Attachment 1) Salient Characteristics.pdf

European Armored Vehicle Salient Characteristics

Technical Specifications

The following characteristics are preliminary and are provided to support industry feedback.

They are NOT final solicitation requirements and may be revised.

The Government is interested in a new, commercially available, four-wheel-drive armored tactical vehicle, or equivalent configuration, capable of transporting personnel and equipment in off-road and security-force operating environments.

Respondents shall identify the extent to which their proposed vehicle complies with each characteristic.

3.1 Vehicle configuration

The proposed vehicle should:

1. Be four-wheel drive and off-road capable.

2. Provide ground clearance greater than 340 millimeters.

3. Have a wheelbase between 3,230 and 3,530 millimeters.

4. Carry at least four crew members.

5. Use a diesel engine.

6. Have an automatic transmission.

7. Provide a payload capacity of at least 1,500 kilograms after installation of the proposed armor and required equipment.

8. Have left-hand steering.

9. Include an adjustable steering column.

10. Include standard side mirrors.

11. Include a reverse camera.

12. Include a spare tire and tools required to remove and replace the wheel.

13. Identify vehicle length, width, height, curb weight, gross vehicle weight rating, axle capacities, and turning radius.

14. Identify whether the vehicle is currently in production and the estimated remaining production life.

3.2 Protection

The proposed vehicle should provide integrated protection appropriate for the Government’s intended security and force-protection mission.

Respondents shall identify:

1. The ballistic protection level provided.

2. The mine and blast protection level provided.

3. The IED-related protection capability, if applicable.

4. The protection provided by the hull, doors, roof, floor, windows, fuel system, and battery location.

5. The applicable test standard, including the specific STANAG 4569 level or other recognized standard.

6. The test authority and date of testing.

7. Whether testing applies to the exact vehicle configuration offered.

8. Whether the armor is factory-installed, installed by an authorized integrator, or installed by a third party.

9. The effect of the armor configuration on payload, braking, suspension, fuel consumption, and warranty.

10. The availability and lead time of replacement armor, ballistic glass, doors, hatches, and associated components.

A response shall NOT include classified information, controlled threat information, weapons, ammunition, or classified technical data.

3.3 Weapons-mounting provisions

The Government is interested in vehicles capable of accepting a Government-approved weapons mount or turret.

Respondents should provide information concerning:

• Available roof, turret, or weapons-mounting provisions.

• Maximum allowable roof and turret weight.

• Structural reinforcement.

• Available traverse or elevation envelope, if applicable.

• Crew protection and blast effects.

• Electrical power and data provisions.

• Effects on vehicle center of gravity and payload.

• Whether the mount is manual, remotely operated, or another configuration.

• Whether the mount is included in the proposed price.

• Whether the mount is supplied without a weapon.

The Government is NOT requesting weapons, ammunition, classified equipment, classified technical information, or a complete weapon system in response to this RFI.

3.4 Mobility

The proposed vehicle should:

1. Be capable of traversing side slopes up to approximately 30 percent under defined test conditions.

2. Be capable of climbing slopes up to approximately 60 percent under defined test conditions.

3. Include or support installation of a fording kit.

4. Include a central tire-inflation system.

5. Include run-flat capability or run-flat inserts.

6. Identify mobility performance at curb weight and maximum operating weight.

7. Identify test surfaces, weather conditions, tire configuration, payload, and test methods used to substantiate mobility claims.

8. Identify maximum fording depth and required preparation time.

9. Identify operating temperature and altitude limits.

10. Identify towing and recovery limitations.

Respondents should clarify whether the slope figures are expressed as percentages rather than degrees.

3.5 Braking, lighting, and electrical systems

The proposed vehicle should:

1. Meet applicable European braking requirements, including the applicable version of UN/ECE Regulation No. 13 or an approved equivalent.

2. Use a 24-volt electrical system.

3. Include a NATO-compatible power connection or identify available military power-interface options.

4. Include headlights.

5. Include brake lights.

6. Include turn signals.

7. Include blackout lights.

8. Preferably use LED headlights and interior lighting.

9. Identify available alternator output and unused electrical capacity.

10. Identify battery capacity and cold-weather starting capability.

11. Identify whether additional Government-furnished communications or mission equipment can be powered without adversely affecting vehicle operation.

3.6 Towing and recovery

The proposed vehicle should, if available:

• Include pneumatic trailer connections with service and emergency connections.

• Include trailer electrical connections.

• Include a pintle hook.

• Identify towing capacity.

• Identify recovery points.

• Identify compatibility with common military or commercial European trailers.

• Identify whether towing equipment affects payload or protection.

3.7 Personnel access and crew safety

The proposed vehicle should:

1. Provide safe and rapid entry and exit for personnel wearing operational equipment.

2. Provide safe and rapid entry and exit for personnel wearing protective clothing used in nuclear, biological, or chemical environments.

3. Include five-point seat belts or identify the proposed occupant-restraint system.

4. Include emergency exits.

5. Provide adequate interior space for crew members and mission equipment.

6. Identify door dimensions, step height, hatch dimensions, and interior seating limitations.

7. Identify fire-suppression, fire-detection, and emergency-egress features.

8. Identify limitations caused by armor, protective equipment, or mounted mission equipment.

3.8 Communications and equipment integration

The Government is interested in vehicles capable of supporting integration of Government-furnished communications and mission equipment.

Respondents should identify:

• Available electrical power capacity.

• Available equipment-mounting provisions.

• Antenna and cable-routing provisions.

• Grounding and bonding provisions.

• Vehicle intercom or crew-communications provisions.

• Available data interfaces.

• Compatibility with Government-furnished equipment.

• Space for radios, amplifiers, batteries, and ancillary equipment.

• Restrictions on integrating third-party equipment.

• Required vendor-furnished integration hardware.

• Cybersecurity or software dependencies.

• Whether remote-access or telematics features can be disabled.

This RFI does not request radio frequencies, encryption keys, network architecture, classified information, sensitive command-and-control information, or other protected operational information.

3.9 Training, manuals, and diagnostics

The proposed vehicle should include:

• Operator training.

• Maintainer training.

• Operator manuals.

• Maintenance manuals.

• Parts manuals.

• Preventive-maintenance schedules.

• Troubleshooting information.

• Wiring diagrams or equivalent technical documentation.

• Access to required diagnostic equipment.

• Access to proprietary diagnostic software, if required.

• Information concerning software licenses, recurring fees, access restrictions, and Government-use rights.

• English-language technical support.

Respondents shall identify whether technical manuals and diagnostic systems are available in English and whether access continues after expiration of the vehicle warranty.

3.10 Vehicle colors, camouflage, and exterior patterns

Respondents shall identify all standard and optional exterior colors, camouflage schemes, and patterns available for each proposed vehicle.

At a minimum, respondents should provide:

1. Standard factory colors.

2. Optional colors available at the time of manufacture.

3. Available solid-color finishes, including green, tan, gray, black, white, or other commercially available colors.

4. Available military, NATO, woodland, desert, urban, winter, or other camouflage patterns.

5. Whether camouflage is:

o Factory-applied.

o Applied by an authorized integrator.

o Applied by a third-party paint facility.

o Applied using removable vehicle wraps or decals.

6. Whether the finish is paint, coating, wrap, or another treatment.

7. Available paint systems, including:

o Matte.

o Low-gloss.

o Semi-gloss.

o High-gloss.

8. Availability of corrosion-resistant and harsh-environment coatings.

9. Availability of low-observable, reduced-reflectivity, or reduced-signature finishes, if commercially available.

10. Whether the proposed finish is compatible with the armor, ballistic glass, sensors, cameras, lights, and vehicle markings.

11. Effect of color or pattern selection on:

• Price.

• Production schedule.

• Warranty.

• Maintenance.

• Repair procedures.

• Vehicle registration.

12. Minimum order quantities for nonstandard colors or patterns.

13. Availability of custom color matching using an applicable color standard.

14. Availability of replacement paint, coatings, wraps, or repair materials in Europe.

15. Estimated lead time for replacement body panels or refinishing after damage.

16. Whether Government-specified markings, reflective materials, identification numbers, or decals can be applied.

17. Any limitations on applying Government markings or camouflage after delivery.

Respondents should provide color charts, photographs, representative examples, technical descriptions, or product literature when available. Photographs may be used for general market-research purposes and should not contain classified, sensitive, or operational information.

Any future solicitation may identify a required color or camouflage scheme, subject to Government approval and applicable host-nation requirements.