THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. The Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) seeks information from firms capable of providing naval sea mine development, test and evaluation in support of the United States Navy. THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICITATION ISSUANCE, BUT RATHER A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION from industry that will support the development of a set of concepts to be evaluated in a trade-off study to select the best candidate for a rapid acquisition program for a new naval sea mine. The information sought herein is for planning purposes only and should not be construed as a Request For Proposal (RFP) or as any obligation or commitment on the part of the Government to acquire any product or service. There shall be no basis for claims against the Government as a result of any information submitted in response to this RFI. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or otherwise to pay for any ! information submitted by respondents to this request. Objective. Identify candidate technologies for use in a future intermediate-depth naval sea mine. Leverage industry expertise to identify and assess candidate technology systems and subsystems that meet the criteria and capabilities described in this request for information. Background. The United States has utilized sea mines since the time of the Revolutionary War. Today's modern sea mine has evolved into an autonomous system that detects target signatures, localizes the target with target motion algorithms, and engages the target by detonating the mine warhead at the target's closest point of approach. Recently, interest has developed for using mines to support all the pillars of Sea Power 21, since they obviate the need for force-on-force engagement. The U.S Navy presently has two classes of sea mine systems in-service. The first class is a series of sea bottom-sitting explode-in-place mines that are effective in waters shallower than about 200 feet. They include the Mines Mk 62, 63, and 65, commonly referred to as Quickstrike Mines. Quickstrike Mines contain Target Detecting Devices (TDDs) that contain magnetic, pressure, and seismic sensors to identify and localize targets. The other sea bottom-sitting mine is the Mine Mk 67, or Submarine Launched Mobile Mine (SLMM) that can be covertly planted from submarines at long stand off ranges. SLMM uses the same TDDs as Quickstrike. Because these mines sit on the bottom, they become warhead limited at depths below about 200 feet. At the deeper depths the second class of mine, the Mine Mk 56 is used. The Mine Mk 56 is an explode-in-place moored mine, where the case can be moored at a pre-selectable depth. This mine is used in the intermediate water depth regime, generally from about 150 feet to 1100 ft, and can target both submarines and surface combatants. However, to obtain coverage in depth against all targets, a large number of mines are required at different depths. Since the mine is large and only deployed by aircraft, an undesirably large number of sorties are required to plant an effective minefield. Furthermore, the Mk 56 - s utility is limited due to its lack of remote command and control capability. The Mine Mk 56 is scheduled for removal from service in the year 2010. Discussion. The U.S. Navy has initiated the development of a new mine system to replace the Mine Mk 56 in intermediate water depths. A spiral development program of a modular mine system is planned, beginning with an initial increment that will integrate existing mature technologies. Two near-term goals for the new mine are: - Minimizing the number of delivery sorties required to lay a minefield. - Remote control of the minefield. Minimizing delivery sorties could be accomplished by using a wide-area coverage mine, or by providing the mine with a propulsion system, thus making the mine self-delivering over a considerable distance. Wide area coverage would normally be achieved by detecting, localizing, and tracking the target at long range and propelling the warhead to the target, although other innovative techniques for achieving target mission abort damage are welcome. Each mine would cover a larger area, reducing the number of mines required. A self-delivering mine could use underwater glider or other technologies that allow the mine to travel long distances. This could be extended to provide a mobile minefield, with the location under a battle commander's control. The mine system must also be wirelessly controllable in order to render the minefield safe for short periods of time while friendly ships transit the minefield. This would also allow deactivated mines to be planted ahead of hostilities, then activated should deterrence fail and hostilities break out. Robust communications and control of the minefield could also be used to sterilize the minefield and/or aid in recovery when the minefield is no longer required. Initially the mine must have the flexibility to be deliverable from a variety of surface ships (delivery system modularity) and from air platforms. Currently, U.S. mines are delivered by bomber, fighter, or attack aircraft, however delivery from cargo aircraft using para-pack delivery capabilities is also a possibility. Delivery from submarine platforms is desirable. Initial Increment Capabilities - Be placed in water depths of 150 feet and deeper - Real time autonomous detection and classification of surface ships and submarines with near zero false alarms - Engagement of targets with a high probability of inflicting mission abort damage - In-water life > 180 days; Active life > 90 days - 2-way communications between each weapon and the maritime commander to enable command activation, temporary deactivation, detonation, sterilization and/or recovery - Deployable from air and surface platforms - Modularity to enable multiple mission reconfigurations and future upgrades Future increments could provide increasing capabilities such as: - Providing for delivery by submarine or other clandestine means. - Expanding the threat target set. - Delivery into hostile environments from long standoff ranges in excess of 200 miles. It is envisioned this would be accomplished with unmanned systems, including Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs). - Integration into distributed surveillance sensor networks to provide improved targeting through data fusion, cooperative engagement with other kill mechanisms, and high quality target track and classification to improve situational awareness and to provide damage assessments. Process. Industry is encouraged to submit information to PEO LMW (PMS495). The following items are provided for guidance only in submitting input. Information shall be submitted to PEO LMW (PMS495) via email to
contact@example.gov. All responses are due by 30 April 2005. The government is interested in unclassified information only. In the event that industry provides information to the government that it does not want disclosed to the public, it shall mark the title page with the following legend: - This document includes data that shall not be disclosed outside the Government and shall not be duplicated, used, or disclosed -- in whole or in part -- for any purpose other than to provide information to the government. This restriction does not limit the Government's right to use information contained in this data if it is obtained from another source without restriction. The data subject to this restriction are contained in sheets [insert numbers or other i! dentification of sheets]. Industry shall mark each sheet of data it wishes to restrict with the following legend: - Use or disclosure of data contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the title page of this document. Use of Navy Support Contractors. Government Support Contractors may assist in reviewing the RFI. The Government Support Contractors may participate as Advisors in reviewing the RFI and/or administrative assistants. To the extent required, a submitter of information should enter into non-disclosure agreements with all participating Contractor organizations. A list of the Contractor organizations that may participate in some aspect of the RFI review is as follows: Company Name Anteon Corporation CACI Any objections to the specified use of any of the firms listed above shall be submitted to the PCO within 20 calendar days of the issuance of the RFI. Submission of a proposal without such objection will be considered as consent to the specified use of each firm listed above.
