Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) is conducting a market survey to determine industry's capabilities to design, develop, produce, and support non-lethal mission payload modules (NLMPM) (sub-systems) that can be integrated initially on the Gladiator Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle (TUGV) and subsequently on other Department of Defense tactical vehicles and small watercraft. The TUGV is a single unmanned ground vehicle platform that will accommodate plug-and-fight mission modules providing Marine Forces with an unmanned, tele-operated / semi-autonomous ground vehicle for remoting combat tasks in order to reduce risk to friendly forces and neutralize threats.Non-Lethal Weapons are defined as follows: - Weapons that are explicitly designed and primarily employed so as to incapacitate personnel or materiel, while minimizing fatalities, permanent injury to personnel, and undesired damage to property and the environment. Unlike conventional lethal weapons that destroy their targets principally through blast penetration and fragmentation, non-lethal weapons employ means other than gross physical destruction to prevent the target from functioning. Non-lethal weapons are intended to have one, or both, of the following characteristics: a) They have relatively reversible effects on personnel or materiel and, b) They affect objects differently within their area of influence. The NLMPM may include the following components: non-lethal payload(s), launcher, mounts/brackets, electrical interface/cabling, sensor(s), and fire control interface. The government desires that the module be backward compatible with existing or planned non-lethal payloads/munitions. Remotely employed NLMPMs should assist the warfighter with mission tasks by enhancing engagements, providing a broader range of desired and precisely directed target effects, and significantly reducing injury to warfighters. They are envisioned to increase standoff ranges and provide the warfighter a range of capabilities that are offensive in nature, increasing range of delivery, high volume of non-lethal fire, screening, and/or communications. The NLMPMs shall be expeditionary in design and support, inherently simple, durable, tailored, and easily integrated into the TUGV power and control systems, as well as have independent target tracking and acquisition, power, and control systems when mounted on other systems or in the ground emplaced mode. The NLMPMs will capitalize on the TUGV's internal design capabilities for range finding, power, maneuverability, etc. when attached to the TUGV. However, it is desirable that the NLMPMs be capable of being detached from the TUGV and mounted on other platforms and tactical vehicles such as the HMMWV, LAV, and potentially an Army Future Combat System (FCS) variant. In addition, the NLMPM should have the capability to be dismounted and employed independent of any platform (e.g., ground emplaced, mounted to a structure, etc.). OPERATIONAL CONCEPT: The TUGV is designed to support dismounted ground forces during the performance of their mission, across the spectrum of conflict and range of military operations. The NLMPM is intended to be capable of engaging targets, both point and area, at various ranges and elevations relative to the base mounting platform (TUGV, tactical vehicle, etc.), using a variety of non-lethal munitions and agents. The TUGV will execute the following non-lethal mission tasks: (a) support ground forces to disperse crowds who have become unruly and dangerous to the mission; (b) control groups of personnel by using area effects that force them to either move from one area to another or that corral them into one area; (c) control individuals by using point effects that cause individuals to comply with the desires of the force--ringleaders can be singled out of large groups and removed from the area, generally defusing the situation; (d) deny an area to personnel and vehicles by strategically positioning the TUGV and NLMPM such that it prevents passage thereby creating a clear area; and, (e) clearing large facilities can be accomplished by either driving the TUGV (or other tactical vehicle) into the facility or by engaging the facility from the outside if the non-lethal weapons (NLW) effects can penetrate the walls. While the TUGV is still under development, for purposes of this RFI the following design parameters of the NLMPM apply: (a) the TUGV, with NLMPM, must possess the capability to traverse and search to acquire targets quickly in day or night, in all weather conditions, and deliver a high volume of non-lethal fire to dissuade individuals or groups while directly supporting dismounted infantry on urban and/or rough terrain; (b) shall be capable of being operated by the TUGV operator with the TUGV operator control unit (OCU) out to the same distances set in the TUGV ORD (a 2 km (threshold), 4 km (objective) radius of the OCU); (c) shall be capable of engaging targets at different elevations in relation to the position of the TUGV; (d) shall be capable of acquiring and engaging a point target at a minimum range of 50 meters (threshold), and 100 meters (objective); (e) shall be capable of engaging an area target 5m x 5m (threshold), 20m x 20m (objective) with a volume of non-lethal fire at a minimum range from the vehicle of 50 meters (threshold) to 100 meters (objective); (f) NLMPM consumable non-lethal munitions reloading shall be accomplished by one individual in less than 10 minutes (threshold), 5 minutes (objective); (g) shall be capable of being remotely employed, separate from the TUGV and the OCU; (h) shall not exceed the payload capacity of the TUGV (ideally no more than 300 lbs); and, (i) shall allow NLMPMs to be attached or detached in no more than 15 minutes by two Marines (threshold), 10 minutes (objective.) RESPONSES: Information is requested on concepts for a NLMPM as described above and any technologies that might be components of such a system, for example: non-lethal payloads, launcher, platform interfaces, target acquisition and fire control, and related technologies that would facilitate the employment of non-lethal weapons platforms. We also request respondents provide their assessment of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of their technologies and address any technical issues, challenges, opportunities associated with integration into an NLMPM system. The Government requests one hard copy submission not to exceed 20 pages, and an accompanying CD with documents formatted in Microsoft Office products. Proprietary information should be marked appropriately to ensure proper protection and handling. Classified information should not be submitted in response to this request. Interested firms are requested to respond no later than 23 July 2004, with a Capability Statement outlining their ability to meet or exceed this potential requirement. Interested sources should send all Capability Statements to: Commanding General, Marine Corps Systems Command, 2200 Lester Street, ATTN: IWS (Maj R. A. Hollen), Quantico, VA 22134. No submissions via E-Mail will be accepted. THE SUBMISSION OF THIS INFORMATION IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE ANY ITEM/SERVICES, NOR FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE INFORMATION RECEIVED. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT EXISTS.
