U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command Acquisition Center -- Washington Operations Office, 2461 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA 22331-0700

A -- MINE RESISTANT VEGETATION CLEARANCE SYSTEM SOL DAAB15-99-R-1009 DUE 041599 POC Jane Borden, Contract Specialist, (703)325-1709, Ana M. Kimberly, Contracting Officer, (703)325-5800 WEB: CECOM Acquisition Center-Washington, http://www.acbop.monmouth.army.mil. E-MAIL: Jane Borden, Contract Specialist, CECOM Acquisition, jborde@hoffman-issaa2.army.mil. The U.S. Army Communication Electronics Command (CECOM), Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD), Humanitarian Demining Office proposes a non-competitive acquisition with Development Technology Workshop (DTW) Ltd., Coventry, UK, for the purpose of providing technological solutions for a radio controlled mine resistant vehicle capable of clearing vegetation and tripwire fused mines, as well as performing area reduction of suspected minefields. NVESD requires an integrated system which includes a horizontal axis chain flail, a mine resistant and ballistic protected vehicle, and a radio control subsystem. The flail must have a minimum 1.2 metre cutting width and the arm supporting the flail head must be capable of automatically following the undulations in the terrain equal to the vehicle's maximum ground clearance. The vehicle must have a diesel engine as the primary source of power with all four wheels and the flail hydraulically driven. The vehicle must have a "V" shaped hull with sacrificial wheels and have a working weight of 2200 kg or less. The vehicle must also be able to support a variety of interchangeable clearance heads, e.g., vertical axis heads, rakes, etc. The radio control must operate at a distance of up to one (1) km. The vehicle must be capable of operating both on-road and off-road and in all types of weather conditions and terrain. The system must be able to clear 200 m /hour of light vegetation (50 cm tall thick grass), able to cut 10 cm trees in less than four (4) minutes, and can pass between large obstacles 1.5 m apart. The system must be built so it is protected from all directions against tripwire or pressure fused fragmentation land mines. The system must survive anti-personnel (AP) mine blasts without interruption to operation and sustain only minimal damage (damage which can be repaired within ten minutes with appropriate tools). The system must survive and suffer only easily repairable damage, eight hours or less, from the detonation of anti-tank (AT) mines. The system must have a relatively low purchase cost (less than $350k U.S. for two systems), be easy to operate and transport, and inexpensive to run. Sustainability is a priority and wherever possible components must be chosen for their availability or fabrication capability in mine affected regions. The system must be suitable for maintenance and repair by indigenous users. The contractor must build and deliver two (2) mine resistant vegetation clearance systems for testing and demonstration, including training and system support packages for each system within eight (8) months after contract award. The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is 10 USC 2304 (c)(1), Only One Responsible Source and no Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements. However, all responsible sources that can provide supporting data to demonstrate they can successfully make the above mine resistant vegetation clearance systems for testing and demonstration may submit a quote that shall be considered by the agency. Responses should be no longer than five (5) pages. The resultant contract will be firm-fixed price. Responses are to be received via email within 45 calendar days of the date of this notice. All requests for further information must be in writing or via email, telephone requests for additional information will not be honored. You may forward responses to the following e-mail address: jborde@hoffman-issaa2.army.mil. Acknowledgement of receipt will be issued. See Numbered Note 22. Posted 02/25/99 (W-SN302174). (0056)

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