SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- Special Notice and Request for Information - High Energy Laser (HEL) Industry Live-Fire Technology Demonstration at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico
- Notice Date
- 2/6/2015
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Deputy Commander, ATTN SMDC-CM-AP, P.O. Box 1500, Huntsville, AL 35807-3801
- ZIP Code
- 35807-3801
- Solicitation Number
- RFIHELMD01
- Archive Date
- 2/6/2016
- Point of Contact
- Dianne Trimble, 256-955-5973
- E-Mail Address
-
US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Deputy Commander
(dianne.f.trimble.civ@mail.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SPECIAL NOTICE AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.205(c) and FAR 15.201(e) this announcement constitutes a special notice concerning a contemplated technology challenge and an official Request For Information (RFI). This notice and RFI are issued for market research and for planning purposes only and shall not be considered a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Invitation for Bid (IFB), shall not be considered an obligation from the Government to acquire any products or services, and shall not be considered an authorization to incur any cost in anticipation of such authorization. Submitting information in response to this special notice and RFI (to include capabilities and concepts) is voluntary and participants shall not be compensated; unless otherwise stated, this special notice and RFI, as well as interchanges and exchanges at any Government-sponsored events, is considered informational-only for participants and the Government. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred. The information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to pursue any course of action described herein. The purpose of this special notice is to seek responses to the RFI stated below in order to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of participants (U.S. citizens and U.S. companies only) for the effort described below. The intent of the RFI is to identify market interest and solicit U.S. Department of Defense industry solutions and recommendations for the effort described below. The Government is also considering sponsoring a live-fire technology demonstration at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM, potentially resulting in market stimulation prize(s) ranging from $1-$5 million dollars for the most successful participants. The decision to pursue awarding prize(s) will be based on the responses received from this RFI identifying the advances industry has made or is capable of making in the current state-of-the-art of laser weapon systems, as well as appropriate approvals and funding. If the Government decides to pursue market stimulation prize(s), then further notification will be provided. Note that a decision regarding whether the Government may split this dollar amount into multiple prize awards for the most promising and successful demonstrations has not been finalized. As noted above, the use of a prize award in support of the live-fire technology demonstration outlined in this notice is pending approval and funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and/or U.S. Department of Army. The Government may also elect to utilize traditional processes such as use of a Broad Agency Announcement in conjunction with or in lieu of the prize challenge. Subject to appropriate approvals and funding, as well as responses to this Special Notice/RFI, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT), Redstone Arsenal, AL, on the behalf of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research and Technology) and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASAALT), is partnering with the Army Program Executive Office - Missiles and Space (PEO M&S) and the Fort Sill Fires Center of Excellence (FCoE) to host a High Energy Laser (HEL) industry live-fire technology demonstration at WSMR, NM in November 2015. The Government desires to assess and stimulate industry's current laser weapon system state-of-the-art to defeat RAM and UAV threats that may guide decisions on incorporating solid state laser weapons into the Army inventory. To this end, USASMDC/ARSTRAT intends to invite industry (U.S. Department of Defense contractors) to participate in a live-fire technology demonstration to be conducted at WSMR, NM, in November 2015. At a minimum, a potential participant must verify its readiness to participate in the demonstration by satisfying a number of criteria, to include: Must be Laser Clearing House (LCH) compliant for above horizon engagements; Must be Information Assurance compliant - must be certified to collect classified data; Must operate in accordance with WSMR Safety Office requirements (WSMR safety requirements will be provided at the live-fire familiarization day discussed below); Must provide all needed equipment and personnel (no government furnished equipment will be provided to the participants for use in their systems being demonstrated); Must provide inputs to WSMR support requirements (support requirements and input method will be provided at the live-fire familiarization day discussed below); and Must agree to grant the Government a license in all collected data (whether from Government or participant systems) that permits use for any Government purposes as defined in DFARS 252.227-7013(a)(12) and DFARS 252.227-7014(a)(11). The participant's system must meet the minimum safety performance standard identified below in order to participate in the live-fire technology demonstration at WSMR, NM. Verifying the system meets the minimum safety performance standard is the first phase of the live-fire technology demonstration event; only systems that meet the required standard will be allowed to participate in the live-fire technology demonstration. The live-fire technology demonstration is a series of engagements against dynamic small-caliber mortar rounds, as well as Class II and/or Class I UAVs, in scenarios of increasing difficulty. Details of the scenarios will be provided at a Participants Day discussed below. Note that part of the live-fire technology demonstration is repositioning the participant's system and conducting additional engagements (emplace engage displace move emplace engage displace). Additionally, there will be time constraints on the scenarios and all engagements will be against above-the-horizon dynamic targets. The Government will develop an acceptable range of atmospheric conditions where target engagements may be conducted. If conditions are outside the acceptable range, then a quote mark non-engagement quote mark will be declared for that time period and the engagements rescheduled. The Government will also collect atmospheric data to help with the post-demonstration assessment and support lethality data base development. If the Government chooses to award market stimulation prize(s) as a result of the live-fire technology demonstration, then scoring criteria will be presented at the Participants Day discussed below. Participants also must be aware that USASMDC/ARSTRAT has a security classification guide (SCG) concerning the development of laser weapon technology (High Energy Laser Tactical Technology Development and Demonstration Security Classification Guide (SCG), dated November 26, 2013). This guide discusses what information must be protected and at what level(s). All participants taking part in this live-fire technology demonstration must have the capability to handle classified data and agree to conduct all phases of planning and demonstration in accordance with the stated USASMDC/ARSTRAT SCG. Participants should also note that the USASMDC/ARSTRAT SCG covers Government approval of public statements, photos, and videos relating to this live-fire demonstration prior to release. Prior to departing the live-fire demonstration conducted at WSMR, NM, each participant will be required to provide data in engineering units to the Government to assist in the assessment of the demonstration. This data may include (but is not limited to) time of target lock-on by the tracking system, accurate laser on and off times, laser segment power for each engagement, video (if available) from the laser tracker, etc. USASMDC/ARSTRAT will coordinate with each participant to help determine the classification level of data products. The Government intends to provide the following to the live-fire participants: Security classification guidance for data collected during the demonstration; Minimum safety performance standard (draft standards are stated below): oRange Safety: Range safety expertise will be provided by WSMR. Participants will be required to submit system safety plans for approval by the WSMR Safety Office. Inability to gain approval of plans and procedures by the WSMR Safety Office will result in the elimination of the participant from the live-fire demonstration. The test range will coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration and aircraft within WSMR boundaries to ensure no aircraft are endangered by laser operations associated with this live-fire demonstration. oSatellite Protection: Satellite protection from lasers will be provided by the LCH. Each participant will be required to obtain LCH clearance in order to propagate its laser systems above the horizon with proper satellite safety measures. Inability to gain LCH approval of planning and operational procedures will result in the elimination of the participant from the live-fire demonstration. USASMDC/ARSTRAT will assist participants in acquiring predictive avoidance model (PAM) files from LCH for use in their systems. oVoice Communication: Voice communication with the participant's demonstration crew to ensure the laser system is ready to conduct live fire exercises. oCue and Track: Cueing sensor data will be provided by an AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel, or other radar systems, with a Government provided radar crew. A set of two mortar rounds will be expended to ensure the vendor's system can be operated safely to include: response to government live-fire demonstration director firing commands, receiving and processing the target cue, tracking mortar rounds at a range of 1.5 km in a crossing trajectory; Desired operational performance to negate a limited set of mortar rounds and UAVs. This performance is being defined with associated technical and operational scoring criteria and will be provided to participants; Appropriate WSMR resources to support the live-fire technology demonstration. Participants will be required to define their specific range support requirements; All participants will be provided the same number and types of targets to include 60 mm mortar rounds, and Class II and/or Class I UAVs. The targets will be launched by a Government crew on command from a Government Demonstration Director; and Target lethality data. Note that truth data will be collected by the Government to include (but not limited to): atmospheric data, visible and infrared optical data from tracking mounts, radar cue data, and UAV flight path data. Additionally, a Government Joint Assessment Team (JAT) will assess the results and determine prizes, if provided, in accordance with the assessment criteria. Details on the potential prizes will be provided at Participants Day described below. USASMDC/ARSTRAT plans to host a Participants Day associated with this RFI (note that participants must be approved to attend). The Participants Day is tentatively scheduled for March 6, 2015 at USASMDC/ARSTRAT, Building 5220, Room 3017 Redstone, AL (approved participants will be notified or an amendment to this Special Notice/RFI will provide the exact time and duration of the participants day). The primary purpose of the Participants Day is to provide an overview of the Army's plans for the live-fire technology demonstration and to answer questions from participants related to these plans. This Participants Day will be open to U.S. Department of Defense contractors that have the capability to handle classified data at least at the secret level. Due to facility space limitations and sensitivity or security classification level of the information that will be provided, prospective participants must request attendance and provide the single page capabilities summary and draft quad chart described below. The Participants Day will also afford an opportunity for participants to interact relative to this topic. Each participant may bring up to three (3) individuals for attendance (three total attendees per request). After receipt of the capabilities summary and draft quad chart, potential participants will be notified by Ms. Dianne Trimble, Army Contracting Command-Redstone, or her representative no later than February 24, 2015 with details regarding the Participants Day and invitation. No one will be allowed to attend the Participants Day without receiving an invitation (note that space limitation may limit the number of participants). Submit all visit requests via JPAS to SMO Code W4T8AA8 and reference this RFI number. Visit requests should be submitted no later than February 25, 2015. If JPAS is not available, then a prospective participant may FAX his/her visit request to SECURE FAX number (256) 955-3629. Security POCs are Mr. Lovett Bennett (256) 955-4950 and Ms. Di Cochran (256) 955-4200. Please include both security POCs on all visit requests. An amendment to this Special Notice/RFI will be issued via FEDBIZOPPS detailing any changes or additional requested information. For planning purposes, USASMDC/ARSTRAT is also considering hosting a range familiarization day associated with this RFI (note that potential participants who attended the Participants Day and submitted the 25-page white paper will be invited to participate in this range visit). The live-fire range familiarization day is tentatively scheduled for April 21-24, 2015 at WSMR, NM. The purpose of the range familiarization day will be for the Government range personnel to provide an overview of requirements for laser operations on the range, as well as for participants to provide an overview of their laser system plans for the demonstration. The range familiarization day will also afford an opportunity for participant interaction related to this topic. An amendment to this Special Notice/RFI will be issued via FEDBIZOPPS detailing any changes or additional requested information. RESPONSES: Interested participants are requested to submit two separate responses. A.A single page summary (due February 18, 2015). (1)A single page summary of corporate (may include partners and/or other team member) capabilities and a single quad chart summarizing the demonstrator (see attached sample). The single page summary should document corporate/team member's ability to participate in the live-fire technology demonstration with a viable system and a primary point of contact. The quad chart should provide a draft summary of the potential demonstrator system. The contact POC identified in the single page summary will be the person notified if the participant will be allowed to attend the Participants Day. (2)Submission shall be unclassified and limited to no more than a single one-sided 8.5 quote mark x 11 quote mark pages and 11 point Arial font with one inch margins; line spacing shall be set at no less than single space. Tables, drawings and header/footer information shall be 10 point Arial font or larger. In addition, submitters are requested to provide a single page draft quad chart summary using the quad chart format attached to this Special Notice/RFI (note that chart font shall be no less than 10 point Arial font and is limited to one 8.5 quote mark x 11 quote mark page). If any of the material provided contains proprietary information, then it should be appropriately marked and disposition instructions provided; however, submitted data will not be returned. All replies to this special announcement must reference RFI-HELMD-01. Submit only unclassified information. All responses shall include company size status under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541712 as stated below. No telephonic inquiries will be accepted. Submit all responses to this special announcement with reference to RFI-HELMD-01, Attn: Ms. Dianne Trimble, CCAM-CAB-B Army Contracting Command-Redstone, PO Box 1500 Huntsville, AL, email dianne.f.trimble.civ@mail.mil. The single page summary and quad chart responses must be received no later than February 18, 2015, 12:00 pm Central Standard Time. B.A white paper with a complete capabilities statement (due March 27, 2015) that includes: (1)HEL demonstrator system description to include, but not limited to the following: a.Platform(s) subsystem to include number and size of vehicle(s)/container(s) required for the system to participate in the live-fire demonstration, system mobility, etc.; b.Laser subsystem to include high power laser, illuminator and laser ranger, etc. For each laser provide the power level, continuous wave or pulsed, pulse characteristics, beam quality, etc.; c.Beam control subsystem to include beam quality, field-of-regard, instantaneous field-of-view for the sensor(s), slew rates, acceleration and jerk, etc.; d.Command and control subsystem to include operator interface, safety features, ability to interface with cueing systems such as the Sentinel radar, etc.; e.Thermal management subsystem to include type and any hazmat involved, etc.; f.Power subsystem to include energy storage capability, power source(s) required, etc.; g.Expected performance to include capability to defeat small caliber mortar rounds and small UAVs, magazine depth, models used to predict performance, etc.; and h.Potential future upgrades. (2) HEL demonstrator range support requirements. (3) Status of LCH registration. If registration is not complete, then the participant should address status, plans and schedule to complete registration with the LCH. (4) Other information the participant believes the Government should know concerning the laser system, its employment for the live fire demonstration, ideas on transition to a program of record, etc. (5) Submission must be unclassified. The submission shall be limited to no more than 25 one-sided 8.5 quote mark x 11 quote mark pages and 11 point Arial font with one inch margins; line spacing shall be set at no less than single space. Tables, drawings and header/footer information shall be 10 point Arial font or larger. In addition, submitters are requested to provide a final single page quad chart summary (update from what was submitted in A. above) using the quad chart attached to this Special Notice/RFI (note that chart font shall be no less than 10 point Arial font and is limited to one 8.5 quote mark x 11 quote mark page). If any of the material provided contains proprietary information, then it should be appropriately marked and disposition instructions provided; however, submitted data will not be returned. All replies to this special announcement must reference RFI-HELMD-01. Submit only unclassified information. All responses shall include company size status under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541712 as stated below. No telephonic inquiries will be accepted. Submit all responses to this special announcement with reference to RFI-HLEMD-01, Attn: Ms. Dianne Trimble, CCAM-CAB-B Army Contracting Command-Redstone, PO Box 1500 Huntsville, AL, email dianne.f.trimble.civ@mail.mil. The 25-page whitepaper and final quad chart responses must be received no later than March 27, 2015, 12:00 pm Central Standard Time. Foreign personnel and firms are advised that they will not be allowed to participate in this effort at any level. The research and test data produced under a resultant demonstration may contain Military Critical Technology List (MCTL) information whose export is restricted by Export Control Act (Title 22, U.S. Sec 2751, et seq.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (Title 50, U.S.C., App. 2401, et seq.). Only those companies who are on the Qualified Contractors Access List (QCAL) may receive such information.
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