Supply Department Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, 101 Strauss Ave, Indian Head, MD 20640-5035

42 -- VERY SHALLOW WATER (VSW) MINE COUNTERMEASURES (MCM) UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS (UBA) SOL N00174-97-R-0068 POC Renee M. Brown, Contract Specialist, (301) 743-6635 The Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center has a requirement for the Program Management Office, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (PMS-EOD) for the production of VSW MCM UBA. The objective of the VSW MCM UBA procurement is to produce and field an underwater breathing apparatus optimized for operations in the VSW zone (nominally defined as 10 to 40 feet sea water) when conducting pre-assault mine countermeasure missions in support of an amphibious operation. The VSW MCM UBA shall be based on proven mature design and have the following attributes: lightweight (less than 60 lbs), highly maneuverable/swimmable, conformal housing, neutrally buoyant or slightly negatively buoyant when submerged, closed circuit or semi-closed circuit, Nitrox breathing gas, low acoustic, low magnetic signature diving apparatus designed to be utilized for long duration dives (+240 min) in shallow water with the capability of sustained operations at the maximum depth (40 feet sea water). The anticipated dive profile will be from 40 feet sea water traversing the bottom to 10 feet sea wather and return. The apparatus will be utilized in the very shallow water (littoral) zone necessitating a lightweight and easy to swim/maneuverable design due to probable high current and/or surge conditions combined with the requirement for long duration searches by the operator. The government is contemplating a best value award with possible use of oral presentations. In addition, an extensive evaluation process with three phases is contemplated. Phase I will be a technical proposal evaluation with four factors: Technical comprehension, corporate capability, sample COTS hardware submission, and past performance. A minimum of the top two rated offerors will proceed to the next phase of evaluation. Phase II will evaluate a submitted UBA from each of the selected offerors from Phase I for compliance with NAVSEA 00C Diving Safety Certification requirements (as outlined in NAVSEA TM SS521-AA-MAN-010). This certification is necessary to achieve a designation of "Approved for Navy Use" from NAVSEA 00C prior to fielding any UBA in the U.S. Navy. Only those UBAs which receive safety certification will be selected to proceed to Phase III. The third phase of the evaluation will consist of a comprehensive evaluation of the VSW MCM UBAs submitted by the offerors which have successfully received U.S. Navy safety certification. The Phase III evaluation will provide a complete assessment of the offerors' success in executing the details of their technical proposal in meeting all of the performance specifications and statement of work requirements and in successfully producing a UBA which will perform in an operationally realistic environment when operated by Fleet personnel. The three evaluation factors under this phase will be: (1) conformance to the technical thresholds established by the performance specifications; (2) Ability of the VSW MCM UBA to successfully operate in a realistic operational environment, as described by the performance specification, and (3) Price. A firm fixed price supply type contract is contemplated with a production quantity of 30 with an option for an additional 20 units. Full and open competition with a 10% evaluation preference for SDBs. SIC Code -- 3949 -- 500 employees. Estimated release date for the solicitation is 14 October 1997. For a copy of the solicitation, fax your request to Renee M. Brown, Contract Specialist, Code 1143E, at (301) 743-6670. See not (26). (0252)

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