NVDTS RFI Industry Cover Letter 2026Nov09.docx

SFAE-CSS-FP-TM

SUBJECT: Request for Information (RFI) – Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Solutions for the Night Vision Device Test Set (NVDTS), Purchase Description TEMOD-26-01 (v1.4)

Department of the Army portfolio acquisition executive agile sustainment & ammunition one buffington road picatinny arsenal, nj 07806-5000

SFAE-CL-FP-TM 6 October 2026

TO: Prospective Industry Partners and Interested Responders

SUBJECT: Request for Information (RFI) – Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Solutions for the Night Vision Device Test Set (NVDTS), Purchase Description TEMOD-26-01 (v1.4)

1.0 Introduction and Purpose. The United States Army, Product Director Test, Maintenance, and Diagnostic Equipment (PD TMDE), is conducting market research to determine the commercial availability, technical maturity, trade space, and budgetary cost benchmarks for a NVDTS.

The intended NVDTS will serve as a multi-spectral, automated electro-optical diagnostic station deployed across field- and depot-level maintenance activities. The system will evaluate image intensifier (I2) devices, thermal weapon sights, fused multi-band systems (e.g., ENVG-B), and digital augmented reality architectures (e.g., IVAS).

2.0 Document Status and Trade Space Opportunity. The attached Purchase Description (TEMOD-26-01, Version 1.4) represents an initial working draft developed to assess COTS availability and evaluate the technical feasibility and reasonability of system requirements.

The Government explicitly intends to update and mature this specification based on industry feedback, discussions with requirements developers, and consultation with Army night vision device subject matter experts (SMEs). Industry is strongly encouraged to:

· Identify requirements that appear overly restrictive, cost-prohibitive, technically mismatched with commercial best practices, or in need of clarification.

· Propose viable commercial alternatives and trade-offs in Section 9 (Technical Trade Space, Cost Drivers, & Industry Feedback) of the attached questionnaire.

3.0 Non-Binding Budgetary Information Disclaimer. This RFI is issued solely for information, market research, and program planning purposes in accordance with FAR Part 10. It does not constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP), Invitation for Bids (IFB), or an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services.

3.1 No Binding Commitment: All budgetary estimates, Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) costs, pricing structures, and production lead times provided by respondents are understood to be strictly non-binding. Responding vendors will not be held to the provided figures in any future competitive solicitation.

3.2 No Reimbursement: The Government will not pay or reimburse any costs incurred in preparing, assembling, or submitting responses to this survey.

3.3 Voluntary Participation: Participation is strictly voluntary. Non-responsiveness will not preclude any vendor from participating in future procurement solicitations.

4.0 Key Areas of Government Inquiry. To assist PD TMDE in evaluating system viability and formulating realistic lifecycle budgets, respondents are requested to complete the attached questionnaire, with particular emphasis on:

4.1 Commercial Maturity: Distinguishing between fully compliant COTS capabilities, near-term commercial roadmap releases (3–6 months), and items requiring non-recurring engineering (> 6 months).

4.2 Support Equipment and Calibration: Identifying all external test standards, fixtures, and optical equipment deemed necessary to calibrate the test set, including whether existing Army TMDE assets (e.g., AN/GSM-440) can execute calibrations organically.

4.3 Data Rights and Software Delivery: Defining licensing frameworks and confirming that 100% Government-funded development of Test Program Sets (TPSs) and mechanical adapters grants the Government Unlimited Rights under DFARS 252.227-7014.

4.4 Cybersecurity and STIG Compliance: Providing current DISA STIG hardening postures, SBOM availability, and existing Authorization to Operate (ATO) statuses.

4.5 Bid Sample Readiness: Indicating the availability of a representative unit for an on-site demonstration at Redstone Arsenal, AL.

5.0 Protection of proprietary Information. Responding vendors are responsible for clearly identifying and marking all proprietary, business-confidential, and competition-sensitive information on each applicable page or data item.

The Government will safeguard all properly marked proprietary submissions against unauthorized release in accordance with the Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. § 1905), the Procurement Integrity Act (41 U.S.C. § 2101–2107), and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 3.104.

6.0 Submission Instructions. Please submit completed responses electronically via email no later than 13 November 2026 at 17:00 CST.

· Submission Format: Searchable Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word (.docx), and/or Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) for cost tables.

· Submissions To:

· Primary Contracting Officer (ACC-DTA): Jennifer Schneider, jennifer.a.schneider17.civ@army.mil

· Contract Specialist: Michael Hang, michael.hang2.civ@army.mil

· Technical Point of Contact (PD TMDE): Danelle Crisler, danelle.m.crisler.civ@army.mil

· Subject Line Syntax: Response to RFI: COTS Night Vision Device Test Set (NVDTS) - [Company Name]

We appreciate your time, effort, and technical insight in helping shape this critical Army modernization program.

image1.png