Sources Sought -Trailer- (Market Research).doc

Sources Sought Template:

(1) Action Code :

SOURCES SOUGHT

This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources. This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is it a guarantee of a forthcoming solicitation or contract. It is for market research purposes only. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.

The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry, to include the Small Business Community: Small Business, Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Small business, Section 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, & EDWOSB businesses are highly encouraged to participate.

(2) Date: 16 NOVEMBER 2023

(3) Classification Code: 2330

(4) NAICS Code: 336212

(5) NAICS Size Standard: 1,000 employees

(6) Contracting Office Address:

2800 Powder Mill Road Bldg. 601 Adelphi, Maryland 20783

(7) Subject: Sources Sought for Experimentation Support Trailer

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number: W911QX-24-Q-0021

(9) Sources Sought Closing Response Date: 30 November 2023

(10) Contact Point: Andrew Merdoc, andrew.c.merdoc.civ@army.mil, 301-394-3060 (11)

A. Objective:

To find sources that are qualified to meet the supplies/services as listed in section 11B. Note that the specific requirements in section C are subject to change prior to the release of any solicitation.

B.

Salient Characteristics

The Contractor shall provide quantity one (1) Experimentation Support Trailer in accordance with the below specifications:

Exterior Requirements:

1.

The trailer must be street legal in the continental USA, conforming to highway regulations so that specialized escort vehicles are not required, i.e. not in the “Wide Load” category.

2.

Physical and electrical connection shall conform to US towing standards, e.g. the appropriate tongue and ball hitch, and ensure the that trailer lighting and signals conform with highway regulations.

a.

Shall anticipate 1000 pounds of additional hardware onboard.

3.

Minimum central structures shall include a dual axel chassis, powered tongue jack, an aluminum shell with windows, and integrated steps for ingress/egress. The window shall be positioned to provide a view outside for seated personnel in work positions (see below section 20).

4.

The exterior trailer structure shall be at least 8.5 feet wide, by at least 20 feet long, with a minimum 84-inch interior height.

5.

Doors shall be positioned at the rear of the trailer and near the front of the trailer on the passenger side. Each door shall be at least 32 inches wide.

6.

The rear door shall be proposed as a trailer gate style. It shall have a clear vinyl curtain to help maintain the trailer’s interior temperature when the gate open.

7.

The passenger side of the trailer shall include an integrated exterior window(s) spanning as much of the length of the work area as practical. Windows shall open and have screens.

8.

Shall provide an integrated side awning on the passenger side of the exterior of the trailer spanning its full length.

9.

Shall provide externally mounted flood lights on both sides of the trailer, front and back. Light controls shall be in the interior of the vehicle.

10.

Shall incorporate a telescoping mast which does not exceed the root top height, when in the down position, and reaches at least 15 feet above the roof top when extended. The top of the mast shall support a reconfigurable “payload,” e.g. a camera or antenna, of up to 10 pounds weight. Controls shall either be in the interior of the trailer, or an external control shall be secured within a lockbox.

11.

Shall provide a rain-and critter-proof access port for routing up to 6 cables from exterior to the trailer to interior. Coaxial television cable / antenna cables may be used to define this standard. The port shall be near the mast.

12.

Shall incorporate a roof bar mounting system along the roof top perimeter.

a.

Roof bar mounting system shall have two (2) pairs of four (4) power outlets and one (1) ethernet outlet installed near the roof top on the passenger side. The two (2) pair shall be positioned near the front and back of the vehicle, allowing access despite the position of the awning.

b.

Roof bar mounting system shall have two (2) pair of four (4) power outlets and one (1) ethernet outlet installed near the roof top on the driver side. The two (2) pair shall be spaced out toward the front and back of the trailer.

13.

Shall provide at least two (2) pairs of two (2) power outlets and two (2) ethernet outlets on the passenger side near the bottom of the trailer. The two (2) pair shall be spaced out toward the front and back of the trailer. The high from the ground shall allow them to be reached while standing on the ground next to the trailer.

14.

Shall provide at least two (2) pair of two (2) power outlets and two (2) ethernet outlets on the driver side near the bottom of the trailer. The two (2) pair shall be spaced out toward the front and back of the trailer. The high from the ground shall allow them to be reached while standing on the ground next to the trailer.

15.

Shall provide integrated leveling jacks capable of stabilizing the trailer structure on uneven ground surfaces. Jacks shall be of sufficient height to lift wheels off the ground and shall be powered.

16.

Shall incorporate a ladder to provide roof access. The roof must support the weight of a person at any point.

17.

Shall provide an additional wheel with tire on a carrier mount on the exterior of the trailer.

18.

The trailer shall be designed (and document how this is accomplished) to be resistant to pest infiltration, including the burrowing of small mammals. The trailer will be stored outside 100% of its life, typically on grass, wooded, and desert ranges.

Interior Requirements:

19.

Provide three (3) work positions in the driver side interior. Each work position shall have a mounting fixture for its own wall mounted display (sized for a 24 inch display), desk space for a laptop (at least 36 inches wide and 24 inches deep), and panel for electric power outlets and ethernet.

a.

Each panel shall have four (4) electrical outlets and two (2) ethernet ports.

b.

The mounted fixtures shall be installed such that the displays shall be positioned approximately 12 inches above the work surface.

c.

Have a continuous work surface spanning the three (3) work positions is preferred to creating an isolated, cockpit-like, feel.

20.

Provide three (3) work positions in the passenger side interior, facing the windows. Each work position shall have desk space for a laptop and display (at least 36 inches wide and 24 inches deep) and panel for electric power outlets and ethernet.

a.

Each panel shall have four (4) electrical outlets and two (2) ethernet ports.

b.

Having a continuous work surface spanning three work positions is preferred to creating an isolated, cockpit-like, feel.

21.

The trailer floor shall have a non-slip treatment.

22.

Shall include a rolling chair with an integrated retention system at each work position. Each chair shall have at least five (5) caster wheels of sufficient size to ensure a smooth rolling action.

23.

The common area of the interior shall include a mounted dry erase white board and a high-definition display of 55-inch minimum diagonal size. These shall be positioned at the front of the trailer, with the display above the white board.

a.

The display shall be integrated into the wall, i.e. flush with the wall.

b.

The display shall be connected to ethernet and utilize Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Time_Streaming_Protocol).

24.

Shall provide overhead cabinets, contoured to the shape of the trailer interior on the driver’s side of the trailer. Cabinet doors must securely latch for transport.

25.

Shall provide an integrated heating and cooling system. The air conditioning/heating combination must be able to keep the trailer interior space at approximately 70°F when the exterior temperature surrounding the trailer is in the 25°F to 120°F range. The requirement to keep the trailer interior at approximately 70°F during the stated external temperature range must include the heat load from six (6) laptops, the above-described monitors, a network switch, and six (6) personnel.

26.

Trailer interior primary lighting shall consist of 12 VDC internal LED white lights. Also request a secondary trailer interior lighting capability using 12 VDC night vision-relief red led lighting.

27.

Shall provide an integrated central control panel for lighting and environmental controls, i.e., cooling and heating.

28.

Shall provide an integrated weather station in the interior of the trailer. Reported quantities shall include temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind. The wind sensor must be securable or removable for driving at highway speeds.

29.

Shall provide removable shelving with manually adjustable height shelves, to store heavy items at the rear of the trailer interior to enable storage during operations and movement of the trailer.

a.

This area shall be at least the last four (4) feet of the trailer. Shelves shall be on the side walls with a walkway down the center.

b.

Shall include a mounted, standard 19-inch server rack of height of at least 12 U. For reference, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19-inch_rack. All ethernet cables shall be run to the server rack and individual cables should be numbered corresponding with each network port, which shall also be numbered. The rack must be mounted to make it resistant to shock during travel.

c.

All storage shall be easily secured for movement. This shall include mounting points on the walls and floors for straps or future custom mounting systems.

d.

Four (4) power outlets shall be installed on each side wall in the storage area.

30.

Shall provide a ceiling-mounted carbon monoxide detector and a ceiling-mounted smoke detector in the internal operations area of the trailer.

31.

Shall provide a wall-mounted ABC fire extinguisher (10 pounds). The placement of the fire extinguisher must make it easily accessible to occupants in the interior of the trailer.

Power Requirements:

32.

Shall provide an integrated generator of at least 7000-watt capability for primary electrical power usage. The generator must also have a control panel for status and switching integrated in the trailer interior. The fuel for the generator must be gasoline.

a.

The integrated generator shall be acoustically isolated so that conversation in the trailer can be conducted at a typical voice volume. Specifically, the maximum volume of sound at any frequency in the range 10Hz-25kHz that is created by the generator shall be less than 50 dB at every point on the interior of the trailer when all windows and doors are shut, and power draw on the generator maximized.

b.

Price in the option of a dual-fuel (gasoline and propane) generator, rather than a single fuel. [This requirement shall be proposed as a contract option]

33.

A secondary electrical power source, consisting of batteries, is required. It shall provide electrical power of at least 400 Watts for electronics for at least 8 hours but not necessarily air conditioning or heat.

34.

A manual switching capability is required for switching from the primary and secondary power supply.

35.

The capacity to connect to shore power to operate within trailer is required.

36.

Solar panels shall be installed on the exterior of the trailer. The solar cell system must be electrically linked to the secondary power source. [This requirement should be proposed as a contract option]

Outlets and other connections requirements:

37.

All power and ethernet outlets located on the vehicle exterior shall be rated for external installation.

a.

Exterior electrical outlets shall be rated for 30 amps and have ground fault interrupt (GFI) circuits.

38.

Interior electrical outlets shall be rated for 20 amps.

39.

Specific locations are identified in above sections 13a, 13b, 14, 15, 20a, 21a, & 30d.

Other Requirements:

40.

Shall provide operator and maintenance manuals for the trailer and all custom systems installed.

41.

Shall provide drawings to include location of power and network cables.

42.

Shall provide installation of all requested and required items and provide pre-occupation testing of all systems comprising the customized trailer unit.

43.

Shall provide one (1) full day of training on the trailer and its custom systems at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.

C. Responses:

All interested parties should notify this office in writing, mail, fax, or e-mail within the posted date. Responses shall include:

(I) To what extent each of the specifications can be met.

(II) Include your type of business (i.e. commercial, academia), whether your organization is classified as a large or small business based on the 1,000 employee size standard that accompanies NAICS code 336390. If a small business, you must also list any small disadvantaged status you hold [HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), etc.].

(III) Past experience/ performance through the description of completed projects.

(12) Responses to this sources sought are due no later than 5:00 pm eastern standard time on 30 November 2023. Submissions should be emailed to Andrew Merdoc, Email – andrew.c.merdoc.civ@army.mil.

Questions concerning this sources sought may be directed to Andrew Merdoc at andrew.c.merdoc.civ@army.mil or 301-394-3060. Please be advised that .zip and .exe files cannot be accepted.

(13) Place of Contract Performance: Delivery to Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21005

(14) Estimated Delivery Timeframe or Period of Performance: 6 months after contract award.

Last updated 2/13/2017