SPECIAL NOTICE
99 -- RFI-Bi-directional, Independent-Language Free Speech Communicator
- Notice Date
- 2/5/2013
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- Contracting Office
- P.O. Box 190022, North Charleston SC 29419-9022
- ZIP Code
- 29419-9022
- Solicitation Number
- N65236_SNOTE_0006BF72
- Archive Date
- 3/1/2013
- E-Mail Address
-
Contract Specialist
(paula.somers@navy.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE: No later than noon (EST) on March 1, 2013 DESCRIPTION Request for Information (RFI) - Components and/or technologies supporting enhanced stand-off distances and message effectiveness during bi-directional, respective native language verbal communications with indigenous personnel at extended open space range using a single up-range Security Forces field deployable system. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWARSYSCEN) Atlantic, Innovation and Discovery Competency (71000) is seeking information on commercially-available, and/or emerging components or technologies supporting development, integration, and/or procurement of a field deployable system capable of enabling bi-directional free speech between indigenous individuals and NATO language Security Forces at safe stand-off distances. The goal is to enhance Security Force personal safety two-fold by: a) enabling bi-directional verbal engagement with indigenous individuals at enhanced stand-off distances, and b) to provide enhanced mutual understanding/communications by providing autonomous, real-time voice translation between both parties in their respective or native/local dialects while at safe stand-off distances. The primary use case of the deployed system is for communicating (conversing) with specific individuals or a small number of closely spaced individuals at distances in excess of 30M. The RFI results will be used to assess the emerging 'state-of-the-art' and/or availability for each of the 3 major systems components necessary to obtain the desired deployment system functionality and/or if the desired functionality is currently available. To be determined future efforts may be established to procure, integrate, or develop the desired features in a field deployable format. These major components are: 1) down-range voice projection or hailing, 2) down-range voice capture or extended range, narrow field microphone, and 3) an autonomous, real-time speech-to-speech multi-language translation module. The desired feature sets for each of these sub-systems is as follows; LONG-HAULER: The purpose of the long-distance hailer system is to project the verbal response generated by the Security Force personnel down-range to the indigenous subject. The sub-system must allow for operation by non-hearing protected Security Forces personnel and to intelligibly project their verbal responses at the desired distances. Additionally, it is desirable that the output be of a sufficiently narrow field to illuminate only the desired/intended indigenous recipients. NARROW FIELD, LONG-RANGE MICROPHONE: This sub-system forms the down-range 'input' side of the speech translation module. The requirement is to remotely sense and capture indigenous speech with sufficient signal-to-noise and frequency response to support high-fidelity free speech translation. The technologies projected are open, but it highly desired that they be supportive of a single sensor placement, up/down-range personnel safe, and capable of targeting user specified individuals at distance. SPEECH-TO-SPEECH TRANSLATION: As previously stated this sub-system needs to be stand-alone, autonomous and capable of operating with the signal-to-noise and frequency response provided by the long-range microphone sub-system. In addition, it is desirable that this sub-system be capable of interpreting and translating to local indigenous dialects, in addition to more common regional language. Ideally this sub-system can autonomously identify from a small list of local dialect possibilities either participant's spoken language or local dialect and translate between them. Use of a written meta-language to aid in translation could also be advantageous for alternative verbal response interfaces (i.e., text). SPECIFIC INFORMATION SOUGHT INCLUDES: 1. Company or organization information, including name, address, URL, revenue, and number of employees. 2. Whether the organization is a manufacturer, distributor, or developer. 3. A point of contact for follow-up information, and the point of contact's phone number and e-mail address. 4. Product/sub-system name and succinct description. 4. Brief description of (sub-) system's features, capabilities, performance, and availability. 5. Technology Readiness Level (TRL) with a brief description of (sub-) system state of readiness or availability. This should include statements on demonstrated or evaluated performance. 6. Cost information such as purchase price and General Services Administration (GSA) schedule information if available. If an emerging technology, please provide a project/ROM estimate as to additional development or integration costs as well as projected (sub-) system costs. SUBMITTALS The technical point of contact is Curtis White at curtis.d.white1@navy.mil. Please provide documentation packages to Mr. White via the US Army's ARMDEC SAFE transfer site (https://safe.amrdec.army.mil/SAFE2/). Large (> 5Mb) data packages will not accepted by Navy email. ARMDEC SAFE is certified to FOUO and will accept data file transfers up to 2Gb total and 25 (zip) files. Documentation packages should be appropriately marked for distribution/dissemination rights (i.e., FOUO, etc). SSC ATLANTIC's electronic portal for posting doesn't allow documents to flow through to FBO. All information that mentioned in this posting is located on our e-Commerce website. The address for access is under submittal - https://e-commerce.sscno.nmci.navy.mil. Once there, look for SSC Atlantic yellow folder on the left, open the folder, then under VIEW BY select the Special Notices link and look under the folder with the date of the posting. All documents associated with the FBO posting are located at the bottom of the posting. If can't get access-you may have browser issues and talking to the webmaster will help to clear these issues. Please contact the SPAWAR Paperless Helpdesk for assistance at 858-537-0644 or email at paperless.spawar@navy.mil. Helpdesk Hours of operation are: Mon - Thurs : 7:00am - 4:00pm PST and Fri : 7:00am - 3:00pm PST The web-address at the end of this announcement is a more direct approach to the announcement and documents; however, if you have security protocol issues with your browser, you will have to follow the steps above. TECHNICAL QUESTIONS, ISSUES, etc. may be directed to Mr. White via email. This RFI is for information gathering and planning purposes only, and should not be construed as a Request for Proposal (RFP) or solicitation of an offer. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or otherwise pay for the information solicited. Submission of vendor information constitutes consent to publication of that information in SAVER Program documentation. E-mail your NON-TECHNICAL CONTRACT related questions to the Contract Specialist at paula.somers@navy.mil. Submissions are due by noon (EST) on March 1, 2013
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