Low-Cost Helicopter Sling Load (HSL)

SYNOPSIS: This Sources Sought Announcement is to assist the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM Soldier Center) to identify potential sources to provide low-cost Helicopter Sling Load (HSL) sling sets. The Government requests that responses be submitted electronically to jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil, andrew.w.meloni.civ@army.mil and wolff.gentil.civ@army.com by 12 June 2023 by 5pm EST. Background: The Government (DEVCOM Soldier Center) is looking for a low-cost replacement of the current HSL sling set or components of the sling set. The DoD uses helicopter sling load (HSL) as a means of transporting vehicles and equipment around the battlefield faster than traditional ground transport and without the need for large fixed-wing transport aircraft. The current HSL sling sets consist of 4 sling legs made from double-braided nylon rope with an eye splice at each end. The outer braid cover with a liquid nylon to ensure proper load distribution. Description: A low cost HSL sling set, or sling set components that replace the current 10K and/or 25K capacity sling sets to meet the requirements of STANAG 2286 and 3542 at $2000 price point or less for the sling set system. Other specifications may apply based on choice of materials. Specific Specifications: Items could be one time use or multi-time use. Strength of the sling set, or components should match existing sling set strengths or identify rationale for lower strength (e.g. reduced expected environmental degradation due to one-time-use items) Total length of sling legs should approximately match existing sling set dimensions. DEVCOM SC is open to novel configurations for sling sets. The drawings for the existing HSL sling set are included in this RFI as a reference. Deliverables: All documentation submitted shall be submitted as MS Word, Adobe PDF, MS PowerPoint, Visio, or MS Excel files. Respondents: The White Paper should be written in respondent format, double spaced, and minimum font size of 10 pt. Paper should not exceed 12 pages, including cover. This paper should cover company information (company name, CAGE code, mailing address, and primary point of contact information (to include telephone number and email address). The paper should cover the 5 Ws, as applicable. (e.g., What, Where, When, Why and Who. Example focus areas: Please discuss any/all relevant current products and services that currently meet or will be able to meet the enclosed requirements. Vendors are encouraged to propose alternative products that may be able to meet or exceed the requirements. As applicable, please discuss how your product(s) was implemented within industry/Government. Please discuss, as applicable, proposed hardware used as part of the solution. For Foreign companies: Discuss how the proposer will be able to work with the US Government in the future (i.e, US subsidiary or partner) if required). Test, Certification and Accreditation (C&A) Documentation: Vendors are requested to provide any supporting documentation illustrating safety certification, government approval, test data, etc. Cost Vendor are requested to provide rough cost estimates for their solution(s) or products. Delivery Date: TBD Government Furnished Property (Equipment/Materials/Information/Computer Utilization): N/A Interested parties are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Announcement. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY 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 on SAM.gov. 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, andrew.w.meloni.civ@army.mil, and wolff.gentil.civ@army.mil no later than 12 June 2023 by 5:00 p.m. EST. 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, andrew.w.meloni.civ@army.mil, and wolff.gentil.civ@army.mil no later than 8 June 2023 by 5:00 p.m. EST. 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. Contracting Office Address: BLDG 1 1 General Greene Ave. Natick, Massachusetts 01760-5011 United States ************************************************************************************** Amendment 1 Q: What is the annual volume of slings that the Army is looking to source? A: The existing effort to investigate low-cost slings expected to procure a small number (<20) systems or components. An Army Program of Record is planned to start in FY25 with follow on fielding on the order of >500 systems.