United States Special Operations Command, Directorate of Procurement (SOAL-KB), 2418 Florida Keys Ave., MacDill AFB, FL 33621-5316

58 -- MODULAR INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS HELMET (MICH) DUE 121599 POC Mr. Fred Chan at (508)233-4212 or Mr. George Schulteiss (508)233-5444 E-MAIL: keelers@socom/mil, gschult@natick-amed02.army.mil. 58 -- The United States Special Operations Command is conducting a Market Investigation for communications and hearing protection components in support of the development, production and sustainment of a Modular Integrated Communications Helmets System (MICH) to be fielded during the 2000-2004. This information will help to determine what technology or products can satisfy user needs and the best approach to acquiring and sustaining the MICH. MICH is a modular headgear system that provides ballistic, fragmentation, aural and impact protection. The MICH will be used throughout the spectrum of Special Operations Forces (SOF) operational continuum, from Humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping, to counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency, to low intensity conflict and full-scale war. The headgear assembly will be modular so that components can be added or removed to suit mission requirements. MICH will provide the SOF operator the flexibility to tailor ballistic/impact protection and communications to the mission using one modular system. The design of the ballistic helmet and suspension/retention system portion of MICH has been completed. The MICH system and components shall be as low profile and close to the head as possible to prevent the fatigue associated with poor weight distribution. The system and its components shall be comfortable and comformable and sized to fit the 5th through 95th percentile male with minimum of sizes. The MICH ballistic shell and suspension provide a stable platform to accept mounting of standard night vision devices (AN/PVS-7 and AN/VIS-6) and high altitude parachutist mask. The communications and hearing protection component shall not dramatically unbalance the MICH or impede the operator's ability to communicate. The MICH communication components shall allow for wearing of various existing types of eye protection currently in the inventory (e.g. Sun Wind Dust Goggles, and ballistic laser eyewear). The MICH communications components shall not impede normal peripheral vision.All external surfaces shall be rust and salt water resistant and finished in a flat neutral color that is non-reflective. The MICH will be employed in environmental conditions that will range form tropic to arctic and from arid desert to open ocean (-40 to +140 degrees Fahrenheit) with weather conditions associated with these environments to include limited visibility. Storage is required at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The total head supported weight of each communications component (low noise configuration or high noise configuration) shall not exceed 1.25 pounds (threshold) with the same capabilities protection, at less weight as the objective. The system shall be configured to accept evolutionary technology insertions (ETI) and process improvements. The MICH communications components consist of three components: 1) low noise configuration, 2) high noise configuration 3) communications interface (CI) (e.g.) impedance matching box. The system shall be modular enabling the operator to wear components together asa system or each component separately. Army standard or commercially equivalent batteries will power the system, if necessary. The communications components will be required to operate with a variety of radio and intercommunications systems (ICS). The headset shall be binaural, allowing the user to simultaneously monitor two different radios, one for each ear. The headset design may consist of two versions in order to meet the operational requirements. The operations will include various combinations of ambient noises that may require the use of more than one type of headset in order to meet all noise exposure requirements and communications needs. The low noise situations will require the user to communicate using radios and/or ICS or face-to-face, non-electrically aided communications, while listening to and understanding sounds from their local surroundings. The high noise situation will require hearing protection from high intensity continuous and impulse noise in addition to providing communications capability that is similar to that of the low noise situation. If power is required for operation of the headset/hearing protector then it must be contained within the headset unit. The headsets must incorporate noise-canceling microphone techniques in order to reduce noise contamination of the speech signal being transmitted. The microphone should be configured in a manner that will reduce the effects of wind that cause additional noise to be introduced into the speech signal. It is desired that the microphone to be engaged with a switch rather than voice actuated. The switch should be configured so that push-to-talk may be accomplished at locations both away from the control box and on the control box. A communications interface (CI) will allow the user to connect to a variety of radio and ICS units. The unit will allow for impedance and sensitivity variations for both input and output from the headset and radio systems. The contractor will provide Cables and connectors that are compatible with the listed radio systems and the interface unit. The communications system must be compatible with the current MICH helmet shell(s). The helmet shells will be provided upon request from the program management office. The communications system may be worn alone or with the helmet and will use an unobtrusive microphone and earpiece/earcup system. The communications system shall easily attach/detach from the basic shell only when user desires. It shall not interfere with the wearing of the basic shell. The communications system shall use a microphone and earpiece system that minimizes interference with hearing, peripheral vision, and/or other worn equipment. Transmission will be by the most effective method, i.e. boom, bone or chinstrap mounted microphones, throat microphones etc, that may be attached to either earphone, earcup or bone speaker and used from either the right or left side. The communications system shall not interfere with cheek to stock weld and shall provide remote push-to-talk options. The communications system shall interface with the planned Joint Multi-band inter/intra team radio (MBITR) and current authorized handheld systems (MASHER family, AN/PRC-117F, PSC5, PRC family, and LST-5, MST-20, MX300 series, SABRE family and Army Soldier Intercom System) as well as SOF aircraft intercom systems, including but not limited to MH/AH-6, MH-60K/L, MH-47D/E, MH-53, MC-130 aircraft; GMV& ARSOV vehicles; and MK-V&NSM RIB boats. The system shall allow operators to direct radios to a specific earphone. The communications system shall allow the use omni-directional hearing, the same noise he would hear with open ear. It is highly desired to amplify soft sounds normally out of the human range of hearing to a safe level. All communications components (i.e. microphone, earphones, connectors, cables, electrical switches, etc.) shall be corrosion proof and water proof. The threshold requirement is waterproof to a depth of 3 feet in salt water for thirty minutes with objective to be waterproof at a depth of 66 feet in salt water for two hours. The objective waterproof qualities of the communication package can be enhanced with the use of bags or cases to allow operators to transition this equipment from "lock out" depth to the surface, but stand-alone equipment is desired. The Government is interested in the following information: What portions of the system are commercial or non-developmental items? Demonstrate how the item meets the MICH performance requirements. What is the estimated cost of the item? What is the size of your company given the Standard Industrial Code for the communication portion of the helmet is 3663 and the size standard is 750 employees. For a complete listing of all the detailed system specifications and MICH helmet please e-mail Mr. Fred Chan at fchan@natick-amed02.army.mil or Mr. George Schultheiss at gschulth@natick-amed02.army.mil. Submissions of technical responses and product samples, should be submitted in writing, no later than 15 December 1999, to U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command, ATTN: SSCNC-I (Fred Chan/George Schultheiss), Kansas St, Bldg 4, Rm D216, Natick, MA 01760. Posted 11/15/99 (W-SN400772). (0319)

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