JA_SPRDL1-23-R-0010_Redacted.pdf

CUI

SPRDL1-23-R-0010 (J&A 00566)

No Previous J&A the Fire Suppression Bottle. The Fire Suppression Bottle is defined by a vendor part number on an AFES installation drawing. The Fire Suppression Bottle is part of the AFES system, which is defined by AFES Performance Specification, Army Ordinance Part Number (AOPN) 12596410. This Performance Specification states that the system needs to operate within a 28-volt electrical system, use Sodium bicarbonate and HFC- 227 fire suppressant, fit within a size envelope of 3,200 cubic inches and not weigh more than 325 pounds (lbs.), and protect the incapacitated crew for a minimum of

The AFES Performance Specification does not dimensionally define the Fire Suppression Bottle or include its performance requirements. The Fire Suppression Bottle requires a specific size that allows it to provide the appropriate amount of agent if/when the system is automatically activated. The AFES, in the AMPV, was developed by SPECTREX and the Government did not fund the development; thus, the design is proprietary. Only SPECTREX has the technical data that fully defines the AFES system and Fire Suppression Bottle. SPECTREX meets the requirements derived from the AFES performance specification for the Fire Suppression Bottle of being able to operate within a 28-volt system and uses a mixture of suppressants HFC-227 and sodium bicarbonate. The SPECTREX AFES system was used with this Fire Suppression Bottle during AMPV system level testing and met the requirements defined within the AFES Performance Specification. Using a Fire Suppression Bottle from a different vendor would result in an incompatibility with the system as it was engineered to work with only SPECTREX components.

Due to the lack of a TDP available for the Fire Extinguisher, Reverse Engineering is the only recourse for the Government to increase competition through development of a competitive build-to-print Technical Data Package (TDP). A significant amount of time and money would be necessary to reverse engineer, procure and test prototypes, and release a design. The Government would have to obtain a sufficient sample size of existing parts to provide a 95% probability and 90% confidence level in the actual size of the existing item to be studied. Once a large enough sample has been collected, the Government would then tear down and understand the design, develop new design, conduct prototype development, perform testing, and then produce the final TDP.

Through previous experience of working an engineering effort to update the Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems on the Opposing Force Surrogate Vehicle, the estimated required funding would include $30k to obtain existing part samples, $235k to establish requirement and design new hardware, $620k for Integration and Fabrication, $1.28M for testing and $470k for TDP creation. The total cost of the RE effort would be $2.635M.

Table 1. Reverse Engineering Background Part samples $30,000 Requirements Development & Hardware design

$235,000

Integration & Fabrication/Installation (Prototype)

$620,000

RAM Vehicle Testing $1,280,000 Develop & Validate TDP $470,000 Total $2,635,000

SPRDL1-23-R-0010 (J&A 00566)

No Previous J&A compartment. GVSC also investigated the AFES on the Bradley A4 platform but there was not enough information to manufacture the Bradley A4 bottle itself and the Bradley A4 bottle would not be compatible with the current SPECTREX system as the Bradley system uses Kidde parts, and they are not compatible with SPECTREX parts.

A web-based market research was also completed. The findings from these searches are listed below.

Keywords: “AFES System” Website: https://kiddetechnologies.com/products/detail/tactical-wheeled-vehicle-two-zone-afes-systems Findings: The Kidde system is similar to SPECTREX, but the item description is not detailed enough to determine if the system weighs less than 325 lbs. The system was not designed to fit within a AMPV and was never tested to determine if it meets the system requirements. SPECTREX developed the AFES system in the AMPV and testing would be needed to determine if Kidde components would work within a SPECTREX system.

Keywords: “fire+extinguisher+suppression+system+vehicle” Website:

https://www.ansul.com/en/us/pages/ProductDetail.aspx?productdetail=SAPPHIRE+Syst ems Findings: The keywords found an extinguishing system made by ANSUL. The information for the Sapphire systems produced by ANSUL is too generic as it lists “wide range of applications” and does not provide the size envelope as to what this system takes up. Applications for the system include military Vehicles, data processing centers, tape storage vaults, and recreation use for race cars and pleasure craft. This source does not describe the type of suppressant used: whether a mixture of or sodium bicarbonate and HCF-227, uses one or the other by themselves, or if it uses a suppressant equivalent to those materials. The system was not designed for use within a AMPV and has not been tested to determine if it meets the system requirements.

9. Interested Sources: To date no additional sources have expressed interest in this item.

10. Other Facts: Procurement History: There is no historical information for this item.

This is a first-time procurement for the Government.

11.Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which is included in the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name:

Title: Division Chief Email:

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