SOO_LOD Cart (Updated 24Aug26).pdf

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES (SOO)

Logistics Operational Device Cart (LODcart) Version 2.0

1.0. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Statement of Objectives (SOO) is to obtain engineering, design refinement, and fabrication services to produce Version 2.0 of the Logistics Operational Device Cart (LODcart). This acquisition is for commercial services conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 12 Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 37.602, Performance-Based Acquisition. The offeror shall use this SOO to develop a Performance Work Statement (PWS) detailing their specific technical approach to achieving these objectives. See FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors and FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation in the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation (COMBO) document for the submission requirements and to review the criteria the Government will use to evaluate quotes and select an awardee.

2.0. SCOPE

The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items necessary to finalize the engineering design and manufacture a fully functional LODcart Version 2.0. The ultimate mission of the LODcart system is to enable a small team of Airmen to safely, rapidly, and manually offload married cargo pallets from C-17 and C-130 aircraft in austere environments without the use of traditional heavy Material Handling Equipment (e.g., K-loaders).

3.0. PERIOD AND PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

3.1. Period of Performance: The period of performance for receipt of all deliverables is 6 months from the date of contract award.

3.2. Place of Performance: The primary place of performance shall be the contractor’s facility. However, operational testing/validation, flight line integration fit-checks, and final delivery shall occur at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska, in direct coordination with the 176th Logistics Readiness Squadron located at 8515 Saville Ave, JBER, AK 99506.

4.0. BACKGROUND

The Department of the Air Force faces a critical logistics vulnerability within the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) framework. In austere locations, there is no authorized, organic capability to offload heavy (up to 18,000 pounds) married missile pallets from a C- 17 aircraft without a multi-million-dollar K-loader. To address this gap, 176WG personnel, in coordination with multiple parties across the DoD, developed the LODcart Version 1.0, which successfully demonstrated the mechanical viability of a low-cost, low-maintenance, 1291424046N Highlight air-transportable cart system. Version 2.0 requires professional manufacturing and design/drawings, finalized tolerances, and rigorous engineering to ensure safe and functional interfacing with aircraft prior to formal operational testing.

5.0. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

The Government's required results are as follows:

• Objective 1: Engineering and Design Refinement. Finalize the mechanical design of the LODcart system to safely support, stabilize, and lower cargo payloads of minimum 10,355 LBS per cart with the ability to connect carts together for pallet trains to match k-loader workflow. The design must ensure perfect alignment and interfacing with the standard ramp and roller systems of both C-17 and C-130 aircraft.

• Objective 2: Fabrication. Manufacture and assemble one complete, fully functional LODcart Version 2.0 system (2 carts) utilizing high-strength, lightweight, corrosion-resistant materials.

• Objective 3: Modularity and Portability. A final product that can be easily assembled and disassembled by a small team (two to four Airmen) without the need for specialized power tools, and can be efficiently transported via C-17 and C-130 military airlift in a single pallet position. Weight must be under 4000LBS and must not exceed 76” in height. This iteration must not include nesting design of version 1.

Version 2 must not be nested design.

• Objective 4: Usability and Human Systems Integration. The design must prioritize extreme simplicity and intuitive operation. The cart must be highly operable by Airmen with minimal to no specialized training, utilizing simple manual or mechanical actions without complex computerized interfaces.

• Objective 5: Mobility and Austere Terrain. The LOD cart must be a strictly non-self-propelled, towable system (e.g., capable of being towed by standard light tactical vehicles or trucks). For the Version 2.0 prototype, the operational requirement is scoped exclusively to flat, paved surfaces (e.g., concrete or asphalt flight lines) to evaluate different wheel configurations

• Objective 6: Quality Assurance. Implement quality control measures to ensure welders are certified for the specific alloy and method (GMAW/GTAW) and that all welds, load-bearing joints, and mechanical components meet or exceed standard aerospace ground equipment safety tolerances.

• Dynamic Load test 100% of rated capacity

• Static load test 125% of rated capacity

6.0. OPERATING CONSTRAINTS

The contractor’s proposed technical approach must operate within the following constraints:

• Aircraft Protection: The design must not require any permanent or temporary modifications to the C-17 or C-130 aircraft. The system must be designed with reasonable protective features to prevent scraping, denting, or structural damage to the aircraft ramp and rollers.

• Base Access: The contractor must possess or be capable of obtaining necessary base access to JBER to conduct flight line fit-checks and consult directly with Subject Matter Experts and loadmasters.

• Safety Standards: The prototype must adhere to standard Department of Defense safety guidelines for Material Handling Equipment to ensure the physical safety of the Airmen operating the system.

• Budgetary Constraint: The Government intends to award a firm-fixed contract to the awardee for the engineering/design, fabrication, and delivery and assistance with operational testing of the LOD Cart. The contractor’s quoted price shall include all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items necessary to successfully meet the Government’s stated objectives and deliverables in this SOO.

7.0. DATA RIGHTS AND TECHNICAL DATA PACKAGE DELIVERABLES

7.1. Intellectual Property & Data Rights: The core concept of the LODcart is a Government-owned invention. Because the engineering and design refinement of Version 2.0 are being developed exclusively with Government funds, the Government shall retain Unlimited Rights to all technical data, mechanical drawings, and documentation generated under this contract in accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement

(DFARS) 252.227-7013.

7.2. Technical Data Package (TDP) "Lite": Upon completion of the prototype, the contractor shall deliver a Level 2 (Developmental Design) Technical Data Package. The TDP must contain sufficient engineering data to allow the Government to understand, operate, maintain, and reproduce the LODcart system. The deliverable shall include, at a minimum:

• Two-dimensional and three-dimensional Computer-Aided Design (CAD) files in standard formats (e.g., .STEP or .IGES).

• A complete Bill of Materials detailing all raw materials, hardware, and commercial off-the-shelf components used.

• Final mechanical schematics, including load-bearing tolerances and weld specifications.

7.3. Assertion of Restrictions: In accordance with DFARS 252.227-7017, if the offeror intends to incorporate any pre-existing proprietary technology developed exclusively at private expense into the design, they must identify and assert those restrictions in their proposal prior to award.

7.4. Deferred Ordering: The Government retains the right to order any additional technical data generated during the performance of this contract for up to three years after contract completion, in accordance with DFARS 252.227-7027.

8.0. ANTI-TERRORISM/FORCE PROTECTION

• Access and General Protection/Security Policy and Procedures. The contractor shall comply with all applicable installation/facility access and local security policies and procedures, which may be obtained from the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The contractor shall also provide all information required for background checks to meet installation access requirements to be accomplished by the local installation’s Security Forces, Director of Emergency Services or local Security Office. The contractor shall ensure compliance with all personal identity verification requirements as directed by DoD, HAF and/or local policy. Should the Force Protection Condition (FPCON) change, the Government may require changes in contractor security matters or processes.