Request For Information (RFI) for: Very Shallow Water Expendable Stand Off Neutralizer (VESON)

This RFI is part of a multi-phase program to detect, classify and neutralize moored and bottom mines in the Very Shallow Water (VSW) environment using unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV). Existing Mine Countermeasures (MCM) systems place man, mammal, and expensive manned systems (helicopters and ships) in a hazardous environment. Currently no unmanned system exists to neutralize mines in the VSW; the Very Shallow Water Expendable Stand Off Neutralizer (VESON) will be developed as part of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit One (EODMU1) VSW toolbox capability. The Naval Surface Warfare Center -Panama City Division (NSWC-PCD) is seeking information on commercially available, or developmental projects related to small (i.e. capable of being moved and/or deployed by no more than two men) unmanned underwater vehicle mine neutralization systems, equipment and technologies suitable for mine neutralization missions deployed by small craft in the Very Shallow Water (VSW) zone (10-60 feet sea water (FSW)). Specific areas of technical interest include but are not limited to: 1. Advanced Sensors for Precise Target Reacquisition 2. UUV Precise Autonomous Guidance to Target Positions 3. Low Cost Underwater Navigation Sensors 4. Approved Safe and Arming Units and Enhanced Explosive Devices and for Neutralizing Mines 5. UUV Design and Control in Surge Environment 6. Hydrodynamic Models for Characterization of the VSW Zone 7. Advanced Propulsion Systems and UUV fuel cell subsystems approved for US Navy Shipboard Use for Small Underwater Vehicles. Descriptive information is sought in the form of white papers, brochures, specification sheets, briefings and company points of contact. Also of interest are concepts based on existing equipment or proven technologies that are planned to become available in the 2012/2013 time frame. Limited funding is available for design proposals and demonstrations. Firms should indicate any interest or willingness to provided technology or system demonstrations when responding. A preliminary or Virtual Industry Day will be held in May 2012 and a Formal Industry Day in October 2012.The Formal Industry Day will be held at the Navy Memorial in Washington DC. Input received from these Industry Days will facilitate the development of a future competitive solicitation for an acquisition program in late FY 13. Industry input is desired to allow for an effective acquisition program with well-defined requirements in the Request for Proposal (RFP). Attendance at the Industry Days is not a prerequisite for ultimately submitting any future proposals. However, it will provide a valuable opportunity for questions & answers and industry input into the read-ahead documentation. Virtual and Formal Industry Day read ahead documents will be available electronically from the NECO website at www.neco.navy.mil. Companies interested in viewing the documents can go to that website and click on "search synopsis," they will be able to search by keyword for the VESON RFI. Seating for the formal Industry Day is limited. Request a maximum of two (2) representatives per vendor. Request attendees register for the Industry Awareness Day by providing Company/Organization Name, Name(s) of attendees, Company/Organization affiliation, Address, Telephone Number, and e-mail address not later than 15 September 2012. Registration data must be Faxed or e-mailed to the Technical POC identified below. Any advance questions and/or comments pertaining to the Industry Awareness Days or the read-ahead documentation may be Faxed or e-mailed to the Technical POC so that they can be addressed at the Industry Days. The purpose of these Industry Awareness Days is not to obtain proposals and is solely to offer early industry involvement in a contemplated U.S. Navy procurement. The Government does not intend to pay for the information obtained during the workshop or for the time and expense of the industry participants involved. For questions please contact the Technical POC: Paul Moser +1 (555) 000-0000, FAX +1 (555) 000-0000 e-mail contact@example.gov |