Modification

Q: Paragraph 2.1.1 states: "Each camera system mounts on tripod with height setting of 6 feet to 30 feet". From this statement, it is not clear if the contractor is to provide tripods or not. Please clarify.

ANSWER: The contractor is to provide a tripod or equivalent.

Q: Paragraph 2.1.4 states: "The systems must plug into Solar / battery power, and operate 72 hours continuously with all cameras in scan mode...".

a. Can we assume that batteries located at each of the four possible nodes is acceptable, vs transmitting power over CAT5 or Coax from a central location?

ANSWER: Yes, on battery power the batteries can be at each camera location and at the control station. On prime power, power cables can be run from a central location. We would like for the contractor to provide their solution to the power requirements.

b. When referring to "scan mode", does this mean that the pan/tilts are moving at all times (constant duty cycle)?

ANSWER: Yes


Q: Section 2.1.1 "Recognize personnel 2km day/1 km night". Recognize is often confused with Identify. Recognize is generally construed as being able to determine man vs. animal, male vs. female, soldier vs. civilian, child vs. adult etc. is this the intent, or are you expecting to be able to identify specifically who a person is?

ANSWER: There are three levels of identification: Detect, Identify, and Recognize.

Detect - Something is out there.
Identify - You can tell if it is a person, animal, or vehicle
Recognize - You can tell if it is a adult/child, civilian/soldier, male/female, deer/cow, can/van. Consideration is made for how humans may try to disguise, or hide their features, especially at night.



Q: Section 2.1.2 "The Kit will include a control station and the cameras will plug directly into this control station. Size of control station is a carry-on suitcase". Is the kit to include a display, and if so, what are the general display requirements.


ANSWER: The monitor need to be as large as possible to be able to display all four cameras at the same time.


Q: Section 2.1.3 "400m of cabling total for camera to plug into control station Cabling must be cat 5 or coaxial. Cabling must be divided into 100m segments". When using long lengths of cable, there is an inherent signal loss, reducing the quality of the image over length. Has there been any consideration in using a secure wireless capability vice 400m of cable and if so should we include wireless capabilities in our response?

ANSWER: The Army Spectrum Management Office (ASMO) would need to provide approval for any wireless capabilities. It is problematic that approval can be done in the time frame required. The REF prefers cables. The type of cables can be determined by the vendor. The vendor needs to provide an engineering solution to meet the capability needed.

Q: Section 2.1.7 "System must have laser range finder (Threshold)". Given the ranges for detection and recognition in Section 2.1.1 (Detect range for vehicle and personnel: 4km day/2 km night Recognize personnel 2km day/1 km night), is the expected useful range of the laser range finder 4km or is the requirement something greater?

ANSWER: The useful range is 4km.

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS: This synopsis neither constitutes a Request for Proposal or Invitation for Bid, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. This Sources Sought Synopsis should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION: no award will be made as a result of this request. This request is for informational purposes only. All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this synopsis. The Government will not pay for information and materials received in response to this synopsis and is in no way obligated by the information received.

1. SCOPE:

1.1 Background: The mission of the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) is to rapidly increase mission capability while reducing risk to Soldiers and others by equipping operational commanders with off-the-shelf (government or commercial) solutions or near-term developmental items that can be researched, developed and acquired quickly. The REF receives requirements from operational commanders in war zones setting forth the capabilities needed. The REF is chartered by the Senior Army leadership to provide material solutions to meet these requirements in a significantly reduced timeline compared to traditional Department of Defense acquisition procedures.

1.2 The purpose of this RFI is to obtain potential solutions to provide an advanced camera system. Alternative solutions submitted by companies responding to this RFI will also be considered.

1.3 Experience and information obtained from this request for information will be provided to Army Product Manager REF who will evaluate the information and feasibility of issuing a procurement action to resolve the stated problem.

2. REQUIREMENTS:

2.1 The REF has an immediate need for an advanced camera system kit. The kit will operate during day, night and all weather conditions. The REF would like the kit to cover as many of these features as possible:

2.1.1 Each system kit will be composed of 4 modular camera systems:
Pan/tilt/zoom capable
Detect range for vehicle and personnel: 4km day/2 km night
Recognize personnel 2km day/1 km night
Day and thermal imaging capable
Thermal Imager resolution 640x480
Cameras must be able to continuously scan
Cameras must be able to record
Each camera system mounts on tripod with height setting of 6 feet to 30 feet

2.1.2 The Kit will include a control station and the cameras will plug directly into this control station
Size of control station is a carry-on suitcase
2.1.3 400m of cabling total for camera to plug into control station
Cabling must be cat 5 or coaxial
Cabling must be divided into 100m segments
2.1.4 System power - the system must be multi capable:
The system must be able to plug into and run off of vehicle power
The system must be able to plug into and run off a generator
The systems must plug into Solar / battery power, and operate 72 hours continuously with all cameras in scan mode
All batteries must be Military Lithium batteries currently in the army inventory, (a new system cannot be introduced).
2.1.5 System must be ruggedized for military use
2.1.6 System must be GPS enabled (Objective)
2.1.7 System must have laser range finder (Threshold)

3. INSTRUCTIONS TO POTENTIAL RESPONDENTS/DELIVERABLES:

Specific information on industry capability to produce a system that can meet the requirements identified in paragraph 2 above.

This is NOT a Request for Proposal. Companies who desire to participate in this market survey are encouraged to submit a white paper which supports the company's claim that it presently has the technology, qualifications, and capabilities to satisfy one or more of the performance and technical objectives described above. The white paper should discuss the company's ability to provide existing equipment to meet the need. Company should provide a ROM (rough order of magnitude) price and its anticipated delivery for the solution proposed. The company should provide information as to if this equipment has been purchased by the US Military, and if it has been tested by a DoD Agency.

The white paper should also discuss related company experience and include point(s) of contact. The white paper should be prepared in MS Word, limited to ten (10) pages, and submitted electronically to the contracting specialist listed below.

RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2011 AT 5:00 PM EST.

The company shall be responsible for any costs associated with preparing responses to this market research. All requests for further information must be made in writing or via email; telephone requests for additional information will not be honored. The government will review submissions as they are received. The government reserves the right to close this Sources Sought Synopsis once they have received adequate response(s).
For questions potential respondents shall contact the contract specialist, Monique Marshall at Monique.Marshall@us.army.mil or 410-306-2851 to obtain information.

Email communication is highly encouraged.

SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS: This synopsis neither constitutes a Request for Proposal or Invitation for Bid, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. This Sources Sought Synopsis should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION: no award will be made as a result of this request. This request is for informational purposes only. All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this synopsis. The Government will not pay for information and materials received in response to this synopsis and is in no way obligated by the information received.

1. SCOPE:

1.1 Background: The mission of the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) is to rapidly increase mission capability while reducing risk to Soldiers and others by equipping operational commanders with off-the-shelf (government or commercial) solutions or near-term developmental items that can be researched, developed and acquired quickly. The REF receives requirements from operational commanders in war zones setting forth the capabilities needed. The REF is chartered by the Senior Army leadership to provide material solutions to meet these requirements in a significantly reduced timeline compared to traditional Department of Defense acquisition procedures.

1.2 The purpose of this RFI is to obtain potential solutions to provide an advanced camera system. Alternative solutions submitted by companies responding to this RFI will also be considered.

1.3 Experience and information obtained from this request for information will be provided to Army Product Manager REF who will evaluate the information and feasibility of issuing a procurement action to resolve the stated problem.

2. REQUIREMENTS:

2.1 The REF has an immediate need for an advanced camera system kit. The kit will operate during day, night and all weather conditions. The REF would like the kit to cover as many of these features as possible:

2.1.1 Each system kit will be composed of 4 modular camera systems:
Pan/tilt/zoom capable
Detect range for vehicle and personnel: 4km day/2 km night
Recognize personnel 2km day/1 km night
Day and thermal imaging capable
Thermal Imager resolution 640x480
Cameras must be able to continuously scan
Cameras must be able to record
Each camera system mounts on tripod with height setting of 6 feet to 30 feet

2.1.2 The Kit will include a control station and the cameras will plug directly into this control station
Size of control station is a carry-on suitcase
2.1.3 400m of cabling total for camera to plug into control station
Cabling must be cat 5 or coaxial
Cabling must be divided into 100m segments
2.1.4 System power - the system must be multi capable:
The system must be able to plug into and run off of vehicle power
The system must be able to plug into and run off a generator
The systems must plug into Solar / battery power, and operate 72 hours continuously with all cameras in scan mode
All batteries must be Military Lithium batteries currently in the army inventory, (a new system cannot be introduced).
2.1.5 System must be ruggedized for military use
2.1.6 System must be GPS enabled (Objective)
2.1.7 System must have laser range finder (Threshold)

3. INSTRUCTIONS TO POTENTIAL RESPONDENTS/DELIVERABLES:

Specific information on industry capability to produce a system that can meet the requirements identified in paragraph 2 above.

This is NOT a Request for Proposal. Companies who desire to participate in this market survey are encouraged to submit a white paper which supports the company's claim that it presently has the technology, qualifications, and capabilities to satisfy one or more of the performance and technical objectives described above. The white paper should discuss the company's ability to provide existing equipment to meet the need. Company should provide a ROM (rough order of magnitude) price and its anticipated delivery for the solution proposed. The company should provide information as to if this equipment has been purchased by the US Military, and if it has been tested by a DoD Agency.

The white paper should also discuss related company experience and include point(s) of contact. The white paper should be prepared in MS Word, limited to ten (10) pages, and submitted electronically to the contracting specialist listed below.

RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2011 AT 5:00 PM EST.

The company shall be responsible for any costs associated with preparing responses to this market research. All requests for further information must be made in writing or via email; telephone requests for additional information will not be honored. The government will review submissions as they are received. The government reserves the right to close this Sources Sought Synopsis once they have received adequate response(s).
For questions potential respondents shall contact the contract specialist, Monique Marshall at Monique.Marshal@us.army.mil or 410-306-2851 to obtain information.

Email communication is highly encouraged.