SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- REQUEST FOR CONCEPT PAPERS FOR NEXT GENERATION BODY ARMOR ARCHITECTURE UNDER THE US ARMY NATICK SOLIDER RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING COMMAND BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT 11-13
- Notice Date
- 2/13/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- ACC-APG - Natick (SPS), ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5011
- ZIP Code
- 01760-5011
- Solicitation Number
- NATICK-BAA-11-13-3
- Response Due
- 3/9/2012
- Archive Date
- 5/8/2012
- Point of Contact
- Darlene Rideout, (508) 233-4125
- E-Mail Address
-
ACC-APG - Natick (SPS)
(darlene.rideout@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Command in cooperation with Program Executive Office Soldier / PM-Soldier Protection Equipment OBJECTIVE: The objective of this effort is to investigate and study the parameters involved in addressing critical body armor interfaces with respect to system modularity, scalability and tailorability (ex. ease of system use, range of motion, comfort, and marksmanship). The Government is not soliciting for the development of a specific system or hardware. The desired final outcome will be to advance existing technology and address scientific and technical problems associated with the development of single product architecture for modular, scalable, tailorable body armor. DESCRIPTION: The next generation of body armor development will be focused on the need for a multi-functional, modular, scalable protection system that improves soldier physiological performance while reducing system/component redundancy and logistic foot print. The current state of the art provides multiple systems to address modularity and scalability for protecting the torso, extremities and pelvic region. The main intent of this effort is to conduct a study that leads to the development of a single product architecture that addresses the following tiers of protection while addressing load redistribution (reduces point loads on the shoulders and reduces soldier fatigue while wearing typical combat equipment including an assault pack and/or a rucksack). The tiered approach should address the following protection levels: 1.Fragmentation protection (torso) 2.Small arms protection (torso) 3.Fragmentation (upper extremities, torso, and pelvic region) and small arms protection (torso) The concept architectures developed under this effort shall consist of a baseline area of coverage for small arms protection not be less than that of the current Soldier Plate Carrier System and scale up to a finale system not to exceed that of the Improved Outer Tactical Vest for full fragmentation protection. Soft armor areal density shall be benchmarked at 0.90 PSF and hard armor at 7 PSF. All concepts must be focused towards the objective of developing an architecture that reduces the logistic footprint, system cost, and increases soldier performance (ease of system use, range of motion, comfort, and marksmanship). Technical approaches during the concept development process shall focus on modular component interfaces, area of coverage and system weight while developing architectures with a focus towards optimizing load distribution to reduce musculoskeletal trauma and fatigue. The proposed technical approach must clearly identify how and why the effort will be successful. Substantiating data and analysis of the proposed approach must be included. Concept development strategies without supporting technical information will be weighed negatively. Concept technology developed under this effort must be scalable to potential low rate production. Concepts should be programmed with incremental build/test/analyze iterations with specific technical milestones. The main effort should last approximately no more than one (1) calendar year from contract award. Subsequent phases as option years to the contract may be included to conduct further investigation of key technical discoveries from the main effort. The intent of subsequent option year phases are to conduct further exploration and capitalize on the successful material solutions and /or processes found during the main effort. Subsequent phases may be executed should the main effort be determined successful. Subsequent phases shall be programmed to last no more than a single calendar year each. A maximum of two option phases is allowed. Technical reporting shall be conducted at a minimum, on a monthly basis and/or associated with significant technical milestones outlined in the concepts programmatic approach. Technical reporting will require complete documentation of the research and development efforts along with a detailed description of any proposed material system, processing methods, ballistic performance and/or statistical analysis of the results. At the completion of the main effort, a final report and presentation will be required. Required exit criteria - TRL 6 - System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment. All efforts are subject to availability of funds. SUBMISSIONS: Submissions for this topic are to be submitted no later than 9 March 2012. All interested firms, regardless of size are encouraged to submit a Concept (White) Paper to NSRDEC in accordance with NSRDEC Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 11-13,under Section VI; Topic #C - Warfighter Systems Technologies; Subtopic #1 - Ballistic Protection for Individuals, subparagraphs e, f and h. Offerors shall submit concept papers that are consistent with the intent of the BAA. Instructions for the submission of concept papers are contained under Section II of the BAA. CONCEPT PAPERS SHALL BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO ROBERT DILALLA at Robert.V.Dilalla@us.army.mil (phone: 508-233-5942) NO LATER THAN 9 March 2012. Electronic submissions are required. Concept paper submissions via email shall state in the email subject line: "Next Generation Body Armor Architecture - Concept Paper - Company Name". The BAA contains instructions for submission of Concept Papers. Proprietary information will not be disclosed outside the U.S. Government. Nothing shall be construed herein or through the synopsis process to commit or obligate the government to further action as a result of this synopsis. Firms responding to this synopsis shall bear all risk and expense of any resources used to provide the required information, and all information submitted in response to this request shall become the property of the government and will not be returned to the submitter. The Government shall evaluate all white papers and provide a written response/proposal invitation to the offerors on or about 9 April 2012. Any questions concerning this acquisition should be addressed to Robert Dilalla directly, via email to the address listed above. The Natick BAA is effective 1 April 2011 through 31 March 2013. It is anticipated that cost plus fixed fee contract will be awarded. In accordance with FAR 16.301-3, for an anticipated cost type contract to be awarded, potential offerors must ensure that they have an adequate accounting system, as determined by their cognizant Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) office. This synopsis expires 9 March 2012.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/3c57b0981b9a42c44dda52c2729f9b8d)
- Place of Performance
- Address: ACC-APG - Natick (SPS) ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street Natick MA
- Zip Code: 01760-5011
- Zip Code: 01760-5011
- Record
- SN02673664-W 20120215/120213234946-3c57b0981b9a42c44dda52c2729f9b8d (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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