Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH) Transporter

1) This is a Sources Sought Request for Information (RFI) notice issued by The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) on behalf of the Maritime Program Executive Office (PEO-M); Program Manager Surface Systems (PM-SS) for information and planning purposes only. This is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP) and a formal solicitation is not available at this time. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government to issue an RFP, contract, or order. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow up information requests. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. a) PM-SS is conducting market research to identify sources with the required expertise and capabilities that might be interested in responding to a formal solicitation if one were to be issued for Transporter design and manufacture. A detailed proposal is not requested. b) The overall objective of this RFI is to conduct market research in support of preliminary planning for the acquisition of one CCH Transporter, hereafter referred to as Transporter. The purpose of this Transporter is to provide over the road transport, and aircraft loading and unloading for the fleet of three, existing CCH craft. c) Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly and specifically identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response. The Government will not be liable for, or suffer any compensatory or consequential damages for any proprietary information that has not been both properly marked and clearly and specifically identified. Information marked proprietary received in response to this RFI will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable Government regulations. To aid the Government in its review, please segregate proprietary information. d) Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future competitive solicitation, if one is issued. If a solicitation is issued, it will be announced later via FedBizOpps (FBO.gov) and all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from the responses to this RFI. e) Respondents are not expected to account for Government Furnished Equipment/Information (GFE/GFI) not provided herein, but that may be included in future solicitations. If your response requires assumptions to be complete, please summarize the assumptions made in your response so that the response can be considered properly. 2) The Government shall furnish a Prime Mover, if required, at the point of embarkation or disembarkation. The GFE Prime Mover, shall accompany the CCH and Transporter, except in cases of C-17 transport; in which case the prime mover may be moved via a second aircraft. The Transporter may be a combined single unit with either a rigid or an articulating frame, if that unit can met the following criteria. 3) Combined CCH / Prime Mover specifications: a) Prime Mover Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR): 140,000 lbs. b) CCH weight: Max 82,850 lbs. c) CCH length: 77'- 6" ft. (Minimum) - 80'- 7" ft. (Maximum) d) CCH beam: 14'- 4" 4) Transporter Characteristics/Requirements to meet mission and transportation requirements: a) Transporter Certifications: The Transporter shall be designed and manufactured to meet the following standards with CCH loaded: - U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and international (INTL) requirements for roadway transport of oversized loads. - United States Navy (USN) and Military Sealift Command (MSC) requirements for sea transport. - Air Transportability Test Loading Activity (ATTLA) Internal Air Transport certification for transport in C17 and C5 aircraft. b) Craft Weight: Total weight of the Transporter with CCH loaded shall not exceed the weight limits for: - U.S. and INTL roadways approved for oversized loads; and - The GCWR weight of the selected administrative prime mover. c) Pneumatic Braking: - Powered by externally supplied air (e.g., from a Prime Mover) - That meet DOT and INTL roadway braking standards for oversized loads. d) Lights and Alarms: DOT-required lights/indicators (e.g., brakes, turn signals, and reverse) and alarms (i.e., backup alarm) for oversized loads; externally powered (e.g., from a prime mover) 12 VDC using a standard 7-pin SAE connector to energize. e) Maneuverability: Steerable rear wheels, independent of the prime mover to: - Adjust alignment during aircraft and ship on-load/offload; - Negotiate a 90 degree intersection where each roadway is no more than 34 feet wide, without touching the curb; and, - Operate continuously for 6 hours - Threshold (T); 8 hours - Objective (O) without external support (recharge batteries/re-pressurize accumulators/etc.). f) Transporter Controller: A single, local, control device attached to the Transporter via an umbilical cord for both steering the rear wheels and for articulating the Transporter (and/or loaded craft) during on-load / offload. g) Suspension System: - Equal to or better than pneumatic air ride capability to mitigate roadway shock and vibration. - Capable of transitioning uneven terrain where the elevation varies across the width of the Transporter and/or between successive wheels on the same side of the Transporter by a height of no less than 4 inches (T); 6 inches (O). h) Lifting System: Articulate itself and/or the loaded craft, to: - Accommodate aircraft and ship on-load/offload - Ramp angles and knuckles, and - Overhead and ground clearance limitations; - Limit (T) or remove (O) the need for the use of dunnage to decrease the effective depth or height of transition points; and, - Operate continuously for 6 hours (T); 8 hours (O) without external support (recharge batteries/re-pressurize accumulators/etc.). i) Craft Bunks: Padded bunks to support the craft, positioned to allow for marine travel lift slings (belly bands) and vertical lift (crane) slings. Adjustable to various configurations of each CCH. j) Tie Downs: Fixed and/or movable lift/anchor points in sufficient quantity and position to: - Secure the CCH to the Transporter (Must preclude craft-to-airframe connections during air transport.); - Lift the Transporter with and without the CCH; - Secure the Transporter for transport with and without the CCH via military and/or commercial vessels and C-5 or C-17 aircraft. k) Flight Pads: Adjustable, removable, vertical support elements ("flight pads" or "feet") to: - Meet C5 and C17 aircraft cargo load-bearing / weight distribution limitations; - Enable: - Connecting / disconnecting the Prime Mover; - Parking / storing the Transporter without prime mover; - Vertical lift of the Transporter (without the CCH or the Prime Mover). l) On Board Storage: Dedicated, lockable, readily accessible storage locations on the Transporter for all required equipment when not in use. Equipment includes but it not limited to: lifting slings, all required craft tie-downs, 1.5x volume of any fluids required by the Transporter, shoring materials, flight pads, controllers, umbilical cords, DOT placards, etc. O-board storage device shall not require any tools to both secure and readily release each piece of equipment. m) Materials and Assembly: The Transporter shall be constructed: - To provide the requisite strength to support a fully loaded craft under expected ground, sea and air transport dynamic conditions; - Of non-ferrous or powder coated materials to limit corrosion; - All electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic components, to include connections, manufactured and assembled to resist / minimize the ingress of liquids and solids (IP-66); and, - All components assembled to limit corrosion from seawater contact and galvanic action. n) Rated Max Speed: Capable of safely, securely, and reliably transporting the CCH over improved roadways at sustained speeds of 20 mph (T); speeds of 55 mph (O). o) Signage: Removable DOT placards for roadway transport of oversized loads and appropriate holders / mounts for their use. p) Maintainability: - Maximum use of Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) components, fasteners, and petroleum, oil and lubricants. - Minimal preventative maintenance requirements. - Minimal need to remove obstructing parts, pieces, and components when conducting preventative maintenance. 5) RFI Responses shall include: a. Detailed description and sufficient information to allow the Government to determine whether the source has experience and/or capabilities that qualify the source to fabricate the system. b. Description of any trailers/transporters that the contractor has built and delivered which generally fit the Characteristics/Requirements identified in this RFI. It is recommended that descriptions include the following: i. A brief summary of Transporter (include hydraulic system, tie-downs, power generation) ii. Dimensional information iii. Weight information to include maximum hoisting weight, if applicable iv. Performance characteristics (I.e. max speed at full load, turning radius, at a minimum. It is recommended that data be provided where possible to substantiate performance characteristics. c. Provide a description of previous development/production efforts performed on a trailer of this size (if any). d. Provide Rough Order of Magnitude, separating Non-recurring engineering costs from manufacturing costs. 6) Response Instructions: a. Responses are limited to fifteen (15) pages. Do not include company marketing material, corporate profiles, personnel resumes or duplicate material from a corporate website b. Format: Responses should be formatted to print out legibly as follows: A) paper size 8.5 x 11 inch paper; B) 1" margins; C) Single spaced; D) Times New Roman Font, 12 Pt; and E) Microsoft 2010 or later and / or PDF format. c. Questions or comments may be submitted in writing up to 10 business days prior to the response date to Dr. Denise Sieber, email: mary.sieber.ctr@socom.mil d. Only electronic submissions provided to USSOCOM contracting officer will be accepted. The Contracting Officer is Ms. Roxanne Gerry, email: Roxanne.Gerry@SOCOM.mil. Responses shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer no later than September 19, 2018 by 1400 EDT. 7) Notice of Intent to Utilize Government Support Contractors: Respondents attention is directed to the fact that contractor personnel may provide advice and support reviewing responses. When appropriate, contractor personnel may have access to response packages and may be utilized to objectively review information and provide comments and recommendations to the Government. They may not make decisions or establish final assessments. All advisors shall comply with Procurement Integrity Laws and shall sign Non-Disclosure and Rules of Conduct/Conflict of Interest statements. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Responses to the RFI constitutes approval to release the submittals to Government Support Contractors. This is a Request for Information only and may or may not result in the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP), if you choose to submit proprietary information, mark it according to your company specifications.