Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF JANUARY 15, 2005 FBO #1146
SOURCES SOUGHT

16 -- Request for Information to identify sources interested in supplying a Low Cost Aerial Delivery System

Notice Date

1/13/2005
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

Contracting Office

RDECOM Acquisition Center - Natick, ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5011
 

ZIP Code

01760-5011
 

Solicitation Number

PMFSS-LCADS
 

Response Due

3/15/2005
 

Archive Date

5/14/2005
 

Small Business Set-Aside

N/A
 

Description

This is a Request for Information (RFI) from the U. S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM)/PM Force Sustainment Systems, Natick, MA to identify sources interested in supplying a Low Cost Aerial Delivery System (LCADS). The LCAD system will provide a low cost alternative to compliment the current Container Delivery System (CDS) for fast and efficient airdrop of supply loads during operations that do not allow for recovery of air items, as often is the case with combat re-supply o r humanitarian assistance missions. During Operation Provide Promise in Bosnia, U.S. Forces delivered humanitarian aid using over $31 million of standard airdrop equipment with no equipment recovered. The LCADS design will greatly reduce airdrop mission co sts. LCADS will be a one-time use, stand-alone airdrop system consisting of a modular suite of low cost airdrop items, and be comprised of parachutes, containers, platforms, and other air items configured for low-velocity (impact velocity of 28.5 fps), hi gh-velocity (impact velocity of 90 fps), and free-drop (without the use of a parachute) aerial delivery of loads. All components must be simple in design, maintenance and operation, and have low production and lifecycle costs. The emphasis is on use of re adily available, low cost materials and ease of manufacturing in order to minimize production lead times and broaden the industrial base for LCADS items. Innovative designs, processes, and materials should be considered in the development of LCADS compone nts. Some examples include, but are not limited to, cross parachutes, stitch-less seaming technology and non-woven fabrics. Product characteristics should minimize or eliminate rigging time, have a shelf life comparable to materials currently used in CDS components, and have low weight and volume. LCADS has both performance and cost requirements. LCADS performance threshold (T) and objective (O) requirements are: (1) Must meet the rigged load capacity of 500-lbs to 2,200-lbs (T) of current CDS drops or exc eed 2,200-lbs (O). Future requirements will be for capacities of up to 10,000-lbs; (2) Must be capable of delivering serviceable loads in 13-knot ground winds (T), 18-knot ground winds (O); (3) Must meet (T) or exceed (O) the load accuracy and survivabilit y of current high-velocity and low-velocity CDS drops; (4) Must be air-droppable from standard AF cargo aircraft (T) and special operations, NATO and other services aircraft (O); (5) Must be compatible with Army and Air Force ground material handling equip ment (MHE); (6) Must be capable of being deployed at release altitudes between 500-ft AGL (O) to 1,250-ft AGL (T) for low-velocity drops and 15,000-ft MSL (T) to 25,000-ft MSL (O) for hi-velocity drops at airspeeds of 130-150 Knots Indicated Airspeed (KIAS ). LCADS cost threshold (T) and objective (O) requirements are: (1) LCADS must reduce costs by 55 percent or more (T) to 80 percent or more (O) over current Container Delivery System (CDS). This means that the cost for a container must be between $67 and $150, high-velocity parachute must be between $150 and $335 and for a low-velocity parachute between $726 and $1,635. Cost requirements include both cost of materials and producibility of components. Materials used to construct components are readily avail able. System components shall be easy to manufacture. Production lead times shall be minimized. At this time, RDECOM is seeking sources, concepts, technical and product information, for a Low Cost Aerial Delivery System or any individual components that meet the above requirements. Also, information is sought for materials and processes that would allow for ease of manufacturing and minimize production lead times. Proprietary information will not be disclosed outside the U.S. Government; however, if it i s submitted, it should be appropriately marked. Information provided will be used to develop specific requirement for LCADS. All interested firms, regardless of size, are encouraged to respond to this request for information. This Request for Information is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this request or otherwise pay for information solicited. A pre-solicitation notice will be published if a formal solicitation is generated. No awards will result from this request. We are seeking sources, techn ical and product information for products which meet the Army's requirements, or may meet requirements with modifications. Please submit your responses within 60 days of this publication. Responses may be sent via email to mailto:nina.shopalovich@natick.a rmy.mil?Subject=RE: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - LOW COST AERIAL DELIVERY SYSTEM (LCADS), or by regular mail to U.S. Army RDECOM, SFAE-CSS-FP-F (ATTN: Nina Shopalovich), Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760, Telephone (508) 233-5293, Fax (508) 233-4716.
 

Place of Performance

Address: U.S. Army RDECOM - Natick ATTN: SFAE-CSS-FP-F (ATTN: Nina Shopalovich), Building 3, Room 208, Kansas Street Natick MA

Zip Code: 01760-5057

Country: US
 

Record

SN00734624-W 20050115/050113212100 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

---

| FSG Index  |  This Issue's Index  |  Today's FBO Daily Index Page |