N00014-15-R-BA14-Amendment-0001.pdf

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Amendment 0001

Solicitation Number N00014-15-R-BA14 “Helicopter Active RPG Protection (HARP)”

Date Published: August 18, 2015

The purpose of Amendment 0001 is to respond to questions submitted in response to the BAA.

Question 1: The list of GFI as defined in the BAA does not include the LSPR. Are the interface details of the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) System Processor Replacement (LSPR) going to be provided in the GFI list to allow the integration studies and development of the Advanced Single Board Computer (ASBC) for HARP?

Answer 1: Yes, LSPR interface and ASBC information will be included with be GFI data package provided to Offerors invited to submit full proposals.

Question 2: The list of GFI as defined in the BAA does not include CH-53K. Are the interface details to the CH-53K going to be provided to allow feasibility studies/development of integration plans onto the

CH-53K?

Answer 2: Yes, CH-53K interface information will be included with be GFI data package provided to Offerors invited to submit full proposals.

Question 3: The list of GFI as defined in the BAA does not include the ATW IR RPG detection and track data. To facilitate system performance feasibility studies and development of a low false alarm rate system, can the Government provide IR data for the ATW system for RPG launch detection and RPG tracking.

Answer 3: The Advanced Threat Warner (ATW) Hostile Fire Indication (HFI) functions as a situational awareness tool for aircrew. ATW can serve as a cueing source; however it will not serve as a low false alarm rate source. The BAA wording “Upon cueing, the HARP system must execute the following tasks:

sense the inbound RPG, reject false alarms with high probability … ” was intended to communicate that the HARP RPG sensing capability was going to be required for rejection of ATW false alarms. The ATW system will not provide RPG tracking; the HARP RPG sensing capability will be required for that function. Data on ATW RPG launch detection will be included with be GFI data package provided to Offerors invited to submit full proposals.

Question 4: For the tethered hover demonstration, can equipment be located off the aircraft?

Answer 4: Yes, but offerors should consider the technical implications of that choice. The tethered hover demonstration will use NAVAIR Weapons Survivability Laboratory’s (WSL’s) Hostile Fire Indication (HFI) range at China Lake because it has a remotely operated H-60 aircraft mounted atop a 30-foot tall rotating tower. This choice provides geometry and rotor wash representative of a helicopter in a hover. However testing with hardware located partially on and partially off the tethered aircraft will present technical challenges. Challenges associated with placing test hardware off the aircraft will include the distance away from the aircraft, the requirement that any physical connections (wires, etc.) not

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interfere with helicopter operation, and the fact that hardware positioned off aircraft will not remain in constant relative position to the turning aircraft.

Question 5: The BAA states “Algorithms, tracking, expendable vehicle control and other aspects of the WSL HFI range demonstration may be performed, real-time, with a laptop and representative hardware/software for RPG target acquisition, tracking and fire-control-solutions.” Please expand on how ‘representative’ ONR expects hardware/software to be.

Answer 5: There is no specific guidance or limitation that will be provided. HARP offers will be evaluated on “Operational suitability of proposed system for a CH-53K and/or an MV-22” (evaluation criteria #2.) The further demonstration hardware/software is from being;

representative Size Weight and Power (SWAP), compatible with existing/planned Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE), or being shipboard compatible the greater the risk, cost and schedule associated with transitioning HARP technology onto a CH-53K after completion of the FNC will be. Offerors will reflect this risk, cost and schedule in their measure of effectiveness reflecting projected non-recurring and recurring costs associated with transitioning HARP technology onto a CH-53K after the completion of the FNC. The government will assess the projected affordability of transitioning HARP technology onto a CH-53K after completion of the FNC (evaluation criteria #5) and the realism of the proposed costs (evaluation criteria #6.)

Question 6: Is PGP Email Encryption or AMRDEC Safe electronic submittal acceptable for the solicitation response of a proprietary nature? Is there a preference?

Answer 6: For the purposes of the white paper only, Offerors may send their submissions through normal unencrypted email or may use the AMRDEC Safe Access File Exchange via https://safe.amrdec.army.mil/SAFE/; separate notification email to ONR Contracts and Technical POC will be required. A guide for AMERDEC use is located at https://safe.amrdec.army.mil/safe/Guide.aspx. Offerors are not to use PGP encryption as there are known compatibility issues. Please note this response supersedes Section IV, paragraph A of the BAA regarding white paper submission. The due date and time remain unchanged.

Question 7: Are acronym lists included in the 10 page count?

Answer 7: As instructed in the BAA, maximum number of pages permitted: ten (10) pages (excluding cover page, resumes, bibliographies, and table of contents). Acronym lists are not a requirement for the white paper. If acronym lists are included it becomes part of the ten pages count. Although, regarding standard business writing practices, it is recommended that acronyms be spelled out in their first usage in the white paper submittal.

https://safe.amrdec.army.mil/SAFE/ https://safe.amrdec.army.mil/safe/Guide.aspx