Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Center, Indian Head, MD 20640-5070

20 -- INFLATABLE LIFT DEVICES FOR USE DURING UNDERWATER RECOVERY OPERATIONS SOL NAV001-96-R-110196 DUE 111596. POC: Steve Barrett, Government Contractor, 703/237-8061. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, MD, has contracted with Research Planning, Inc.,(RPI) to assist in the evaluation of commercially available inflatable lift devices as possible replacements for existing fleet assets. RPI has been authorized to procure up to 3 devices of the most promising candidates (as funding permits) for further field testing following the initial product review. The product capability requirements are as follows: (1) Lift capacity: the device must be able to raise a 3000 pound payload from 200 feet of sea water. An extra 500 pounds of buoyancy may be necessary to break any suction between the payload and the bottom. (2) Deployability: The system must be two-man portable and fit into a small rubber boat such as a Zodiac along with four personnel and diving gear. Any system components that need to be placed on or close to the payload by a diver must meet the low magnetic signature requirements of MIL-M-19595. (3) Towing, Beaching and Durability: The lift device and payload must be able to withstand towing/beaching. This could include towing payload up to 10 miles per use through sea water with large swells, kelp beds and other debris. The payload should remain submerged during tow to attenuate an inadvertent explosion. Ideally, average tow depth should be ten feet. After the payload is as close as possible via boat tow, the lift device and payload must be dragged up on the beach by land vehicle or winch. Towing and beaching operations require a very rugged design. (4) Initiation: The lift device must be capable or easily adaptable for remote inflation initiation. Initiation should be done via the Navy's remote cable connector/explosive valve and acoustic firing device. (5) Gas control: Once inflated, excess and expanding gas must be relieved at a rate that will insure that the lift device will not rupture due to excess pressure during ascent. Also, a check valve or other similar feature should be used to insure that the device does not deflate or lose buoyancy during the towing phase. (6) Reliability: The device must be able to survive iterations of lifting, towing, and beaching without sustaining damage. This includes successful: remote control inflation, lift of a 3,000 pound payload from a depth of 200 feet, suspension of the payload during towing at 3-5 nautical miles per hour for ten nautical miles, and dragging onto a sandy beach surface. (7) Maintainability: Equipment should remain reliable with routine operator maintenance. Potential offerors should submit technical data (brochures, literature, specifications, etc.) sufficient enough to enable government evaluation of the product offered by 1 November 1996. Potential offers will be required to present their systems, interface designs, and bids by 1 December 1996. Potential offerors can obtain necessary plans, drawings, and specifications of the Navy's remote cable connector/explosive valve, and existing lift balloon devices. All information provided to the government related to this announcement shall be considered government property. All correspondence should be mailed to Research Planning, Inc., Attn: Steve Barrett, 6400 Arlington Boulevard, Suite 1100, Arlington, VA 22042. (276)

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