SOURCES SOUGHT
59 -- BAO Kit Head Tracking System
- Notice Date
- 11/23/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 334419
— Other Electronic Component Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, ASC - Aeronautical Systems Center, 2275 D Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 45433-7218
- ZIP Code
- 45433-7218
- Solicitation Number
- RFI-HEAD-TRACKING-SYSTEM
- Archive Date
- 12/31/2011
- Point of Contact
- Nancy G. Leggett, Phone: (937) 255-7202
- E-Mail Address
-
nancy.leggett@wpafb.af.mil
(nancy.leggett@wpafb.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 1. The Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) Battlefield Airmen Branch (WISN), Wright-Patterson AFB OH, is soliciting information to identify possible sources to provide information on production or near production ready products that address the need for tactical head tracking system. This Request for Information (RFI) is issued for informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or commit the government to award a contract now or in the future. Submitting information for this RFI is voluntary, and participants will not be compensated. 2. The HTS is intended as an individual issued unit for operators deployed in combat zones, to provide directional orientation of the operator's head to computer interfaced systems used to communicate combat mission related information. 3. The HTS will be within the following notional requests. If outside the requested parameters, please provide narrative on how the proposed system adapts to the situation: a. Power i. The HTS will interface to a single standard USB 2.0 port. If the HTS uses a wired connection to the computer, ideally all power and inputs will come through this single port connection. ii. If wireless connections are used in the system, describe the wireless technology used and discuss potential issues connecting the HTS to a classified computer system b. Characteristics i. System should not prevent any protective equipment (such as helmets, hearing protection, etc) worn by the operator. ii. The system shall be ruggedized (adheres to MIL-STD-810-G Method 516.6 Procedure IV (transit drop test); Procedure I category 24 and 20 (Minimum Integrity test); Method 506.4, Procedure III (Drip) plus three ft submersion in salt water; Method 510.5, Procedure I (Dust); Method 501.5, Procedures I (Storage) and Procedure II (Operation); Method 503.4. (Thermal shock); Method 500.4, Procedures I (Storage); and II (Operation)) iii. HTS must communicate the user's directional orientation (azimuth and elevation) of the head to a mobile computer system. iv. System must be interoperable with other systems such as a mobile computer system, head mounted display which provides directional icons, targets, etc. c. Reliability: i. HTS must not be susceptible to nearby electromagnetic interference nor cause interference to other nearby devices like the radio headset or night vision goggles. Vendors should note that the device will be used in close proximity (within 2 feet) of military radios. These radios are capable of transmitting frequencies from 30 MHz to 2 GHz at up to 20 Watts EIRP. 4. Please address the following questions: a. Power i. How does HTS receive its power supply? ii. How long will your system operate without critical equipment failure (such as battery swap-out, overheating, etc)? iii. How much power does it require to operate your system? b. Characteristics i. Through what types of interfaces does the HTS provide signal outputs? ii. What is the weight of the system? iii. Is there special software drivers required to operate on any computer (Is it a plug in play system)? iv. How does your system attach to the operator? v. System input control use the same USB port where the display signals and power come from? vi. What characteristics does the attachment of the HTS provide to stability during movement, such as bouncing around, when used in a marching or walking environment? vii. What kind of cable management system does the HTS invoke to avoid cabling that can tangle user and hinder operations? viii. How long will the HTS allow for continuous wear without causing undue "hotspots" or other discomforts to operator? ix. The HTS cabling must have "break-away" points at critical junctures (i.e. the operator's neck) so as not to create a snag hazard that could injure the user. If there is a break-away, how will the HTS react to reconnection? x. Describe the operator calibration procedure for use in the field. xi. Quantify the accuracy and drift rate of the accuracy over time. Describe azimuth and elevation measures separately and combine the two into an overall pointing error. xii. Describe any field recalibration procedures that might be necessary and the conditions which may cause the need for recalibration during use in the field. c. Reliability i. How long will HTS operate before maintenance above operator level? ii. How long is the total life cycle of the HTS? iii. To what extent is the HTS able to operate reliably in the global environment, including submersion in the maritime environment? d. Detectability i. What range does HTS signature and external indicators inhibit operator or system from detection by unaided human sight, sound, smell or signal? ii. The HTS should keep electronic emissions below the standard described in MIL-STD 461F RE102 for Army ground systems to minimize potential interference to aircraft. e. Logistics and Certifications i. What is the sustainability strategy for any consumable items with the system? ii. Are there any certifications needed to transport, operate or dispose of the proposed system? iii. Are there any field deployed units of the proposed system or a previous iteration of the system proposed? iv. Describe calibration procedures (if any) that must be performed in a depot or precision lab environment as part of periodic maintenance. 5. This notice is part of government market research, a continuous process for obtaining the latest information on the "art of the possible" and associated material procurement and approach risks from industry with respect to their current and near-term abilities. The information collected may be used by the Government to explore future strategies and implementation for the BAO kit. Information received as a result of this request will be considered as sensitive and will be protected as such. Any company proprietary information contained in the response should be clearly marked as such, by paragraph, such that ‘publicly-releasable' and ‘proprietary' information are clearly distinguished. Any material that is not marked proprietary will be considered publicly-releasable. Any proprietary information received in response to this request will be properly protected from any 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. 6. When submitting a response to this RFI, please be aware that the Air Force workforce is supplemented by contracted support personnel. Any proprietary data submitted may be handled by contract support services personnel who have signed the same Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) as organic AF personnel. 7. Responses are limited to 6 pages and should include technical and descriptive text to provide sufficient detail. The submitted documentation becomes the property of the U.S. Government and will not be returned. 8. Broad industry participation for this RFI is encouraged. U.S. and non-U.S. firms are permitted to respond to this HTS RFI. Responses to questions from interested parties will be promptly answered and posted on Fed Biz Opps (FBO), unless some release of proprietary information is involved or the answer addresses a question peculiar to a Company or that Company's response. Post submittal one-on-one information sessions with respondents are not contemplated. 9. This notice may be updated as additional information becomes available. Please check the FBO site for updates to this announcement and register to receive e-mail notices of any updates to the FBO announcement. For more information on this RFI, please contact the AF POCs below. E-mail communications preferred. 10. Submissions are requested on the date listed in this announcement and may be submitted via e-mail or by mailing your response to: Ms. Nancy Leggett, Contracting Officer ASC/WISK, Bldg 46, 1895 5th St. Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7233 Contracting Officer, nancy.leggett@wpafb.af.mil, Personnel hand-carrying responses should contact the Contracting Officer to arrange a mutually acceptable arrival time. E-mail communication is preferred. Contractual: Ms. Nancy Leggett, Contracting Officer, (937) 255-7202 nancy.leggett@wpafb.af.mil Programmatic: Mr Brian Machuca, HMD/Headset Project Manager (937) 255-3447, Brian.Machuca.ctr@wpafb.af.mil
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