SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Request for Concept Papers for Research and Development Effort for Perceptual Encapsulation Effort
- Notice Date
- 3/29/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- ACC-APG - Natick (SPS), ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5011
- ZIP Code
- 01760-5011
- Solicitation Number
- W911QY-13-R-0032
- Response Due
- 4/22/2013
- Archive Date
- 5/28/2013
- Point of Contact
- Darlene Rideout, (508) 233-6134
- E-Mail Address
-
ACC-APG - Natick (SPS)
(darlene.l.rideout.civ@mail.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Natick Contracting Division in support of the Human Systems Integration and Sciences Division (RDNS-WSH) located at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), Natick, MA, is requesting concept papers from industry and academia to develop an in-depth research strategy to determine the effects of weight and area of coverage (encapsulation) of head borne systems on aural-visual task performance. Initially, a white paper proposal will be submitted and reviewed and those that are selected will be invited to NSRDEC for a full briefing and presentation of proposals. The desired final outcome would be the selection of a finalized research proposal for contract initiation and execution. Current research efforts within the Army are directed towards optimizing soldiers' levels of ballistic protection to allow for improved action-perception and situational awareness capabilities. Head-borne loads, including helmets, are a specific area of concern. A soldier's ability to maintain situational awareness and effectively identify enemy targets and other threats while wearing head-borne systems translates directly to increased survivability and unit effectiveness. The purpose of this effort is to develop and execute a research strategy to determine the effects of weight and area of coverage (encapsulation) of head borne systems on threat identification using Ecological Task analysis and approaches from Dynamic Systems Theory. Specifically, this effort will develop research plans to determine the following: 1.Effects of Encapsulation on Aural-Visual Task Performance 2.Effects of Moment Load and Distribution on Aural-Visual Task Performance 3.Combined Effects of Load and Encapsulation on Aural-Visual Task Performance These research strategies must provide the following data: 1.Operational Task Performance - These task level metrics should be characterized in terms of the spatial-temporal changes in task performance (e.g. Time to Identify Target, % Correct Identifications, etc) under the variety of load and encapsulation parameters. These metrics provide information specific to the functional capabilities of the soldier. 2.Coordinative Dynamics Metrics - Metrics in the coordinative dynamics are those that directly underlie performance at the task level and are helpful for understanding the changes in coordinative dynamics while wearing protective helmets. Examples include: Eye-Head-Trunk coordination and variability, Head-Helmet Relative Motion, Head -Trunk Coordination, Head/Gaze Angle - Target Coupling, Variability Analysis/Motor Abundance. 3.Underlying Dynamics - Metrics of underlying dynamics are those more abstract analysis of the ongoing dynamics within the Organism-Environment system capable of capturing the complexity of the dynamics, stability-variability relations, specific coupling relations, or other measures deemed relevant to task performance. This analysis could include time-series analysis, fractal analysis, power law relations, and other tools within Dynamic Systems Theory capable of using variables that capture organism-environmental relations (e.g. Center of Pressure (CoP), Eye-Movement time series, etc). 4.Aural-Visual Task Perception supporting Task performance - Helmet area of coverage impairs both aural and visual localization of potential environmental threats (information specification of the threat). When having to orient towards these threats in dynamic environments, this suggests that a greater degree of visual search may be required as aural uncertainty increases and vice-versa. A multi-modal approach is desired that captures the trade-offs and contributions of these perceptual modes (aural-visual) in target identification tasks in dynamic environments under a variety of load and area of coverage parameters. The proposed research approach must clearly identify how and why the effort will be successful including the proposed personnel, materials, and equipment required to execute the research protocols. Approximate cost and schedule should also be provided in the concept paper. Concept development strategies without such supporting information will be weighed negatively. Interested parties will submit a white paper proposal for evaluation. NSRDEC will invite authors of selected white papers to an onsite briefing in May 2013 by NSRDEC. During the initial meeting, NSRDEC will present the quote mark problem space, quote mark including the current challenges, the problem constraints, what NSRDEC's expectations are for research undertaken to resolve the problem space, and discussion of the potential means by which the above goals may be achieved. Those parties invited to NSRDEC will then be given time to prepare a presentation on possible research strategies and capabilities to be presented to NSRDEC on an individual basis on the following day. Successful presentations to NSRDEC will result in the invitation to begin the Proposal process, which includes the ability to collaborate and discuss specific approaches with the Technical Point of Contact (POC) to optimize successful submission. Following proposal submission, no contact with the technical POC may occur as the official selection process for contract award will begin. Technical reporting shall be conducted at a minimum, on a quarterly basis and/or associated with significant technical milestones outlined in the concepts programmatic approach. Technical reporting will require complete documentation of the research and development efforts including cost, schedule and performance updates. All efforts are subject to availability of funds. All interested firms are encouraged to submit a concept paper to NSRDEC in accordance with NSRDEC Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Solicitation W911QY-13-R-0032, which can be found at http://www3.natick.army.mil. The BAA contains instructions for submission of Concept Papers against Topic #19 Ecological Approach to Warfighter Survivability; Perception-Action-Cognition, subtopics 2 and 4. Proprietary information will not be disclosed outside the U.S. Government. Nothing shall be construed herein or through the synopsis process to commit or obligate the Government to further action as a result of this synopsis. Firms responding to this synopsis shall bear all risk and expense of any resources used to provide the requested information, and all information submitted in response to this request shall become the property of the Government, and will not be returned to the submitter. Interested parties are invited to submit a concept paper under the topic referenced above and shall submit via email to Gail Bernheart (gail.d.bernheart.civ@mail.mil) by 22 April 2013. The Government shall evaluate all concept papers and provide a written response/on-site invitation to the authors on or about 03 May, 2013. Technical questions concerning this acquisition should be addressed to Dr. Christopher Palmer, via e-mail Christopher.j.palmer18.civ@mail.mil or 508-233-5196. Authors are highly encouraged to speak with the above POC prior to white paper submission. It is anticipated that cost plus fixed fee contract will be awarded. In accordance with FAR 16.301-3, for an anticipated cost type contract to be awarded, potential offerors must ensure that they have an adequate accounting system, as determined by their cognizant Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) office. The Natick BAA is effective from April 1, 2013 through March 30, 2015. This synopsis expires in 30 days.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/64b109e68ae992a0c72139f3c4fee8de)
- Place of Performance
- Address: ACC-APG - Natick (SPS) ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street Natick MA
- Zip Code: 01760-5011
- Zip Code: 01760-5011
- Record
- SN03024807-W 20130331/130329235018-64b109e68ae992a0c72139f3c4fee8de (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |