Request for Information (RFI)-Ranger Fire Support System-Auto (RFFS-A) Organic Precision Indirect Fires and Rapid Redeployment to avoid Counter Fire - Shoot and Scoot

Request for Information (RFI)-Ranger Fire Support System-Auto (RFFS-A) Organic Precision Indirect Fires and Rapid Redeployment to avoid Counter Fire - Shoot and Scoot(U) 1. Background. The U.S. Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) would like to invite interested entities to provide technical inputs, solutions, suggestions, prototypes, and concepts to the requirements outlined herein. RCCTO is responding to 75th Ranger Regiment (75th RR) operational need for a Ranger Fire Support System - Auto (RFFS-A) to fill a critical technology gap. Currently, 75th RR employs light and medium mobility platforms to transport both 81mm and 120mm mortars to the point of employment. Upon reaching this point, the mortar system is unloaded, fired, and then reloaded onto the transport and repositioned as necessary. With a shift towards contested operational environments, the ability to provide accurate first round fires and rapidly redeploy faster than is achievable with the current manual capability is a critical gap. Technical write ups address these gaps and requirements are to be submitted on an on-going basis until 30 January 2023, and early submittals/responses to the RFI are encouraged. RCCTO and 75th RR subject matter experts (SMEs), including contractor support personnel, will review responses for solutions and prototypes as well as to better inform and shape the requirements. This RFI is open to both traditional and nontraditional large and small business concerns as well as academic and nonprofit entities to submit their technical inputs, information, solutions, and prototypes that may meet the Army's needs and objectives. RCCTO's mission is to rapidly and efficiently research, develop, prototype, test, evaluate, procure, transition, and/or field critical enabling technologies and capabilities that address near-term and mid-term threats. RCCTO executes this mission consistent with the Army's modernization priorities that maximize Soldiers capabilities to deploy, fight, and win on future battlefields. The U.S. Army faces an ever more lethal and disruptive battlefield requiring quick acquisition of innovative capabilities to prototype and deliver to the warfighter. This RFI is an opportunity for eligible businesses to present ideas, information, prototypes, concepts, and solutions directly to the U.S. Army. The purpose of this RFI is for industry partners to describe possible innovative approaches, products, and prototypes to accelerate military technology and fill critical technology and operational gaps for the U.S. Army. This RFI will enable eligible organizations to respond with technical solutions that articulate their concepts, prototype ideas, and demonstrate how they could satisfy the 75th RR's technology and operational requirements identified below. 2. General Capability Description. Provide 75th RR with organic, lethal fires for the joint force in contested environments. The capability shall meet or exceed the following system performance characteristics: a. Integrates Army Program of Record, 120mm mortar system b. Firing System Operation: i. Ready to fire first round within 80 seconds from being in transport configuration (stop, deploy, align, and hang first round within 80 seconds) ii. Fire Adjustment: better than the current manual capability i.e., adjust 300 mils within 15 seconds, adjust 1000 mils within 30 seconds) 1. Alternatively - firing system should support target selection or retargeting, alignment or adjustment, and firing up to the maximum rate of first-minute fire supported by the mortar tube (16 rounds per minute) iii. Ready to Move within 120 seconds of last munition fired c. First Round Circular Error Probable (CEP) Accuracy: i. CEP of less than or equal to 5 meters at 1/3 the max effective range, ii. CEP of less than or equal to 12 meters at 2/3 the max effective range, and iii. CEP of less than or equal to 25 meters at the max effective range d. Minimum 120 degree, Desired 360 Degree Firing Fan e. Integrated Fire Control System: i. U.S. Fire Control System (FCS) 1. Using NATO Armaments Ballistic Kernel (NABK) ii. FCS shall interface with the Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) f. Environmental thresholds i. Operation: -25 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit ii. Store: -25 to 150F iii. Objective: operate and store -50 to 150F g. Integrated within carrying capacity of Army Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV-4): i. Baseline ISV-4 configuration will include a four (4) person mortar team with primary weapons and 72-hour sustainment ii. Remaining payload capacity of 1,055 lbs, after integrating 4x personnel with sustainment, 120mm mortar system, and 26x HE 120mm rounds, or 81mm equivalent components. This weight constraint is objective space and tradeable. iii. Company may propose mature, COTS modification to GFE suspension, if required to increase payload capacity. h. MH-47G Internal Air Transportability i. Envelope constraints: (see attachment for photo) The 75th RR currently fulfills a subset of this capability using Army Program of Record 81mm and 120 mm mortar systems. Although the primary focus of this RFI is auto-mortar solutions, RCCTO is also seeking information of alternatives solutions that meet or exceed the capability description. 3. Requested Information. This RFI requests information and technical write ups on the following: a. Auto-Mortar Solutions. RCCTO is interested in identifying any information on mature solutions that can integrate Army Program of Record mortar systems (81mm/120 mm) into the newly fielded Army Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). In addition to the general capability description provided above, solutions must meet the minimum performance parameters of the Tiered Capability Matrix (TCM) document, available to U.S. vendors only upon request. However, solutions should also consider the trade space defined by the full TCM. Solutions that do not currently meet the minimum parameters must describe a development path to achieve the listed capabilities within 18 months. (Longer periods of performance (POP) may be suggested, but 18 months is the optimal POP for this effort.) b. Alternative Solutions. RCCTO is also interested in identifying information on alternative, mature solutions that meet or exceed the general capability description provided above. Alternative solutions shall consider the additional performance characteristics listed below as it relates to the system operation: i. Shoot on the move ii. Synchronized strike iii. Affordable improved precision and range iv. Transport vehicle interchangeable v. Fully remote operation 4. Development Timeline and Technology Readiness Level (TRL): The Army is seeking mature solutions, requiring a limited amount of development that can be integrated, tested, validated, and fielded as an operational prototype at TRL 7 or greater. As part of the technical response, contractors are requested to estimate a period of performance (POP) for their proposed solution which, optimally, shall be no longer than eighteen (18) months from award to operational prototype fielding. 5. Government Furnished Property (GFP)/Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government Furnished Information (GFI): Contractor's may request, by stock number and nomenclature, if possible, any GFP/GFE/GFI the Contractor believes is needed to successfully complete the requirements and testing specified in this RFI and identify risk reduction strategies if Government is unable to the provide requested items. Response Guidelines. U.S. vendors may request the Tiered Capability Matrix attachment by e-mailing contact@example.gov and/or contact@example.gov. Eligible interested parties can respond to this RFI with a technical write up. Submissions cannot exceed 10 pages, single-spaced, 12-point type with at least one-inch margins on 8 1/2 x 11 page size. Pictures or graphic representations do not count against the 10-page limit. The response should not exceed a 10 MB e-mail limit for all items associated with the RFI response. Responses must specifically address the requested information. Oral communications are not permissible. A panel of Army and contractor SMEs will review submittals. It is expected that discussions may occur between Army SMEs and the contractor/performer for the purpose of clarifying technical submissions. All RFI submissions are treated as company proprietary information, and the content will be disclosed to U.S. Government (USG) employees, military, or designated support contractors only for the purpose of reviewing technical feasibility and market research. RFI submittals should outline both capacities and technical solutions/concepts and prototypes that address and meets or exceeds the stated requirements in paragraph 2. The 10-page technical submittal, in contractor format, may focus on describing details of a proposed prototype or demonstration, including how it is innovative/unique, how it could address the technical requirements, and potential impacts and benefits to the Warfighter. Contractors may also suggest alternate solutions to the requirements that will assist in enhancing, shaping, and refocusing the requirements. The technical discussion must also include a rough order of magnitude (ROM) cost/price and rough schedule for the proposed concept. Submissions should recognize that RCCTO is seeking mature solutions of TRL 7+ as well as solutions that can be tested, demonstrated, and validated between 12 to 24 months with a goal to be integrated and fielded in that timeframe, or shortly thereafter. Submittals must include a company or entity cover page, limited to one (1) page, which will not count against the 10-page limit, and should include Company name and address, and CAGE Code (if available); the Technical and Business Points of Contact (POC) to include: Telephone Numbers and Email Addresses; your headquarters location; size of company, both revenues and # of employees; if the Company's proposed approach has been proposed to or previously funded by any federal agency, to include SBIR/STTR, please identify each specific agency and all applicable contract/agreement numbers; and a brief abstract (1,000 character limit). The technical submittals should include the contribution to the requirement and provide a high-level project overview describing how this contribution addresses the stated requirements. RFI submissions shall be clearly marked - Company Name_RFI_RFFS-A Tech Paper. Only UNCLASSIFIED submittals will be accepted, and no Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is to be included. Any submittals with classified or CUI information will not be reviewed and will be deleted. There will be no mailed submissions and telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Reviews of RFI submittals does not promise nor guarantee that a company will receive a contract and the Government reserves the right, at any point, to cancel the RFI. Please be advised, only an Agreements Officer has the authority to enter into, or modify, a binding agreement on behalf of the Government. This RFI is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract or agreement. Responses will not be considered as proposals, nor will any award be made as a result of this synopsis. It is plausible that the Government may later issue an actual RFP, depending on mission requirements, thus, submittals must state whether the company/entity would likely participate in a future RFP with a proposal submittal for the concepts outlined in their technical write up. RFI submittals will be accepted on a rolling submittal basis until 12:00 PM/1200 EST on Monday, 30 January 2023, via the following RCCTO email address: contact@example.gov (please also CC: contact@example.gov) 6. Questions. The Government is NOT accepting questions with this RFI. If a vendor has questions, they shall be included as an appendix to the vendor's RFI response and may, at the Government's sole discretion, be addressed at a later date. The Government will not reimburse companies for any costs associated with the submissions of their responses. 7. Non-Government Advisors. Non-Government advisors shall also be used in the review of submittals. In these cases, companies will be notified of the name and corporate affiliation of these advisors in the request from the Government to provide a pitch. Companies will be afforded the opportunity to enter into specific non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with the corporate entity prior to submission of any proposals. Government policy is to treat all submissions as source selection information, and to disclose their contents only for the purpose of evaluation. Restrictive notices notwithstanding, during the evaluation process, submissions may be handled by support contractors for administrative purposes and/or to assist with technical assessments. All DoD support contractors performing this role are expressly prohibited from performing DoD-sponsored technical research and are bound by appropriate NDAs. The following non-Government, non-voting advisors may be used in the review of submittals and will have signed NDAs with the Government. The MITRE Corporation Serco, N.A. Modern Technologies Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) Radiance Technologies, Inc. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL) Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) Begin Morning Nautical Twilight (BMNT) Apex Sourcing LLC Exponent, Inc. Eligibility Requirements. Only U.S.-based companies or organizations are considered eligible to participate in this RFI. Submissions from entities or organizations that do not have a primary place of business in the U.S. will not be considered. Each eligible entity: U.S.-based firms shall be incorporated in, and maintain, a primary place of business in the U.S. May not be a U.S. Federal government entity or employ a U.S. Federal employee acting within the scope of their employment. Required to register in System for Award Management (SAM) and have, or be able to obtain, an active CAGE code, DUNS number, and not be on the exclusion lists (debarred, suspended, or ineligible). RCCTO's RFI is voluntary and open to all entities that meet the eligibility requirements. Submittals to the RFI must be received by 12:00 PM EST on 30 January 2023. Submittals are encouraged to be done early, but submittals after the deadline will not be considered. Disclaimer: All information contained in the RFI is preliminary as well as subject to modification and is in no way binding on the Government. The Government does not intend to pay for information received in response to this RFI. Responders to this invitation are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. This RFI will be the basis for collecting information on capabilities available. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed. Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.