40-ft Aerial Delivery Platform

SYNOPSIS: This Sources Sought Announcement is to assist the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Soldier Center (DEVCOM-SC) to identify potential sources to provide information to enable airdrop of a 40-ft platform using standard low altitude airdrop from US & non-US companies. The Government requests that responses be submitted electronically to jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil and elizabeth.l.barrett9.civ@army.mil by 16 October by 5pm EST. Description: DEVCOM-SC is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) on technologies or capabilities to enable airdrop of a 40-ft long platform on a C-17 aircraft and/or an ability to fabricate 40-ft long airdrop components. Specific Specifications: The overall capability metrics are shown in the table of attachment 2. DEVCOM SC is seeking available technologies to support this capability development. Specific areas of interest are identified below. Areas of interest: Ability to make airdrop components at 40-ft length Existing Type V Airdrop Platform components are to be used to the maximum extent possible Seeking capabilities to fabricate side rails and roller pads 40-ft long Other capabilities to enable airdrop of a 40-ft airdrop platform are of interest Potential capabilities include but are not limited to a stiffening structure between discrete items on a platform or the ability to support the payload structure for multiple items on a 40-ft structure To provide context, this RFI includes an attachment showing draft notional drawings based on released Type V Airdrop Platform Drawings and Technical Data. Drawings are draft only at this stage and subject to change. Deliverables: All documentation submitted shall be submitted as MS Word, Adobe PDF, MS PowerPoint, Visio, or MS Excel files. Respondents: The White Paper should be written in respondent format, double spaced, and minimum font size of 10 pt. Paper should not exceed 12 pages, including cover. a. This paper should cover company information (company name, CAGE code, mailing address, and primary point of contact information (to include telephone number and email address). b. The paper should cover the 5 Ws, as applicable. (e.g., What, Where, When, Why and Who. Example focus areas: i. Please discuss any/all relevant current products and services that currently meet or will be able to meet the enclosed requirements ii. Vendors are encouraged to propose alternative products that may be able to meet or exceed the requirements. iii. As applicable, please discuss how your product(s) was implemented within industry/Government. c. Please discuss, as applicable, proposed hardware used as part of the solution. d. For Foreign companies: Discuss how the proposer will be able to work with the US Government in the future (i.e, US subsidiary or partner) if required e. Additional documentation accepted (and not included in the page count for the White Paper) includes, but is not limited to, the following: PowerPoint presentations, Training documentation, product specification sheets, user handbook/guides, pictures, link to demonstrations, test data, etc. 2. Test, Certification and Accreditation (C&A) Documentation: Vendors are requested to provide any supporting documentation illustrating safety certification, government approval, test data, etc. 3. Cost Vendor will provide the rough cost of two to four systems (to include development cost), which meet or exceed the system characteristics, along with technical and logistics support to test the systems at least two times at a US location such as Yuma Proving Grounds. Interested parties are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Announcement. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY This Sources Sought Announcement is issued solely for information and planning purposes and to identify interested sources. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. This Sources Sought does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. It is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. Further, unsolicited proposals will not be accepted. Funding is not available at this time. The United States Army has not made a commitment to procure any of the items/services discussed, and release of this Sources Sought Announcement should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. Response to this Sources Sought Announcement is voluntary and no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this and any follow-on information requests. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Not responding to this Sources Sought Announcement does not preclude participation in any future RFP if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the beta.SAM.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential responders to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this subject. RESPONSES: Interested parties may identify their interest and capability by sending responses regarding this requirement to DEVCOM-SC via e-mail ONLY to jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil and elizabeth.l.barrett9.civ@army.mil no later than 16 October by 5:00 p.m. EST. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this Notice. All costs associated with responding to this Notice will be solely at the expense of the interested party. Please provide business size (indicate your socioeconomic status), applicable NAICS code, and CAGE code. If you hold a GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract, please identify your contract number. QUESTIONS: Any questions for clarification may be emailed to jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil and elizabeth.l.barrett9.civ@army.mil no later than 13 October by 5:00 p.m. EST. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. An unattributed list of questions and answers will be published at the same web location of this Sources Sought Announcement. Contracting Office Address: BLDG 1 1 General Green Ave. Natick, Massachusetts 01760-5011 United States ** AMENDMENT 1 ** Provides a two-week extension for questions and responses.