84 -- ENHANCED COMBAT UNIFORM

Notice Date

January 19, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Army Robert Morris Acquisition Center Natick, ATTN: AMSSB-ACN, Natick, MA 01760-5011

ZIP Code

01760-5011

Response Due

February 13, 2001

Point of Contact

POC: Cheryl Stewardson, Phone 508-233-5427

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact Ms Stewardson via email. (Cheryl.Stewardson@natick.army.mil)

Description

The U. S. Army Robert Morris Acquisition Center (U. S. Army Natick Soldier Center (NSC)), Natick, MA has a requirement for the design, development and prototype manufacture of an enhanced combat uniform (Scorpion). This is a preliminary notice of the Government's intent to contract under the FY01 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), which should be posted to the Natick Acquisition Center web site on or about March 1, 2001. See below for the website address. This synopsis is considered market research to identify interested firms having the requisite design and integration expertise, or having technologies and the willingness to team with other firms to perform this effort. This combat specific uniform will serve both as an integration platform as well as a protective ensemble. The goals of Scorpion are to integrate and leverage new and emerging technologies and design concepts into the system to provide combat overmatch through significant advances in survivability, mobility, and cognitive/physical warrior performance. This system will be the foundational centerpiece for the human interface, load bearing, protection, and electronics hardware linkages for the future warrior systems (2010 timeframe). This three year Scorpion effort will feed into a planned (FY04-07) Advanced Technology Demonstration for the Objective Force Warrior. It will provide multiple levels of protection to include ballistic, chemical/biological, environmental, signature management, and physiological monitoring and management. System weight and bulk reduction are key goals of this effort. Design approaches should include methods for passive physiological management, while also exploring active ventilation and heating/cooling concepts, technologies and interfaces suited for dismounted soldier applications. Significant mission benefits to the soldier include: longer mission time (endurance) in hot, and/or chemical/biological environments; improved soldier performance, both physical and cognitive; reduced heat stress casualties; reduced water intake requirements; enhanced cold weather protection; and enhanced mobility due to reduced bulk and protrusion of electronic devices and interfaces. Access to Secret or NATO sensitive information is expected for some portions of these contract efforts, and companies should have or have the ability to obtain a Secret clearance and storage facilities, as outlined in the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) and its supplements, in order to participate in the contracts. The Government shall host a WORKSHOP for interested firms. Target dates are 21-22 Feb 01, snow dates are 22-23 Feb 01. Location will be the Natick, MA area. The objectives of the workshop are to: a. Explain the Scorpion program goals and objectives, to include schedule, user target audience, baseline system for comparison, development of measures of effectiveness/performance, desired deliverables, contract phases/options and down selection criteria; b. Provide the context of Scorpion within the soldier system 10-15 year strategy; c. Highlight relevant technology efforts, both government and industry sponsored; d. Facilitate teaming. Each firm will be given the opportunity to present a 3 minute executive summary of their capabilities and interests. Interested firms are asked to submit an abstract of the firm's capabilities, and the name, address, and phone number of each person planning to attend the workshop by 13 Feb 01 to Cheryl Stewardson, email Cheryl.Stewardson@natick.army.mil, phone 508-233-5427, fax 508-233-4483. Abstracts submitted by this date will be distributed to all workshop participants. Further details of the workshop will be provided via email to all submitted names. Any foreign nationals wishing to attend the workshop must forward a visit request through their respective embassy. After the workshop, technology integrators shall be asked to submit a Concept Paper, limited to 5 pages in length (as outlined in both the FY00 and FY01 NSC Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)) by 9 March 01. The Natick BAA may be accessed and downloaded from 'http://www3.natick.army.mil/' (Topic 6A in the FY00 BAA. Topic number and POC will change in the FY01 BAA). The FY01 BAA is expected to be posted to that web site on or about 1 March 2001. The Government shall evaluate all concept papers submitted and provide a written response to the contractor by about 23 March 2001. A detailed proposal (also outlined in the NSC BAA) shall be required of all Offerors whose Concept Papers are accepted by the Government within 20 days of acceptance. Contract(s) shall be awarded to the best proposal(s) utilizing the NSC BAA. The Government may award more than one contract under this effort based on available funding. Depending on the number of contract awards, a down selection process may occur at the end of each contract phase. The down selection plan will be discussed at the February workshop.

Web Link

Click here to access Natick Acquisition Center web (www3.natick.army.mil)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010123/84SOL005.HTM (W-019 SN50B2S4)