United States Special Operations Command, Directorate of Procurement (SOAC-KB), 2418 Florida Keys Ave., MacDill AFB, FL 33621-5316

84 -- SPEAR MODULAR INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS HELMET SYSTEM SOL USZA22-97-R-0007 DUE 112497 POC Susan M. Keeler, (813)840-5476 WEB: Special Operations Acquisition Center (SOAC), www.soac.hqsocom.mil. E-MAIL: United States Special Operations Command Contracting Office, keelers@soac.hqsocom.mil. The United States Special Operations Command is conducting a Market Investigation in support of the development, production and sustainment of a Modular Integrated Communication Helmets System (MICH) to be fielded during 1999-2004. This information will help to determine what technology or products can satisfy user needs and the best approach to acquiring and sustaining the MICH. MICH is a single, modular headgear that provides ballistic, fragmentation, aural and impact protection, while being night vision, communications and nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) equipment compatible. The MICH will be used throughout the spectrum of Special Operations Forces (SOF) operational continuum, from humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping, to counter-terrorism and counterinsurgency, to low intensity conflict and full-scale war. The headgear assembly will be modular so that components can be added or removed to suit mission requirements. MICH will provide the SOF operator the flexibility to tailor ballistic/impact protection and communications to the mission using one modular system. The MICH shall be as low profile and close to the head as possible to prevent the fatigue associated with poor weight distribution. The system and its components shall be comfortable and conformable and sized to fit the 5th through 95th percentile male with minimum of sizes. The MICH shall provide a stable platform to accept mounting of standard night vision devices (AN/PVS-7 and AN/VIS-6) and high altitude parachutist mask, while not dramatically unbalancing the MICH or impeding the operator's ability to communicate. The mount will allow the devices to swing in and out of the field of view without losing focus or other critical properties. The MICH shall allow for wearing of various existing types of eye protection currently in the inventory (e.g. Sun Wind Dust goggles, and ballistic laser eyewear). The MICH shall allow for normal peripheral vision. All external surfaces shall be rust and salt water resistant and finished in a flat neutral color that is non-reflective. The MICH will be employed in environmental conditions that will range from tropic to arctic and from arid desert to open ocean (-40 to +120 degrees Fahrenheit) with weather conditions associated with these environments to include limited visibility. Total system weight of 3.5 lbs. or less is required (without peripherally mounted equipment i.e. night vision devices, high altitude parachutist mask etc, but including communications system) with 3 lbs. or less asthe objective. The system shall be configured to accept Evolutionary Technology Insertions (ETI) and process improvements. The MICH consists of three components: 1) basic shell, 2) enhanced ballistic shell and 3) communications package. The system shall be modular enabling the operator to wear components together as a system or each component separately. Army standard or commercially equivalent batteries will power system, if necessary. Separate shells for impact and ballistic protection are desired but not required. The MICH will provide fragmentation protection equal to that provided by the Personnel Armor Systems for Ground Troops (PASGT) helmet (threshold). The objective is the same level of fragmentation protection at a 20% reduced weight. The MICH shall provide ballistic protection from, but not limited to the following rounds as a threshold: 9x19 at 350 m/s, 9x19 at 280 m/s, 9x19 at 390 m/s, and 9x18 at 315 m/s. Will provide ballistic protection from, but not limited to the following rounds as an objective: 7.62x25 at 450 m/s, 7.62x25 at 420 m/s, 7.62x39 at 710 m/s, 5.56x45 at 948m/s, 7.62x54R at 830 m/s. The basic shell is considered the foundation of the cranial protection capability required in the MICH system. The basic shell will be well ventilated to prevent overheating, and will allow for attachment of the current and planned electro-optical sensors. The shell shall fit securely and comfortably to the operator's head. Shall provide the wearer with impact protection from a hard surface impact velocity of at least 10 fps (19 fps is the objective). Shall provide shock protection to the wearer during airborne operations equal to that provided by the PASGT helmet w/shock pad as a threshold or better as the objective. The enhanced ballistic shell will be similar in all respects to the basic shell except it shall not have an internal suspension assembly and will provide enhanced ballistic protection. The enhanced ballistic shell will be added to or removed from the basic shell by hand, without tools and will result in a secure and stable helmet assembly. The enhanced shell shall provide maximum ballistic area coverage and still allow the operator to fire from the prone while wearing all clothing and individual equipment. The communications system may be worn alone or under the helmet and will use an unobtrusive microphone and earpiece system. The communications system shall easily attach/detach from the basic shell or combined basic shell/enhanced ballistic shell. It shall not interfere with the wearing of the basic shell or the combined basic shell/enhanced ballistic shell. The communications system shall use a microphone and earpiece system that minimizes interference with acoustic hearing, peripheral vision, and/or other worn equipment. It will allow the operator to monitor single or multiple radios/intercoms and transmit on the selected frequency. Transmission will be by the most effective method, i.e. boom or chin strap mounted microphone, throat microphone or bone microphone etc, that may be attached to either earphone and used from either right or left. The communications system shall not interfere with cheek to stock weld and shall provide hands free, remote and push to talk options. The communications system shall interface with the planned Joint Multi-band Inter/Intra Team Radio (MBITR)and current authorized handheld systems (AN/PRC-126, MX300 series and Sabre family) as well as SOF aircraft intercom systems (not limited to MH-60, MH-47, MH-53, MC-130). The system shall allow operators to direct frequencies to a specific earphone. The system shall have a remote input/output device that will be worn alone or under the basic shell, or under the combined basic shell/enhanced ballistic shell. The system shall allow the operator to mute select frequency(s), if desired. The communications system shall provide passive sound attenuation to protect the wearer from both steady state (vehicle) and impulse (weapons firing) noise. At the same time, it shall allow the user omni-directionally hearing, hearing the same ear-safe noises that he would hear with the naked ear. It is highly desired is to amplify soft sounds normally out of human range of hearing to an ear safe level. All communication components (i.e., microphone, earphones, all connectors, electrical switches etc.) shall be corrosion proof and waterproof. The threshold requirement is waterproof to a depth of 3 feet in salt water with the objective requirement of waterproof to a depth of 66 feet of salt water. The Government is interested in commercial products and non-developmental items (NDI) that meet the MICH requirement, company services and capabilities to acquire and maintain the MICH and industry's recommendations on the acquisition strategy supporting MICH. Desired information includes: What portions of the system or components do you intend to supply? What portions of the system are commercial or NDI items? Demonstrate how the item meets the MICH requirements. Must the item be modified to meet the requirements? How and to what extent? How mature is the current design? How long has the item been on the market? What is the lead-time associated with the item? What is the reliability history of the item? In what environments? What are the maintainability features of the design? What are the existing maintenance, repair and spare parts arrangements for this item? Are you able to support the item for the duration of expected military use? Is the product covered by a warranty? Can the proposed item be maintained according to the conditions specified or will special arrangements be required? If the item being supplied is part of the MICH system (vs. the system in its entirety), how do you perceive the criticality of interfacing with other items/components for overall system integrity? What training is needed to operate and maintain your product? What are the packaging, handling, storage and transportation practices associated with the item? What is the item cost? What is the technical data package availability? What are the size and location of manufacturers and their product distribution channels? Does sufficient production capacity exist to meet these requirements as part of your projected commercial sales? What is the appropriate time for the Government to buy? Recommendations on the acquisition approach, to include the program structure, contracting approach, and the approach of development, production and sustainment of the MICH, are welcome. Submit written information by 24 November 1997 (Note: Product samples would also be desired) to: US Army Soldier Systems Command, ATTN: SSCNC-I, Kansas Street, Natick, Massachusetts 01760. (0297)

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