19 -- Man-Portable AUV

This synopsis is being posted to both the Federal Business Opportunities(FBO) page located at http://www.fbo.gov and the Navy Electronic Commerce on Line(NECO) site located at https://www.neco.navy.mil. While it is understood that FBO is the single point of entry for posting of synopsis and solicitations to the internet, NECO is the alternative in case FBO is unavailable. Please feel free to use either site to access information posted by the Navy Sea Systems Command. The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport has a requirement for the purchase of three autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) configured with an acoustic underwater modem, an oceanographic sensor suite, and a towed acoustic array with associated signal processing hardware. The vehicles will be operated in one of two modes: one with the acoustic array in operation, and the other without. In addition, to a main vehicle computer (MVC), which is capable of running statically defined missions provided by a mission planner, these vehicles will include a collocated PC-104+ PCU stack capable of providing vehicle control commands to the MVC in real time for fully adaptive, autonomous operation. This PC-104+ stack will also contain the signal processing hardware for processing the acoustic array data in real time. The acoustic modem, the acoustic array, and the PC-104+ stack will be provided as Government Furnished Equipment and will be integrated in the AUV. Integration services are defined in a separate Statement of Work. AUV specifications/capabilities are defined in a separate Technical Specification which includes some of the following requirements: Size/weight/depth: The AUV shall be man-portable (LOA < 2 m) and weigh less than 60 pounds in air, not including the weight of the acoustic array. The AUV must be able to accommodate a payload consisting of an acoustic modem (described below), a 3-board PC-104+ stack and the addition of a side-scan sonar package at a later date. The AUV must be capable of sustained operation at depths up to 80 meters. Speed/maneuverability capabilities: The capability to maintain course and depth control at a minimum speed of one knot while towing the acoustic array and with no array. The acoustic array will have a 12 meter active section which is 1.25 inches in diameter, a 10 meter cable lead-in and a small drogue. The capability for maneuvering at low speed including the capability to allow a 180 degree turn in less than two vehicle lengths when the array is not being towed. Endurance capabilities: The minimum capability to run submerged at 2 knots for 10 hours while running the oceanographic sensor suite without the acoustic array. Assume a hotel load of 13 Watts for the PC-104 control CPU. The desired capability to run submerged at 4 knots for 20 hours while running the oceanographic sensor suite without the acoustic array. Assume a hotel load of 13 Watts for the PC-104 control CPU board. The minimum capability to run submerged at 1.5 knots for 4 hours with the acoustic array and sampling hardware in operation. Assume a hotel load of 33 Watts for the array, control CPU, and signal processing hardware. The desired capability to run submerged at 2.5 knots for 8 hours with the acoustic array and sampling hardware in operation. Assume a hotel load of 33 Watts for the array, control CPU, and signal processing hardware. Award will be based on a Greatest Value basis with Technical Capability/Approach and Past Performance as part of the evaluation criteria. A Firm Fixed Price contract is anticipated. The solicitation will be issued in less than 15 days. Our department no longer issues solicitations or amendments in paper form. Instead, they may be accessed at our web site http://www.npt.nuwc.navy.mil/contract/. We also provide electronic access in our Bid Room.