58 -- SOURCES SOUGHT FOR UNDERWATER SENSORS

Notice Date

April 4, 2001

Contracting Office

Bid Office, SPAWARSYSCEN, Code D21B, 53570 Silvergate Avenue, Bldg. A33, Room 0061, San Diego, CA 92152-5112

ZIP Code

92152-5112

Solicitation Number

N66001-01-X-99XX

Point of Contact

Elena Gertes, Contract Specialist (619) 553-5347

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the contract specialist via (gertes@spawar.navy.mil)

Description

This is a Sources Sought Synopsis and/or Request for Information (RFI). The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center San Diego (SSC SD) has been tasked by the Naval EOD Technology Division (in support of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Program Manager (PMS-EOD)) to investigate "how Probability of Mine Identification (PID) is affected for alternative single sensors and sensor combinations that provide object shape information in varying [underwater] environments." Results of this sensor study will support a Very Shallow Water (VSW) Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) Working Group investigating mine identification using small UUV platforms. General Information:. Sensor Types: SSC SD is seeking information to identify underwater sensors capable of identifying underwater objects and having potential to be integrated into a small UUV platform. Sensors must be technically mature, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) systems or significantly advanced prototypes for use in the underwater environment, and must provide sufficient information on objects targeted by the sensor to enable mine hunter system operators to make correct target identification calls in varying VSW environmental conditions (turbidity, light levels, temperature, bottom type). Potential sensors must also be sufficiently advanced such that only minor modification would be required for integration into a small UUV. Examples of sensors currently under consideration are: Low Light Charged Coupling Device (LL CCD) and Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) camera sensors Acoustic Lens sonar systems HF imaging forward and side looking sonar systems StreakTube Imaging Light Imaging and Detection(STIL/LIDAR) Units Electro-optical Identification (EOID) sensors IR imaging sensors identified for underwater imaging Any other COTS/MOTS sensor that incorporates mature technology and provides mine identification information. Information Format: Potential equipment suppliers are requested to submit an Information Statement not more than three (3) pages long that include the following: 1) Brief description of system operation and transmit/receive parameters (freq/intensity/db/lumens etc) 2) Physical Dimensions 3) Weight in air and water 4) Depth restrictions 5) Field of view 6) Range limits 7) Resolutions (cm/range); pixel count 8) Light sensitivity,Low light capability/enhancements 9) Power requirements 10) Battery Life 11) Basic Unit Cost 12) Required Support Systems 13) Total Integrated System Cost 14) Current commercial/military application 15) Available performance test data Purpose: Information obtained as a result of this announcement will be used to select potential sensors to be demonstrated and/or tested in fiscal year 2002 (FY02) at SSC SD test facilities. Affordable sensors that offer potential for integration into small UUV platforms with output products that can aid human operators to correctly identify "mine like features" will be included in a potential source list for the planned FY02 demonstrations/tests. Vendors responding to this RFI may be considered for the planned FY02 demonstrations/testing. Potential sensor sources will be contacted to obtain any additional information needed to enable the government to select a number of sensors suitable for performance testing. Vendors whose sensors have been selected for physical testing will be asked to provide cost and availability data to support physical testing phases. The government projects a limited budget of $7,000 to fund technical experts and systems demonstration costs for each participating vendor for a testing period of approximately two (2) weeks. There is no guarantee that any such amount will be available as the full scope of the planned tests has not been determined to date. The government does not plan to purchase sensors for the tests and participation in the demonstrations/tests is voluntary. Testing will enable data collection for performance analysis of single and multiple sensors against foreign threat mine shapes in environmental conditions typical of VSW areas (10'-40' water depths) where Naval mine countermeasures operations may be required. Probability of Identification will be the key performance measure analyzed. The ability of a sensor or sensor combination to display mine like features such as shape, size, presence/lack of fixtures, etc., the sensors compatibility for integration into small UUV platforms, power consumption, reliability, cost, support requirements are all factors of interest in the analysis. A comparison of alternatives will be completed using a weighted matrix for final recommendations towards optimizing sensor combinations. Experience to date has revealed that no single sensor is likely to provide a total solution in the diverse conditions that will be encountered in the VSW environment. Accordingly, testing will include combining results of multiple sensors Follow -On Demonstration and Test Plan: Both static and dynamic tests of the selected sensors and sensor combinations are planned for FY 2002. Tests will be conducted in various environmental conditions, at varying ranges and aspects using targets (e.g. ROCKAN, MANTA, PDM-2, PDM-1, MAL-17, MO-8 mine simulators) and bottom clutter densities representative of current mine threat areas. Sensor evaluation will be accomplished by analysis of human operator ability to perform identification of the targets from sensor output under standardized test conditions. The planned tests are further described as follows: Static Tests with controlled turbidity / light level / water color/ water temperature: Static tests will be conducted in portable 20ft diameter, 4ft deep tanks. The tanks have a circulation/heating/cooling system that allows controlling water temperature, color and turbidity (with colloidal MAALOX simulating the scattering properties of seawater particles). Special enclosed lighting will control light intensities and frequencies. Range resolution and target discrimination against targets placed in various aspects relative to the sensors will be tested. Dynamic Tests in San Diego Bay: Dynamic tests will utilize a configurable minefield (in various bottom type test sites in San Diego Bay) with variable bottom clutter, and an underwater electrically driven trolley system to convey mounted submerged sensors at typical UUV search speeds. Water depths will vary from 5 to 20 ft. These tests will allow for examination of sensor performance at closing and closest point of approach runs on target mine simulators, and will allow for multiple orthogonal looks at targets in a more realistic VSW environment. Environmental conditions will be monitored during the testing. This sources sought announcement does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, to procure any equipment. The Information Statements to be submitted are not expected to be proposals and will be used for technical planning purposes only. A solicitation is not planned at this time. The Government also invites comments related to possible purchase or acquisition strategies. Please include in your responses all existing contract vehicles (including GSA contracts) for your equipment. All data received in response to this sources sought announcement that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary information will be fully protected from release outside the government. It is not the intent of the government to reimburse vendors for the cost of submitting information in response to this RFI. The applicable NAICS Code is 334511 and the business size is 750 employees. Questions pertaining to this announcement may be directed to the POC, Ms. Elena Gertes via e-mail. The Information Statements are due by 4:00 P.M. local time on 23 May 2001 and should be submitted electronically to the POC e-mail address or two complete sets of hardcopy materials may be submitted to the office address identified elsewhere in this synopsis. Target date for notification of vendors selected for the demonstrations/testing is August 15, 2001. Additional information necessary for the demonstrations will be provided at the time of notification.

Web Link

This notice is also posted in the above web page. Future (http://e-commerce.spawar.navy.mil)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010406/58SOL010.HTM (W-094 SN50I2K6)