Inactive

April 6 2020 W911QY-20-S-0008 Request for Information –Mobile Camouflage System for Multiple Platforms Request for Information: This is a Request for Information (RFI). The purpose of this RFI is to o... April 6 2020 W911QY-20-S-0008 Request for Information –Mobile Camouflage System for Multiple Platforms Request for Information: This is a Request for Information (RFI). The purpose of this RFI is to obtain knowledge and information for project planning purposes. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposals abstracts, or quotations. All market research submitted will be retained for file. Background: US Military forces operate in all environments and terrains throughout the world. Each theater produces unique challenges for protecting troops and vehicles from adversarial detection. Ground Combat Vehicles, as key battlefield enablers, require additional signature management capability to ensure survivability and effectiveness. Beyond paint, the current methods of protecting combat vehicles on the move, or in hasty halt positions, include affixing either organic material, like freshly-cut branches or scraps of ULCANS netting to the top and sides of the vehicles’ exterior. Neither of these methods provide the durable signature suppression that is required for ensured soldier survivability. These methods provide only limited (if any) visual signature suppression, and represent even less suppression performance throughout the EM spectrum. Multi-spectral sensors are common place in today’s battlefield, and represent a real threat to unprotected assets. The newly produced ULCANS Increment I netting has begun to be fielded and provides a vast capability increase in protecting vehicles in stationary positions. The newly produced ULCANS provides signature suppression throughout the entire spectrum to include NIR, SWIR, MWIR, LWIR and radar protection. ULCANS provides effective multi-spectral concealment performance in stationary situations, but there is a current capability gap for vehicles and equipment that are on the move, or in a hasty halt position. ULCANS will be used in conjunction with an MCS solution to provide the best concealment throughout a vast array of operational situations. Mobile Camouflage is required for combat vehicles in active engagement scenarios – both offensive and defensive. Static and Mobile Camouflage work together as complimentary protection systems and provide decisive and superior protection for vehicles in battle positions and stationary environments. Purpose: Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems, located within the US Army Natick Soldier Systems Center, is seeking information on mobile camouflage capabilities that may be used in whole or in part to support the development of a full vehicle platform solution. For camouflage performance, the US Army needs to mitigate (or conceal assets to prevent detection from) as wide an array of the electromagnetic spectrum as possible, across all operational terrains and environments. This would include multispectral sensors that can detect in any combination of the following bands: ultraviolet, visual, near-infrared, shortwave- (200-2500nm), midwave, and longwave infrared (3-12µm), along with radar between 1 and 100 GHz. Thermal signature suppression is required, with an increased focus on high heat and high friction areas of interest such as exhaust, hubs, engine heat, and wheels. Priority is placed on a reduction of platform identification by disrupting the vehicle's shape and profile, and increasing its ability to blend with background vegetation. An effective Mobile Camouflage Solution is required to enable combat vehicle protection and survivability against current peer and near-peer threats. This capability is required to enhance platform & crew survivability by improving multispectral concealment in any geographical theater, without hindering operational capabilities. MCS solutions will provide operational units with layered protection and concealment against long-range precision fires, drones, ground, aerial, and satellite threats. Once installed, MCS solutions shall require limited soldier interaction to be effective Capability Statement / Information sought: Respondents may, at their option, submit a capability statement, white paper, and/or relevant information to the Government of their ability to develop and manufacture Mobile Camouflage Solutions. Information provided should outline the vendor’s expertise in signature management solutions. Supporting data or test reports that can substantiate multispectral claims is helpful for government consideration. Vendors should include any applicable past experience with mobile camouflage solutions. Additional topics of interest include MCS manufacturing capability, and compliance with Berry Amendment. CCDC SC currently has an active Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement, (BOTAA) 17-01 available on beta.SAM, keyword BOTAA. In addition, CCDC SC also has a broad agency announcement posted on beta.SAM, BAA-15-01. Both announcements are open for submission of white papers per the instructions of each announcement. Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems is interested in early prototype development through the utilization of a phased approach: Phase 1 would be for the vendor to provide a 4’x4’ sample of MCS material for laboratory testing. (duration: 4 months) Phase 2 would provide a full panel sample of a size that could be affixed to the selected vehicle platform. This sample may be requested to camouflage a certain area of interest on the vehicle. (duration: 4 months) Phase 3 would be focused on the production of a full-scale vehicle platform prototype that would be utilized in field testing to determine effectiveness at the system level. (duration: 6 months) The government may award one, many, or none of the phases mentioned above, to a single of multiple vendors. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Confidentiality: No classified information should be included in your response. All classified information shall be transmitted through the proper channels, separate from your unclassified market research. Requests for classified submissions may be made to the POC listed below. Company proprietary/confidential information should be so marked. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary or confidential technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). Submission: Please submit your company’s capabilities to Richard Totten, emailed to Richard.w.totten2.civ@mail.mil Natick Contracting Division. Vendors may also include relevant past experience and contract experience, both military and commercial, as needed. Submit Information electronically 20 days from this notice post. Information should be provided in a pdf format, with an responses limited to 40 pages, excluding attachments. Responses should be clear, concise, and include contact information should a formal announcement be made.