41--REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: Ice Making Systems for use by military services in various theaters of operation

INTRODUCTION: This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) notice for planning purposes. This RFI notice is being issued for the purpose of assessing industries' current capabilities in providing energy efficient Ice Making Systems for use by military services in various theaters of operations. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME. Any information provided does not constitute a proposal, but will be considered an exchange of capabilities and ideas. Neither Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems (PM FSS) nor the Government will be responsible for any cost incurred in furnishing this information. This RFI does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that the PM FSS will take procurement action in this matter. BACKGROUND: The remote locations of base camps create significant challenges for logistics support of combat operations, in particular bagged ice production. These base camps are heavily dependent on large, long-distance truck convoys whose cargo is dominated by water and bulk fuel. Convoy routes through unsecured areas are frequently hazardous, and transport is always expensive. PM FSS is in the process of initiating dramatic steps toward rapidly improving the logistics support required to establish and operate base camps. Information received from this RFI may be used to help identify technical solutions suitable for rapidly enhancing ice making capability at base camp operations. Information received may ultimately result in requests for equipment manufacturers to demonstrate their ice production capabilities at no cost or risk to the Government as early as May 2013. PURPOSE: PM FSS is interested in understanding the currently available capabilities that could enhance the bagged ice need sustainability of remote operating bases engaged in combat operations. This RFI focuses on technologies and equipment that addresses energy ice production systems to meet the ice production need of 3,600lbs per day. Technologies of interest are those that would most effectively produce and automatically bag ice in support of a base a base camp supporting 600 personnel with 300 additional personnel located forward. Information is requested in the form of brief product descriptions. The current concepts of use for these Ice Making Systems will be for extended periods of time are to replace convoy provided ice supply in operational theaters when deployments. Primary functional uses of these systems will be as ice production systems to automatically produce the ice and deliver in sealed bag. PLAN: The PM FSS is seeking Companies or Government agencies to demonstrate Ice Making Systems at Ft. Devens, MA starting on or after 20 May 2013 for a minimum of 90 days through December 2013. Due to limited field space available to have companies demonstrate their products, PM FSS reserves the right to select only a small number of potential solutions being offered from the responses received. PM FSS plans on investigating each selected Ice Making System for ice production capability, ability to meet the requirements of producing and bagging ice and operational efficiency. Each company selected will receive an independent PM FSS assessment of their commercial product only. All costs associated with shipping, installation, take-down, re-installation, and removal of a company's Ice Making System or component thereof, from site shall be borne by the company. PM FSS will supply material handling equipment (MHE) to off load assets from transportation means to ground on site. PM FSS will assign a date and location for the assessment which will be coordinated with the company. DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCTS SOUGHT Ice Making Systems solutions with capability to produce ice, bag and seal and store ice are sought to provide the capability for Base Camps own organic ice supply. Mature technologies and products that can provide the following capabilities are of interest: 1. Ice Making Systems to produce 3,600lbs Threshold/7,200lbs Objective of cubed, tube or nugget ice and bag ice in 10lb to 20lb sealed bags and store 1,200lbs at one time within system. 2. Provide a system capable of operating in operational environments up to 130 deg F. 3. Each Ice Making System shall have an ease of access for operational use with minimal operator input for the automated ice production capability. 4. Ice Making Systems capable of producing ice with inlet water temperatures ranges from 40F to 90F. 5. Systems able to accept commercial power or from a standard military generator set. 6. These systems must be able to withstand the durability and structural load demands of military systems to include extreme environmental conditions and rough handling. 7. These systems must be FDA, NSF and UL compliant/approved. 8. Ideally these ice making systems shall have the following: a. Ability to interface with existing base camps infrastructure. b. Collapsible to minimize transportation cube, allowing for assembly, disassembly, and re-assembly multiple times, with a minimum 10 years useful life. c. In the International Standards Organization (ISO) transportation mode the Ice System shall meet the requirements for the following: all modes of transport, (marine, highway, rail, and fixed and rotary wing aircraft), stacking requirements of marine modes and dimensional requirements. Ideal transportation size (cube) and weight would allow commercial aircraft to be used to transport assets. d. Capable of withstanding rough handling and inclement weather conditions (including snow loading) encountered in all transportation and storage modes. The system must be able to withstand storage temperatures of minus sixty (60) degrees Fahrenheit (F) to plus one hundred forty (140) degrees F. e. Capable of being handled by local material handling equipment (MHE) as well as container handling equipment. f. External surfaces will be corrosion resistant and be capable of decontamination by standard military procedures. g. Able to be erected on semi-prepared surfaces (cleared and basically level) and self-leveling is desired. Ice System may be placed on foot pads, concrete blocks, footers, beams/rails, head wall or its pedestals. h. Able to accept commercial power and able to interface with a standard US military generator set. CONTENT AND FORMAT OF PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS: The electronic copy of responses is to be in Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Word 2007 or Adobe Acrobat 9 compatible format using a size 12 font with one inch margins. Following a review of the responses received, PM FSS may elect to request additional information, or schedule one-on-one meetings with some respondents to gain additional information about their proposed solution(s). SUBMISSION - should include: a. A cover page labeled with the heading Ice Making System Product Description, Including product name, the manufacturer, and manufacturer address, technical point of contact, telephone number, email address and at least one photograph of the end item. b. An executive summary describing how the product could enhance ice making capability of a base camp. c. No more than ten pages including: (1) Product technical description. Fully describe the product inclusive of all components. (i.e. housing system, ice maker, bagging system, power distribution system, lighting, operation concept, and any other applicable components.) (2) Narrative describing the ice making system of the product being demonstrated. (3) Product specifications with particular emphasis on quantitative metrics of energy consumption and capability. Other specifications would include parameters such as dimensions, weight, capacities, input requirements, salient output capabilities, or other quantitative characteristics as appropriate. (4) Identify all tools and equipment required to set up and take down/pack. (5) Transportation requirements and limitations. (6) Manpower and time required to set up, take down and pack for transport. (7) Relevant history of product (or similar product) utilization. (8) Relevant test data, test reports. (9) Catalog price or rough estimate of unit cost. (10) Earliest availability for a product demonstration at no cost or risk to the Government. (11) Identify energy consumption of system. (12) Describe the ice making process, bagging and storage process. (13) When the product is taken out of service what are the planned methods for disposal. Include any unique environmental or security requirements that must be considered for retiring or disposing of the product after its useful life. PM FSS reserves the right to request additional clarifying information from each respondent. SUBMISSION DATE AND ADDRESS: Electronic responses to this notice are requested to be emailed to contact@example.gov no later than Thursday, February 7, 2013, 5pm EST. The subject line of the e-mail should contain the words Ice Making System Product Description. Large files may be submitted on CD to the following address: US Army Soldier Systems Center ATTN: SFAE-CSS-FP-F (Mr. Benjamin Campbell) 15 Kansas St. Natick, MA 01760 NOTE: This RFI is issued for the purpose of determining market capability of sources and does not constitute an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services contained in this notice. All information received in response to this notice that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses may not include classified material. Responses to this notice will not be returned. No reimbursement will be made for any costs to provide information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. Information contained herein is based on the best information available at the time for publication, is subject to revision, and is not binding upon the Government. Availability of any formal solicitation will be announced under a separate Federal Business Opportunities announcement.