A Request for Information (RFI) for Signaling, Visibility, Distress Marker, Detection

The Dept of the Army and the Dept of the Navy is soliciting government and industry for low cost, low bulk, lightweight, innovative visible signaling technology to allow day and night detection by search and rescue personnel at a maximum of 3000 ft / 5 nautical miles to within 4 feet of the survivor and: 1) Not degrade either Army cold-water immersion protection or mission requirements 2) Be maintainable by an untrained user. 3) Not interfere with day/night flight visibility. Especially sought is the consolidation of protective functions that are currently segregated into separate layers, for example, luminescent technologies incorporated into personal flotation or surface flotation; luminescence technologies that take advantage of resources abundant in the near environment (e.g. water movement, wind, salt water activated and sustained, etc). To be avoided are technologies that a) require power provided by aircraft connection, or b) impose greater maintenance, weight and/or bulk. Current emergency visibility technology includes: LPU flotation bladder is Bright Yellow; no retro-reflective tape is used on Army helmets; typically, an acrylic signaling mirror is carried; rarely is a strobe light or flares available due to cost. Current shortcomings: All items require one-handed dexterity to locate and operate. No item except strobe is visible @ 3000ft / 5 nautical miles, and the strobe is not always visible in day. Army requirements for cold-water surface immersion protection and survival: a) maintain user's body core temperature at or above 95 deg F, b) hand skin temperature at or above 60deg F for 4 hours immersion turbulent 32 deg Fwater; c) ability to egress from underwater aircraft (i.e., inherent system buoyancy not to exceed +175N); d) minimum flotation buoyancy of 156N; e) Mobility and flexibility to perform water survival procedures without impediment. f)Integrated protection against natural predators is desired but not required. Air Soldier/CWSE Background. The Air Soldier program is a system upgrade from Air Warrior seeking to reduce weight and bulk by 15-30%. The current CWSE consists of: individual inflatable life raft worn in a body-mounted carrier, inflatable life preserver, inflatable mittens and hood, moisture vapor transmissible dry suit with permanent wrist seals, neck seals, and socks; and isolative undergarments. CONTENT OF RFI RESPONSE the capabilities described herein are intentionally broad to ensure a comprehensive market survey. Responses to this RFI should describe the capability available from each proposed alternative identified for the mission and constraints defined herein. All respondents are requested to provide the following and shall clearly identify any elements of the system that would be delivered with less than Government purpose rights. Provide a general description of the capabilities described herein is intentionally broad to ensure a comprehensive market survey. Responses to this RFI should describe the capability available from each proposed alternative identified for the mission and constraints defined herein. All respondents are requested to provide the following and shall clearly identify any elements of the system that would be delivered with less than Government purpose rights. Provide a general description of the concept of design and operation, and current applications. Provide dimensional configuration drawings stowed and deployed configurations. Define/describe inherent system undeployed buoyancy; single-place deployed minimum flotation buoyancy and any protection against natural predators. Describe compliance with mission requirements above. Describe sizing and concept of fit. Describe maintenance concept including, projected service life, shelf life, place- in-service actions, repair actions, and other maintenance and support. SUBMISSION INFORMATION Parties interested in responding to the RFI must submit a statement of interest and samples no longer than ten pages and or less than 10MB to: Naval Air Warfare Center Dept of Navy ATTN: WLTodd, Code 4673, Room 1B58 48110 Shaw Road Patuxent River, MD 20670 DSN 342-9224/com (301) 342-9224 Full response submissions to the RFI shall be received no later than 8 August 2011. As stated above, this is NOT a request for Proposal. THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT, NOR WILL THE GOVERNMENT PAY FOR ANY INFORMATION SOLICITED OR PROVIDED. VI. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This RFI is an exchange of information between Government and Industry. It is the first step of an iterative process aimed at understanding the existence of sources that can deliver an inventory of fleet operable systems capable of performing the ML/LR COD mission described herein. Additional RFIs requesting further detail may be issued in the future to continue the Government's informational exchange with Industry. Information received as a result of this request is expected to be sensitive and/or proprietary to the responding company and will be protected as such. Any proprietary information received in response to this request will be properly protected from any unauthorized disclosures; however it is incumbent upon the respondent to appropriately mark all submissions. The Government will not use any proprietary information submitted to establish the capability, requirements, approach, or solution so as to not inadvertently restrict competition. In order to complete its review, NAVAIR 4.10 must be able to share the information within the Government and any responses marked in a manner that will not permit such internal Government review may be returned without being assessed/considered. THIS RFI IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.