Attached Equipment to Helicopter Cargo Hook Without Need for Personnel Under Aircraft

SYNOPSIS: This Sources Sought Announcement is to assist the US Army DEVCOM Soldier Center to identify potential sources to provide methods to attach equipment to a helicopter cargo hook without the need of personnel under the aircraft. The Government requests that responses be submitted electronically to jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil and wolff.gentil.civ@army.mil by 18 April 2022 by 5pm EDT. Background: The Government (DEVCOM Soldier Center) is in the need of equipment to minimize the dangers associated with helicopter under slung payload hook-ups by reducing or eliminating the need for personnel to be present under the helicopter during this mission. The proposed designs should interface with the cargo hook of the Army and Marine cargo helicopters (CH-47, UH-60 and CH-53) on one end and standard Army Helicopter Sling Load (HSL) equipment on the other. Description: The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM Soldier Center) in Natick, MA, is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) on methods to attach equipment to a helicopter cargo hook without the need of personnel under the aircraft. The identified equipment proposes to minimize the dangers associated with helicopter under slung payload hook-ups by reducing or eliminating the need for personnel to be present under the helicopter during this mission. The proposed designs should interface with the cargo hook of the Army and Marine cargo helicopters (CH-47, UH-60 and CH-53) on one end and standard Army Helicopter Sling Load (HSL) equipment on the other. Specific Specifications: The proposed equipment shall have the following characteristics: 1) Capable of meeting the HSL requirements for helicopter sling equipment. Metallic and textile components will meet the minimum load requirements for 10K and 25K sling equipment: a) Proof load value of 35,500 lb. and 76,500 lb. b) Ultimate strength value of 50,000 lb. and 125,000 lb. 2) Interface with the current HSL equipment (5,000 lb. and 10,000 lb. HSL cargo nets and 10,000 lb. and 25,000 lb. HSL sling sets). 3) Electric devices are not restricted to only utilize aircraft or battery power. 4) Components of the system shall be less than 100 lb. in order to be maneuvered by two (2) soldiers. 5) The system will not require modification to the airframe 6) The system will be capable of being attached and removed from the helicopter without the need of tools Deliverables: Vendors with capabilities that meet the above description and specifications are welcome to submit information or white papers (not to exceed 5 pages) to the points of contact below. 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 in the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps) 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 CCDC Soldier Center via e-mail ONLY to jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil and wolff.gentil.civ@army.mil by 18 April 2022 by 5:00 p.m. EDT. 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 wolff.gentil.civ@army.mil no later than 15 April 2022 by 5:00 p.m. EDT. 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. Amendment 0001 Q: What is the format for the white paper submission? A: There is no specific format for the white paper. It's an RFI, not an RFP, so market research. Provide any information you're willing to share on your approach, some ROM costs if available, etc. Q: What are the design standards? A: Design standards are MIL-STDs, not ANSI, etc. The number of systems, 2-4 likely with some test support for our testing at Government test centers.