U.S. Army Materiel Command, Natick Contracting Division, Attn: AMSSB-ACN, Natick, MA 01760-5011

A -- ADVANCED TACTICAL PARACHUTE SYSTEM SOL W13118-9337-0001 DUE 013000 POC Emily Hatcher, ehatcher@natick-amed02.army.mil and Laura MacLean, lmaclean@natick-amed02.army.mil WEB: http://www3.natick.army.mil, Business Opportunities,, http://www3.natick.army.mil/solicit2/VendList.asp. E-MAIL: ehatcher@natick-amed02.army.mil, ehatcher@natick-amed02.army.mil. ADVANCED TACTICAL PARACHUTE SYSTEMS (ATPS) PM-Soldier Support-US Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM) has a requirement for an Advanced Tactical Parachute System (ATPS). The ATPS will be a mass-assault personnel parachute system that will replace the T-10 parachute system, in an effort to reduce jumper injuries and enable combat operations at 500 ft. The ATPS will be an individual troop parachute system that will consist of a main canopy and deployment system, reserve parachute and deployment system, and parachutists harness. The ATPS will have the following objective performance characteristics: Combat operations from a planned altitude of 500 ft (+/- 125 ft) AGL from military airlift aircraft traveling at airspeeds from 130-150 KIAS: jumper with accompanying load (total weight) of 332 lbs., not including the ATPS system (main parachute, reserve parachute and harness); maximum sea level standard day average rate of descent at ground impact not to exceed 16 ft/sec for the main parachute recovery, 27 ft/sec., (25 fps desired) for the reserve parachute recovery; peak opening loads not to exceed 10 G's for the main canopy and 15 G's for the reserve canopy; maximum altitude loss of 275 ft for the main canopy and 250 ft for the reserve canopies to open and achieve steady state descent. The objective weight for the ATPS system is 40 lbs., and the maximum threshold is 60 lbs. The ATPS main parachute shall have maximum oscillation angle between 2nd and 3rd vertical of 10 degrees (objective) or 15 degrees (threshold) from vertical, 95% of the time. The ATPS reserve parachute shall have a maximum oscillation of 20 degrees after first back swing. The ATPS reserve parachute shall be operable and not become entangled with a fully inflated main, a 30% main, a 5% main and a totally malfunctioning main, and shall be capable of activation with either hand. The ATPS harness shall be capable of being comfortably worn by 5th percentile female through a 95th percentile male soldier. The harness shall be designed to orient the paratrooper along the long body axis during both main and reserve parachute deployment and opening as well as just prior to ground impact. The harness shall be fitted with an equipment release for manual activation to lower accompanying equipment just prior to ground impact. In accordance with FAR Part 15.202- Advisory Multi- Step Process, the government invites potential offerors to submit a White Paper in accordance with the guidelines stated at the SBCCOM Natick Acquisition Center Home Page: http://www3.natick.army.mil., specific location: http://www3.natick.army.mil/solicit2/VendList.asp, under Solicitation No. W13118-9337-0001. White Papers shall be submitted no later than December 21, 1999, and the Government may conduct one-on-one exchanges with offerors to discuss the contents of their White Papers during the week of January 3 through 7, 2000. The government will issue Advisory Notices on or about January 7, 2000, informing potential offerors whether or not the government believes they will be a viable competitor in this acquisition. This process will not preclude offerors from participating in the acquisition. Firms will not be reimbursed for any costs associated with preparation and submission of White Papers or Proposals. Government evaluation of white papers will be based upon criteria identified in the criteria stated in the submission requirements for White Papers including the supplemental information requested. Market research has identified candidate systems that demonstrate the potential for meeting Army ATPS requirements with minimal additional development effort. Therefore, white papers should address prior testing and/or development of existing systems. White papers that discuss existing systems which demonstrate substantial compliance with ATPS performance requirements are more likely to be favorably considered for further competition than entirely new design or engineering approaches. However, as mentioned, this initial evaluation is entirely advisory, and an unfavorable recommendation will not preclude the recipient from submitting a proposal in response to the planned solicitation. The RFP will be posted on or about January 30, 2000 and proposals are due on or about March 1, 2000. All documents associated with this acquisition will be released via the SBC, Natick Acquisition Center Home Page : http://www3.natick.army.mil. NO hardcopies will be mailed. Section L of the RFP will include, but not be limited to, the following processes: Following the initial evaluation of proposals, a competitive range determination may be issued. Purchase Orders may then be issued to those offerors remaining in the competitive range for 5 to 10 candidate ATPS systems for government testing and evaluation as part of the source selection process. Vendors of purchased systems will be required and compensated for providing packing/rigging, repair and training support during these tests. Limited access to the drop zone will be granted to the vendors during the test program. NOTE: More than one vendor's system may be tested during the same flight test. Based on the results of the testing and evaluation of the candidate ATPS systems and evaluation of initial proposals submitted, a Source Selection Decision will be made to award one or more four Phase contracts. Phase I will be a Cost Plus Incentive Fee (CPIF) type contract which will include the completion of the design effort and conduct of Design Validation testing program. The optional Phase II will be a Fixed Price Incentive Fee (FPIF) type contract which will include the fabrication and Developmental Testing of Production Ready systems. The optional Phase III will be a FPIF type contract which will include the fabrication and Operational Testing of Production Ready systems. Also included in Phase III will be the requirement for the preparation of a Technical Data Package (including drawings and a detailed specification). The optional Phase IV will be a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) type contract for the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of 5,200 systems. If multiple contracts are awarded, a down select will be performed at the conclusion of Phase I. Options will be exercised based on the success/failure of the prior phase. This acquisition will be conducted on a Full and Open Competitive basis. The applicable SIC code for this acquisition is 2399. The POC for this acquisition is Emily Hatcher, at ehatcher@natick-amed02.army.mil. Posted 12/06/99 (W-SN406002). (0340)

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