Advanced Electrochromic Manufacturing_20230911_V1.pdf

Special Notice:

Request for Information - Advanced Electrochromic Manufacturing

Purpose: The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to seek interested and capable parties to advance the Department of Defense (DOD) industrial base’s capabilities in the application of Advanced Electrochromic Manufacturing to develop a single electronic eye protection device.

This RFI seeks a single piece electronically dimmable eyewear protection device (EDEPD) for eye protection gear (goggles, glasses, or helmet visors) with mature electrochromic technology that can be manufactured expediently. The end state of this RFI is to determine the manufacturing readiness level (MRL) and technology readiness level (TRL) of our valued industry partners in the electrochromic industry and the ability to advance this technology onto warfighter helmet, masks, goggles, or other lenses to DOD requirements.

Background: Goggles, glasses and helmets for pilots and Battlefield Airmen/soldiers have traditionally had to rely on donning/doffing/carrying separate units to maintain eye protection for operations under conditions across seven orders of ambient illumination from very dark (0.01 lux, moonless overcast night, inside of buildings/caves) to extremely bright (108 kilolux, full sun day). The current solution for dismounts is carrying two sets of goggles/ eyewear. The current solution for pilots is to wear a helmet with two passive polycarbonate (PC) visors (one clear, one dark). This solution requires pilots to manually switch visors as lighting conditions change which can detract from flying or ground mission operations. Especially in single-seat aircraft, this process offers limited functionality and can put pilot safety at risk.

Summary: The Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) office intends to enable manufacturing of a novel electrochromic lens technology that will highly improve the visual display systems that the Department of Defense has made significant investments in already. Specifically, this effort would help provide for advanced electrochromic manufacturing for application in visual display, augmented reality (AR) and other complex eyewear systems. The end goal of this effort will benefit two DoD programs that use electrochromic auto-tinting technology are:

1) U.S. Army Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) which is developing a goggle-based display for day/night missions and

2) F-35 Fighter program which could improve the helmet system performance via reducing weight by way of a single day/night visor.

This effort will use an Other Transaction (OT) agreement in accordance with 10 U.S.C 4022: Authority of the Department of Defense.

An Other Transaction Authority (OTA) process framework will provide responsiveness, flexibility, and government/industry collaboration to maintain pace with that evolution.

The end state of this RFI is to determine the manufacturing readiness level (MRL) and technology readiness level (TRL) of industry partners in the electrochromic industry and the ability to develop the single day/night visor to the F-35 and other Aircrew helmets along with IVAS ground troop warfighter helmet, masks, goggles.

Request: Interested parties are requested to provide White Paper responses outlining possible technical solutions, capabilities, and critical cost/schedule drivers related to the following areas:

1) Applicability of single-visor product(s) for use with DoD and Civilian marketplace today

2) Describe the Offeror’s electrochromic technical solution or electrochromic experiences to include the following information:

a. Is this electronically dimmable eye protection device (EDEPD) technology?

b. Is this visible light dimming?

c. Is this a single visor solution?

d. What is the clear state?

e. What is the neutral state?

f. What is the tinting state?

Note: Current requirement dimming threshold range is 8-85% and dimming objective range is 1-100%

g. What is the switching speed?

Note: Current requirement switching speed threshold is 2s and switching speed objective is 200µs

h. What is the color neutrality?

i. How many transmission states are there?

j. Will the lens fail to the clear, highest transmission state when power is removed?

3) Provide any available data such as space, weight, ergonomics, power, performance, and integration (SWEPPI) of the Offeror’s latest technology/experience for an electrochromic visor in a flight helmet and/or electrochromic lenses in Battlefield Airmen/Soldier eye protection devices.

a. Provide the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and/or Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL levels), please describe the maturity of your product.

b. Has this technology has been applied to goggle-based display?

c. Has this technology has been applied to the F-35 helmet system?

d. Provide substrates or material types used in the described products

4) Describe any experience with contract/subcontract/joint venture/partnership with DoD agencies or commands that relate to the development of goggles, spectacles, or helmet systems. Provide contract number with the agency name (e.g. Army, Navy, etc.), name of the system, value/cost, and the period of performance. Attach SOW/PWS/Specification if available. These attachments are excluded from page count.

Responses

The cover page of the response shall include the company name, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code (if available), business type (Large or Small), based upon the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) and 541713 Research and Development in Nanotechnology, Product Service Code (PSC) AC13 National Defense R&D Services;

Department of Defense - Military; Experimental Development address, point of contact including phone number and email address.

Responses shall be submitted in Microsoft Word format and/or Adobe Acrobat limited to no more than 10 pages using 12-point Arial font, highlighting the areas listed above.

Lack of experience in any category should not preclude interested vendors from submitting RFI responses.

Responses shall be portion-marked to identify proprietary information (PROPIN) assertions using the phrase “(insert name of company) Proprietary Information”.

Responses shall not use the word “Confidential” in marking PROPIN.

Response Deadline: The response shall be due no later than 1:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on September 25, 2023. The responses shall be emailed to Jaime Morrison at jaime.morrison.civ@army.mil and Kurt Kleinlein at kurt.l.kleinlein.civ@army.mil.

The Government intends to use responses to this RFI to formulate our final contracting strategy for the advancement of Advanced Electrochromic Manufacturing. While it is our full intent to employ a competitive process for this effort, the Government reserves the right to limit further competition based on the input received from this notice, as is practicable to achieve flexibility and efficiency. Therefore, all interested parties should respond to this notice in order to maintain consideration for this prospect.

Disclaimer: This notice does not constitute an invitation for bids or a request for proposal and is not a commitment by the U.S. Government to procure subject products or services nor will the Government reimburse any parties for costs associated with this request. The Government will use the information received to forge its acquisition strategy. Additionally, all submissions become government property and will not be returned. No basis for a claim against the Government shall arise as a result from a response to this special notice request. /Posted under W900KK-24-R0001.