DRAFT-_SOO_6-_Rescue_Hoist_Protective_Glove.pdf

Rescue Hoist Protective Glove Statement of Objectives

February 13, 2017 Science and Technology Directorate Department of Homeland Security

DISTRIBUTION NOTICE: Further dissemination only as directed by DHS Office of Policy DESTRUCTION NOTICE: Destroy by any method that will prevent disclosure of contents or reconstruction of the document.

DRAFT

Rope Rescue Protective Glove Statement of Objectives February 13, 2017

Table of Contents

1.0 Problem Statement

2.0 Purpose and Scope

3.0 Background Environment

3.1 Mission Scenarios

3.2 Current Technology Shortfalls and Threats

4.0 Potential Solution Attributes

4.1 Concept of Operations (CONOPS)

4.2 Additional Capabilities

5.0 Solution Capabilities and Requirements

5.1 Must Have Requirements (Key Performance Parameters, KPP’s)

5.2 Desirable Capabilities or Characteristics

6.0 System Support

6.1 Period and Place of Performance

6.2 Contract Deliverables

6.3 Regulatory/Legal Requirements

6.4 System Affordability

6.5 Training

6.6 Other Considerations

6.7 Storage and Maintenance

1.0 Problem Statement

DHS’s Project Responder 4 (PR4) identifies “protective clothing and equipment for all responders that protects against multiple hazards” as a capability statement in the Responder Health, Safety, and Performance domain.1 The First Responder Resource Group (FRRG) identified a capability gap for hand protection in helicopter hoist rescue operations. The normal rescue gloves (typically Fire Department or Rope Rescue based solutions) used by helicopter rescue crews to guide the rescue hoist cable are quickly worn and need to be replaced often. There is a requirement for hand protection with increased durability and longevity that can be utilized by rescue helicopter personnel. Hoist operators currently wear rescue gloves which are distinct from fire gloves.

2.0 Purpose and Scope

The proposed solution would provide hand protection for use in rescues that require the use of cables, such as hoist rescues from helicopters. The current rescue gloves used by rescue helicopter hoist personnel wear extremely quickly, requiring frequent replacement. The solution will be a new glove made of advanced materials or a replaceable insert/attachment that is more durable than current gloves in use. The new gloves, or inserts that can be attached to the gloves, should provide increased durability over currently used gloves and can be worn by rescue helicopter personnel without interfering with other required duties.

Rescue helicopter hoist personnel use one hand to guide the hoist cable during rescue descents and ascents. A significant amount of force perpendicular to the moving cable is sometimes required to mitigate swing and cable oscillation. The friction created by this operation rapidly wears out the material covering the web of the guide hand. A glove with a very strong abrasion protection surface to guide the hoist cable is required. However, the glove must have enough flexibility for the rescue helicopter personnel to perform other required duties and the solution cannot negatively impact the responder’s range of motion. In addition, as the glove wears out from use, it cannot shed material onto the cables being used in the rescue efforts. Any glove material that produces bits and pieces while it wears is undesirable because it works its way between the strands of the hoist cable and shortens the life of the cable dramatically.

3.0 Background Environment

Rescue hoist operations include any rescue operations that use a rope or cable hoist for rescue operations. These technical rescue operations can include hoist rescue, cave rescue, whitewater and dive rescue operations. These operations, by necessity, require responders to be able to handle and manually guide ropes and cables that are moving at rapid speeds, and thus require hand protection.2

As hoist and other rope rescue operations become more common, the need for an acceptable glove for responders who use cables during operations has become apparent. The unique nature of guiding the moving cable creates a wear point that causes gloves to fail rapidly due to constant

1 Project Responder 4, 2014 National Technology Plan for Emergency Response to Catastrophic Incidents. U.S.

Department of Homeland Security, July 2014, p. 89.

2 United States Coast Guard Rescue video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cARanqy0-1k abrasion. Hoist cable is 3/16” multi-strand stainless wire rope (more specs can be provided if desired) and is typically weighted with 150-600 pounds. The gloves that are currently used to protect the hoist operators’ hands are usually heavy leather work gloves that quickly wear at the top of the web between the thumb and forefinger, also known as the purlique. Since hoist operators normally only control cable with one hand, pairs of gloves are unevenly worn and one glove becomes unusable long before the other.

3.1 Mission Scenarios

The solution will be used in a hoist rescue environment, mainly by hoist operators. The gloves must be fully functional in extreme temperatures (both hot and cold), humid and dry environments, and in high wind conditions. The gloves must also work with cables in varying conditions, such as wet, cold, oily, or icy environments. Many rope rescue operations are helicopter-based and hand protection for those operations must meet the guidance provided by the 2016 Interagency Helicopter Operations Guide3 (IHOG) and the 2008 Aviation Life Support Equipment (ALSE) handbook4.

While rescuers tend to use only one hand for guiding a cable, they may use their left or right hand depending on the equipment and operation. The glove may not limit range of motion and should still allow dexterous motion for other required operator activities.

3.2 Current Technology Shortfalls and Threats

Currently, hoist operators and other rope rescue operators are using leather gloves or rescue gloves for hand protection. These gloves provide the protection needed, however they quickly fail at the points where the cable comes in contact with the glove. Since operators only guide cables with one hand, this means that they frequently need to replace only one glove in a pair. In addition, should the glove begin to fail and physically disintegrate while in use, it may ruin the cable being used in the rescue operation if materials become stuck in the cable as the material is being shed.

4.0 Potential Solution Attributes

The solution will provide hand protection for rescue hoist personnel using advanced materials to increase glove durability and longevity during tasks that require them to manually guide rescue cable. The solution should meet IHOG and ALSE fire protective guidance and should not shed thread, fibers or other materials while in use. If needed, components of the proposed solution could be disposable and a new component could be added to provide continued protection through multiple missions.

4.1 Concept of Operations (CONOPS)

It is anticipated that the solution will be a glove, pair of gloves, and/or an insert or attachment that provides protection from the cable used during rope rescue operations. It is anticipated that the solution will be manufactured using advanced materials; however other solutions that meet the goals stated in this document are acceptable. The solution should be easy to don and doff, provide increased durability and longevity over existing gloves, come in a range of sizes, and have sufficient flexibility to allow for the full range of hand motion in order to perform other required duties while still meeting the IHOG and ALSE fire protective guidance. The proposed technology developer

3 http://www.nwcg.gov/sites/default/files/publications/pms510.pdf.

4 http://www.agaviation.org/Files/RelatedEntities/AviationLifeSupportEquipHandbook.pdf.

may consider offering pairs of gloves where the left glove has the enhanced wear point (presumably at the expense of dexterity) and an enhanced right glove version. Different rescue platforms will have different left/right/both needs, and as such, the proposed solution may include multiple versions based on these needs.

4.2 Additional Capabilities

Ideally, this solution will be functional for all hoist rescue operations and will therefore function in all environmental conditions including extreme cold, wet, dry, humid, and hot conditions. It will provide rescue operations personnel with gloves that can be used longer than existing glove, while still providing the flexibility and donning/doffing capability of existing gloves.

5.0 Solution Capabilities and Requirements

5.1 Must Have Requirements (Key Performance Parameters, KPP’s) The proposed solution must:

• Provide adequate protection to the hand guiding the cable during rope rescue operations;

• Not produce fibers or other loose materials during wear that will decrease the operational lifetime of the hoist cable;

• Have adequate flexibility and dexterity to allow for the full range of hand motion in order to enable normal operation of radios, carabiners, and similar equipment;

• Have no snag points;

• Not transfer heat from friction to the wearer’s hands;

• Provide increased wear longevity as compared to existing gloves;

• Be easy to don and doff;

• Provide increased durability and longevity over existing gloves either as a single unit or a unit with replaceable parts;

• Come in a range of sizes;

• Have a long cuff extending several inches above the wrist providing total coverage when the flight suit sleeve is properly worn; and

• Fit snugly.

5.2 Desirable Capabilities or Characteristics

The proposed solution should:

• Meet IHOG and ALSE fire protective guidance, at least in the non-critical wear areas of the glove;

• May have multiple versions based on different left/right/both hand needs for different rescue platforms; and

• Fit in such a way that the glove is seated against the wearer’s purlique.

6.0 System Support

6.1 Period and Place of Performance

The anticipated period of performance for the contract shall be between 12-18 months, and shall not exceed the latter. All developmental activities will be performed at the contractor-designated site(s). DHS may require the contractor to perform preliminary and critical design reviews and/or product presentations at DHS-specified locations.

6.2 Contract Deliverables

It is expected that this project would be divided into three phases, with different deliverables required in each phase as described below. Each phase would be approximately six months in length, resulting in a project lasting 18 months from kickoff to completion of prototypes. The deliverables for each phase are:

• Phase I: Candidate protective material is identified. Test data should be presented that documents that the selected material meets the durability and abrasion resistance required to meet the goals of this SOO;

• Phase II: Protective material incorporated into a development prototype protective glove/insert, test data collected and presented indicating that the prototype glove/insert complies with the IHOG and ALSE guidance; and

• Phase III: Final prototype solution is delivered to DHS for evaluation by operational personnel to ensure that it meets the stated requirements.

DHS is committed to ensuring the success of their technology by requiring the project performer to provide DHS multiple prototype deliverables which will be used for post-contract testing and evaluation by operational rescue hoist personnel. A minimum of 20 prototype devices for evaluation by first responders shall be provided as a final project deliverable.

DHS is also committed to ensuring the use of their technology by the first responder community by documenting metrics regarding product sales and estimated production costs for the first three years after commercialization. Additionally, to promote first responder technology awareness DHS may participate in operational exercises, demonstrations, and conferences for the first three years after commercialization.

6.3 Regulatory/Legal Requirements

DHS is committed to providing information regarding the availability of their technology to the first responder community by requiring the project performer to submit applications to be added to the DHS Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Authorized Equipment List (AEL) and the Inter-Agency Board for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability (IAB) Standardized Equipment List (SEL) as a final deliverable.

6.4 System Affordability

It is envisioned that the solution will be cost effective so that first responders from a wide variety of jurisdictions will be able to afford this additional level of protection. First responders’ budgets are limited and should be taken into consideration when developing and determining a price per unit cost model. A target price for a disposable unit or the disposable component of the device is less than $10. If the solution is reusable, the cost should not exceed $100.

6.5 Training

Training information as required shall be provided on any specialized equipment, and shall include how to properly store, clean, deploy, and maintain the basic ensemble/unit. If a replaceable part is included in the device, proper procedures for replacing that part should be specified. Any specialty requirements of personnel conducting maintenance, storage, extraction, or delivery will be identified including certification requirements. Training material shall be available initially in hard-copy, and subsequently in soft-copy format.

Training for appropriate use should be minimal and incorporated into existing training for donning and doffing protective gear.

6.6 Other Considerations

Human Interface Requirements: The target user includes rescue hoist cable operators and any responders working in a hoist rescue environment. The solution should be easy to don and doff, allow performance of all required duties, and should not interfere with the operation of other equipment and personal protective equipment worn by first responders.

Logistics and Readiness: The solution developed under this award is envisioned as an improved standard gear worn by all hoist rescue responders.

6.7 Storage and Maintenance

The contractor shall identify all necessary storage and maintenance requirements for the proposed solution including: the required maintenance schedule, if any cleaning or maintenance is needed for the solution either during use or in order to be reused subsequent times, identification of the specific components of the solution that requires the maintenance, the type of maintenance required, and whether the maintenance can be performed in the field by operational personnel or if it will be required to be returned to the manufacturer for the required maintenance.

Specific instructions for cleaning or otherwise preparing the glove/insert solution that was developed under this SOO shall be included. Any cleaning recommendations should be viable and cost effective for first responders and first responder agencies, and should ideally be able to be performed “in house.”