Amendment A00001 - Attachment_7_Questions_and_Clarifications_Narrative_CB-LRI III_RFP_A00001.pdf

USCG Cutter – Boat Long Range Interceptor (CB‐LRI III) Questions and Clarifications 70Z02322R93250001

Narrative (specification will be revised to reflect the following intent)

Cabin:

The cabin on the LRI is intended to provide shelter from the elements for personnel and equipment.

The cabin is envisioned to have an electronics area in the forward portion where wiring and electronics can be mounted in a configuration that provides access for adjustment, maintenance, repair, and replacement.

Aft and above the electronics area is the console – with three sections. Port side (mission commander - communications), centerline (coxswain - driver), stbd (crewman/engineer/navigation). The back side of the console would ideally be accessible from the electronics area to support maintenance / troubleshooting / repair.

Aft of the console – 3 shock mitigating seats (mission commander, coxswain, and navigator)

Aft of the first row – 2 shock mitigating seats (boarding team / passengers)

The cabin is envisioned to be enclosed forward and port and stbd at least as far back as the back of the first row of seats, and possibly to the aft part of the cabin.

The first row of seats are accessible through a sliding door. The sliding door has a window that can be raised or lowered (or slid?). If it is able to be raised or lowered – it should be able to be secured in any position. It does not have to be watertight – just weather tight. It needs to be durable – resistant to scratching – and it needs to be secured so that there is no likelihood that it will inadvertently ‘drop’. Think car window.

The aft row can have soft windows that can be zipped up or down. Or hard windows that can be raised/lowered the same as the forward windows. When the forward door is slid aft – the window needs to be able to be accessible for opening or closing by the person seated aft. So the aft person can open ‘both’ windows and have access to the outside. Aft window down, forward window down – can put hand (or weapon) out ‘windows’.

The aft side of the cabin can be hard or soft or a combination. But should allow for enclosing the cabin, while providing easy access / egress for the people in the second row in the cabin. Zippers as a means to access the cabin can be a problem – as they are prone to sticking, cross threading, etc.

The cabin should provide good all-around visibility – recognizing that soft windows do not provide the same clarity as hard windows.

Ventilation / Heat: The cabin needs to be heated. Ideally each seat will have a vent similar to a car vent, that can be open or closed and directed (pan/tilt) at the individual. The ventilation system would have a single heat source ducted to each seat. A single controller would control the fan speed for the entire vent system (off, low, medium, high).

In addition to providing heat – the same system is available for use without heat to provide ambient air movement for the cabin.

Controls for the heat / vent system would be located on the console and reachable by one of the first row seats. Controls would be – fan speed selector (off, low, med, high) and heat (on / off).

Air movement: in addition to the heating / vent system – having circular desk type fans mounted in the forward overhead area of the cabin has proved to be very valuable. The ability to direct air movement at the front seats provides significant relief.

An external vent / scoop that would provide additional air flow when the LRI is underway (cabin top, side clamshell, front facing opening) is an idea that we have discussed, but have not been able to satisfactorily develop / spec out. If provided, it would need to be able to be closed to prevent water intrusion (watertight).

Ducting for the ventilation system needs to be watertight for 3 inches above and below the deck penetration. If the heat source is not under the cabin – there is no way to run duct work through a water tight bulkhead to get under the cabin. So the heat (jacket water) would need to be piped through a watertight bulkhead to the compartment under the cabin – where the heat exchanger / ductwork would be placed.

Opening the windows / doors seems like the easiest solution for airflow – which is often what happens. In cases of miserable weather – when doors and windows are closed – still having air movement is what is being pursued. Vent system noise should be considered / minimized so it is not objectionable.

The forward facing windows need to have a defogging capability and windshield wipers / washer. The side windows for the forward row of seats need to have a defogging/defrosting capability. This can be provided by the personal vent opening for the forward seats – if it can be directed at the windows and is effective in defogging them.

A diesel powered heating system is not allowable (this is a change). The heat source for the heating system shall be waste heat from the engines. The diesel heating system is viewed as too much additional complexity, risk, and maintenance.

Ballistic protection: Shall be available for purchase. It shall cover the forward part of the cabin and the port and stbd sides for the two rows of seats in the cabin. It shall be easily attached (hung?). There is no intent to purchase ballistic protection for every LRI. Anticipate limited sets will be purchased and stored centrally and distributed as needed. All boats need to be configured so that a standard set of panels can be installed as needed. Consideration should be given to being able to open / close the sliding door when ballistic panels are installed.

Batteries:

The battery system shall provide independent starting and house battery banks. The ‘banks’ may consist of more than one battery depending on the capacity needed. All batteries need to be the same size (capacity and dimensions). Independent banks for each engine are allowable (total of 3 banks).

The independent banks – shall be configured to allow one bank to be used to supply the needs of a failed bank. This can be accomplished through an arrangement of common busses that can be isolated or tied together, switches, or temporary connectors that can be easily removed / installed / stowed, or other options.

Lift Slings:

The twin knuckle boom swiveling cranes on the NSC provide significant flexibility for lifting the LRI from the notch into the cradle. The height of the dual lift slings approaches unlimited (within reason). To provide a gauge/guide – locating the pick point 25 feet above the keel is about as high as would be considered reasonable – although the actual limit may be higher. A lower pick point would improve control when moving the LRI with the cranes while the NSC is affected by the prevailing sea state. For the single point lift – there is no known restriction on the pick point height – however keeping it as low as possible provides more usability / flexibility. A height above the keel of 35 feet is considered an appropriate height – but is not a requirement.

Field of fire:

The intent is that the individuals seated in the aft cabin seats will be able to train a shoulder fired weapon on a target that is positioned in an arc extending from 30 degrees forward of the beam to 30 degrees aft of the beam (on the side they are seated on). This does not have to be unimpeded.

The individual can reposition themselves as needed to adjust for small impediments (stanchion?).

The outboard shock mitigating seats on the aft deck shall provide the same 30 degree forward and 30 degree aft of the beam firing arc. It does not have to be unimpeded. If the overhead protection stanchion / bracing is in the arc – that is acceptable and may actually provide support for the shooter.

Deck Configuration:

The main deck – or working deck, is viewed as encompassing 7 areas/slices/zones.

1. Forward lazarette / anchor stowage (?)

2. Forward of the cabin – provide 32 sq feet of working area.

3. Cabin and port and stbd side of the cabin walkways (walkways shall be a minimum of 13 inches wide and cannot be considered working area.)

4. Aft working area (engine hatches?)

5. aft seating area

6. Aft lazarette (waterjet access hatches?)

7. bench seat / storage compartment / transom

The work area shall support helo ops, stowage of a 36”x36” container, stowage / use of a stokes liter.

Person in water recovery

The person in water recovery requirement is intended to drive an opening in the collar / gunwale that would allow 1-2 people to reach / almost reach the waterline. 24-30 inches is about the maximum reasonable reach to reach the water. The notch – is envisioned to be located in the aft working area/aft seating area zones (area 4-5)