SLAAD RFI FY24.pdf

Static Line Automatic Activation Device (SLAAD) THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. IT IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations, Part 10 responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Please respond by 26 February 2024 at

11:59 PM.

Description The Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PM SCIE) is conducting a market survey to assist in long-term program planning and to identify potential manufacturers/vendors of a system that provides the Static Line Automatic Activation Device (SLAAD) capability. The SLAAD system is planned to be developed to support the U.S. Army’s Static Line Airborne Community by addressing a capability gap to automatically initiate the reserve parachute deployment sequence if an incident or malfunction prevents a safe landing with the main canopy. The system must not activate the reserve deployment sequence while a Parachutist is inside an aircraft or if they become towed by the aircraft.

SLAAD Performance Requirements The system should meet the performance requirements given in Tables 1, 2, and 3 below.

These tables provide both Threshold and Objective levels. The objective level is the performance goal, whereas the threshold level is the minimum acceptable level. Future notices or solicitations may include changes or additions to these requirements.

Table 1: Key Performance Parameters

Key Performance Parameter (KPP) Production Threshold Production Objective KPP 1 – Device Reliability

The SLAAD shall meet reliability of .99 at .90 confidence level.

The SLAAD shall meet reliability of .995 at .90 confidence level.

KPP 2 –

Activation

The SLAAD shall operate by severing closing loop. The system shall not interfere with manual deployment method of the reserve.

The SLAAD shall provide an auditory alert to the jumper prior to firing.

KPP 3 – Total System Weight

The SLAAD shall weigh no more than 16 ounces. The SLAAD shall weigh 8 ounces or less.

KPP 4 –

Operation

The SLAAD shall not require jumper to input settings for the airborne operation and will provide visual indicator of system’s armed status.

The SLAAD shall allow jumpmaster to turn on all jumpers’ systems, not require jumper to input settings for the airborne operation, and will verify armed status of all jumpers.

Table 2: Key System Attributes

Key System Attribute (KSA) Production Threshold Production Objective

KSA 1 – Parachute Compatibility

The SLAAD shall be compatible with approved Army static line parachute systems.

The SLAAD can be modified to accommodate future parachute system designs.

KSA 2 – Aircraft Compatibility

The SLAAD shall be compatible with primary jump platforms C-130, C-17, UH-60, and CH-47.

The SLAAD shall be compatible with all authorized jump platforms.

Key System Attribute (KSA) Production Threshold Production Objective

KSA 3 – Flight Data

The SLAAD shall record flight data during airborne operation from aircraft exit to landing including jumper’s altitude, descent rate, and 3-axis acceleration.

The SLAAD shall record flight data during airborne operation from aircraft exit to landing including jumper’s altitude, descent rate, 3-axis acceleration, 3-axis rotation rates, and jumper orientation.

KSA 4 – Flight Data Retrieval

The flight data from the SLAAD can be downloaded at unit level using a cable.

The flight data from the SLAAD can be wirelessly downloaded from multiple units simultaneously.

KSA 5 – System Status Monitoring

The SLAAD shall provide a method for reporting status, last jump date, remaining battery life, total number of jumps, last flight data download date, and next maintenance cycle date.

The SLAAD shall provide a remote method for reporting status, last jump date, remaining battery life, total number of jumps, last flight data download date, and next maintenance cycle date.

KSA 6 – Data storage

The SLAAD shall maintain flight data for 365 days and/or 165 jumps.

The SLAAD shall maintain all flight data for lifecycle assuming 165 jumps per year.

KSA 7 – Battery Life The SLAAD shall have a minimum of 2-year battery life.

The SLAAD shall have a minimum 14-year battery life.

KSA 8 –

Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3)

The SLAAD shall not be subject to premature or inadvertent activation from E3 effects when subjected to the testing requirements in Table V in MIL-STD- 461G for Aircraft, Army, Including Flight Line, the electrical bonding, and the external grounding requirements in MIL-

STD-464D.

The SLAAD shall have a maximum no-fire current of 180 mA with a resistance between

1.2 and 1.8 ohms.

KSA 9 –

Airworthiness

The SLAAD shall be compliant with requirements of the following test standards:

• MIL-STD-461G, RE102

Radiated Emissions, Electric Fields, 2 MHz to 18 GHz

• MIL-STD-810H, Method 500.6, Procedure III

• MIL-STD-810H, Method 511.7, Procedure I

T=O

KSA 10 – Self-Test The SLAAD will automatically conduct a self-test upon turning on to verify unit is ready for mission or provide error codes/alerts indicating specific issue.

The SLAAD will conduct a self-test in storage and provide an early notification of errors/issues.

KSA 11 – Automatic Turn Off

The SLAAD will automatically turn off after reaching ground at conclusion of jump or 12 hours after turning on.

The SLAAD shall provide an auditory alert during automatic shutoff after reaching ground at conclusion of jump or 12 hours after turning on.

KSA 12 – Size

The control and/or display unit of the SLAAD shall fit into pocket as shown in government drawing number 11-1-9605.

Processing unit shall fit into pocket as shown in government drawing number 11-1-7558.

T=O

KSA 13 – Ambient Temperature

The SLAAD shall function when installed in parachute system exposed to temperatures from -30 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

The SLAAD shall function when installed in parachute system exposed to temperatures from -65 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

KSA 14 – Operating Safety

The SLAAD must have a method of turning on and off that prevents accidental power cycling.

The SLAAD must have a method of being turned on and off remotely that prevents accidental power cycling.

Table 3: Additional Performance Attributes

Additional Performance Attribute

(APA)

Production Threshold Production Objective

APA 1 – Spare Components

The control unit and cutter of the SLAAD must be replaceable at the unit level. T=O

APA 2 –

Lifecycle

The SLAAD will have a lifecycle of 14 years from date of manufacture.

The SLAAD will have a lifecycle of 20 years from date of manufacture.

APA 3 –

System Data Hardware

The SLAAD shall allow wired flight data retrieval and system status monitoring at the unit level by maintainer utilizing Army fielded equipment.

The SLAAD shall allow wireless flight data retrieval and system status monitoring at the unit level by maintainer utilizing Army fielded equipment.

APA 4 – Cutter Compatibility

The SLAAD must be compatible with an AAD cutter available in Army inventory.

The SLAAD must be compatible with multiple-use cutter with form factor similar to AAD cutters available in Army inventory.

APA 5 – Water Immersion

The SLAAD shall be compliant with IP68 testing in saltwater and able to be restored to normal operation at unit level.

The SLAAD shall be compliant with IP68 testing in saltwater and able to be returned to service without maintenance.

Government testing of the SLAAD system for compliance with KSA 8 is anticipated to consist of the following:

• CS114, conducted susceptibility

• CS115, conducted susceptibility

• CS116, conducted susceptibility

• CS118, personnel borne electrostatic discharge

• RE101, radiated emissions, magnetic field

• RE102, radiated emissions, electric field

• RS101, radiated susceptibility, magnetic field

• RS103, radiated susceptibility, electric field

Responses All interested firms and manufacturers, regardless of size, are encouraged to respond to this request for information related to the SLAAD. Proposed technologies should be at or above Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6; please refer to https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/404585.pdf for TRL definitions.

Required Information Please identify:

• Company Name

• Company Size

• Cage Code

• Unique Entity ID

• Contact Person’s First & Last Name

• Contact Person’s Email

• Contact Person’s Telephone

Responses are requested to address the following:

https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/404585.pdf

• Supporting data (product information, test reports, photos, etc.) indicating the technical maturity of the system (e.g. TRL) and ability to meet the provided performance requirements

• A narrative description of the proposed SLAAD system’s concept of operations to include actions/responsibilities taken by parachute riggers, parachutists, and jumpmasters o In the context of planning and executing an airborne operation utilizing either fixed-wing or rotary wing aircraft (e.g. transportation, issuing, rigging, jumpmaster inspections, boarding aircraft, preparing to exit aircraft, upon landing on Dropzone, etc.)

o In the context of sustainment and lifecycle management activities (e.g.

mandatory maintenance, user-level spare parts replacements, inspections, calibration checks, etc.)

• Information on existing or planned software management processes to include development, testing, configuration control, and cybersecurity

• Information on program management, development, and production plans to meet the proposed SLAAD strategy:

o Test results demonstrating compliance with KSA 9 are anticipated to be a required attachment of vendor’s solicitation proposals o Functional Test (FT) is planned to be conducted to validate basic functionality of proposed systems and share data with vendors to ensure systems are ready for final downselect testing o Design Validation (DV) is planned to be conducted as the final test event to collect data supporting a downselect and completion of source selection o SLAAD program objectives include vendor achieving, at a minimum, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO10012:2003 third-party certification prior to Operational Test (OT) order being placed o Information on existing or potential manufacturing/supplier partnerships o Test asset production concept, pricing, and lead times assuming availability of funds and orders are placed approximately in timeframes given below FT & DV, order placed 4QFY24 (July – August 2024)

• 25 SLAAD systems

• 4 sets of any aircraft/support equipment if applicable

• 75 single pin cutters

• Any additional components needed for testing

• Retrofit/modify test assets based on results from FT for use in DV

Developmental Test (DT), order placed 3QFY25 (April – June 2025)

• 50 SLAAD systems

• 6 sets of any aircraft/support equipment if applicable

• 300 single pin cutters

• Any additional components needed for testing

OT, order placed 3QFY27 (April – June 2027)

• 70 SLAAD systems

• 4 sets of any aircraft/support equipment if applicable

• 100 single pin cutters

• Any additional components needed for testing

• Planned production concept, pricing, and lead times for SLAAD production/fielding assets assuming an order is placed in 2QFY29 (January – March 2029) o Information on existing or potential manufacturing/supplier partnerships o Information on existing or planned production capacity and time needed to ramp up to potential full rate of up to 10,000 SLAAD systems per year

Administrative

Proprietary/Competition Sensitive information (appropriately marked) will be protected from disclosure to the greatest extent practical, however it is preferred that respondents do not provide proprietary or otherwise restricted responses.

Responses to this notice must be received no later than 11:59 PM ET on 29 February 2024.

Responses and any questions for clarification are to be sent electronically to the primary and alternate points of contacts provided in this notice. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted.

This notice is for information only. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION. No solicitation document exists for this action.

FAR 52.215-3 - Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes, applies herein.

Contracting Office Address BLDG 1 General Greene Ave.

Natick, Massachusetts 01760-5011

Primary Point of Contact Tashfiq Salam tashfiq.salam.civ@army.mil

Alternate Points of Contact Anthony Nguyen anthony.nguyen42.ctr@army.mil

Lucinda Stocks lucinda.m.stocks.civ@army.mil mailto:tashfiq.salam.civ@army.mil mailto:anthony.nguyen42.ctr@army.mil mailto:lucinda.m.stocks.civ@army.mil