Hexapod Robot Kits

Notice Type: Special Notice
Title: Hexapod Robot Kits
Notice ID: N00173-20-R-DH02
Response Date: 04/29/2020 3:00 PM EST
Interested Vendors List: Yes
Original/Update Set Aside: N/A
NAICS: 541715 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Place of Performance: Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, DC.

Synopsis:

The Naval Research Laboratory’s Navy Center for Applied Research in Artificial Intelligence Division intends to award a sole source contract to Hebi Robotics in accordance FAR 13.501(a) and 41 USC 1901 for the award of a research and development effort for hexapod robot kits the purpose of which is to investigate the development of autonomous teams and systems for ground-based robotic team exploration and exploitation. The hexapod robots will exhibit programmable gaits which may be used for maneuvering over rough and uneven terrain. The focus of the investigations performs using this system of robots will be cooperative and collaborative operations for physical embodied and in-situ multiagent systems. These capabilities, once incorporated into fielded systems, will allow sailors and Marines to deploy teams of teleoperated, semi-autonomous, and autonomous systems in challenging environments characterized by rough and uneven terrain for missions including information gathering, tactical deployment of communication nodes and other assets, and establishment and maintenance of distributed sensor networks. These robots may serve as the eyes, ears, and hands of sailors and Marines in dangerous and inaccessible environments (for example, they can explore rubble-strewn locales and operate in the presence of toxic environmental contaminants, thereby mitigating the risks of sending humans into these areas). In addition, they may incorporate on-board sensors to detect and classify environmental hazards, relaying this information back to the warfighters.

NOTE: This notice is being posted to meet the requirements of FAR Subpart 5.2 and DFARS 206.302-1. A solicitation will not be posted; however, any firm that believes it can meet this requirement may give written notification to the Contract Specialist within 15 days of publication of this announcement. Supporting evidence must be in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to provide comparable items and developmental experience. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered. However, a determination by the Government to compete the proposed procurement based on the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses should be emailed to the Contract Specialist at deirdre.hughes@nrl.navy.mil.