REF_RFI_sUAS_FY19_(Final_28Mar19).docx

Source Sought Notice / Request for Information U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force

RFI# REF02-FY19

SUBJECT: US Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) - Request for Information (RFI) REF02-FY19: Identification of Potential Solutions to REF Squad Class 1 Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) for Localized Situational Awareness (LSA).

General Information Document Type: Request for Information Posted Date: 28 March 2019 Response Date: 12 April 2019 NAICS Code: 336411

This Sources Sought Notice (SSN)/Request for information (RFI) is for planning purposes, and is not to be considered an invitation for bid, request for quotation, or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this SSN/RFI or any follow up information request. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation of the information they provide. After review of the submissions, the Government may select vendors to demonstrate their technologies. All submission costs, travel costs, and other associated costs relating to the demonstration will be at vendor’s expense.

Background

The REF studies, assesses and evaluates current and evolving Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) and Government Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) technologies to provide up-to-date solutions to operational requirement needs identified by the U.S. Army Warfighter. The REF desires to identify the technology readiness level of potential commercial systems for an advanced Squad sUAS. This system will be rapidly deployable, easy and safe to operate by Soldiers, be highly reliable and self-contained, and sustainable by Soldiers and Army units.

Purpose

The purpose of this SSN/RFI is to assist in the determination of available COTS/GOTS products at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) six (6) or greater. TRL 6 is defined as the representative model or prototype system tested in a relevant environment.

Description

This SSN/RFI is for a Squad sUAS asset for small combat outposts, route clearance elements, and retrograde operations to provide force protection and maneuver elements real time and near real time situational awareness on the battlefield. The UAS asset should be designed to be a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that is rapidly deployable in austere, harsh environments. The UAS system functions should be interoperable with currently fielded equipment to minimize the individual operator’s workload and prohibit the requirement for significant training. The primary payload of the UAS should consist of a high definition, gimbaled video EO/IR capable camera, with the desired capability of being compatible with a variety of different payloads.

Required capabilities include:

· Use AES-256 encrypted communication and data link with a range of equal to, or greater than, 5 km

· Have quick change, modular stabilized, and gimbaled payload that can be controlled by a single ground control system (GCS) for use with:

· EO/IR sensor with:

· EO/IR sensor with 1920x1080 day and 640x480 IR

· IR laser illuminator/pointer

· Utilize a single hand held controller for GCS interface with the aircraft that is STANAG 4586 and Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) compliant. The GCS should have integrated high definition display and joysticks.

· Weigh less than 10 pounds with battery and payload

· Entire system should fit in a small rucksack or assault pack

· Operate for 45 minutes with payload(s) in use

· IP62 or higher water resistance

· Interchangeable battery

· Operate in temperatures between -30 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit

Additional desired capabilities include:

· Operate up to 90 minutes with payload(s) in use

· VTOL from a confined space (1 m2)

· Operate in winds up to 25 knots

· Ceiling of 500 feet AGL, 10,000 Feet MSL

· Flight modes that include: standard operator-controlled flight with assistive software enhancements, point and click navigation, GPS-based waypoint navigation, automatic take-off and recovery, vision-based navigation system

· Operate in a PNT-denied environment

· Common, non-proprietary electrical connections to allow interchangeability with communications, EW, EOD, and other payloads

· Quick-change rotor blades

· Intuitive use and field-friendly basic maintenance features (tool-less design)

Requested Information:

The submitted documentation and content becomes the property of the United States Government and will not be returned. All information should relate to currently available, “on the shelf” systems. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this inquiry. Although solicitation terminology may appear in this inquiry, your response will be treated as information only and will not be used as a proposal.

This notice is part of Government market research. Information received as a result of this request will be considered as proprietary and will be protected as such. Any company or industry proprietary information should be clearly marked as such, by paragraph, so that publicly releasable and proprietary information are clearly distinguished. All documentation submitted shall be no higher than company proprietary level information. All submitted documents will clearly identify company specific data rights assertions in accordance with (IAW) DFAR 252.227-7017. Any proprietary information received in response to this request will be properly protected from unauthorized disclosure. The Government will not use proprietary information submitted from any one source to establish the capability and requirements for any future acquisition, so as to inadvertently restrict competition.

Government contractors will review and provide support during evaluation of submittals. The contractors may be used to review a particular functional area and provide comments and recommendations to the Government. All contractors shall comply with procurement integrity laws and shall sign non-disclosure statements. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure contractors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Submission in response to this RFI constitutes approval to release the submittal to Government support contractors.

Responses which do not clearly and completely address the below requested information and series of questions will be considered as submitted for general informational purposes only.

Please provide the following information:

Documentation:

· Provide commercial data sheets, if available.

· Provide a general description of the configuration of the potential solution to include the GCS, data link and air vehicle(s)

· Provide operators manual and maintenance manual, if available

Technical Attributes (if estimated or unknown, so state):

· Total System Weight (Air Vehicle with payload and GCS)

· Air Vehicle Weight

· With battery installed, to include all weight configurations

· Without battery installed

· Size and weight of GCS

· With battery installed, to include all weight configurations

· Without battery installed

· Size of total system packed for transport

· Size of Air Vehicle (length/width/height)

· Environmental limits for storage and operation including (but not limited to):

· Temperature

· Precipitation

· Humidity

· Wind

· Dust and

· Altitude (AGL and PA)

· Maximum Range (maximum range at which the system can operate assuming no line of sight obstructions)

· Maximum Endurance (maximum time the air vehicle can remain airborne under standard day at sea level conditions)

· Maximum speed of the Air Vehicle

· Climb rate

· Cruise Speed

· Set up time (time required to go from packed to system airborne)

· Total available payload weight

· Noise signature

· Sensor types

· Sensor detection/identification performance (National Image Interpretability Rating preferred)

System Operations:

· How many people are required to operate the system?

· Does this platform incorporate Artificial Intelligence into the operating system? If so, please detail the technology to including readiness level, fielding, and logistics involved.

· What are the different types of flight modes and mission control characteristics used by the system? (Manual, autonomous, waypoints, loiters, hover and stare, etc.)

· What safety features (i.e. lost link, lost GPS) are built into the system?

· What is the software operating system?

· How and where is the data (video, pictures, and flight logs) stored?

· What mapping software does the system use (google maps, Falcon View, open source, etc.) and does it have Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED)?

· Does the system use standard Department of Defense (DoD) mapping and imagery?

· How does the ground control station communicate with the air vehicle? Describe the data link used including waveform, operational frequency band, analog or digital, and encryption capabilities.

· Has the system demonstrated simultaneous air-vehicle operations from a single Ground Control Station?

· Does the system require updating? If yes, how are updates implemented?

· Does any part of the system require a connection to the internet?

· Can system updates be pushed without an internet connection?

Navigation:

· How does the system navigate?

· Is the system capable of navigation without GPS?

· Is the system capable of non-GPS operation indoors and/or heavily forested areas?

· Does the system have automated obstacle avoidance capability?

Power:

· What batteries are used to power the system?

· How are batteries recharged, what equipment is used, and how much time is required to return to full charge following a maximum endurance flight?

· Do the batteries have a certification, i.e. NOSSA, UL?

· Does this platform have alternate fuel sources which could increase flight time? If so, detail the technology.

Training and Logistics:

· What is the anticipated training time for operator certification?

· Describe the assembly required to ready the air vehicle for operation from its field packed state? Field packed system is defined as having all the required equipment to accomplish a mission and be in a state safe for transportation.

· How is the system transported for operational use (i.e. soft pack, hard case, single man-packable)?

· How is a system stored when not in an operational mode?

· Are you able to provide logistical support with spare parts and repairs of damaged parts?

· Are you able to provide Field Service Representative (FSR) support sufficient to sustain systems in deployed or remote areas within the United States or harsh/hostile environments overseas?

· How many cubic feet of space is required to store the system when not being operated?

Production:

· What is the production lead-time, including any production/delivery constraints based on single order quantities ranging from 1-50 systems?

· What is the maximum production output (systems/month) at this time?

· What is your experience with developing Small Unmanned Aircraft System products?

· Is this system commercially available to the general public, or was it specifically designed for Government-only sales?

· Have you sold any units to a federal government agency within the past three years? If yes, please identify the contract number and government point of contact (POC) telephone number and email address.

Miscellaneous:

· Provide current status of DD1494 – Application for Equipment Frequency Allocation

· Provide current Airworthiness Release or Safety of Flight documentation

· What payloads are currently available, in development, and planned?

· What other unique capabilities are available with the system that may enhance mission performance?

· What environmental testing has been done on the system?

· Does the GCS contain an embedded training simulation to provide a realistic database for the conduct of readiness level progression and mission tasks in the virtual environment?

· Did you receive funding to develop your system from any federal governmental agencies?

· Are you a foreign-owned, foreign-controlled, or a foreign-influenced company?

· Provide your cage code and business size under the identified NAICS Code. If you are a small business per the parameters of NAICS Code, do you also qualify under any of the SBA categories: 8(a), Small Disadvantaged Business, HUB Zone, etc.?

· Do you recommend a different NAICS Code be used for this effort?

· Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Cost of one system; Free On Board (FOB) Destination to Fort Belvoir, VA.

Response Instructions

Responses shall be provided via electronic media (PDF, Word, Excel, etc.) to the REF and received by 12 April 2019 and shall not exceed 10 pages in length. Emails shall be provided to MAJ Mike Bales, michael.d.bales3.mil@mail.mil, and Mr. Eric Wierzba, eric.t.wierzba.ctr@mail.mil.