US Army ARDEC, AMSTA-AR-PCW-D, Bldg 10, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806-5000

A -- OBJECTIVE PERSONAL WEAPON POC Helen Sammon email=hsammon, Contract Specialist, 201-724-5561, Beverly F. Wasniewski, Contracting Officer, 201-724-2164. The Joint Service Small Arms Program (JSSAP) Office is seeking innovative concepts and technologies of a non-conventional nature, i.e., NOT traditional projectiles and weapon mechanism-based systems, in support of a future Objective Personal Weapon (OPW) program. The JSSAP Office will be conducting a Technology Assessment in the third quarter of FY 96 to evaluate selected concepts and technologies being sought by this Market Survey. Funding is currently programmed for FY 97 through FY 01 to conduct the OPW program. The Technology Assessment will determine the shape of the program starting in FY 97. The OPW will provide close in self-defense in last ditch combat situations, as well as some extended offensive capability in special operations, military police operations and dignitary protection. It is intended to be used by those individuals who are not normally issued rifles. As the last line of defense in close combat, the OPW will increase accuracy and incapacitation when it counts the most. The most widely used personal weapons in current service use are the 9mm M9 and Caliber .45 M1911A1. However, this Market Survey is seeking ideas that are not along the lines of traditional ''bullet launchers'', instead, technically advanced, leap-ahead concepts and technologies are being sought. Participation from private industry, the national labs and academia is invited. The 1995 and 1996 JSSAP Shooters' Conferences generated and refined specific Joint Service goals and characteristics for the OPW that can be addressed in developing your concepts and/or sub-system technologies. The OPW should provide immediate incapacitation (i.e., no longer a threat) out to fifty (50) meters against personnel with body armor. Anti-personnel effects must have a lethal capability, and can include a less than lethal capability if such effects are tuneable from the lethal effect. The OPW should also be user friendly, provide for ''hands-free'' carry, and, have a multiple engagement capability. The operational environment includes all weather conditions, 24 hour air/land/sea/surf zone operation and sea depths to three (3) atmospheres. The fielded, operational system weight should not exceed three (3) pounds. Time frame for fielding the OPW is 2010. This Market Survey is seeking leap-ahead technologies which can provide the sought incapacitation. For example, at the Shooters' Conferences, pulsed lasers were identified as potentially promising in this regard. Other non-conventional approaches will also be considered. As a minimum, the concept/technology papers should address the following points: Describe the concept or technology in as much detail as possible. Relate your concept or technology to the Joint Service OPW characteristics and goals by explaining how it addresses the applicable one. Identify the type and nature of the technical barriers to be overcome in order to demonstrate your concept. Explain how you plan to overcome such barriers. Upon receipt of OPW concepts and/or technologies from interested participants, the government will review and evaluate each submission for possible presentation by the submitter to a Technology Assessment panel, which will be meeting in May 1996, most likely at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. Responses should include a one (1) page Abstract and Executive Summary, and should be supported by no more than 20 total pages, including text and photos. Also, include the company name, address, point of contact (with alternate), telephone number and facsimile telephone number.Technical point of contact for this effort is the US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), AMSTA-AR-CCL-D (Bob Schlenner/(201) 724-6935), BLDG. 65N, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000. Submissions should be received by Ms. Helen Sammon, AMSTA-AR-PCW-D, BLDG. 10, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000 by 1400 hours on March 8, 1996. Each participant will be notified of the results of ARDEC's evaluation by March 25, 1996. There are no Government funds available to support participants' costs, nor shall this be construed as a commitment by the Government to proceed with any follow-on program. However, should such a requirement materialize, it would be procured in accordance with normal acquisition procedures. No basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this Market Survey, or Government use of such information as part of the evaluation process. Proprietary and classified information will be protected and used for evaluation purposes only. The Government reserves the right to reject in whole, or in part, any private sector input as a result of this Market Survey. This is a Market Survey, there is no solicitation for this action. Telephone requests are not acceptable, FAX's may be sent to (201)724-5904. Information regarding this action can be accessed at http://procnet.pica.army.mil (0036)

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