Loren Data Corp.

'

 
 

COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF AUGUST 15,1997 PSA#1910

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817-5700

A -- ADVANCED HEALTH AND USAGE MONITORING ADVANCE CONCEPT TECHNOLOGY DEMO SOL N00167-97-BAA-0057 DUE 100797 POC C. JOAN MILES (301)227-1159 and DAVID HAAS (301)227-1397 E-MAIL: click here to contact the technology point of contact via e-mail., haas@oasys.dt.nav.mil. A BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (N00167-97-BAA-0057) FOR JOINT ADVANCED HEALTH AND USAGE MONITORING (JAHUMS) ADVANCED CONCEPT TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM, POC: Contracting Officer- Ms. Joan Miles, (301) 227-1159, 227-3638 (fax). The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, is soliciting proposals for emerging diagnostic, prognostic and health monitoring technologies that can be integrated into an open systems-based, Joint Advanced Health and Usage Monitoring System (JAHUMS) for US Navy and US Army helicopters. The JAHUMS program is a four year, joint Navy and Army Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) program sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). The purpose of the ACTD is to demonstrate the potential benefits of both commercial and advanced mechanical diagnostic technologies in a military environment and to assess their capabilities to enhance flight safety and reduce operational and maintenance costs. The scope of this BAA encompasses all areas of helicopter HUMS technology. Emphasis is on concepts that have already been developed and demonstrated to be feasible and show potential for high return on investment. Open standards-based technology "modules" are desired that improve and extend HUMS functionality for both the US Navy SH-60 and US Army CH-47 helicopters, including; real-time, in-flight, day or night rotor track and balance monitoring, gearbox and drive train monitoring, engine performance monitoring, drive shaft and hanger bearing vibration and temperature monitoring, cockpit voice and flight data recording, information processing and integrated ground support, comprehensive structural usage monitoring, rotor system global fault detection (e.g. faulty lead-lag dampers and degraded bearings), real-time rotor head dynamic component monitoring and advanced sensor systems (e.g., wireless sensors, oil debris monitors, crack detection, corrosion etc.). The application of advanced signal processing techniques (e.g., artificial neural networks) to provide automated and robust onboard and/or offboard diagnostic analysis (and pilot warnings where appropriate) is of particular interest because of the relative ease of introducing software algorithms. An open systems approach is envisioned for JAHUMS to maximize the application of diverse technologies from multiple vendors and to provide the means for readily upgrading the system utilizing third party suppliers as new technologies mature. The government will select an independent systems integrator to work with and support offerors selected from this BAA. The role of the ACTD systems integrator will be to integrate technology "modules" supplied by offerors into a government furnished baseline HUMS system. It is intended that the Navy's IMD-COSSI HUMS, currently in development and projected to be installed on 12 navy helicopters within 24 months, will form the baseline system for this ACTD for both Navy and Army applications. Technologies successfully demonstrated in the JAHUMS ACTD and that show a positive return on investment are expected to be inserted into the Navy's fielded system as a P3I effort. Additional information on open system approaches can be obtained from the web site for the OSD Joint Task Force on Open Systems, http://www.acq.osd.mil/osjtf/. Proposals are being solicited for a program that is divided into four phases; Phase I will be a three month effort to fully define a technical approach and concept design, beginning in 2nd Qtr of FY98. The anticipated funding for each Phase I award is approximately $100-150K. Results from Phase I should be sufficient to estimate the acquisition cost for a productionized version of the offeror's technology module. Cost should be based on a buy of 50 and 500 units. Following a review of the Phase I final reports, the Government will down select to the most promising concept(s) for Phases II-IV of the ACTD. Phase II is the final design, build, assembly, integration and testing of the technology module within constraints of the JAHUMS baseline system. Phase II isexpected to begin in 4th Qtr FY98 and last approximately 12 months. Phase III is the installation of the complete JAHUMS system including multiple technology modules into operational aircraft and crew training. Phase III will begin in 4th Qtr FY99 and last approximately 5 months. Phase IV is an operational demonstration that will last approximately 18 months beginning in 2nd Qtr FY00 and ending in 3rd Qtr FY01. This portion of the ACTD will culminate in the demonstration of the JAHUMS system on a total of 12 DOD helicopters, (6 US Navy SH-60's and 6 US Army CH-47's). Offerors are expected to work closely with the ACTD systems integrator during each phase of the program. The anticipated funding for Phases II-IV is approximately $500K-1.5M per technology module. The demonstration will take place at an operational squadron/battalion and will require that the offeror have a representative(s) available to manage the demonstration, service and maintain offeror specific equipment, and oversee the data acquisition and data management. Offerors should address how the installation and demonstration of their technology will be conducted so as to not interfere with normal operational use of the aircraft. For example, during installation, the vendor must leverage to the extent possible pre-constructed and pre-tested wire bundles and system components. Typical access to squadron/battalion aircraft will be limited to 7 to 10 calendar days if installation coincides with an aircraft major maintenance cycle. The offeror should also address how the potential for "false alarms" will be handled and their potential impact on aircraft availability and unnecessary maintenance actions. Offerors should describe the potential impact of their technology on existing maintenance procedures and ground based data information systems (e.g., the Naval Air Logistics Command Management Information System, NALCOMIS, and the US Army's Unit Level Logistics System -- Aviation). Offerors should describe the extent to which their technology has previously been demonstrated and validated. Offerors are reminded that DOD ACTD's expect a certain residual capability following the demonstration, namely that the delivered systems which demonstrate utility or value added are intended to be left behind for the squadron and battalion to evaluate beyond the end of the demonstration phase. Additional information on the scope, objectives and goals of ACTD's can be found on the USD (Acquisition and Technology) web site at http://www.acq.osd.mil/at/. It is the intent of the Phase IV demonstration to acquire enough data to validate and refine diagnostic and prognostic technologies and to support a detailed cost/benefits analysis of the military worth of JAHUMS technologies. Offerors should provide the capability to continuously analyze diagnostic data from naturally occurring faults and provide the means to update and modify diagnostic algorithms based on this data during the demonstration phase. In support of the cost/benefits analysis, the offeror is expected to define suitable maintainability, reliability, supportability, aircraft availability, and mission readiness metrics as a precursor to establishing a baseline between the twelve demonstration aircraft with at least twelve other non-demonstration aircraft located in the same battalion or squadron. This information will be used to assess the effectiveness of the JAHUMS technologies on their ability to reduce squadron and battalion maintenance workload, streamline squadron and battalion maintenance workflow, facilitate rapid aircraft turnaround, enhance aircraft operational safety, and support follow on procurement decisions. Offerors shall also describe a demonstration strategy that emphasizes a minimal disruption to current squadron and battalion maintenance procedures and workflow, while at the same time providing enough freedom to gather the necessary data to support a cost benefits analysis. The description of the demonstration strategy should outline how a cost benefits analysis will be performed, what metrics will be used in assessing the military worth of the technology, what data will be collected, and how the data will be collected. All proposals shall include a description of the technical approach, management approach, demonstration strategy and concept of operations (CONOPS), primary participants (including all subcontractors), relevant experience, estimated cost, and proposed project milestones. Offerors shall also address life cycle costs of their technology, specifically, supportability requirements and system maintenance. Proposals shall address the potential for industry/government cost sharing via conventional/nonconventional contracting methods and identify corporate resources such as IR&D funding, equipment, and facilities to be leveraged during the performance of the contract. In addition, the offeror should address a transition/business plan for how their product could be acquired as a retrofit to existing DOD helicopters after the successful completion of the demonstration phase. The Government will hold an information conference on 25 August 1997 at the US Army Aviation Logistics School (Amphitheater, Bldg 705), Fort Eustis, VA at 1300 hours to provide additional information. Information on the baseline government furnished HUMS, the open systems approach and the role of the ACTD systems integrator will be presented at the information conference. A nondisclosure agreement will be required by all conference attendees (and appropriate authorized company representatives) prior to admittance into the conference. The nondisclosure agreement and additional information is available via an INTERNET server for the JAHUMS ACTD at the following address: http://www.dt.navy.mil/jahums/. The signed nondisclosure form should be faxed to Ms. Joan Miles at (301) 227-3638 by 21 August 1997. Questions limited to clarification of the BAA can be forwarded through the INTERNET server. Offerors' questions shall indicate their company name, address, telephone number, point-of-contact and e-mail address. Technical responses to applicable questions will be posted on the INTERNET server and therefore be available to all potential offerors. Posted questions will remain anonymous. Proposals for this effort shall include the following sections in the order stated: executive summary, technical approach, program plan, milestone schedule, relevant prior work, management plan, experience and background of principal team members including subcontractors, and a detailed cost breakdown. The cost breakdown should be sufficient to allow the government to modify the scope of the effort to be consistent with available funding. A cost summary and SF 1411 cost proposal (with Excel diskette) should be submitted. The management plan should also include a description of how the contractor envisions working with the DOD JAHUMS management team and ACTD systems integrator through the Integrated Product Team process. Proposals are limited to no more than 100 pages (excluding cost information). Evaluation of proposals will be based onthe overall significance and impact of the proposed technology and its probability of success, the offeror's capabilities, experience, facilities and techniques that are integral to achieving the proposed objectives, qualifications of key personnel, total cost and cost realism of the proposed effort and projected follow on acquisitions, and degree of industry cost sharing. Offerors shall submit one unbound original and four copies of their proposal along with a complete electronic version of the proposal in Word 6.0 format on a 3.5", PC-formatted, floppy disk(s). To ensure consideration, proposals are due no later than 7 October 1997. This BAA will remain open during the course of this ACTD, however, proposals received after 7 October 1997 may not be evaluated. Proposals shall be sent to: Commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Code 5300 Attn: David Haas, Bldg. 2, Room 203, 9500 MacArthur Blvd., West Bethesda, MD 20817-5700. (0225)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0005 19970815\A-0005.SOL)


A - Research and Development Index Page