Autonomous underwater vehicle

Department of Interior (DOI), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Sources Sought Notice # 140G0221Q0055

The Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), is conducting a MARKET

SURVEY to determine the interest and capability of any firm eligible to compete under NAICS code

334511 for an upcoming requirement for the USGS ¿ Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) located in Ann

Arbor, MI to provide an autonomous underwater vehicle with fiber optic gyroscope inertial navigation

system in accordance with the salient characteristics listed below.

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. ALL COST ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING INFORMATION

AS REQUESTED BY THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF

THE CONTRACTOR. Submission is voluntary.

SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS

The following salient characteristics describe the general design and functional requirements for a 1-

person portable self-propelled autonomous underwater vehicle (hereafter referred to as the AUV) with a

fully integrated high-accuracy fiber-optic gyroscope inertial navigation system (FOG-INS) and able to carry a custom hull assembly described in detail below. The AUV must meet the following specifications The AUV requirement shall include the following salient characteristics and capabilities:

¿ Maximum length of 85 inches and a maximum weight of 85 pounds

¿ Modular carbon-fiber hull sections with a tube diameter 5.80 inches to carry a custom hull section of the same diameter that has been previously designed, built, and field tested and in which USGS is already substantially invested. Detailed technical drawings can be found in the Addendum for reference.

¿ High-accuracy, solid-state fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG)-based inertial navigation system (INS) fully integrated in AUV. System must support accurate heading, roll, pitch, speed and position. FOG-based INS must be capable of using the following external sensors with a Kalman filter that manages inputs without any manual intervention: GPS, long baseline positioning system, ultra-short baseline positioning system, electromagnetic log, doppler velocity log, sound velocity profiler, and depth sensor. Minimum performance required for FOG-based INS: heading (0.15 deg), roll pitch (0.05 deg), positional accuracy (0.3% of distance traveled), power consumption (12 watts). Vendor must provide proof that the proposed FOG-INS has been fully integrated into their AUV and share documentation that the vehicle performs in various field conditions at or above the minimum performance specifications listed above.

¿ Rechargeable battery section that can be charged on or off the AUV for hot swap

¿ Maximum depth rating of at least 200 meters

¿ Endurance of 9 to 12 hours at 3 knots (prior to any modifications made by USGS)

¿ Wireless 802.11n ethernet

¿ Antenna mast or fin configuration with navigation lights including IR and visible LEDs with programmable strobe

¿ Iridium satellite data communication capabilities

¿ WAAS-corrected GPS

¿ External charge port and external gigabit ethernet port access

¿ Doppler velocity log (DVL) with a minimum bottom lock of 80 m, ADCP data collection, depth sensor and corrected compass

¿ Sound velocity sensor with direct feed to DVL

¿ Minimum Quad Core 1.3 GHz central processing unit and 1 TB SATA Solid State Drive

¿ Mission planning software including automated post-mission reporting and mission data geo-tiff (or equivalent) export capabilities, real-time mission tracking and emergency localization including Iridium two-way satellite communication with re-missioning capability

¿ Open system platform with API to integrate a wide range of sensors including camera systems

¿ Forward-looking echo sounder that enables automatic object avoidance

¿ Underwater locator beacon

¿ Carrying case and stand

¿ Upgrade support for multi-parameter water quality sonde for limnology applications

¿ ¿Need by¿ date for delivery of AUV is May 21, 2021; preferably earlier.

The USGS is investigating organizations that can demonstrate capabilities and provide a general

estimated cost for the product specifications detailed above. A scope of work will be provided with any

future solicitation that may be issued for this requirement.

Responses to this announcement are requested from (1) Small Businesses (SB); (2) Small Disadvantaged

Businesses (SDB); (3) Section 8(a) Businesses; (4) Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB); (5)

Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB); (6) Historically

Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Businesses; (7) Veteran-Owned Small Businesses; and (8) Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB).

In response to this announcement, please indicate your firm's socioeconomic status (e.g. small business,

service-disabled veteran-owned, women owned, HUBZone, etc.) This information will assist the

Government in determining how small businesses can fit into the acquisition strategy.

Interested business firms shall submit (1) NAME, ADDRESS, and PHONE NUMBER OF THE FIRM

(including DUNS NUMBER); (2) a CAPABILITY STATEMENT including (a) RECENT (within the last

three fiscal years) RELEVANT (similar projects to this requirement) performance history (identify the

name of the owner and their point(s) of contact with telephone and fax numbers, email addresses; and (b)

in what capacity (e.g., prime, subcontractor, etc) they performed the work; and (3) their SIZE STATUS.

Your company must have a DUNs number and be registered in System for Award Management (SAM)

https://www.sam.gov.

All responses shall be submitted no later than April 1,2021 at 5:00 pm MT via e-mail to: kosman@usgs.gov.

This is NOT a Request for Quote (RFQ), Request for Proposal (RFP), or Invitation for Bid (IFB) and

does not constitute any commitment by the Government. Responses to this source sought notice will be

used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to

future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this market survey. Any solicitation that

may be issued will be posted on beta.SAM/FBO website and no paper copies will be provided.