A--MARKET RESEARCH For the COMMON ANALYTICAL LABORATORY SYSTEM (CALS) PROGRAM

This is a Sources Sought Synopsis ONLY. Requests for copies of solicitation will not receive a response. The Joint Product Manager, Consequence Management (JPdM-CM), Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD is conducting market research to identify potential sources that can provide mobile and/or transportable platforms that are able to integrate the following: 1. Power Generation Equipment 2. Environmental Controls 3. Infrastructure for the installation of: a. Engineering Controls - Glove boxes, Fume Hoods, etc. b. Communication Equipment c. Analytical Equipment 4. Integration options for securing instrument racks, tables, etc. a. Ease of installation and removal b. Easily accessed JPdM-CM is interested in various sized platforms to satisfy user requirements for the Common Analytical Laboratory System (CALS). JPdM-CM is releasing this RFI as a follow-up to a RFI posted in April 2010. The purpose of this announcement is to inform industry of the intent of the CALS effort and to gather information from sources capable of providing platforms that meet the CALS requirements. JPdM-CM requests that an information paper be submitted as part of the response. The information paper should address the following: 1. Describe your ability and strategy to support the CALS program both near and long term. What is your area of expertise? What facilities and support structure are currently in place and what is envisioned for the future? 2. Describe your teaming strategy. Does your company have the in house capability to support the CALS program or will other companies be included as part of your strategy? 3. Describe the company's capabilities and maturity. How is the company structured to support the CALS program in the near and long term? 4. Describe the product's ability to allow integration of various equipment sets. What design considerations will be necessary to integrate the anticipated components of the CALS? 5. Estimate lead time, assuming all design considerations have been finalized, for: a. Providing 1-4 platforms of various sizes for prototype/testing b. Preparing production line for multiples of the same platform, up to 65 c. Production of platforms (line item b). Estimate per platform or per groups of 8 platforms d. Retooling the production line for various sizes of platforms The CALS is based on a modular mobile laboratory concept that will consist of deployable modules that can be tailored to the specific needs of the specific consequence management laboratory units, Service Commanders, Joint Task Force - Civil Support (JTF-CS) and Joint Force Commander (JFC). CALS will be a transportable, mobile, multi-capability Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNe) system of systems, based on open system architecture, and comprised of specific technologies to assist the warfighter and first responders in identifying CBRNe hazards. CALS will be a modular, scalable, interoperable, and operationally integrated, mission-driven material solution for mobile lab analysis. CALS will take a modular approach with respect to a smaller, deployable footprint consisting of flexible, adaptable, testable, plug 'n play capabilities; reduced power consumption; lighter, faster, and more accurate analytical equipment; net-centric, interoperable communications linked with external systems; more efficient laboratory processes, reduced personnel staffing; and expandable laboratory design. The CALS will provide a means to detect and quickly identify CBRNe materials in clinical specimens, environmental samples, and food samples; analyze, and provide field identification of threat agents, and genetically modified agents, to include low level biological warfare agents (BWA), chemical warfare agents (CWA), radiological material (RM), nuclear material (NM), high explosive residue (HER), toxic industrial compounds (TIC), and toxic industrial materials (TIM); and provide analytical results in an expedient manner to assist commanders in making risk management decisions about force protection measures to minimize the effects of a CBRNe event and allow the force to complete its mission. Activities are currently underway to develop an acquisition strategy that minimizes the time and cost required to satisfy approved capability needs, and maximizes affordability throughout the program life-cycle. The CALS Program has successfully entered the Technology Development phase, with fielding expected to occur from 2015 through 2017. CALS capabilities will focus on: Enhanced all-hazard sample analytical capabilities across CBRNe portfolios in order to increase confidence and sampling capability in support of Homeland Defense, as well as deployed CBRNe and high explosive detection equipment; Information management via a net-centric approach with a common information backbone for reach-back to subject matter experts; An open, industry standard, Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) capability, that uses Internet protocols for seamless device plug-in; a capability that provides the ability to plug a device into a network and have it recognize that the device is there, as well as when a new device had been added. The architecture of Universal Plug and Play should allow for the peer-to-peer networking of networked appliances, PCs, and wireless devices. It should be a distributed, open architecture based on UDP, TCP/IP, and HTTP. Universal Plug and Play will enable the communication between any two devices under the command of any control device on the network. Optimized operational readiness via: o The use of human-factors engineering to design systems that require minimal manpower; provide effective training; can be operated and maintained by users; and are suitable (habitable and safe with minimal environmental and occupational health hazards) and survivable (for both the crew and equipment). o The use of robust engineering controls that are user friendly; enhances sample pre-screening preparation, protection, and storage; increases personnel safety; and has a broad spectrum alarm capability. The anticipated components of the CALS will include the following: Analytical Component Suite - Chemical Suite - Biological Suite - Radiological Suite - High-Yield Explosive Suite Environmental Controls Component Suite Engineering Controls Component Suite Power Component Suite Diagnostics/Built-in-Test (BIT) Equipment (BITE) Component Suite - Provides the increased ability to launch on time, launch on demand, and improves the degree of supportability of critical components. A power-on self-test that performs a comprehensive test. A periodic test that assures the device has not become unsafe/inoperable since the power-on self test. A self-test to discover whether the device needs repair or calibration System of System Integration Support Component Suite - Communication Suite - Decision Support and Data Management & Analysis Suite - Embedded Training Suite - Software Applications Suite Equipment must be capable of operating in an all-hazard environment for sustained periods of at least 72 hours without outside technical support for repair or operations. All firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice are advised that their response to this notice is not a request to be considered for a contract award. All sources that are able to provide technologies meeting criteria in this announcement should submit their interest to APG-Joint Product Manager Consequence Management. No entitlement or payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of submission of responses to this Notice and Government use of such information. All proprietary data that the respondent intends to be used only by the Government for evaluation purposes must be identified and appropriately marked. See Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 3.104.4;52.215-1(e). The respondent must also identify all technical data contained in the information paper that is to be treated by the Government as 'subject to restrictive markings'. In the absence of such identification, the Government will assume to have unlimited rights to all technical data in the information paper. Acknowledgement of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the government's view of the information received. Respondents are instructed not to send any material that requires a non-disclosure agreement. Responses to this notice will not be returned. Responses should be submitted, as indicated above, and at a minimum, should include: RFI number, company name, address, telephone number, facsimile number, website address (if available), and type of business (large or small), cage code, informational paper addressing the areas of interest listed above, brochures, published technical specifications, and 3rd party performance verification. The name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives should also be included. Submission shall not exceed 50 single sided pages. The electronic submission shall be submitted in Portable Document Format (.pdf) or Microsoft Word (.doc) format. Electronic submissions are required and shall be sent to the following email addresses: contact@example.gov contact@example.gov The subject line of the email transmittal must be as follows: "Response to RFI WR11SR-11-CALS-RFI". Submissions are due no later than 5:00pm, June 3, 2011, Eastern Standard Time.