Inactive

This notice is published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 10.002 and Subpart 15.201 and is a Request for Information (RFI) for conducting market research. All information receive... This notice is published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 10.002 and Subpart 15.201 and is a Request for Information (RFI) for conducting market research. All information received will be used for planning purposes only. This notice does not constitute an Invitation for Bids (IFB), Request for Proposals (RFP), or Request for Quotes (RFQ). Accordingly, the Government will not award a contract based on this notice and will not reimburse interested firms for any costs associated with responses to it. DESCRIPTION: The Mobile, Low, Slow, Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defense System (M-LIDS) Increment (Inc.) 2, Counter UAS (C-UAS) capability provides Soldiers with an ability to detect, identify, track and defeat Group 1, 2 and 3 UAS with kinetic and non-kinetic defeat technologies. M-LIDS is a two-vehicle solution utilizing Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) and hosts numerous Government and industry-provided technologies. M-LIDS Inc. 2 includes a remotely operated turret with multiple kinetic effectors for vehicle protection and C-UAS kinetic defeat, a high-quality Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) sensor to identify and track threat UAS, Electronic Warfare (EW) for Counter Improvised Explosive Device (CIED) and C-UAS protection, a masted on-board radar for long-range detection and tracking, data transfer radios, operator workstations and a Mission Data Recorder (MDR). The two-vehicle capability is fully integrated with the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) network. The Government intends to transition M-LIDS onto a single vehicle while retaining mission effectiveness and enhancing system ease of use and reliability. Therefore, Offerors must be able to perform all tasks expected of a Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) and provide a fully integrated C-UAS Mission Equipment Package (MEP) onto a single-vehicle. In addition, an LSI should have demonstrated successful results of collaborating with Government Program Offices and industry partners to integrate MEP technologies. Offerors shall have recent and relevant integration experience. Recent is defined as within the past five years. Relevant is defined as delivering fully integrated C-UAS technologies on an Army platform, including, but not limited to, the Stryker Infantry Carrier Double V Hull (ICVV), M-ATV or similar prime mover vehicle. The Government is not requesting responses for individual technologies. The Government is requesting information from Offerors able to rapidly transition mature and tested C-UAS technologies onto a single platform while not impacting system-level platform or integrated technology performance. The Army expects this single-vehicle solution to be an evolution of existing capabilities. Commonality (when possible) with current Army programs is important to minimize technical risks, improve schedule and reduce the sustainment burden when fielded to units. Technologies offered as part of the C-UAS MEP must be Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 with TRL 7 or higher preferred. This single-vehicle C-UAS capability must retain the mobility, firepower, and protection inherent in the base vehicle platform and is required to support maneuver units at the platoon/company level. Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, Capability: Mission: The single-vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3 must allow Soldiers to detect, identify, track and defeat Group 1, 2 and 3 UAS from one (1) platform. The fully integrated C-UAS MEP must not impact the utility, mobility, or survivability of the base platform. Platform: Offerors must be able to integrate the offered C-UAS MEP onto a single Stryker ICVV, M-ATV, or similar prime mover. Offerors shall have recent and relevant experience integrating multiple, complex technologies onto a Stryker ICVV, M-ATV or similar prime mover, including, but not limited to, a remote weapon station/turret and on-board radar. The offeror’s MEP must not interfere with the base utility, mobility, and survivability of the proposed vehicle. This includes crew protection, retention of interior space, and existing hatches. On-the-Move: The single-vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, capability must allow Soldiers to destroy ground threats while on the move. Today, the capability shall defeat Group 1, 2 and 3 UAS threats while at the short halt. Short halt is defined as less than 30 seconds. Offerors must propose a reasonable path and schedule to provide on-the-move performance against Group 1, 2 and 3 UAS in the future. Ease of Operation: The single-vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3 shall be designed for employment by any Military Occupational Specialty. The capability should be easy to understand and operate. Offerors should highlight Soldier tasks required to employ the capability. Soldiers should execute the C-UAS “kill chain” as just another threat. Offerors must propose a Common Operating Picture that integrates Artificial Intelligence/Machine Language into a single screen, giving the Soldier greater situational awareness while reducing task saturation and overall workload. Reliability: Because of the urgency of this effort, the Offeror’s MEP should only include mature technologies, preferably with available Government test data, including reliability. Government test data is considered the more desirable. Mature and Government-tested technologies are considered the most reliable and minimize technical and schedule risks. Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, Mission Equipment Package (MEP): Kinetic Defeat: The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, capability shall include a remote weapon station/turret capable of hosting multiple kinetic defeat effectors, including but not limited to the XM914E1 (30mm) cannon, M2A1 .50 caliber (cal) machine gun, M240 (7.62mm) coaxial machine gun and the Coyote Block 2+ anti-drone missile. The kinetic defeat remote weapon station/turret must support two (2), Coyote 2-pack mobile launchers. The remote weapon station/turret shall have been live-fire tested with the XM914E1 with all types of ammunition, including proximity fused ammunition against Group 1, 2 and 3 UAS. The remote weapon station/turret shall include an M2A1 .50 cal and/or M240 coaxial machine gun for Soldier and vehicle protection. The remote weapon station shall have the ability to fire the Coyote Block 2+ anti-drone missiles against Group 1, 2 and 3 UAS. The remote weapon station/turret shall include an EO/IR primary gun that provides the Soldier the capability to detect, recognize, and identify threats expected for the offered direct fire weapons. The EO/IR primary gun sight shall include a video auto-tracker to minimize Gunner fatigue while engaging Group 1, 2 and 3 UAS. The remote weapon station/turret shall be modular in nature, allowing future growth of different kinetic effectors, including direct fire weapons and missiles. To provide maximum protection to Soldiers, the remote weapon station/turret shall allow Soldiers to reload the direct fire weapons while under armor protection. Basic load: The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, capability shall allow Soldiers to engage ground threats and Group 1, 2 and 3 UAS with the primary direct fire weapon. The remote weapon station/turret must fire all 30mm x 113mm ammunition types and have a minimum of 100 ready rounds available to the Gunner. The remote weapon station/turret must have a minimum of 400 ready rounds of .50 cal and/or 300 ready rounds of 7.62mm available to the Gunner. The remote weapon station/turret must give the Soldier the ability to reload from within the vehicle. The remote weapon station/turret shall host four Coyote Block 2+ ready-missiles available to the Gunner. With the C-UAS MEP integrated on the Stryker ICVV, M-ATV and/or similar prime mover, the vehicle must carry at least one additional basic load for each ammunition type and two additional Coyote missiles. More ammunition and missiles are preferred. Non-kinetic Defeat: The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, capability shall include non-kinetic electronic warfare (EW) defeat capability that provides vehicle CIED and C-UAS protection. The EW technology (ies) must be integrated into the Stryker ICVV, M-ATV or similar prime mover without interfering with the utility, mobility, or survivability of the platform. The non-kinetic defeat technology shall support dismounted operations. Because of the urgency of this effort, the non-kinetic defeat EW technology shall have been tested by the U.S. Government and/or be currently fielded on U.S. military combat platforms. The proposed EW technology(ies) must be effective against peer nation states and commercial off-the-shelf vendors. Vehicle-mounted Radar: The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, capability shall have organic, vehicle-mounted, solider-operated fire control radar to provide 360-degree aerial surveillance to detect with low false alarm rate and track Group 1, 2 and 3 UAS at long range (10-15km+). Must provide high-quality air tracks for Air Track Avoidance for Coyote Block2+ missions. The on-board radar must operate using power provided by the Stryker ICVV, M-ATV and/or similar prime mover. Size, Weight, Power, and Cost impact on the vehicle are considered important. Vehicle-mounted radar should not impact the utility, mobility, or survivability of the Stryker ICVV, M-ATV or similar prime mover. The on-board radar must have the capability to engage threats while On the Move (OTM). Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR): The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, capability shall include an EO/IR primary gun sight to support direct fire engagements with the XM914E1, the M2A1 .50 cal machine gun and/or M240 coaxial machine gun and C-UAS recognition for non-kinetic engagements. The EO/IR must support ground and air engagements and shall include a laser rangefinder and an auto-tracker. The EO/IR must provide the stability necessary to support ground-to-air engagements at the halt today and OTM ground-to-air engagements in the future. To ensure durability and reliability, the EO/IR must include environmental protection. Mission Recording: The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3 shall include a Mission Data Recorder (MDR) to collect data for all operations. The MDR must meet cyber security volatility requirements. FAAD C2: The Single-Vehicle, M-LIDS Inc. 3 operates as a complementary capability to other Air Defense systems. Therefore, the MEP technologies shall be integrated with Government provided FAAD C2. Enhanced Situational Awareness: The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, capability shall include technology to enhance situational awareness for the driver and crew while inside the Stryker, M-ATV and/or similar prime mover. Integrated technologies providing 360-degree situation awareness are preferred. Interior Workstations: The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, shall include necessary Gunner and FAAD C2 operator workstations without impacting the interior utility of the Stryker ICVV, M-ATV or similar prime mover. Commonality: The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, supports maneuver formations. To reduce the sustainment burden on units, commonality with other Army programs of record is considered important. Stowage: The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, supports maneuver formations. With the fully integrated MEP, the Stryker ICVV, M-ATV and/or similar prime mover must carry Soldier and vehicle equipment. Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Because of the urgency of the effort, this is not a developmental effort. The technologies offered for Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, must be TRL6 or higher. Government test data is preferred to validate technical maturity. Government Testing and Field Support: This LSI opportunity requires Offerors to provide the C-UAS MEP and complete platform integration. The LSI shall have demonstrated the ability to support Government testing and CONUS and OCONUS support for deployed mobile C-UAS capabilities. Security: LSI offerors must have personnel and facilities to support activities at the SECRET level to complete this program. The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, M-LIDS Inc. 3, operates in a cyber-contested environment and must incorporate safeguards and protection to address Army cyber requirements. Offerors shall have recent experience meeting US Army cyber security requirements. Schedule: Because of the urgency of this effort, LSI offerors must deliver a fully integrated prototype for Government live-fire testing NLT 31 January 2023. Interested parties should respond to this RFI with a white paper, not more than 15 pages in length, describing the Offeror’s fully integrated M-LIDS Inc. 3 C-UAS capability. Responses must be unclassified. The offerors shall include a full system architecture diagram as part of their white paper submission, which will not count against the page count. The Single-Vehicle C-UAS, MLIDS Inc. 3 capability must include the technologies described above and cannot impact the utility, mobility, or survivability of the Stryker ICVV, M-ATV or similar prime mover. Responses should describe the technologies included as part of the MEP offered and the TRL for each technology. Responses should highlight Government test data availability for each technology. Responses should also highlight commonalities possible with other programs for each technology offered. Responses must describe recent and relevant mobile C-UAS LSI experience within the past five years. This RFI is for planning purposes only and shall not be considered an IFB, RFQ, or RFP. Additionally, there is no obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products described in this RFI. Your response to this RFI is voluntary and will be treated only as information for the Government to consider. You will not be entitled to payment for direct or indirect costs that you incur in responding to this RFI. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort. The Army may use the information provided to develop its acquisition strategy. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted, or competition-sensitive information contained in their response. The Government will not pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI. If a solicitation is released for the supplies or services described herein, it will be synopsized through the Government point of entry website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this potential requirement.