Mass Rescue Life Saving Appliance

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. This Request for Information (RFI) is part of a market research effort to assess industry capabilities that will best address the U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG's) need. This Request for Information (RFI) is part of a market research effort to assess technologies that support Mass Rescue Operations (MRO) at sea. MRO are Search and Rescue (SAR) operations characterized by the need to provide immediate assistance to large numbers of persons in distress in a situation that exceeds the capabilities normally available to SAR authorities. The Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) is conducting research to identify non-standard, innovative, large capacity, ultra-lightweight floating devices that could be deployed from air and surface assets during mass rescue operations. The desired large capacity floating devices are not required to meet standard Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requirements for lifesaving apparatus or domestic life saving apparatus requirements under 46 Code of Federal Regulation. The purpose of a large capacity floating device is to solely keep survivors out of the water during a mass rescue operation. Current USCG/SOLAS compliant 100-person inflatable rafts can weigh upwards of 800 pounds, which is far too heavy for a single individual to safely and easily deploy from a helicopter or a fixed wing aircraft without cargo ramps. The desired large capacity floating device will differ from existing off-the-shelf USCG/SOLAS compliant "life-saving appliances" by its lighter weight, increased portability and limited functionality (e.g. only keeping people out of the water for a limited time, no survival supplies or equipment, etc.). Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) of the large capacity floating device include: 1) Ability to provide up to 100 persons temporary refuge from the water for up to 36 hours. 2) Weight of device (entire packaged system as deployed) should not exceed 100 lbs. 3) Ability to be deployed from a helicopter, fixed wing aircraft without a cargo ramp, or boat 4) Ability to operate in up to a maximum Sea State 5 condition 5) Allows safe egress from the water 6) Ability to operate in water temperatures between 35 - 85'F 7) Ability to operate in air temperatures between 0 - 120'F SPECIFIC TECHNICAL INFORMATION REQUESTED We are interested in existing products, prototypes and concepts that can meet or partially address requirements (e.g. slightly lower capacity at the weight threshold). Vendors should complete a copy of the - USCG Large Capacity Floating Device Capabilities Checklist' (Attachment A). When responding to this RFI, please provide the following information (Pictures or drawings are encouraged): 1) A description of the large-capacity floating device including materials, dimensions and specifications. 2) Vision or methodology of how to construct a large-capacity floating device. 3) An explanation of how the weight requirement is or will be achieved. 4) Any unique challenges (e.g. developmental, manufacturing, deployment or operations) associated with a lighter weight, large capability floating device. 5) Identify whether you are a Small or Large Business using NAICS Code 336612 There is a related RFI Titled "Mass Rescue Life Saving Appliance - Materials" researching innovative, ultra-lightweight materials(s) that could be used in the construction of a large capacity floating device. USCG intends to publish results of RFI in a public market research report. Please omit or mark any proprietary information that you don't wish to be published. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. There is no guarantee that the Government will pursue a solicitation for any of the requirements identified in the future. All information received in response to this RFI will NOT BE RETURNED. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. PHONE CALLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, VOICE MAIL MESSAGES LEFT WILL NOT BE RETURNED AND EMAILS WILL NOT BE RESPONDED TO. Information submitted will be reviewed by Government personnel only at the USCG RDC. Responses to this RFI should be emailed to: RDC-SMB-MRLSA@uscg.mil Please direct any questions regarding the posting of this RFI to: RDC-SMB-MRLSA@uscg.mil Questions or requested clarifications regarding this RFI must be submitted no later than (NLT) November 29, 2019. The deadline for final responses to the RFI is 16 December 2019.