Engineering and development of a launch canister system (LCS)

Added: Jul 10, 2010 1:20 pm The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) intends to negotiate a contract on the basis of Other Than Full and Open Competition IAW 10 USC 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source. The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has a requirement for a submerged launch unmanned aerial system (UAS) that is capable of stealthy persistent surveillance. The XFC (eXperimental Fuel Cell) meets the UAS requirement. A submerged launch system for the XFC has been designed and a full-scale mockup system has been built and tested. This requirement is for engineering services for the development of a Temporary Alteration (TEMPALT) and build-out of the UAS delivery/launch system. This TEMPALT is specifically directed toward the delivery of airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability on a US nuclear submarine platform. NRL requires contractor engineering and equipment support in the build out and testing of the demonstration deliverable of the Launch Canister System (LCS, also known as Sea Robin), including the integration of an existing prototype launch system pressure vessel (PV) that is a major component of the LCS. NRL will negotiate with Oceaneering International, Inc, 7001 Dorsey Road, Hanover, MD 21076-1553. Oceaneering has been integral in the preliminary design and modeling phases of this program and the cost and loss of time for another vendor to complete this work would be prohibitive. OII is unique in their experience and expertise of submarine launched fiber optic tethered controlled vehicles. They are the only company who have provided and successfully deployed a submarine TEMPALT approved torpedo tube launched remotely operated vehicle which uses a fiber optic tether. They are the only company that has demonstrated fiber optic tether management able to withstand a full impulse launch from a torpedo tube. The tether is used for command, control and communications between the submarine and the XFC-Sea Robin. Additionally, OII has the patent (pending) that covers the required fiber optic tether control system. OII is the only company to have designed, developed and produced the submerged launch vehicle needed in support of the Navy's Fuel Cell Submerged Launched UAS. The Launch Canister System with its UAS Pressure Vessel vehicle is one-of-a-kind technology. Support engineering and system and subsystem assembly requires an in-depth understanding of undersea systems including materials chemistry and mechanical properties, asset and human safety design and certification and complete familiarity with the existing prototype system. Only OII has this capability and know-how as it is unique to this vehicle.
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