High Ratio Reduction Transmission (HRRT)

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. 1. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes (IAW FAR 15.201(e)) as part of a market survey by the U.S. Army's Aviation Development Directorate (ADD). It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. There is no solicitation available at this time. Further, the U.S. Army is not seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supplies or services in the future. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary. Failure to respond to this RFI will not preclude participation in any future RFP, if applicable. If a future solicitation is released it will be synopsized through the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps) website. There will be no compensation by the Government for any cost incurred in providing a response. 2. The Army Contracting Command is issuing this RFI to interested parties on behalf of ADD, who is seeking information on a High Ratio Reduction Transmission (HRRT) for primary application to current and future unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Both system and component level data are sought, which describe candidate technologies of interest, their current capabilities and risks, and component / system level development plans to address known risks and current performance shortfalls. Information on potential drive system solutions, and associated technology maturity will assist the U.S. Army's planning efforts to adapt/develop advanced, optimum solutions for current and future UAV applications. 3. Background: 3.1. The future Army aviation concept of operations is relying more and more on the extended use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). The use of these vehicles enhance the battlefield scenario, providing much needed information to the warfighter. The attributes of these air vehicles include rapid deployment, loiter capability, and most importantly, shielding the ground troops and pilots from harm. These air vehicles can range in size from miniature to near standard manned aircraft size. They have generally been powered by non-turbine based engines, relying on pusher or tractive propellers to motivate them. There has always been the desire to use small turbine engines due to the lightweight characteristics of the engine platform however, use of turbine engines necessitates the use of a reduction transmission to achieve output shaft speeds compatible with propellers. The addition of this reduction transmission adds significant weight and detracts from the useful payload that the UAV is able to carry. 3.2. Advances in gearbox and gear train technology, especially in the pericyclic and epicyclic areas of endeavor, have yielded transmission concepts with high ratio reduction and in some cases variable speed capability in a small package. This RFI seeks to gather information regarding the technologies existing or required to enable a high ratio reduction transmission that accomplishes said reduction in two stages or less, in a lightweight, compact package for future and current fleet of UAV's. 4. Requirement: 4.1. The Aviation Development Directorate (ADD) is seeking information on technologies for High Ratio Reduction Transmissions (HRRT) with or without variable output speed. This effort seeks to expose and investigate the current and required technologies necessary for development and testing of a high ratio reduction transmission in two stages or less. Lightweight, high reliability designs and technologies are sought. Input speed capability shall be 35,000 RPM (constant) and output speed shall nominally be 583 RPM (60:1 reduction). Continuously variable output shaft speed (based around the specified base output speed) is desirable but not required. Power density goals shall be 0.12 pound per horsepower (fixed output speed) or 0.15 pound per horsepower (variable output speed) and based on a 200 horsepower system. Overall efficiency shall be 0.97 (97%) or better. 4.2. In order for such a proposed system to achieve maximum applicability across a broad aircraft platform range, the HRRT concept unit shall be capable of being installed in any application typically between the output of the turbine engine and the propeller. Put a different way, integration of the HRRT in a platform specific environment with little or no universal applicability to other UAV platforms is discouraged. Input and output power paths shall be linear or in-line (no 45 or 90 degree path direction changes required). Gearbox shall be capable of independently absorbing all torque, propeller, shear, and bending loads from the engine, propeller, or any combination thereof. Additional support structure, stiffeners, or dampers of any sort are discouraged. If required, these devices will count against and be included in the power density calculation. 4.3. Information, designs, and other pertinent data relative to the HRRT will be presented in a design format with supporting information verifying to the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and maturation necessary for installation and testing on a candidate platform. 4.4. White papers that address the following items are requested: - Information on the current state-of-the-art (including discussion of Technology Readiness Level (TRL) status) of candidate drive systems that possess the above requirements or can be matured to achieve the above requirements. - Information on any technology relative to or that can assist in achieving the above requirements - Description of any developmental/Science & Technology (S&T) efforts that are currently ongoing and relate to identified candidate technologies. If your company has existing Department of Defense (DoD) contracts or developmental/S&T efforts, please provide the contract number, a point of contact, and a brief description of the information on these efforts, to include the status and maturity level. - Description of effort and rough order of magnitude (ROM) of projected cost to develop and demonstrate technologies of interest to a technology readiness level of four (TRL 4) culminating in installation and testing on a candidate platform. - Technology applications to power levels higher than 200 horsepower. - Commentary on the feasibility of such a transmission in regards to achieving the specified goals regarding power density and weight. - Comment on the projected service life of the technology and maintenance. The Army desires to have no maintenance (oil changes excluded) for 2,000 hours. 4.4.1. White papers submitted in response to this RFI should also include a cover letter with the following information: Organization name, address, email address, Web site address, telephone number, CAGE code, NAICS code and size, and type of ownership for the organization. 4.4.2. There is no intent on the part of the Government to provide feedback on white papers submitted in response to this RFI. However, ADD may contact the submitter for further information as necessary. 5. Submission Instructions: 5.1. Interested parties are invited to submit a response to this RFI no-later-than 3:30pm EST on 22 December 2017. Submissions are not to exceed twenty (20) pages using your preferred format, in 12-pitch Times New Roman font, and sent electronically (MS Office or PDF) to thomas.m.helms6.civ@mail.mil via emai and/or the AMRDEC Safe Access and File Exchange website (https://safe.amrdec.army.mil/SAFE/). 5.2. If proprietary or copyrighted information is submitted, please include a statement authorizing the Government to reproduce for Government review purposes. Appropriately marked proprietary information will be properly protected by the U.S. Government. 5.3. Submissions are limited to U.S. firms and should be unclassified. Classified information should only be submitted if it significantly clarifies or broadens the scope of technology considered. If a classified response is necessary, please email the contracting point of contact for specific submittal instructions. AMRDEC's SAFE site is not approved for transmission of classified information. 6. If there are any questions regarding this RFI, please contact Thomas Helms at Thomas.m.helms6.civ@mail.mil. Contracting Office Address: Aviation Development Directorate-Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (ADD-AATD) - Contracting Office 401 Lee Blvd Fort Eustis, Virginia 23604-5577 United States Place of Performance: Army Contracting Command ATTN: CCAM-RDT 401 Lee Boulevard Fort Eustis, Virginia 23604-5577 United States Primary Point of Contact: Thomas Helms, Contract Specialist Thomas.m.helms6.civ@mail.mil Phone: (757) 878-2900