Added: Aug 21, 2008 4:27 pm
The U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command Acquisition Center-Washington (CACW) on behalf of the US Army RDECOM, CERDEC, Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD), Countermine Division, Dismounted Soldier Applications Branch is conducting a market survey to identify companies having technology, qualifications, and capabilities to demonstrate a small, robotic, ground-vehicle mounted sensor or munitions technology to: (1) detect surface laid and buried, metallic and non-metallic, antitank and antipersonnel landmines and scatterable munitions; (2) to detect surface laid, partially buried, and camouflaged explosive hazards; (3) to mark lanes and detected targets; and (4) to neutralize detected hazards.
Results of this market research may be used to formulate a near term program that integrates sensor and munitions technology onto a small semi-autonomous robotic platform. This future program may include the following requirements and attributes:
" Detection of landmines and explosive threats with a high probability of detection (Pd). Pd: 90% (T), 99.6% (O).
" A high forward speed while detecting and marking along a specified route which contains mines or explosive hazards emplaced according to threat doctrine: 0.4m/min (T), 5m/min (O). Note that a false alarm rate (FAR) is not specified. It is implicitly constrained by the need to mark a safe lane.
" Neutralization of landmines and explosive threats with a probability of neutralization of 95% in one attempt.
" Marking of targets within 10cm of edge of target, and a 1 meter wide safe lane.
" The ability to operate in limited visibility, over difficult terrain and extreme environments.
" Shall have a scalable detection array width for confined areas and subterranean environments including standard 36-inch diameter culverts and tunnels.
" Integration of prototype detection, marking and neutralization system with an existing or modified GOTS or COTS small robotic platform that includes a soldier operated interface;
" Performance and environmental testing of the prototype or demonstration model by the contractor to verify technology maturity; and
" Support of limited testing by soldiers to verify suitability for production and deployment.
" Robot shall safely navigate near mines or triggers without detonating them.
" Mark visibility System shall mark suspected landmines and scatterable munitions within ten (10) cm from edge of landmines and scatterable munitions including in confined areas and subterranean environments and in 36-inch diameter standard culverts. Shall mark the centerline of a one (1) meter wide lane. Marking material must be visibly different and easily recognizable from mine marking and lane marking. Shall be visible from a minimum of five (5) meters for a minimum time of two (2) hours during day, night, and limited visibility.
" Neutralization solutions may be explosive or non-explosive.
" Neutralization effects should be scalable (e.g., low or high order detonation of the threat.
" The system performance must be robust in an electromagnetically active environment.
" The system must be compatible with existing or planned US and Coalition communications.
" The system should achieve the highest degree of autonomy possible while meeting detection, marking, and neutralization requirements.
" The system autonomy should include navigation, interrogation, detection, marking, and neutralization.
This is NOT a Request for Proposal. Companies who desire to participate in this market survey are encouraged to submit a white paper which supports the companys claim that it presently has the technology, qualifications, and capabilities to satisfy one or more of the performance and technical objectives described above. The white paper should discuss the companys sensor or munitions and performance test results. The white paper should also discuss related company experience and include point(s) of contact. The white paper should be prepared in MS Word, limited to ten (10) pages, and submitted electronically to the CACW Contracting Officer, Michelle Hodges, at michelle.hodges@us.army.mil by 21 September 2008. The Government will consider all responses submitted on time. The company shall be responsible for any costs associated with preparing responses to this market research. All requests for further information must be made in writing or via email; telephone requests for additional information will not be honored.
