SOURCES SOUGHT
70 -- Tunnel Detection Technology
- Notice Date
- 6/26/2008
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541512
— Computer Systems Design Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Procurement Directorate, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 1310 NP, Washington, District of Columbia, 20229
- ZIP Code
- 20229
- Solicitation Number
- HSBP1008RFI062608
- Response Due
- 7/29/2008
- Point of Contact
- Dean Titcomb,, Phone: 202-393-8441 x240, Linda M. Krough,, Fax: 202.344-1190
- E-Mail Address
-
dean.a.titcomb@associates.dhs.gov, linda.krough@dhs.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U. S. Customs and Borders Protection (CBP), Office of Information Technology (OIT), Laboratories and Scientific Services (LSS) issues this Request for Information (RFI) regarding technologies for detection of tunnels and tunneling activities. Background: Customs & Border Protection’s mission is to secure U.S. ports of entry and borders from people and goods that are prohibited or which threaten U.S. citizens, infrastructure, resources and food supply, while efficiently facilitating legitimate trade and travel. The mission includes interdicting contraband (i.e., drugs, currency, guns, explosives, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and illegal human trafficking. Clandestine tunnels under our Southern and Northern borders continue to be a problem for counter-smuggling operations. Historically, a new border tunnel is discovered every 3-6 months. The ultimate goal of this effort is to provide CBP with information regarding the availability of an integrated, system of systems approach, detection and exploitation of clandestine tunnels. Objective: To acquire market information regarding the availability of new and innovative tunnel detection technologies: to locate, rapidly map, determine depth, determine direction and detect tunnel openings. The technologies sought should be capable of remotely providing forensic information such as shoring, electrical current, piping, etc., within clandestine tunnels. These data points are desired for CBP and joint CBP, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Local Law Enforcement and Department of Defense (DOD) operations. Utilizing the system of systems approach to collectively solve the tunnel issues is desired. All new technology should address the potential for system wide integration. Data provided by new systems should be simple to understand by operators and provide as close to real-time reporting as possible. CBP will need to understand reasons for long reporting periods if real-time reporting is not possible. The technology sought must operate in the remote often pervasive environments in which operations occur and account for system durability under less than optimal conditions. CBP is interested in a range of sensors that can be hand carried, vehicle mounted, or aircraft mounted that are capable of tunnel detection and cuing operators to a tunnel location, opening, or direction. System integration should account for CBP tunnel sensor system’s data communications and transmissions from remote locations. Information on technology performance should include, system capabilities, detection limits, false positive and false negative rates, and stand-off distances. Also included should be test results (lab and field) and identification of environmental hazards that are to be considered as part of the technology solution. CBP desires new technology that facilitates minimal operator input through automation, shares data with other systems, includes Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software, and has simple to understand outputs and displays. Data displays should be georectified for accuracy or have the ability to be displayed on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with geo-location and depth. Unattended sensors should be inconspicuous and/or have the ability to be altered to blend in with the environment. Additionally, unattended sensors should have the option of being self sustaining. The main objective is to provide CBP with the early detection of tunneling activity and new tunnel development. By investigating current and evolving technologies, this RFI is intended to support CBP’s identification of the next generation of tunnel detection equipment, technologies, and systems. RFI Submission Requirements: Please include the following information in your submission: (1) Technical Approach: Describe your COTS tunnel detection technologies and how they can be networked to provide an integrated system of systems approach to tunnel detection and exploitation. The equipment and system detection limits and conditions must be addressed. In particular, please describe integration of selected of products, technologies, cost implications. Describe how the technology and systems are deployed and their locations. (2) System Configuration: Please describe the relative advantages and disadvantages of utilizing your solution in a fixed (unattended or maintained), mobile or airborne configuration. Describe the data acquisition process and data collection requirements to include: speed of data assessment, system configuration, staffing, reliability, system infrastructure requirements, power requirements, life cycle cost and factors required for proper maintenance and long term operation of the system. (3) Concept of Operation: Please describe how each system will operate along the Northern and Southern border locations of the U.S. The description should encompass operations in urban locations, remote locations and discuss relevant environmental constraints. (4) Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership and Education, Personnel and Facilities (DOTMILPF). Provide a description of DOTMILPF requirements as they relate to your technology. Submission Guidelines: Each Vendor should provide the following information when submitting its responses in the following order: Required RFI sections: (1) Cover page that includes company name, complete mailing address, and web page (2) Contact information (name/title/telephone#/fax#/email address) for the following company representatives: a. Technical Representative b. Business Representative c. Contract Representative (3) Technical Approach and System Configuration (4) System Operations (5) Concept of Operations (6) DOTMILPF (7) Additional Information (as needed) All responses (one response per company) are to be provided on company letterhead and in electronic format utilizing PDF. All data received in response to this RFI marked or designated as business confidential or proprietary will be fully protected from release outside the government. Responses should be marked identifying proprietary areas or specific proprietary technology. General proprietary markings are not acceptable. Questions must be submitted via email only to Dean.Titcomb@associates.dhs.gov. within 15 days of this posting. All packages submitted electronically or by electronic media shall be free of any computer virus. If a virus is found, the package will be destroyed and a replacement will be requested, which must be provided within three days after notification. All material provided will be treated as confidential. Company proprietary data will be reviewed by government employees and authorized representatives only. This RFI is for planning purposes, and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will follow. Parties responding to this RFI are responsible for all costs associated with preparation of a response. This RFI is issued solely for market research purposes and does not represent any current or future commitment by the government. All responses must be submitted by email to the primary contact named below within 30 days from the posting of this request.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=e82632b768f06ee7852a65264fa5395d&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Place of Performance
- Address: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Interdiction Technology Branch, National Place, Suite 1575, Washington, District of Columbia, 20004, United States
- Zip Code: 20004
- Zip Code: 20004
- Record
- SN01601918-W 20080628/080626220837-e82632b768f06ee7852a65264fa5395d (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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