SOURCES SOUGHT
25 -- REF - Request for Information on vehicle mounted convoy warning system
- Notice Date
- 11/24/2008
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Army, U. S. Army Materiel Command, RDECOM Acquisition Center - Aberdeen, RDECOM Acquisition Center - Aberdeen, ATTN: AMSSB-ACC-A, 4118 Susquehanna Avenue, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-3013
- ZIP Code
- 21005-3013
- Solicitation Number
- W91CRB-RFI-DARIUS
- Response Due
- 12/24/2008
- Archive Date
- 2/22/2009
- Point of Contact
- Gregory Wagenknecht, 410-278-0709<br />
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION; no award will be made as a result of this request. This request for information is for informational purposes only; this is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this RFI. The Government will not pay for information and materials received in response to this RFI and is in no way obligated by the information received. 1. BACKGROUND. The mission of the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) is to rapidly increase mission capability while reducing risk to Soldiers and others by equipping operational commanders with off-the-shelf (government or commercial) solutions or near-term developmental items that can be researched, developed and acquired quickly. The REF receives requirements from operational commanders in war zones setting forth the capabilities needed. The REF is chartered by the Senior Army leadership to provide material solutions to meet these requirements in a significantly reduced timeline compared to traditional Department of Defense acquisition procedures. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain potential solutions to provide a warning system for civilians (particularly in the OIF and OEF theaters) that a military convoy has stopped on the road; and to indicate to civilian drivers that they should immediately stop and take directions from Soldiers on how and when to proceed. All solutions submitted by companies responding to this RFI will be considered. Military convoys are prone to stopping with little or no warning to drivers of other vehicles on the road, particularly in situations where convoys must halt in order for Soldiers to investigate and/or clear hazards such as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Additionally military vehicles stopped on the road are sometimes less noticeable especially during times of reduced visibility such as during the hours of darkness, during adverse weather conditions (fog, sandstorms, rain, snow); or in areas where a drivers ability to readily see a stopped convoy is hampered by the physical characteristics of the terrain (rounding a blind curve, cresting a hill, etc.). When convoys are stopped on the road both Soldiers and the civilian population are placed at an increased risk. While Soldiers are concerned with clearing whatever is impeding their movement they are also concerned with protecting themselves from attack from any number of sources, not the least of which could be in the form of a Vehicle Borne IED (VBIED) traveling toward them from the front or rear of their convoy. Civilians who are approaching the stopped convoy may mistakenly be seen as a threat and need to be warned to stop and take direction from Soldiers. Experience and information obtained from this request for information will be provided to Army Product Manager REF and the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) who will evaluate the information and feasibility of issuing a procurement action to resolve the stated problem 2. REQUIREMENTS. The REF is looking for a vehicular-mounted light system that will act as a warning to civilians that a military convoy has stopped on the road; and to indicate to civilian drivers that they should immediately stop and take directions from Soldiers on how and when to proceed. Key characteristics of the system include the following: 2.1 Use of the system must not place Soldiers in additional harms way; and must be able to be turned on and turned off without the Soldier having to leave his or her vehicle. 2.2 The system must be able to provide warning from at least 300 meters away, day and night. 2.3 The system must not mask or otherwise hinder friendly observation. 2.4 The system must not silhouette friendly positions. 2.5 The system must not negatively impact the effectiveness of friendly communications, or other electronic capabilities. 2.6 The system must be vehicle-powered with an internal battery back-up. System must be able to operate for a minimum of two (2) hours on internal battery power and optimally for four (4) hours. 2.7 The light signal from the system must not be confused with the muzzle flash from a weapon. 2.8 Optimally the light system should be distinguishable from those used by local law enforcement and emergency services (Police, Fire, Ambulance, etc.). 3. DELIVERABLES. Specific information on industry capability to produce a system that can meet the requirements identified in paragraph 2 above. Experience and information obtained from this request for information will be provided to Army Product Manager REF who will evaluate the information and feasibility of issuing a procurement action to resolve the stated problem. This is NOT a Request for Proposal. Companies who desire to participate in this market survey are encouraged to submit a white paper which supports the companys claim that it presently has the technology, qualifications, and capabilities to satisfy the performance and technical objectives described above. The white paper should discuss the companys ability to develop and or provide existing technologies which meet the above requirements and should provide a ROM (rough order of magnitude) price and its anticipated delivery for the solution proposed. The white paper should also discuss related company experience and include point(s) of contact. The white paper should be prepared in MS Word, limited to ten (10) pages, and submitted electronically to the contracting officer at gregory.wagenknecht@us.army.mil. The company shall be responsible for any costs associated with preparing responses to this market research. All requests for further information must be made in writing or via email; telephone requests for additional information will not be honored. The government will review RFI submissions as they are received. The government reserves the right to close this RFI once they have received adequate response(s) to this RFI.
- Web Link
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- Place of Performance
- Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - Aberdeen ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-CC, 4118 Susquehanna Avenue Aberdeen Proving Ground MD<br />
- Zip Code: 21005-3013<br />
- Zip Code: 21005-3013<br />
- Record
- SN01709774-W 20081126/081124215313-e0e2f27cb16af2c6124f0171ef2c4cb8 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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