N6660419P2240_Redacted_Sole_Source_Justification.pdf

v1.2_JUNE2016

BACKGROUND:

NUWCDIVNPT Code 709 procured the original Stingray net under contract number N66604-17-P-1017.

The Stingray was developed by Maritime Arresting Technologies (MAT) and they have the proprietary rights to its design under NUWCDIVNPT CRADA 16-1154. The operational requirement at that time was for a net that could be deployed by a single person off of a boat. A new Code 70 project has the operational requirement to be able to install the net on an unmanned platform and be capable of automatic deployment given a signal from a remote command and control station. The new requirement eliminates the human in the loop who currently has to open the Stingray lid, remove the faking poles and throw the drogue buoy into the water resulting in the full net being deployed.

Delivery of quantity 1 Automated Stingray Counter-UUV Net platform with the following minimum specifications:

1) Under 175 pounds (base + net system).

2) Stowed system must be less than 50 inches by 25 inches by 21 inches.

4) Weatherproofed while stowed on board USV.

5) Net system removable from base for net re-packing.

6) Permanently installed base on vessel with quick mount for net system.

7) Stowage must be capable of automatically opening to support net launch.

8) Net must be automatically deployed into the water.

9) Net must not have any flipping or entanglement during deployment.

11) An end of net deployment sensor must be provided to allow remote command and control to know it has successfully launched.

13) System must be reusable for a minimum of 20 deployments.

14) Net must be reloaded into deployment system by 2 persons in less than 45 minutes (for reuse).

must run on 12DC, 20A max.

17) If a launch device is necessary, it must be non-explosive.

Sole Source Justification:

The new system will be mounted on an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) and contain a firing mechanism that will be remotely triggered by a Command and Control (C2) system. As the net is deployed an end of line sensor will provide a signal back to the C2 when the entire net has cleared the system, The net can be repacked in a similar fashion to the existing system, the net is brought to the case and loaded in 5 foot increments until it is fully loaded. We have deployed and repacked the manual net version multiple times and are familiar with this process. MAT has the knowledge, experience, and the ability to modify the existing capability to automatically open the lid, eject the drogue buoy into the water and provide an end of launch signal so the command and control gets confirmation of a successful launch. This item would modify an existing capability that NUWC has been using and provides for mixed use deployment which is a nice option to have since the net could be deployed from either a manned or unmanned platform and the operators would only have to know how to operate one system vice two. The existing capability was developed by MAT under a Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) CRADA, the deployment of the net without tangling in the water column is considered intellectual property by MAT and other vendors will either take additional time to develop a tangle free deployment or provide an unsatisfactory product. In either case time and funding will be lost or expired before an acceptable product is supplied.

RESELLERS:

The Stingray is a one of a kind product and there is no reseller market. MAT is the only vendor considered.