Attachment 3 TO 01 SOO.pdf

FA8650-20-S-5005

Attachment 3

Task Order 0001

DEVELOPMENT OF MASS RESCUE LIFE SAVING APPARATUS

The first project under this program is to develop a prototype for a Mass Rescue Life Saving Apparatus

(MRLSA).

1.0 BACKGROUND FOR MRLSA

1.0 Mass Rescue Operations (MRO) at sea are Search and Rescue (SAR) operations characterized by the need to provide immediate assistance to large numbers of persons in distress in a situation that exceeds the capabilities normally available to SAR authorities.

1.1 Response to a mass rescue scenario off-shore, often beyond helicopter range, or in a remote area far from response infrastructure, will challenge SAR authorities. Timely response is likely to mitigate potential loss of life. The mass rescue vulnerability includes high capacity passenger ships but also extends to trans-oceanic passenger flights. Mass rescue response options in off- shore scenarios are generally limited to surface response, which could take anywhere from hours to days depending on location or fixed wing aircraft response, which have limited capability to relieve an off-shore MRO event. Mass rescue scenarios are low probability, high consequence events.

1.2 These incidents are considered low probability because passenger vessels and aircraft are equipped with redundant safety features which have, to a large extent, prevented MRO scenarios. MRO events are, however, high consequence events and thus demand conscientious investment of time and effort in advance planning to mitigate loss of life.

1.3 The most timely and effective response to a mass rescue scenario is likely to be realized in those incidents which occur near-shore, in close proximity to SAR response infrastructure. The further off-shore an incident occurs, the more difficult it is to respond to. A mass rescue scenario in the coastal zone (0 - 200 miles) can prove challenging if surface response forces cannot quickly reach the scene. While helicopters can provide assistance, they must be hoist capable and their ability to rescue large numbers of people from the water in a timely manner is limited by capacity and endurance. Mass rescue response beyond helicopter range is particularly challenging because response it limited to surface vessel and/or fixed wing aircraft.

1.4 Surface response could be immediate but realistically, it is likely to take several hours. In some locations less frequented by shipping, surface response could take much longer. Fixed wing aircraft response would be expeditious but there is little a fixed wing aircraft can do to relieve distress in an off-shore mass rescue scenario. Capability is currently limited to assessing on scene conditions and potentially deploying life rafts to SAR victims in need.

1.5 In a mass rescue incident, the varying degree of survivor condition has a direct effect on the success of the rescue. There are instances where survivors exhibit an almost superhuman ability to swim and climb to safety, yet in other cases, survivors are incapable or unwilling to assist in their own rescue. Infirmity, injury, and incapacitation can prevent a survivor from climbing a cargo net alongside a vessel's hull, and psychological impairment can hinder the rescue of others.

1.6 The U.S. Coast Guard and other maritime rescue entities lack the ability to deploy, in remote areas far from response infrastructure, multiple, compact, lightweight, large-capacity floating devices to give survivors temporary separation from the water.

1.7 Addressing this problem is important to the Coast Guard as there have been many mass-rescue events in the past 10 years where luck has been the only factor that prevented significant numbers of casualties. As cruise ships and polar excursion vessels get larger and venture farther from SAR infrastructure, the Coast Guard's Office of Search and Rescue and the Coast Guard R&D Center have been trying to address this response gap. We expect that if this project succeeds, DOD forces would become interested in the potential weight and size reductions in survival equipment, and that manufacturers would in turn commercialize the technology development and application

2.0 SCOPE

2.1 This project focuses on the Research and Development of a Mass Rescue Lifesaving Appliance

(MRSLA) prototype, which will utilize advanced materials to provide a new ultra-lightweight and high capacity life device that increases the chances of survival during a mass rescue scenario off-shore, ·

2.2 This effort will focus on the development and device fabrication utilizing unique and novel materials to be used in Coast Guard and Air Force applications. This research includes the initial fundamental discovery of new materials and the development of prototype devices using these materials.

3.0 OBJECTIVE

3.0 The objective of this project is to rapidly develop a prototype/device that meets all the specifications and requirements provided to the contractor by the Government. The final prototype must meet all

Government specs and requirements. However, the Government understands tradeoffs may have to be made within technological constraints because the goals of the efforts are ambitious.

3.1 The Government expects a dialogue with the contractor to include how technical limitations and tradeoffs can be mitigated to deliver a product most suitable for military operations within a reasonable timeframe.

3.2 The desired outcome is a lightweight, easily packaged and deployed, floating, life-saving appliance that can contain 100-500 persons out of the water for up to 36 consecutive hours. The device must allow easy entry from the water, yet provide some degree of protection from breaking waves and spray. The device also must allow tethering to other such devices.

3.3 The nature of the desired device will differ from already available off-the-shelf "life-saving appliances" due to its desired light weight and portability. Specifications of an existing 100- person "inflatable buoyant apparatus" indicate construction with "heavy, durable, natural rubber," a weight of 728 pounds, and a case-size of 80" x 42" x 42," which is far too cumbersome for a single individual to safely and easily deploy from fixed wing aircraft without cargo ramps or from helicopters.

3.4 The body of knowledge and potential materials-science developments this project could uncover may be the first step in determining improved standards for different kinds of lifesaving technology, from vessel rafts, to lifejackets.

4.0 DESCRIPTION OF WORK/DELIVERABLES

4.1 The contractor shall rapidly develop prototypes that meets (or exceeds) all Government requirements, at a minimum.

4.2 The contractor shall rapidly develop 2 prototype that are ready for testing at a USCG test facility or USCG approved test area.

4.3 The contractor shall draft a Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) (CDRL AOOJ) no later than 7 days from the award date and provide it to JFWORX (AFRL/RXCC) and the

Government for review and approval.

4.4 The contractor shall perform testing and evaluation of the working (operable) prototypes.

4.5 The contractor shall provide documentation articulating how the design meets or exceeds the Government performance requirements.

4.6 The contractor shall deliver 1 workable prototype to AFRL/RX and 1 workable prototype to a stateside USCG facility after testing is complete.

4.7 The contractor shall deliver a draft report 30 days after the end of technical period and a final report 60 days after draft report.

5.0 PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

5.1 The contrator shall provide administrative oversight necessary to plan, coordinate, schedule, and report all the contractor activities in the performance of this program.

6.0 GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS

Item Performance Threshold Objective Remarks

Capacity 100 persons 500 persons Assume 1 person is 1851b -accounts for factor of safety

Time Requirement 24 hours 30 hours

Functioning lifesaving apparatus during the required time

Weight of Device 165 lbs. 100 lbs. Entire System Packaged

Size of Device in

Stored Condition

7 cu-ft.

< 7cu-ft As packaged or secured in aircraft

Deployable from

Helicopter

2 person aircrew can deploy device T=O

Inflation

Does not inflate until actuated by personnel on the vessel in distress or by survivors in the water.

Activation and use will be by personnel untrained in the device

T=O

Allows Safe Egress from the water

90 seconds for able body person to board life raft T=0

Drop capability Can be deployed from an aircraft at speed ≤100 knots in water

Can be deployed from an aircraft at speeds

≥120 knots in water

Item Performance Threshold Objective Remarks

Trail line

750-foot buoyant trail line for deployment across distressed vessel that is attached to the encapsulated device for rapid retrieval alongside

T=O

Device will be deployed within 300 feet downwind of vessel

Operating

Temperatures (water) 35 F to 85 F T=O

Operating

Temperature (air) 0 F to 120 F -20 F to 120F

Operating Sea State

Environment

Operate in up to a minimum

Sea State 5 condition

T = O

Pierson-Moskowitz Scale