SOURCES SOUGHT
84 -- Communications Headset / Hearing Protection System
- Notice Date
- 8/15/2017
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 315990
— Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Army, Army Contracting Command, ACC - APG (W91CRB ) Division D, 4310 Boothby Hill Rd, ABERDEEN PROV GND, Maryland, 21005-5001, United States
- ZIP Code
- 21005-5001
- Solicitation Number
- W91CRB-HEAD-COMM
- Archive Date
- 9/30/2017
- Point of Contact
- George B. Hubbard, Phone: 4102782053
- E-Mail Address
-
george.b.hubbard5.civ@mail.mil
(george.b.hubbard5.civ@mail.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 1.0 Description 1.1 Product Manager, Soldier Protective Equipment (PdM SPE) is seeking information for a communication headset/hearing protection system that will interface with the communication system on Army and Marine Corps armored vehicle platforms (Abrams, Bradley, Stryker, etc.), as well as on tactical radios. Information on system solutions and compatibility shall include the characteristics listed in Section 2.0 below. 1.2 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. A solicitation is not available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the United States Government to contract for any supply or service. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary; the United Stated Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the United States Government. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement. The purpose of the RFI is to determine capabilities in the existing marketplace. The Government intends to use white papers provided solely for internal government purposes to further develop or refine the statement of requirements, not as a basis for making an award determination. However, considering white papers as proprietary or confidential would prevent us from using data provided for their intended purpose. 2.0 Requested Information - Technical Requirements 2.1 Continuous Noise Attenuation The headset needs to provide hearing protection from continuous noise associated with heavy armored vehicles. The headset needs to reduce the octave band levels given in the table below to an equivalent sound pressure level of less than 85 dBA. Center Frequency (Hz) 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 8000 Octave Band Level (dB) 124 118 115 108 106 102 97 It is preferred that passive attenuation be measured in accordance with ANSI S12.6 (Methods for Measuring the Real-Ear Attenuation at Threshold of Hearing Protectors) Method A, with passive attenuation expressed as mean minus 2 standard deviations. It is preferred that for active noise reduction (if applicable) to be measured in accordance with ANSI S12.42 (Methods for the Measurement of Insertion Loss of Hearing Protection Devices in Continuous or Impulsive Noise Using Microphone-in-Real-Ear or Acoustic Test Fixture Procedures), preferably using broadband noise weighted to the octave band levels given in the table above. 2.2 Impulse Noise Attenuation The headset needs to protect Soldiers from impulse noise sources associated with heavy armored vehicles. This includes weapon systems that are part of the vehicle platform, and small arms that may be used by the vehicle crew. The headset should provide at least 25 dB of peak insertion loss from an impulse with a peak level of 165 dB, and 40 dB of peak insertion loss from an impulse with a peak level of 180 dB. It is preferred that impulse noise insertion be measured in accordance with ANSI S12.42 (Methods for the Measurement of Insertion Loss of Hearing Protection Devices in Continuous or Impulsive Noise Using Microphone-in-Real-Ear or Acoustic Test Fixture Procedure). 2.3 Communication System Compatibility The headset needs to interface with current US Army and Marine Corps vehicle intercom systems and tactical radios to include all communications systems currently compatible with the Combat Vehicle Crewman communications system. The headset should produce a modified rhyme test score of at least 91% correct (measured according to ANSI S3.2 Method for Measuring the Intelligibility of Speech over Communication Systems) when used in the noise spectra defined in table 1. The headset shall have a maximum output level of at least 100 dB. The headset frequency response should be as wide as, or wider than, that of Army and Marine Corps vehicle intercom systems and tactical radios. 2.4 Hear-through Capability The headset should provide an electronic hear-through capability to allow vehicle crews to maintain auditory situational awareness when operating outside vehicles. The system should automatically compress and/or shut off in the presence of high amplitude continuous or impulsive noises. 2.5 Power Use The electronic components of the headset should draw power from the vehicle intercom system (if power is available), attached tactical radio (if power is available), or an internal/attached battery. 2.6 Helmet Compatibility The headset needs to fit without interference under current US Army and Marine Corps combat helmets (ACH, ECH, IHPS, and Marine Corps Lightweight Helmet). The headset should fit under the helmet without requiring modification to the helmet, a larger size helmet, or adjustment of the helmet suspension (pads) or retention (chinstrap) systems. The headset should allow the wearer to doff the helmet without doffing the headset. 3.0 Responses 3.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper. 3.2 White papers in Microsoft Word for Office 2013 compatible format or Adobe Portable Document Format (pdf) are due no later than 30 days after the posting of this RFI. Responses shall be limited to 20 pages and be submitted via e-mail only to George Hubbard at george.b.hubbard5.civ@mail.mil. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. 3.3. The white paper shall address the requirements in Section 2 and include the following information: 3.3.1. Name, mailing address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), phone number, fax number, and e-mail of designated point of contact. 3.3.2. Recommended contracting strategy. 3.3.3. Business type (large business, small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a)-certified small disadvantaged business, HUB Zone small business, woman-owned small business, very small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business) based upon North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541512, Computer Systems Design Services. "Small business concern" means a concern, including its affiliates that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on Government contracts, and qualified as a small business under the criteria and size standards in 13 CFR part 121. A small business concern for the purposes of this procurement is generally defined as a business, including its affiliates, averaging no more than $7 million dollars in annual receipts. Responders are cautioned, however, that this is a general description only. Additional standards and conditions apply. Please refer to Federal Acquisition Regulation FAR 19 for additional detailed information on Small Business Size Standards. The FAR is available at http://www.arnet.gov. 3.3.4 The facility security clearance of the offeror. 4.0 Industry Discussions Army representatives may or may not choose to meet with potential offerors. Such discussions would only be intended to get further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements, especially any development and certification risks. 5.0 Summary THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that can provide a Communication Headset/Hearing Protection System. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Army has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/c43373510f5d94841844f9c9702a21a1)
- Record
- SN04628901-W 20170817/170815231804-c43373510f5d94841844f9c9702a21a1 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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