99--Military Freefall (MFF) Parachutist Handheld Navigation Device

Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PM SCIE), Personnel Parachutes Team, Fort Belvoir, VA, is conducting a market survey to locate potential manufacturers or suppliers of a handheld navigation device (nav) in support of the Parachute Navigation System (PARANAVSYS). The PARANAVSYS program is in response to a need identified by the US Army (USA) Special Operations Command (USASOC) for a Global Positioning System (GPS) based navigation device for use during clandestine air infiltration missions. A capability gap exists in the tools available to the USA Airborne and Special Operations Forces (SOF) communities for planning and conducting High Altitude-High Opening (HAHO) and High Altitude-Low Opening (HALO) MFF missions. Currently units must rely on map studies, simple magnetic compasses which are susceptible to error due to crabbing (the difference between straight compass heading and actual track from outside influence such as winds) or commercial GPS devices not designed for the MFF mission. The PARANAVSYS will provide a reliable and easy to use handheld navigation device that will allow for accurate, automated mission planning, precise determination of the release point (RP) in the aircraft, the ability to update the mission profile as required prior to deployment, and real time navigation information during infiltration to multiple drop zones (DZs). The system will allow for enhanced mission capabilities due to the elimination of environmental and visual limitations of the current doctrine. It will increase the operational capability of Commanders to infiltrate parachutists by air surreptitiously into enemy held or denied territory, maintaining unit integrity and maximizing Force Protection at multiple IPs with near simultaneous landings, during all weather and light conditions. Handheld Navigation Device. The nav is a handheld mobile hardware (HW) platform which runs navigation, jumpmaster (JM) and mission planning (MP) SW, and provides visual instruction to the user. The nav shall be a commercial-based, integrated computing platform with display and data entry suitable for Airborne use. It shall acquire and process GPS data, which the navigation SW will use to display mission critical information to the parachutist, communicate via a data link (both wireless and hardwired) to a separate MP laptop computer and have the ability to connect with IP based radio systems to provide jumper and cargo asset position location information and other situational awareness (SA) information. The nav must also support MP SW and be able to send updated mission files/data to other navs. Although durability is a major concern, the nav should be as small and light as possible to reduce the burden placed on the parachutist by additional weight and reduced space for securing other equipment, while still allowing for a user-friendly, intuitive system design. The use of COTS smartphones and/or tablets is encouraged to reduce system cost, and increase the maintainability and availability of replacement parts. The display should be readily accessible and require minimal time and effort to activate once under canopy. To be effective, the nav must be operational during all phases and usable in all weather and environmental conditions of the MFF mission to include extreme temperatures, high altitude and high g shock during canopy opening; it must be operable with all extreme temperature gear such as face shields, goggles, gloves, etc. REQUIREMENTS: The nav should meet the following performance requirements, which contain both Threshold [T] and Objective [O] levels. The objective level is the performance goal, while the threshold level is the minimum acceptable performance short of the goal. 1) Environmental. a) Operate at an altitude of up to 24,999 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) [T]; up to 35,000 feet MSL [O]. b) Operate at a steady temperature of 40?F with a sudden drop to -30?F. Hold at -30?F for two (2) minutes followed by a gradual temperature increase of 2?F/minute for forty (40) minutes [T]; operate at a steady temperature of 40?F with a sudden drop to -65?F. Hold at -65?F for two (2) minutes followed by a sudden temperature increase of 35?F in seventy five (75) seconds then a gradual temperature increase of 2?F/minute for forty (40) minutes [O]. c) Withstand seven (7) g shock with all accompanying attachments and remain functional [T]; withstand ten (10) g shock and dropped from thirty six (36) inches onto concrete and remain functional [O]. d) Capable of use in climatic categories of the MFF mission profile, including basic hot, cold, severe cold, and high altitude pressure standards as defined by Army Regulation (AR) 70-38, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation of Materiel for Extreme Climatic Conditions [T/O]. e) Interoperable with extreme weather clothing and individual equipment (gloves, protective clothing/equipment, etc.) associated with the climatic categories of the MFF mission profile. f) Capable of use in inclement weather, to include precipitation and air carrier Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) [T/O]. g) Comply with minimum and maximum temperature in accordance with MIL STD 810-G, Department of Defense Test Method Standard Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests [T/O]. 2) Physical. a) As small and sleek as possible, less than six (6) inches high, four (4) inches wide, and one (1) inch deep, not including any protective case or mounting hardware [T/O]. b) Equal to or less than two (2) pounds, not including any protective case or mounting hardware [T/O]. c) Work in day or night light conditions [T/O]. d) Sunlight readable, 3.5 inch or larger screen size [T]; 4 inch or larger screen size [O]. e) Touch screen display, capable of use with gloves in wet, cold and dusty conditions [T/O]. 3) Controls. a) Have manual power (on/off) button [T/O]. b) Have manual screen brightness adjustment with physical buttons [T]; must also be able to adjust screen brightness automatically based on ambient light level [O]. c) Allow for switching between primary and alternate screens (e.g. from a navigation screen to a jumpmaster screen) with both physical and quote mark soft quote mark buttons [T/O]. d) Able to zeroize stored SAASM cryptographic keys and other sensitive mission data with a one-hand, multi-key button combination [T/O]. 4) Power Requirements. a) Battery life (screen on at least 50% of time, GPS and wireless enabled) of three (3) hours [T]; greater than six (6) hours [O]. b) Rechargeable and removable battery [T]; connect to an external rechargeable battery source capable of simultaneously powering and recharging the navigation device [O]. c) Provide a low battery warning [T/O]. d) Have a quote mark hot swappable quote mark battery [O only]. 5) Interfaces/Compatibility. a) Connect to mission planning laptop both hardwired and wirelessly [T/O]. b) Equipped with a commercial GPS chip and be able to provide military Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) GPS via an external device [T/O]. c) Able to receive and process GPS information at a rate of at least one (1) hertz [T/O]. d) Certifiable for use (airworthiness) on all USA, USAF, USMC, USN and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) aircraft that support MFF operations including CASA 212, C-23/27, and C/K/MC-130 series [T]; C-17, CH/MH-47, CH/MH-53, CV/MV-22, and UH/MH-60 [O]. e) Able to connect/compatible with multiple IP based radios and radios currently in use by MFF units [T/O]. f) Ability to connect with expansion modules/docks/hubs to provide additional capabilities such as SAASM GPS, radio connections and/or sensors [T/O]. g) Compatible with Government provided Android OS and software (Android OS 2.2 or higher) [T/O]. h) Able to support Ethernet over USB [T/O]. i) Able to be accredited under DoDI 8510.1, DoD Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process (DIACAP), to process, store, and support transmission of secret and below data [T/O]. j) Able to be locked to deactivate cellular phone network access capabilities [T/O]. RESPONSES: All interested firms and manufacturers, regardless of size, are encouraged to respond to this request for information. Information submissions should include available technology, product literature and illustrations, and relevant company background/experience. Product pricing shall also be provided as part of the information submission. Information submissions must be received by COB, 25 January 2013. Responses to this notice should be directed to: Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment, Personnel Parachutes Team, ATTN: Brian Huffman, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5057 or e-mail to contact@example.gov. All information supplied will be considered confidential, unless otherwise specified by the firm or available from other sources without restriction. This Market Survey is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be taken as a future commitment by PM SCIE.