Attachment 1_RFI_Technical_Experimentation_Event_21-1_Maritime.pdf

1 | TE 21-1 RFI

Solicitation Number: USSOCOM RFI TE 21-1_Technical Experimentation: Special Operations Forces (SOF) Combat Swimmer/Diver and Human Performance Notice Type: Special Notice TYPE: A–Research and Development NAICS: 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences) Publish Date: 27 July 2020 Response Date: 28 August 2020, 12:00 Noon Eastern Time Synopsis:

A. INTRODUCTION: Technical Experimentation (TE) This Request for Information (RFI) is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this RFI is to solicit technology experimentation candidates from Research and Development (R&D) organizations, private industry, and academia for inclusion in future experimentation events coordinated by the U. S.

Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). USSOCOM invites industry, academia, individuals, and Government labs to submit technology experimentation nominations addressing innovative technologies identified in paragraph 4 below. The intent is to provide participants with the opportunity to gain SOF insight/perspective on participant technologies.

Technical experimentation will explore emerging technologies, technical applications, and their potential to provide solutions for SOF capabilities.

This RFI is for TE 21-1:

• Date: 16 through 20 November 2020

• Theme: SOF Combat Swimmer/Diver and Human Performance.

• Location: Naval Amphibious Base (NAB), Coronado, CA.

B. OBJECTIVE:

1. Technology experimentation events provide an opportunity for respondents to interact with operational personnel to determine how their technology development efforts and ideas may support or enhance SOF capability needs in the undersea environment. The event environment facilitates a collaborative relationship between Government, academia, and industry to promote the identification and assessment of emerging technologies.

2. The deadline for nomination package(s) is 28 August, 2020 at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time. After review of the TE nomination submissions, the Government may invite select candidates to demonstrate their technologies at the USSOCOM sponsored TE event. Experiments will be conducted from 16-20 November 2020, at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, CA and will explore emerging technology solutions and

2 | TE 21-1 RFI

revolutionary improvements in relevant technologies. Unless otherwise specified, materiel solutions brought to the event should be between a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 and 7 (Appendix 6). Proposed experiments may be between a half day and two days in duration. At the discretion of USSOCOM, respondents may be asked to complete a vendor loan agreement (RFI Notice Attachment 5). There is no intention on the part of USSOCOM to purchase or procure equipment based on participation in the TE.

3. Experimentation Focus: The primary intent of this event is to highlight technologies that support SOF combat swimmers/divers and human performance.

USSOCOM is interested in the specific technology areas described below and the ability to provide innovative “off the shelf” capabilities.

4. Technology areas to explore during the event include the following:

4.1. Commercial Underwater Breathing Apparatus (UBA). Seeking a closed circuit oxygen rebreather that is capable of transitioning to a semi-closed circuit, constant mass flow, mixed gas rebreather, during a single dive. Other characteristics sought include items described below. In preparing Scout Card submissions to this RFI, respondents should append technical literature (description/specifications) illustrating the ability of their technology to meet the criteria described below. In addition, selected respondents shall provide devices to undergo appropriate safety testing/assessments prior to the event.

4.1.1. Type. Capable of being a closed circuit 100% oxygen rebreather and a semi-closed circuit, constant mass flow, mixed gas rebreather.

4.1.2. Mounting. Optional front or back mounting configuration preferred. Front mounting is acceptable.

4.1.3. Face mask. Candidate systems shall be compatible with Full Face Mask and through water communications.

4.1.4. Operational temperature range. Devices should be capable of operating in 32°F to 99°F.

4.1.5. Duration:

• Water temperature: 32°F to 50°F: ≥ 160 minutes.

- 120 minutes at 22.5 Respiratory Minute Volume (RMV) (0.94

Standard Liters per Minute (slpm) oxygen consumption rate).

- 40 minutes at 40 RMV (1.67 slpm oxygen consumption rate).

• Water temperature: above 50°F: ≥ 240 minutes.

- 180 minutes at 22.5 RMV (0.94 slpm oxygen consumption rate).

- 60 minutes at 40 RMV (1.67 slpm oxygen consumption rate).

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4.1.6. Depth:

Oxygen mode (100% O2):

• 20 Feet Shallow Water (fsw) with periodic excursions to 50 fsw.

Semi-Closed circuit (mixed gas) mode (32.5% O2; 67% N2):

• No decompression (NO-DECO (Air tables))

- 90 fsw for a duration of 30 minutes.

- 100 fsw for a duration of 25 minutes.

4.1.7. Scrubber: Carbon dioxide (CO2) scrubber:

• Required: Capable of using granular Calcium Hydroxide absorbent material.

• Desired: Capable of using granular or pre-formed (i.e.

Micropore™) Calcium Hydroxide absorbent material.

4.1.8. Resistive effort. The resistive effort should not exceed:

• 2.61 Kilopascals (kPa) at 62.5 RMV 50 fsw in oxygen only mode.

• 2.16 kPa at 62.5 RMV at 130 fsw in semi-closed mixed gas mode. (32.5% O2; 67.5 N2)

4.1.9. Oxygen fraction. Greater or equal to 21% (by volume) for all work rates up to 50 RMV.

4.2. Human Performance. SOF personnel often operate for extended periods of time in austere environments that expose them to extremes in temperatures, undersea pressures, and other environmental hazards. The primary emphasis is to ensure sustained human performance/effectiveness while operating under these harsh conditions with or without personal protective equipment to:

4.2.1. Enable continuous physiologic monitoring of diver biometrics in sea water at depths greater than 90 feet for periods of up to or greater than 72 hours.

5. Security/Classification Requirements: Respondents shall not submit classified information in the technology experimentation nominations.

6. Safety Requirements: All respondents shall review TE Safety Guide (RFI

Notice Attachment 3), Those respondents who are invited to demonstrate their technologies must complete a Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet (Department of Defense Form 2977) (RFI Notice Attachment 4) in accordance with MIL-STD-882E and the Department of the Army Techniques Publication No. 5-19 (ATP 5-19). Risk assessments shall be emailed directly to the tech_exp@socom.mil by 16 October 2020. Respondents should include instructions that describe the safe operation of the device(s) nominated for the experiment.

mailto:exp@socom.mil

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7. Frequency Requirements: If your experiment will be radiating on a given frequency or frequency band, you must have prior approval to transmit on that frequency. Prior approval may include compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Title 47, Part 15 or a Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC. You must have National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) frequency approval if your experiment includes Government-owned equipment and you will be operating within a Federal Band. Respondents are advised to not wait for confirmation of selection/invitation to the event before requesting a STA from the FCC. Your authority to radiate must be emailed directly to tech_exp@socom.mil by 19 October 2020. All frequency questions shall be directed to the USSOCOM Technical Experimentation team at the email above.

Respondents shall not contact the NAB, Coronado Spectrum Manager directly.

8. Other Special Requirements: DO NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS OR

MARKETING DEMONSTRATIONS. SUBMIT TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENTATION

NOMINATIONS ONLY. EXPERIMENTATION NOMINATION SUBMITTALS FOR

THIS RFI WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED UNTIL THE CLOSING DATE OF 28 August 2020, 12:00 Noon Eastern Time, for the requirements stated above. No contracts will be awarded based on this announcement or any subsequent supplemental RFI announcements.

C. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Technology experimentation nominations shall be submitted electronically by creating a Scout Card in the Atlas system at: https://atlas-sof.com by the respective deadline. Scout Cards should be created, then inserted into the TE21-1 Special Operations Forces Combat Swimmer/Diver and Human Performance event. The Atlas system is best accessed by using the Firefox or Google Chrome browsers.

Associated technology experiments with distinctly different uses or applications should have a separate nomination submitted by each respondent. USSOCOM personnel will review submissions to determine whether an experiment submission will be accepted for invitation to attend the TE event.

A complete submission consists of:

• Completely filling in the Supplemental Sheet (RFI Notice Attachment 2) and attaching it to the Scout Card.

o Devices with radio frequency emissions must state the intended frequency or frequencies used by the device(s).

• Instructions on how to safely use the technology (as needed).

• A STA or NTIA document (for developmental radio frequency emitting devices). If neither is available at the time of submission, provide status of your FCC/NTIA request.

• Experiment plan.

• If applicable, a picture of the device with a short description of the size (shows the dimensions or places the device next to a ruler, currency, or man-sized object for comparison).

Selected respondents will be invited to participate in the USSOCOM TE event.

mailto:exp@socom.mil https://atlas-sof.com/login

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USSOCOM shall provide venues, supporting infrastructure, and assessment (operational and technical, based on availability of resources and written request as discussed above) personnel at no cost to invited respondent(s). All respondents’ submission costs, travel costs, technology experiments, and experimentation associated costs will be at the respondents’ expense. The TE venue will only provide basic access to training areas or ranges (if approved and applicable) to conduct experiments, a facility to connect to the internet, basic venue infrastructure including frequency coordination/deconfliction, and shore power. Invited respondents must be prepared to be self-sufficient during the execution of their experiments and not dependent on venue resources. On a case-by-case basis and at the discretion of USSOCOM, respondents invited to the event may be asked to complete a Vendor Loan Agreement (VLA) (RFI Notice Attachment 5). Do not submit the VLA form unless requested by USSOCOM to do so.

Time and space will be made available for respondents to conduct real-time modifications and updates to technologies. Respondents are advised to bring all tools and equipment necessary to present/operate their technology at the event.

D. BASIS FOR SELECTION TO PARTICIPATE:

Selection of respondents to participate shall be based on the extent to which the technology represents a potential capability increase to SOF.

Other considerations include:

• Technical maturity

• Relevance of or adaptability to military operations/missions

• Relevance to current operational needs

• Relevance to Event Focus Area

E. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: All efforts shall be made to protect proprietary information that is clearly marked in writing. Respondents shall label all information considered proprietary. Lessons learned by USSOCOM from these experiments may be broadly disseminated, but only within the Government. If selected for participation in Technical Experimentation, vendors may be requested to provide additional information that will be used in preparation for the experiments.

Future TE events with TENTATIVE themes/focus areas, locations, ANTICIPATED dates and RFI open periods are as follows:

Number

Theme/Focus Area

Location

Event Dates

RFI Open Period

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TE21-2

Next Generation ISR/Tactically Relevant Situational Awareness & Lethality

Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, IN

22-26 March

November

TE21-3

Maritime Surface Craft

Virginia Beach, VA

July

March

Respondents invited to this event are encouraged to contact each other using the social media through USSOCOM Technical Experimentation. While USSOCOM Technical Experimentation has access to several social media, the preferred collaboration social media link is LinkedIn: SOCOM Technical Experimentation.

F. USE OF INFORMATION: The purpose of this notice is to gain information leading to Government/Industry collaboration for development of USSOCOM technology capabilities and to assist in accelerating the delivery of these capabilities to the SOF warrior. All proprietary information contained in the submission and technology experimentation shall be appropriately marked. The Government will not use proprietary information submitted from any one firm to establish future capability and requirements.

G. SPECIAL NOTICE:

1. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) or contractor consultant/advisors to the Government will review and provide support during evaluation of submittals. When appropriate, non-Government advisors may be used to objectively review a particular functional area and provide comments and recommendations to the Government. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Submission in response to this RFI constitutes approval to release the submittal to Government support contractors.

2. There will be foreign attendees (military, government or industry partners), who are interested in the capabilities being demonstrated at the TE event. Respondents are ultimately responsible for complying with all International Trafficking in Arms (ITAR)/Export Administration Regulations (EAR) requirements associated with their equipment. Before declaring their ITAR/EAR status, respondents to this RFI should verify the ITAR/EAR status of their technology by visiting the US Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (ITAR) website at:

https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public and for EAR, the US Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security at: https://www.bis.doc.gov. USSOCOM event organizers will restrict access as necessary to assist in protecting ITAR/EAR related technology demonstrations.

H. Per Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.215-3, Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997):

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6559158/ https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public https://www.bis.doc.gov/

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1. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI notice or to otherwise pay for the information.

2. Although "proposal" and "respondent" are used in this RFI, your responses will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

3. In accordance with FAR 15.209(c) and 52.215-3(c), the purpose of this RFI is to solicit technology experimentation candidates from research and development organizations, private industry, and academia for inclusion in future experimentation events coordinated by USSOCOM.

Primary Point of Contact:

tech_exp@socom.mil

(813) 826-4646 mailto:exp@socom.mil