JIMKE Sources Sought.docx

Description:

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS BEING ISSUED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. This is not a solicitation. Responses to this notice are not considered as offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties responding to this Sources Sought notice. The intent of this notice is to identify businesses, especially small business (SB) concerns, certified 8(a), HUBZone, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), and Women- Owned Small Business (WOSB) concerns capable of performing the requirements described below.

The US Combat Capabilities Development Command - Soldier Center (CCDC – SC), Combat Feeding Directorate (CFD) in Natick, MA is issuing a sources sought notice to identify potential sources that can develop a prototype of custom software and hardware integrated into commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) appliances (Steamer, Combination Oven and a Griddle), networked together as a ZigBee wireless network or an Ethernet network. The requirements being sought can be found in the ‘REQUIREMENTS' section of this sources sought below.

Background:

The CCDC – SC, CFD is pursuing a “Maximize the Warfighter’s Survivability, Sustainability, Mobility, Combat Effectiveness and Field Quality of Life by Treating the Warfighter as a System” push, with the goal to provide the American Warfighter the best equipment for the best price through research, development and engineering; including the application of a Technology Enabled Capability Demonstration (TECD) for prospective solutions. Equipment must be easily maintained and reduce maintenance labor. Prognostics (pre-failure) data collection using sensors in food service equipment items, predictive capability and reporting this data on a wireless network are concepts to investigate through a prototype technical test-bed as the TECD. There is also a necessity to track reliability, maintenance, and current health of the equipment assets with the use of technology embedded into the multi-functional equipment assets.

R&D effort is a joint initiative for the Navy and Air Force foodservice programs.

Scope of Work:

Develop a prototype of custom software and hardware integrated into commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) appliances (Steamer, Combination Oven and a Griddle), networked together as a ZigBee wireless network or an Ethernet network.

Requirements:

Interested businesses must address ALL of the specific requirements below and clearly indicate if each requirement could be met and how the requirement would be completed.

The intent will be to set this aside for small business.

The Contractor shall conduct to develop a prototype custom software and hardware integrated into commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) appliances (Steamer, Combination Oven and a Griddle), networked together as a ZigBee wireless network or an Ethernet network.

a. General Requirements:

The contractor's primary focus shall be to:

(1) Integrate prognostic and predictive capability within the above type appliance controller level with simple messages, for example (change filter), that indicate to the end-user exactly what the health or condition of the appliance is in real-time.

(2) Provide foodservice operators the ability to quickly monitor key equipment parameters, track Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) compliance, and maintenance/repair of equipment assets at the appliance.

(3) Provide the capability for a simplistic rapid response and predictive asset reliability and tracking prior to a critical failure of the equipment asset/s.

b. Specific Requirements:

The contractor shall:

(1) Utilize already existing and approved foodservice equipment assets that are currently operated aboard naval vessels, and within the Air Force field kitchens.

(2) Integrate prognostic and predictive technology (hardware and software) within electric, foodservice equipment assets that can meet all Navy and Air Force IT security protocols.

(3) Each Joint Intuitive Multi-functional Kitchen Equipment (JIMKE) prototype appliance provides visual text messaging on the appliance display and electronic messages via the JIMKE prototype wireless network test-bed, which demonstrates connectivity amongst the JIMKE prototype appliances and connectivity for remote (off-site) users.

(4) The JIMKE prototype custom-designed steamer software module evaluates all data inputs to derive prognostics and HACCP data. Heat-up rate from ambient and heater duty cycle to maintain cooking provides a key indicator of appliance health and performance. The computer monitors HACCP conditions for low cabinet temperature (≤ 145°F for over 15 min.) and cabinet door open/closed status.

The unique analog water level sensing and innovative custom software enable an automatic marine mode. When vessel pitching and rolling conditions are sensed, the computer increases the time interval averaging of water level and overfill alerts, and reduces the fill time and fill delay interval. When vessel pitching and rolling conditions cease, the marine mode automatically resets to normal operating mode.

(5) The JIMKE prototype custom-designed griddle software module evaluates all data inputs to derive prognostics and HACCP data. Heat-up rate from ambient and heater duty cycle to maintain cooking are key indicators of appliance health and performance. The computer monitors HACCP conditions for low operating temperature and provides a warning for conditions ≤ 190°F for over 15 min.

(6) The JIMKE prototype custom-designed combination oven software module adds prognostics capability to detect and warn of power and cooking chamber heating conditions. The dual resistance temperature detector (RTD) temperature sensors enable the computer to warn of slow heat up and HACCP issues.

Requested Information:

Interested businesses who believe they are capable of meeting the above requirements are requested to submit a brief (no more than 6 pages total) capabilities statement package, including company name and address, Webpage URL, point of contact with phone number and e-mail address, DUNS number, and CAGE Code. This will be intended to be a small business set-aside therefore, business size status and socioeconomic profile, detailing whether it can be considered a small business and whether any other socioeconomic category applies, such as (but not limited to), service disabled veteran owned small business, woman owned small business, small disadvantaged business, etc. For the purposes of this response, please provide business size status with respect to NAICS 541715 which has a small business size standard of 1000 employees. Interested businesses may register with System for Award Management (SAM) at http://www.sam.gov.

Respondents should include:

1. A description of company's background, technology, experience, and any other information that demonstrates value, performance, and capabilities.

2. Tailored Capability Statements addressing the Requirements of this notice, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organization and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capabilities, provide an estimate of anticipated subcontractor efforts.

Respondents are requested to provide information by, Friday 10 April 2020/5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Responses:

All interested parties, regardless of size, are encouraged to respond to this sources sought notice. Submissions should include available technology, company literature, and relevant company background, experience, and qualifications.

Initial information submissions must be received by Friday 10 April 2020/5:00 PM. Responses to this notice should be directed to: Mr. Luke Renzoni, luke.r.renzoni.civ@mail.mil.

Responses shall include all information addressed above. All information supplied will be considered confidential, unless otherwise specified by the business or available from other sources without restriction.

Documents are requested to be submitted electronically in Adobe Professional (.PDF) format or Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx). No telephonic, facsimile or hardcopy responses to this sources sought will be considered.

Additional Information:

All information received in response to this notice that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. Any information submitted will not be returned, and no payment will be made by the Government for such information. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for any potential requirement. Input on technical aspects of the responses may be solicited by CFD from non-Government consultants/experts who are bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. By responding to this notice, the Respondent agrees to allow such input from non-Government consultants/experts concerning the information and materials submitted.