16 -- LOW VELOCITY AIRDROP SYSTEM (LVADS)

Notice Date

January 8, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Army Robert Morris Acquisition Center Natick, ATTN: AMSSB-ACN, Natick, MA 01760-5011

ZIP Code

01760-5011

Solicitation Number

N/A

Response Due

February 8, 2001

Point of Contact

Jay Connors

Description

The U.S. Army Soldier Biological and Chemical Command (SBCCOM) is seeking technical information on a low-velocity airdrop system (LVADS)or system components that could be used to airdrop single, mass, and linked cargo payloads weighing 14,000 pounds (threshold); 22,000 pounds (objective). This system must land the airdropped cargo within a low circular area of probability. The system should have the following capabilities: (1) Capable of operations at an altitude of 500 feet above ground level (AGL), at 140 to 150 knots indicated air speed (KIAS) (an altimeter deviation of 125 feet is an understood variable); (2) Deliver serviceable loads in 13 knot winds (threshold), 21 knot winds (objective); (3) Provide successful airdrop completion rate of 92 percent without a system abort, and without the occurrence of an essential function failure of at least 85 percent; (4) All non-expendable components must be reusable (with only minimum maintenance) a minimum of 8 drops (threshold) and 12 drops (objective); (5) Capable of being used in mass formation airdrops of supplies and equipment singly and sequentially using current tactics for delivery of Division Ready Brigade (DRB) (medium) loads; (6) Deliver loads in serviceable condition with minimal modification to standard airdrop load rigging (threshold), and no change to airdrop rigging (objective); (7) Permit the recovery of supplies and equipment on the ground as quickly as the standard aerial delivery system (threshold), faster than standard (objective); (8) Overall packing and rigging time, to include aircraft rigging, no greater than time required for current comparable LVAD loads with like capacities; (9) Capable of being operated and maintained by the 5TH percentile female soldier to the 95TH percentile male soldier; (10) Standard airdrop components must be used to the maximum extent possible; (11) Have a shelf storage life, service life, and a combined shelf storage and service life commensurate with current cargo parachutes (threshold), years longer (objective); (12) Designed for use in all standard U S Military aircraft; (13) Capable of use and storage in all climatic categories associated with airdrop operations; (14) Capable of use in all areas where airdrop is currently being used; (15) Compatible with present airdrop items and not cause extra maintenance burden; (16) Must be supportable by the standard Army logistics system, and maintainable by MOS 92R rigger personnel at organizational level; (17) Special tools kept to a minimum; and (18) The 500' LVADS is not required to be Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) contamination survivable. Proprietary information will not be disclosed outside the US Government. Information provided will be used to develop specific requirements for a future 500' LVADS. At this time, SBCCOM is seeking sources, technical, and product information for airdrop systems or system components which meet the Army's requirements, or may meet requirements with modifications to existing airdrop systems or system components. All interested firms, regardless of size, are encouraged to respond to this request for information. Responses may be sent via email to jay.connors@natick.army.mil, or by regular mail to US Army SBCCOM,AMSSB-PM-RSS-A(N),(ATTN: Jay Connors), Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760. Telephone (508) 233-6394, Fax (508) 233-4716. This market survey is for informational purposes only and is not an Invitation to Bid (IFB) or Request for Proposal (RFP). See Note 25. For assistance in interpreting the CBD announcements, please see the CBD Reader's Guide.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010110/16SOL012.HTM (W-008 SN50A3P0)