SOURCES SOUGHT
19 -- FEDBIZOPS Synopsis: H92222-09-R-0032 for Wet Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS)
- Notice Date
- 6/15/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 336611
— Ship Building and Repairing
- Contracting Office
- Other Defense Agencies, U.S. Special Operations Command, Headquarters Procurement Division, 7701 Tampa Point Blvd, MacDill AFB, Florida, 33621-5323
- ZIP Code
- 33621-5323
- Solicitation Number
- H92222-09-R-0032
- Point of Contact
- Tammy Lee Bair, , Craig Bowers,
- E-Mail Address
-
tammy.bair@socom.mil, bowersc@socom.mil
(tammy.bair@socom.mil, bowersc@socom.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The USSOCOM is requesting information from appropriate companies or parties currently capable of developing and fielding a submarine-launched, free-flooding, Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) vehicle that will provide Special Operation Forces (SOF) continued operational capability to conduct SOF shallow water undersea operations similar to those currently performed on the MK 8 MOD 1 SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV). The SWCS must address a wide range of operational challenges including the growing ability of hostile nations to detect, identify and target SOF conducting undersea tasks. Broad industry participation is desired but USSOCOM is keenly interested in designs that are currently in production or capable of rapidly entering into production. Delivery date of first production unit is planned in 2015. To complete the study and consider programming initiatives in the fiscal year 2010 Program Objective Memorandum (POM), USSOCOM requires current industry sources and capabilities information. 1. PURPOSE: This notice is part of Government Market Research, a process for obtaining the latest information on the ‘art of the possible' from industry with respect to their current and near-term abilities. All company proprietary information contained in the response shall be separately marked. Any proprietary information contained in response to this request will be properly protected from unauthorized disclosure. The government will not use proprietary information submitted from any one firm to establish the capability and requirements for any future systems acquisition so as to not inadvertently restrict competition. 2. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this Request for Information (RFI) are to identify responsible sources and interested parties who have proven solutions that can meet or exceed SWCS requirements. PMS NSW is interested in identifying sources that have the capability of designing and producing a manned underwater submersible including long term on-site Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) provided by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a logistics manager in Oahu, Hawaii. The plan is to produce one engineering model and 10 production units. For the purpose of this RFI, the term "proven" means solutions at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) "6" or higher, preferably TRL "7" or higher that has been validated in their relevant or operational environment. Examples would be testing in a high fidelity laboratory which emulates the undersea environment or actual system prototype testing in a surface or subsurface environment. 3. BACKGROUND: The MK 8 MOD 1 SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) is approaching the end of its service life. The system was originally designed around a standard 1553 data bus, making upgrades and replacements no longer cost effective due to obsolescence. In some cases, increased capability may be available but the lack of an open architecture prevents cost effective upgrade of the systems. The SWCS is the next generation SDV and is an ACAT III program at Milestone A with a Milestone B determination scheduled for third quarter FY10. The SWCS will require development of an IBS with an open architecture, a power and signal distribution system capable of integrating various electronic systems and sensors, and the capability to display operational data to the vehicle pilot and navigator. Increased crew and cargo capacities and endurance are required. In order to meet these requirements, new technologies which provide increased Hull Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) efficiencies are required. 4. OPERATIONAL SCENARIOS: The new SWCS will perform clandestine transport of SOF personnel and equipment in a wet environment into littoral waters and harbors. The SWCS must address a wide range of operational challenges including the growing ability of hostile nations to detect, identify and target SOF conducting undersea tasks. Thus, the SWCS shall have a modular open architecture design conducive to accommodating upgrades to processors and sensors. Operating in a free-flooding "wet" vehicle, the SWCS passengers and crew transit for extended durations (i.e. up to 12 hours) in a wet, variant temperature environment while breathing from SCUBA gear. Thus hardware and software selected must feature interfaces that are mission centric to ensure required operator actions are simple and minimized. 5. REQUIREMENTS: Following general, unclassified system requirements are applicable: A) Launch and Recovery: The SWCS will be capable of launch and recovery from surface vessels and from submerged host platforms. The submerged launch and recovery platform is the Dry Deck Shelter (DDS) which is mounted external to a submarine host platform aft of the sail. B) External Boundaries: The SWCS must be loaded, manned, and maintained while enclosed in the DDS. The total available volume inside the DDS is 8 feet diameter by 22 feet long from the bubble window operator station to the apex of the elliptical outer door. C) Internal Crew and Cargo Volume: The SWCS will be fully operable with a crew of two, and it will provide useable space for additional passengers and cargo. Dedicated crew/passenger cargo volume shall be maximized for transport of SOF personnel and equipment. D) Breathing Air System Capacity: The crew and passengers will wear closed-circuit Underwater Breathing Apparatus (UBA) for primary life support. The SWCS will have an auxiliary open-circuit breathing system capable of sustaining 6 divers for 1.25 hrs at 25 FSW and 8.75 hrs at 15 FSW before recharging. E) Vehicle Signatures All signatures, including acoustic, magnetic, infrared, and visual, shall be minimized. F) Ballast and Trim The SWCS shall have the capability to adjust ballast and trim to accommodate 400 lbs of payload to achieve neutral buoyancy and level trim. G) Speed and Range The SWCS will be designed to maximize cruise speed and transit range via hydrodynamic optimization, motor and propeller selection, and battery design. H) Deep Submergence Systems Requirements In order to be taken aboard the DDS, the SWCS must comply with Carry-On requirements for submarines. I) Vehicle Control The SWCS shall be designed to permit a single diver to operate all subsystems associated with piloting, ballasting and trimming, and otherwise controlling the motions and behavior of the vehicle from one diver station. J) Automatic Vehicle Control Automatic pilot and automatic ballast and trim functions are desired. K) Transportability The SWCS hull design must be durable enough to be lifted out of the water or on land for transport L) NET-Ready: 100% of interfaces, services, policy-enforcement controls, and data correctness, availability and processing requirements designated as enterprise-level or critical in the Joint integrated architecture. M) Force Protection/Survivability: SWCS shall have the ability to detect threats equal to or better than the MK8 MOD 1 SDV technologies. N) Navigation Accuracy: The navigation system will allow safe and accurate navigation, to include an integrated precision navigation system such as a Doppler navigation system augmented by Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) Compliant GPS. O) Diver-to-Diver, Diver-to-SWCS, and SWCS-to-Host Communications: Secure LPI/LPD Tethered underwater communications systems linking Diver-to-Diver, Diver-to SWCS, and SWCS-to-Host. P) Performance & Mission Availability: 10 twelve-hour missions without a critical failure with 0.90 reliability over 10 days of use in a 30-day period. Q) Sensor Mast: SWCS will include a sensor mast with an open-architecture, allowing the plug-n-play integration of various imaging sensors. R) Docking System: Rendezvous system shall support manual docking to Host. NOTE: Access to classified information is not required to respond to this RFI; however, in the event a RFP is issued in the future, competitors must have a facility clearance as well as personal clearance up to SECRET. 7. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS: Interested parties should provide capabilities, qualification statements, and examples that demonstrate their ability to satisfy the requirements detailed in paragraph 5 of this announcement. Responders may elect to provide responses at the major subsystem level only, in support of the requirements detailed in paragraph 5. Companies or parties are to use a minimum number of pages to describe in detail the information requested and submit responses in Microsoft Office compatible electronic format. The page limit for responses is 20, 8.5" x 11" double-sided pages, including attachments, figures and/or drawings, and no smaller than size 12 font. Responses must include: A) Industry Point of Contact (POC) for technical and contractual issues to include name, position, telephone number, and e-mail address. B) Complete System Description C) Overall capabilities of the system as compared against Paragraph 5 Requirements. D) Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the system with justification. E) Detailed information regarding the system capabilities/performance (prior testing, test reports, etc.). Responses to this RFI will be accepted within 30 days of this notice and shall be transmitted electronically to USSOCOM/SOAL-KW Tammy Bair, tammy.bair@socom.mil 8. DISCUSSIONS: One-on-one information gathering sessions with respondents are currently not contemplated. The Government may elect to conduct one-on-one discussions with industry based on its analysis of the RFI responses, the quality of submission and the specifications in the information provided. The Government is under no obligation to conduct these sessions. The Government does not commit to providing a response to any comment or questions. Any revision to this RFI based on comments received remains solely at the Government's discretion. These initiatives may ultimately result in the Government developing and issuing an RFP for respondents. USSOCOM provides the above information for information only. 9. SPECIAL NOTICE: Respondent's attention is directed to the fact that contractor consultants and advisors to the Government will review and provide support during review and evaluation of submittals. When appropriate, non-government advisors may be used to objectively review a particular functional area and provide comments and recommendations to the Government. All advisors shall comply with procurement integrity laws and shall sign Non-Disclosure and Rules of Conduct/Conflict of Interest statements. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Submissions in response to this RFI constitutes approval to release the submittal to Government Support Contractors. Per FAR 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997): The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Although the terms "proposal" and "respondent" are used in this RFI, your response will be treated as information only and shall not be used as a proposal. Any proposed solution must meet all Operational, Safety, Suitability and Effectiveness (OSS&E) requirements mandated by the Department of Defense.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/USSOCOM/SOAL-KB/H92222-09-R-0032/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Design and manufacturing of the SWCS will take place at the contractor's facility. Long term on-site Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) shall be provided by the original equipment manufacturer and a logistics manager in Oahu, Hawaii., United States
- Record
- SN01844970-W 20090617/090615234929-79c89bf94012009fc1e2dabde6c147a7 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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