Expeditionary Smart Power System (ESPS) Prototype Development

NOTICE OF Request for Information RELEASE. This is a notice to announce that a Request for Information (RFI) has been issued through the Sensors, Communications, and Electronics Consortium (SCEC) for Expeditionary Smart Power System (SPS) Prototype Development. This notice and the associated RFI documents are tentatively issued according to the authority provided under 10 U.S.C. - 2371b, Other Transaction Authority. The current due date for the Request for Information is 03 February 2023,1400 Eastern Standard Time. OVERVIEW OF PROGRAM. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC), Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center Research and Technology Integration (RTI) Directorate, Power Division (PD) seeks the development of a suite of enhanced capability, SPSs to support Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), while reducing energy consumption and logistics burden. The U.S. Army has an enduring need for hardware and software solutions for intelligent power and energy-enabling systems including soldier-portable tactical power sources durable enough to operate reliably under the austere field conditions inherent in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). The power suite prototypes will be a combination of new advanced capabilities as well as enhancements/upgrades to the current software and hardware baseline to expand Army power capabilities. There has been an ever-increasing need for clean power on the battlefield for power consuming weapon systems. These power systems are required to communicate securely and effectively with the user, each other, and the systems they support to form a smart integrated network. CSISR anticipates the development of a SPS prototype consisting of an integrated suite of advanced interoperable power systems for various weapon system platforms that can demonstrate significant improvement in performance to prepare the Army for the modern battle space environment. The program seeks to improve current power sources (components) and develop new products that are not fielded to create a robust source of power that can be adapted and reconfigured to meet the extend power needs for the growing number of tactical electronic devices. The objective characteristics of the prototype will encompass an optimization of tradeoffs in power storage, power regeneration, and the ability to tap power from opportunistic available sources, while providing the user with condition status in a practical form factor that is scalable to the application. The prototype suite will demonstrate improvements in Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP) and allow the Government to make informed decisions for procurement and integration. The overall prototype suite will consist of advanced power generation, conditioning, communication, control, storage and security components and the associated software capable of full interoperability with the existing systems. CSISR Center is interested in receiving information from companies capable of developing a SPS prototype capable of providing the capability described above. CSISR Center intends to use this information to invite a subsequent request for proposals (RFP) on the topic. HOW TO COMPETE. Only members of the Sensors Communications and Electronics Consortium (SCEC) in good standing are eligible to participate in this opportunity. Request for Information must be submitted through SCEC. Large and Small Business are eligible for SCEC membership and to compete for this opportunity. If interested in becoming an SCEC member, please visit the following link to the SCEC Website for membership and contact information WWW.SCECONSORTIUM.NET. Copies of the solicitation documents are available upon request. NOTICE OF FOLLOW-ON PRODUCTION OPPORTUNITY. Following successful completion of the prototype project, and subject to the availability of funds, the Government anticipates transition from this prototype project to a follow-on production/sole source FAR-based contract or Other Transaction Agreement. The Government intends for this prototype project to procure a hardware and software prototype. It is expected that the full hardware and software prototype will be delivered at the conclusion of the effort. However, it is anticipated that this effort may lead to a follow-on FAR-based contract or Other Transaction Agreement for integration with additional systems. The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) will provide for potential award of a follow-on transaction (to the Sub-Awardee), without the use of competitive procedures, to procure additional usages for the software architecture. The follow-on contract(s) or transaction(s) may be awarded to Sub-Awardee(s) that successfully and fully completed the prototype project. In sum, this Request for White Paper (RFWP) may be the only opportunity that an interested entity will have to compete for this requirement for several years. The Government encourages all interested firms to pursue this prototype project opportunity.