SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- REQUEST FOR CONCEPT PAPERS ON HUMAN AUGMENTATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE WARFIGHTER - BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT W911QY-15-R-0016
- Notice Date
- 6/12/2015
- 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-15-X-XX58
- Response Due
- 7/15/2015
- Archive Date
- 8/14/2015
- Point of Contact
- Darlene Rideout, (508) 233-4112
- E-Mail Address
-
ACC-APG - Natick (SPS)
(darlene.l.rideout.civ@mail.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), Natick, MA, is conducting a Request for Information for Concept (White) Papers on Human Augmentation Technologies for the Warfighter under Topic H, Warfighter Advanced Technologies - Human Augmentation Technologies under the Broad Agency Solicitation W911QY-15-R-0015. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. The Army must meet the demands of the future strategic environment in alignment with its strategic vision and priorities. As such, the Army must make the Brigade Combat Team (BCT) and enablers leaner while retaining capability, prevent overmatch through 2025, and set the conditions for fundamental change. By 2025, a leaner, smarter, more lethal, and flexible Army must operate differently, enable forces differently, and organize differently to maintain overmatch, capable of responding to a myriad of threats to our national interests. In this vein, NSRDEC is interested in the advancement of human physical performance augmentation such as wearable load assistance technologies and exoskeletons to assist in such load tasks as heavy and repetitive lifting, load transport, and difficult load tasks in unique environments. The chief objectives of these human augmentation concepts are to offer improvements in strength, endurance, task efficiency, and/or ergonomics while maintaining user safety and comfort. Other desired attributes that should be addressed include mitigation of load-induced injury and soreness and allowing for natural range of motion, low power demand / high power efficiency, high reliability and ease of use (for example, developing simple don/doff mechanisms and intuitive / effective user interfaces), lightweight, low cost, and compatibility with Soldier clothing and mission equipment. Human physical performance augmentation technologies have the potential to assist in load tasks that occur during combat, mission support, and other operations. The end goal is the technological advancement of human augmentation concepts which have the highest potential to optimize individual and small unit mobility and load performance and serve as a force multiplier. There are 2 specific human augmentation technology types sought: Mission Support Type - Physiological assist technology that augments load carriage and reduces overall load burden to the Soldier, helping the wearer to conduct load tasks in logistics, sustainment, and combat support environments. These tasks include, but are not limited to, base construction, heavy and/or repetitive supply lifting, loading, unloading, and transporting at a Forward Operating Base (FOB), base camp, command outpost, patrol base, ammo transfer and holding point, ammo supply point or resupply point. Key focuses are injury reduction, strength assist, and throughput/ productivity augmentation. Customization of end-effectors based on lift, move, and carry tasks may be desired. Desired metrics and entrance criteria for submitted Mission Support Type technologies are as follows: 1)TRL - Desired Entrance Criteria: At least TRL 4 2)Task Productivity: A.Fill Sandbags- Fill 26 buckets with 35 lb of sand each while wearing 71 lb fighting load. Army Standard is 52 minutes to completion of task. B.Emplace Sandbags - Transfer 26 bags (45 lb each) a distance of 10 m while wearing a 71 lb fighting load. Army Standard is 26 minutes to completion of task. C.Ammo Can Carry - Transfer 30 cans (45 lb each) a distance of 15 m while wearing a 71 lb fighting load. There is no timed Army Standard to completion. D.Repetitive Box Lifting & Carrying - Subjects lift the maximum number of 45 lb boxes from ground onto a 5 ft platform within a 5 minute timeframe. Desired Entrance Criteria: Subject(s) able to conduct at least 3 out of the 4 tasks at or above current Army task standards (when Army task standard available). Specific to D., improve performance by at least 25% while wearing the system. It is requested that vendors provide system performance data, comparing performance with system vs. without the system for performing load tasks. Data can include but is not limited to metabolic cost reduction, quantifiable ratings of perceived exertion using the Borg scale, load task productivity, etc. 3)Demonstration of Manpower Reduction Capability - Desired Entrance Criteria is a presentation of ideas relating to how manpower can be reduced 4)Average Power Consumption - Desired Entrance Criteria: less than 300 W with an untethered approach preferred 5)Operational Control Interface (Power & Control Switch) Access - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the user has access to the power and control switches. 6)Comfort Questionnaire for Load Tasks with System vs Manual Task - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the user will rate the system no worse than quote mark slight quote mark on the discomfort scale when worn for 1 hour utilizing a standard pain, soreness and discomfort questionnaire. 7)Sizing - Desired Entrance Criteria: Fits 75%+ of Soldier population both males and females. 8)Range of Motion & Kinematics - Desired Entrance Criteria is that there is no significant change from when the user is not wearing the system. 9)System Don & Adjustment - Desired Entrance Criteria is less than 5 minutes 10)System Doff - Desired Entrance Criteria is less than 4 minutes 11)Compatibility with Standard Clothing and Individual Equipment - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the user is able to wear the system with standard military issued clothing and individual equipment 12)Environmental Hardening - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the vendor has a plan or ideas relating to addressing environmental durability 13)Safety Mechanisms - Desired Entrance Criteria is that there are no gross safety issues present 14)Reliability - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the system will not malfunction during 1 hr of constant operation Infantry Type - Dismounted human augmentation / load assistance technologies to enable enhanced speed, agility, accuracy and/or other capabilities in operations, amplifying the human's ability to accomplish larger tasks, while mitigating the effects of load, mobility and/or repetitive motion on the body. These technologies must allow for typical infantry movements and Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) while providing a metabolic, productivity or other performance improvement during typical infantry missions. Desired metrics and entrance criteria for submitted Infantry Type technologies are as follows: 1)TRL - Desired Entrance Criteria: At least TRL 4 2)Perform Casualty Drag - Drag 271 lb dummy (188 lb Soldier plus 83 lb fighting load) distance of 15 meters to the Army standard of: as quickly as possible. Desired Entrance Criteria: Subject(s) able to perform task, but not degrade performance more than 10% while wearing the system and it is requested that vendors provide system performance data, comparing performance with system vs. without the system 3)Road March/ Movement to Objective - Complete a road march 12 miles in duration while carrying a Fighting Load, assault pack, weapon totaling 103 lbs within the Army Standard of less than 24 hr. Alternatively, the Army Infantryman's Badge standard is a 12 miles road march carrying 70 lbs in 3 hrs. Desired Entrance Criteria is that the vendor is able to demonstrate a limited duration road march of 1 mile. 4)Obstacle Course such as the Army Combat Readiness Test (ACRT) course or Army Load Effects Assessment Program (LEAP) course. Desired Entrance Criteria is that the vendor is able to complete obstacle course while wearing the system 5)Weapon Use & Basic Infantry Movement. Desired Entrance Criteria is that the system allows the majority of Infantry Movement Techniques (IMTs). 6)Metabolic Cost with 100 lb Assault Load on Level Terrain at 3 mph - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the vendor present ideas as to how metabolic cost reductions can be achieved. It is also desired that the vendor provide system performance data, comparing performance with system vs. without the system. 7)Running - Desired Entrance Criteria is to demonstrate short burst run at approximately 6 mph while wearing the system. 8)Signature - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the vendor present ideas on how to reduce visual and acoustic signature. 9)Average Power Consumption - Desired Entrance Criteria: less than 100 W with an untethered approach 10)Operational Control Interface (Power & Control Switch) Access - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the user has access to the power and control switches. 11)Comfort Questionnaire for Load Tasks with System vs Manual Task - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the user will rate the system no worse than quote mark slight quote mark on the discomfort scale when worn for 1 hour utilizing a standard pain, soreness and discomfort questionnaire. 12)Sizing - Desired Entrance Criteria: Fits 75%+ of Soldier population both males and females. 13)Range of Motion & Kinematics - Desired Entrance Criteria is that there is no significant change from when the user is not wearing the system. 14)System Don & Adjustment - Desired Entrance Criteria is less than 4 minutes (self-don desirable) 15)System Doff - Desired Entrance Criteria is less than 2 minutes, self-doff 16)Compatibility with Standard Clothing and Individual Equipment - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the user is able to wear the system with standard military issued clothing and individual equipment 17)Compatibility with Military Vehicle - Desired Entrance Criteria is that vehicle ingress and egress can be demonstrated when wearing the system 18)Environmental Hardening - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the vendor has a plan or ideas relating to addressing environmental durability 19)Safety Mechanisms - Desired Entrance Criteria is that there are no gross safety issues present 20)Reliability - Desired Entrance Criteria is that the system will not malfunction during 1 hr of constant operation Human augmentation systems proposed may be powered or passive and be lower body, upper body, or full body and must align with at least 1 of the 2 types (i.e. Mission Support and/or Infantry Types) above and will be compared with the conventional solutions in the field to determine their technical viability. All interested firms, regardless of size are encouraged to submit a Concept (White) Paper to NSRDEC in accordance with Solicitation Number W911QY-15-R-0016 Natick BAA (Effective 1 March 2015 through 28 February 2020), under Topic H, Warfighter Advanced Technologies - Human Augmentation Technologies, which can be found at http://www3.natick.army.mil/NSRDEC-Broad-Agency-Announcement.aspx. Offerors shall submit concept papers that are consistent with the intent of the BAA. Instructions for the submission of concept papers are contained in the BAA. White papers will be entertained for both an overall system design as well as individual sub-systems. Responses that meet the criteria identified in this RFI and in the BAA may be extended an invitation to an Industry Day event to be held mid-October 2015 to present their technology and key aspects of the submitted concept paper to a panel of Government subject matter experts. Demonstration is at the vendor's own risk and the Government is not directing vendors' actions during this Industry Event. Proprietary information will not be disclosed outside the U.S. Government. Nothing shall be construed herein or through the RFI process to commit or obligate the Government to further action as a result of this RFI. Firms responding to this RFI 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. Responses shall be submitted by 15 July 2015 and may be sent via email to Mr. Rocco Olean (Adam.R.Olean.Civ@mail.mil) or by regular mail to US Army RDECOM, Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, ATTN: RDNS-SEW-EMU), Kansas Street, Natick, MA, 01760. Point Of Contact:
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/6adeeb63ae25512564e6e09881c1ad19)
- 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
- SN03763691-W 20150614/150612235845-6adeeb63ae25512564e6e09881c1ad19 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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