Request for Preproposals VIPER_27-TRACK_Final.pdf

Request for Preproposals for Vehicle Integrated Platform Enhanced RADIAC (VIPER)

Non-GM Alternative Sensor Prototype for Tracked Tactical Ground Vehicles

Project Number VIPER_27-TRACK Document Type Request for Preproposals Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement

CWMD BOTAA-24-01, W911SR-24-R-CWMD

Issued By Joint Product Manager for CBRN Sensing (JPdM RND) under the Joint Project Manager for Integrated Early Warning (IEW) NAICS Code(s) 334519 Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing Product Service Code

(PSC)

6665 Hazard-Detecting Instruments and Apparatus

Submission Deadline 12:00 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 10 December 2026 Submit To Je’Neane Solomon: Jeneane.O.Solomon2.civ@army.mil, Kevin

Rohe; kevin.t.rohe.civ@army.mil and Gentian Mulla;

gentian.mulla.civ@army.mil

1.0 PURPOSE AND STATUTORY AUTHORITY

This Request for Preproposals is issued under the Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement (BOTAA), Supporting Other Transaction Authority Agreements for Prototype Development Efforts for the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense – Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction, Announcement Number W911SR-24-R-CWMD (CWMD BOTAA-24-01).

Under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 4022, the Government is seeking competitive preproposals for the potential award of an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to develop, optimize, fabricate, and test prototype systems for the Vehicle Integrated Platform Enhanced RADIAC

(VIPER).

This request is limited to the development, integration, testing, and demonstration of a VIPER non-Geiger-Müller (non-GM) alternative sensor prototype for tracked tactical ground vehicles.

Wheeled-platform VIPER efforts and aviation-platform VIPER efforts are outside the scope of this request.

This Request for Preproposals does not constitute a Request for Full Proposal (RFFP), commitment to issue an RFFP, commitment to award an OTA, or authorization to begin work.

The Government will not reimburse offerors for costs incurred in preparing or submitting preproposals.

mailto:Jeneane.O.Solomon2.civ@army.mil mailto:kevin.t.rohe.civ@army.mil mailto:gentian.mulla.civ@army.mil

The Government may invite one or more offerors to submit full proposals. The Government reserves the right to make one award, multiple awards, or no award as a result of this request.

2.0 BACKGROUND

VIPER provides rapid and accurate monitoring of platform crew exposure to radiological and nuclear hazards, replacing the legacy AN/VDR-2 and AN/UDR-13 systems. VIPER modernizes platform-mounted monitoring capabilities and provides network-capable, integrated gamma dose-rate, total-dose, and prompt-dose detection and monitoring.

Manned platforms currently lack the capability to communicate crew-exposure data to a common operational picture (COP). Fielding a networked crew monitor would enable the Army to identify and penetrate areas with the least amount of radiological contamination. Commanders could use this information to enable platforms and their crews to maintain freedom of maneuver and exploit, as safely as possible, areas the enemy has purposefully contaminated.

VIPER is intended to provide integrated gamma dose-rate, residual-dose, and prompt-dose detection and monitoring within tracked tactical ground vehicles, as well as approximate environmental radiation levels outside the platform. The system supports dismounted crew operations by approximating radiation levels in the environment outside the platform.

VIPER will use dedicated data port(s) and networking capabilities to send crew-exposure data to the host platform for immediate personnel-protection actions and dissemination to Army mission-command software systems. The system will calculate outside dose using attenuation factors based on materials used in platform construction. Consolidated readings from vehicles outfitted with VIPER can contribute to a COP depicting the location and intensity of radiation across the battlefield.

3.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The Joint Product Manager for CBRN Sensing (JPdM RND) under the Joint Project Manager for Integrated Early Warning (IEW) is seeking solutions to increase survivability and provide integrated gamma dose-rate, residual-dose, prompt-dose detection, and monitoring within tracked tactical ground vehicles, as well as approximate environmental radiation levels outside the platform.

VIPER replaces and addresses obsolescence issues with the U.S. Army’s legacy platform-mounted monitors, e.g., the AN/VDR-2 and the AN/UDR-13. These systems are no longer in production, are increasingly difficult to maintain, and provide limited to no networking capability.

The Government’s primary objective is to identify alternative, robust sensor technologies that move beyond the limitations of traditional GM tubes. Legacy GM-tube technology is historically vulnerable to extreme physical environments and can have limitations in response time and saturation during high-intensity events.

The Government is interested in innovative non-GM sensor designs, including ruggedized solid-state sensors, scintillators, and other advanced semiconductor technologies capable of operating in tracked tactical ground vehicle environments.

4.0 DESIRED SOLUTION

The VIPER system is envisioned to provide integrated gamma dose-rate, residual-dose, prompt-dose detection and monitoring within tracked tactical ground vehicles, as well as approximate environmental radiation levels outside the platform. The system supports dismounted crew operations by approximating radiation levels in the environment outside the platform.

VIPER shall provide dedicated data port(s) and networking capabilities enabling the system to send crew-exposure data to the host platform for immediate personnel-protection actions and dissemination to Army mission-command software systems.

The system will calculate outside dose using attenuation factors based on materials used in platform construction. Consolidated readings from vehicles outfitted with VIPER can develop the COP on the location and intensity of radiation across the battlefield, allowing commanders to make informed decisions.

Offerors may propose mature, proven technologies, including Government Non-Developmental Items, Commercial-Off-The-Shelf items, or other technologies suitable for the VIPER mission.

The prototype effort is intended to integrate, adapt, test, and demonstrate the proposed non-GM sensor solution for tracked tactical ground vehicle application.

Because the VIPER RADIAC must operate in a complex military environment, the proposed solution may be required, at a minimum, to meet applicable military environmental, electromagnetic interference, electromagnetic compatibility, and survivability requirements, including MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461G, and/or MIL-STD-464, as applicable.

Any final design must be sufficiently robust to survive continuous use and operation on tracked tactical ground vehicles. The designed system must continue to operate in the significant vibration, shock, and electromagnetic interference environments associated with tracked tactical ground vehicle operations.

The Government is particularly interested in non-GM alternatives that offer improved physical survivability, response time, high-dose-rate performance, maintainability, and lifecycle supportability.

5.0 ANTICIPATED PROTOTYPE OBJECTIVES

The Government anticipates that one or more subsequent RFFPs and resultant prototype OTAs may require selected offeror(s) to perform the following activities:

Objective 1: Prototype Design.

Identify and recommend design changes to enhance system producibility, performance, and reliability based on the offeror’s internal design assessment, available vendor test data, and evaluation of the draft requirement ranges found in the performance specification summary.

Update the VIPER TDP and software/firmware code, as applicable. Establish a robust program, technical, and configuration management approach.

Objective 2: Developmental Testing (DT).

Conduct developmental testing (DT) on the tracked tactical ground vehicle prototype(s) to include but not limited to MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-2169, ATPD 2407A, and MIL-STD-1275. Use test results to update the TDP and software/firmware. Improve/upgrade furnished system(s) and re-test, as needed.

Objective 3: Cybersecurity.

Assess and enhance the system’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Support government-led security-control assessments and implement appropriate security controls. Conduct hardware and software/firmware vulnerability scans and static code analyses. Update system software/firmware as needed.

Objective 4: Preliminary Design Review (PDR).

Conduct a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) that includes a system safety and environmental assessment, cybersecurity findings, and a description of recommended design improvements.

Submit a revised TDP and software/firmware code for Government review.

The Government shall use the PDR as entrance criteria for manufacture of up to five (5) enhanced prototypes under the applicable resultant prototype OTA.

Objective 5: Prototype Manufacture.

Each resultant prototype OTA may include manufacture and delivery of up to five (5) enhanced VIPER prototypes configured for tracked tactical ground vehicle application. The final prototype quantity for each awardee will be established in the applicable RFFP and resultant prototype OTA, subject to available funding and Government priorities.

Objective 6: Additional DT and System Retrofit.

Conduct additional developmental testing (DT) on the newly manufactured tracked tactical ground vehicle enhanced prototypes, as identified above. Improve or upgrade the systems and re-test, as needed.

Objective 7: Technical Documentation.

Develop documentation and train up to ten (10) Government personnel on VIPER operation and maintenance under the applicable resultant prototype OTA. Validate the final design by conducting a physical configuration audit (PCA) on the enhanced prototypes and final TDP.

Offerors shall provide a high-level approach to these objectives in the preproposal. Detailed statements of work, work breakdown structures, schedules, test plans, deliverables, and acceptance criteria will be requested only from offerors invited to submit a full proposal.

Keep in mind the Government’s intent to secure Unlimited Rights for Government-funded developments and sufficient license rights to maintain and support the system throughout its lifecycle.

6.0 ANTICIPATED PROTOTYPE SCOPE

The Government anticipates that one or more subsequent Requests for Full Proposal (RFFPs) and resultant prototype OTAs will establish detailed requirements for deliverables, formats, delivery dates, acceptance criteria, and review procedures.

At the preproposal stage, offerors shall provide a high-level description of their approach to the following anticipated prototype activities and deliverables:

1. Updating VIPER design documentation, including drawings, software, firmware, and configuration records;

2. Maintaining design-change logs and supporting Government review of proposed design changes;

3. Conducting developmental testing and documenting results through quick-look reports and final test reports;

4. Conducting a Preliminary Design Review;

5. Providing safety, environmental, hazardous-material, and special-procedure information;

6. Developing tracked tactical ground vehicle installation, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting documentation;

7. Providing operator and maintainer training for ten Government personnel;

8. Participating in monthly program-management reviews and preparing required quarterly status reports;

9. Conducting a physical configuration audit; and

10. Preparing a final report, including a production annex addressing potential future production capacity, pricing structure, warranties, and software/firmware update approach.

At the preproposal stage, offerors are not required to provide detailed statements of work, work breakdown structure dictionaries, integrated master schedules, detailed test plans, detailed deliverable schedules, or full cost proposals.

Offerors invited to submit a full proposal will receive detailed instructions regarding the statement of work, deliverables, schedules, technical-data requirements, reports, meetings, and acceptance criteria.

7.0 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND CUI ACCESS

The VIPER performance specification summary, including exact numerical thresholds and objective criteria, are contained in a Controlled Unclassified Information Technical Specification Summary.

The detailed specifications include parameters such as dose-rate ranges, accuracy, energy response, shock and vibration profiles, power draw thresholds, environmental requirements, calibration requirements, reliability, maintainability, and repair metrics.

Offerors may submit a preproposal based on the public information in this request. Offerors seeking access to the CUI Technical Specification Summary shall submit a formal request to:

Je’Neane Solomon: Jeneane.O.Solomon2.civ@army.mil , Kevin Rohe;

kevin.t.rohe.civ@army.mil and Gentian Mulla; gentian.mulla.civ@army.mil

Interested parties must provide the following information with their access request:

1. A copy of an approved and active DD Form 2345, Joint Certification Program certification;

2. Evidence of a current NIST SP 800-171 assessment, completed within the previous three years, and recorded in the Supplier Performance Risk System or other Government-designated system;

3. Evidence of a completed CMMC Level 2 Self-Assessment aligned with NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 and recorded in the Supplier Performance Risk System for each contractor information system that will process CUI; and

4. A signed statement on company letterhead affirming that the offeror has the capability and will safeguard CUI, limit access to authorized personnel with a valid need to know, and report suspected or confirmed cyber incidents affecting CUI in accordance with Government-provided CUI access instructions and any applicable terms of a resultant OTA.

mailto:Jeneane.O.Solomon2.civ@army.mil mailto:kevin.t.rohe.civ@army.mil

Failure to provide the required information may prevent the Government from providing access to the CUI Technical Specification Summary. The Government’s decision to provide CUI access does not constitute a determination of award eligibility or a commitment to award an OTA.

No classified information shall be submitted.

8.0 PREPROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Preproposals shall not exceed eleven (11) pages and shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with CWMD BOTAA-24-01, Section III.B.1, including applicable formatting, file-format, and submission requirements. In the event of a conflict between this request and CWMD BOTAA-24-01, the BOTAA controls.

In addition to the information required by CWMD BOTAA-24-01, preproposals shall address the following VIPER-specific information:

1. The proposed non-GM sensor technology and its suitability for tracked tactical ground vehicle application;

2. Available supporting test data, technical evidence, and identified capability gaps;

3. A high-level approach for integration, developmental testing, prototype manufacture, and demonstration;

4. Current and projected Technology Readiness Level and Material Readiness Level;

5. Relevant experience, facilities, key teammates, and manufacturing capability;

6. A preliminary schedule with major milestones, decision points, and prototype-delivery approach;

7. A preliminary rough-order-of-magnitude cost estimate that identifies:

a. Estimated total prototype cost;

b. Estimated costs by major objective, milestone, or fiscal year;

c. Estimated prototype-unit and support costs, if applicable;

d. Major cost drivers;

e. Any proposed cost sharing; and

f. Key assumptions, exclusions, and Government dependencies;

8. Preliminary intellectual-property, licensing, and data-rights assertions; and

9. The proposed basis for OTA eligibility under CWMD BOTAA-24-01.

The preliminary cost estimate shall identify the estimated total cost to develop, test, manufacture, deliver, and support up to five (5) enhanced VIPER prototypes under a resultant prototype OTA, as well as the estimated unit price for each prototype, if applicable.

The preliminary cost estimate is for planning and preproposal evaluation purposes only. Offerors invited to submit a full proposal will be required to provide additional pricing, budget, milestone, and payment-arrangement information as specified in the RFFP.

Offerors shall state whether their preproposal is based solely on the public information in this request or on the CUI Technical Specification Summary.

Preproposals shall be submitted to the email address identified on the cover page by the stated submission deadline.

9.0 OTA ELIGIBILITY

To receive an OTA award under CWMD BOTAA-24-01, at least one of the eligibility conditions identified in Section III.E.1 of the BOTAA must be met.

At the preproposal stage, offerors shall identify the anticipated eligibility pathway for a potential prototype OTA. The anticipated pathway may include:

1. At least one nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution participating to a significant extent in the prototype project;

2. All significant participants in the transaction, other than the Federal Government, being small businesses or nontraditional defense contractors;

3. At least one-third of the total cost of the prototype project being paid from sources other than the Federal Government; or

4. Information supporting a potential exceptional-circumstances determination by the appropriate Government official.

Offerors are not required to submit detailed eligibility documentation, cost-sharing documentation, or formal nontraditional-defense-contractor substantiation at the preproposal stage. The Government may request additional information from offerors invited to submit a full proposal.

10.0 PREPROPOSAL EVALUATION AND GOVERNMENT REVIEW

Preproposals will be evaluated for merit in accordance with CWMD BOTAA-24-01.

The Government will use an integrated assessment of the following considerations, in no particular order:

1. Technical feasibility of the proposed plans, methods, techniques, and procedures;

2. Direct relevance to improving the mission effectiveness of Department of Defense personnel or tracked tactical ground vehicle capabilities;

3. Current and projected TRL/MRL;

4. Innovation and clarity of the proposed objectives and technical approach;

5. Availability and suitability of facilities, equipment, key personnel, teammates, and test resources;

6. Reasonableness of the proposed schedule;

7. Relevance of prior research, development, manufacturing, integration, testing, or sustainment experience;

8. Avoidance of unnecessary duplication of other Government or industry efforts;

9. Reasonableness of the preliminary cost estimate; and

10. Preliminary data-rights and intellectual-property posture.

The Government will acknowledge receipt of each preproposal. The Government may determine that:

1. The preproposal does not merit further consideration;

2. The Government requires clarification or additional information;

3. The Government may invite one or more offerors to submit full proposals in response to an

RFFP; or

4. The Government will defer action due to funding availability, changing priorities, or other programmatic considerations.

The Government may engage in discussions with offerors as appropriate. Offerors invited to submit a full proposal will receive instructions addressing the detailed technical approach, statement of work, work breakdown structure, integrated master schedule, risk-management approach, test plans, pricing, budget, data rights, and other information necessary to negotiate one or more prototype OTAs.

The Government may select one or more offerors for award following evaluation of full proposals. Selection of an offeror for a full-proposal invitation does not constitute a commitment to award an OTA.

Awards, if any, are subject to the availability of funds and fulfillment of Government requirements and priorities. Only a warranted Agreements Officer may obligate the Government to expend funds. The Government shall not be liable to pay for work performed unless authorized in writing by a warranted Agreements Officer.

11.0 GENERAL INFORMATION, QUESTIONS, AND NON-GOVERNMENT ADVISORS

Offerors are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for amendments or updates to CWMD BOTAA-24-01 and this request.

Questions shall be submitted only to:

Je’Neane Solomon: Jeneane.O.Solomon2.civ@army.mil, Kevin Rohe;

kevin.t.rohe.civ@army.mil and Gentian Mulla; gentian.mulla.civ@army.mil

The email subject line for pre-proposals and questions shall read:

CWMD BOTAA-24-01 VIPER_27-TRACK – [Offeror Name]

Questions are due no later than 12:00 PM ET on 23 November 2026.

Material questions and answers may be published through SAM.gov or another Government-provided notice, as appropriate.

The Government may use non-Government advisors or support contractors to assist with the review of preproposals and proposals. Support contractors participating in the review process will be subject to applicable nondisclosure, conflict-of-interest, and proprietary-information-protection requirements in accordance with CWMD BOTAA-24-01.

Offerors shall clearly mark proprietary business plans and technical information submitted on a confidential basis.

Offerors should maintain an active registration in the System for Award Management. A prospective awardee must be registered in SAM.gov before submitting an invoice and throughout the period of performance of any resultant OTA.

mailto:Jeneane.O.Solomon2.civ@army.mil

12.0 FOLLOW-ON PRODUCTION

Companies are advised that a prototype agreement awarded in response to this request may provide for the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of further competitive procedures, consistent with 10 U.S.C. § 4022, CWMD BOTAA-24-01, successful completion of the prototype project, the terms of the resultant prototype agreement, availability of funds, and Government determination of continued need.

Any follow-on production contemplated under this effort would support the tracked tactical ground vehicle VIPER capability developed and successfully demonstrated under the resultant prototype agreement.

The follow-on production contract or transaction may be available for use by one or more Department of Defense organizations. The magnitude of a follow-on production contract or transaction could be significantly larger than that of the prototype effort.

A follow-on production contract or transaction, if any, may be awarded only to participant(s) that successfully complete the prototype project in accordance with the terms of the applicable prototype OTA and all applicable statutory and agreement requirements.