the full weight range is advantageous, since this RFI seeks to address the full spectrum of UAV sizes, the AMRDEC is also interested in offerors who are only able to address a portion of this span. Submissions should include any airworthiness certifications they have obtained. In the absence of such certification, detailed path to obtaining certification, to include a timeline, is desired, but not required. Since this concept has the potential to remove the requiremen t for an individual on the ground during manned sling-load operations, the AMRDEC will also evaluate the submitted linking mechanisms for their application applicability to sling-load operations for the current and future DoD inventory of manned rotary-win g aircraft (e.g. UH-72A Lakota, CH-47 Chinook, & UH/CH/SH-60 Blackhawk/Seahawk, CH-53 Sea Stallion, and Joint Heavy Lift). Interested Contractors/Vendors are asked to submit white papers, not to exceed to 10 pages, containing a description of the s ystems, technologies and concepts, currently available or in development, which have potential application to this project. The white paper may be supplemented with video, graphical presentations and drawings. Responses should also include a brief summary of experience in this technical field, maturity of the system (R&D, Production, Fielded etc.) cost and production capability, and production schedule. In addition contractors/vendors may be asked to conduct a proof of concept demonstration of their syste ms at their own expense. Those participating will assume all other expenses. Responding vendors should provide information regarding this announcement to (name, office, address, telephone, fax, and e-mail) before April 9, 2008. Responses may be submitte d in hardcopy and/or electronic media (CD-ROM/DVD) in standard Microsoft Office files and compatible audio-visual file formats (e.g., pdf, jpg, gif, mpeg, mpg, mp2, avi, wav, and wmv). Technical questions may be addressed to Mr. Robert Johnson, US Army Av iation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center, Advanced Science & Technology Directorate, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, 35898-5000. Telephone: (25 6) 876-2447, fax: (256)842-8764, E-mail: robert.a.johnson2@us.army.mil. This notice does not constitute an Invitation for Bids or a Request for Proposal and it is not a commitment by the US Army to procure products or services. The GOVERNMENT DOES N OT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR OTHERWISE PAY FOR THE INFORMATION SOLICITED.
 

Place of Performance

Address: US Army Aviation and Missile Command (Missile) ATTN: AMSAM-AC, Building 5303, Martin Road Redstone Arsenal AL

Zip Code: 35898-5280

Country: US
 

Record

SN01503316-W 20080209/080207231411 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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