--Requesting technology information for chemical detectors of Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICS) leading to the conduct of a Technology Readiness Evaluation (TRE) 08-3 in the 3rd /4thquarter FY

The U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC), Technology Evaluation Team (TET), in support of the Joint Product Manager, Consequence Management (JPM CM), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, will be sponsoring a Technology Readiness Evaluat ion (TRE 08-3) in FY 2008. The objective of this TRE is to independently evaluate advanced chemical detector technologies of Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs). The Joint Product Manager, Consequence Management is seeking to determine the state of TIC det ector technology, and potential vendors are requested to respond to indicate their interest in participating in this TRE. This announcement consists of three parts: Part I - Background and Description, Part II - Technical Criteria and Testing, and Part III  Submission of Information. PART I- Background and Description. Technology Readiness Evaluation (TRE) 08-3 is scheduled to start in April 2008 for approximately four (4) months. Plans are to conduct the TRE at the Edgewood Chemic al Biological Center (ECBC), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The Government will perform all testing with vendor systems. The participating vendors will have to provide Government personnel training on their systems at Edgewood, MD, prior to start of laboratory testing. Vendors will initially submit synoptic information (letters of interest) in response to the stated Parts II and III below. Depending on the number of letters of interest received to this announcement the CB Technology Evaluation Te am (CB TET) will then invite vendors to participate in testing. The invitations will be based on a review of vendor information by the CBTET and the JPM CM Team.. Invited vendors will then be asked to submit a White Paper with a System Photo, and a co mpleted Questionnaire (Participation Package). The CB TET at this time may forward more detailed, technical information to invited vendors about the TRE test criteria, schedule and logistics (to include any required decontamination of vendor equipment). Vendors will be asked to respond to the Participation Package within twenty (20) to thirty (30) days after notification is received from the CB TET. The CB TET will review the vendor documents submitted. The selected vendors will have to provide on a no cost loan basis two (2) of their detection systems for Government testing. One (1) system will be the Unit under Test (UUT), and the second system will be for back up in case of failures. In addition, the vendors will have to provide any support materia l or equipment for operation of their systems for ninety (90) days of operation for eight (8) hours per day. The Government will not be held responsible for damage or loss of any equipment in the event of major malfunctions. PART II  Technical C riteria and Testing. All potential vendors should base their interest to participate on the following performance criteria: (Note: Some changes or additions to these performance criteria may be necessary.) 1. Ability to detect a wide variety of TICs in vapor and/or aerosol form without requiring system reconfiguration (e.g. physically changing detection modules, sensing heads, reagents, tubes etc.). 2. Size of the total system: Approximately one (1) cubic foot (0.028 m3 )or less. 3. Batter y operated for approximately three (3) hours at (+) 700 F(210C) 4. Weight: Approximately 35 lbs or less (17.5kg) with battery. A screening test may be completed on the systems prior to the full test program. An independent assessor will observe and record all test data for analysis. PART III - Submission of Information. Vendors desiring to respond to this request should provide a letter of interest that contains the following information: 1. Provide a brief statement about the cri teria listed on Part II. List the TICs your system can detect by name. Provide a Photo of your system. 2. Name of the Company/Corporation, address, and te lephone number and web site internet address. 3. Name of the Company/Corporate Point of Contact (POC), telephone number and email address. ONLY PDF FORMAT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR INFORMATION SUBMITTED. Limit the number of pages for your response to two (2 ) pages (Excluding Cover page). Your files will have a special prefix designation of TRE 08-3, followed by your company name, and then the name of the file. For example: TRE08-3_ONI-Art_white paper.pdf. DO NOT use blank spaces in the file name and the file name is not character sensitive. Access to the ECBC Drop Box is as follows and good from most Browsers: https://dropbox.apgea.army.mil/cgi-bin/dropbox.pl. Recipient Email address is monica.kelley1@us,army.mil. To be responsive to this RFI, r eply to Part III, subparagraphs 1, 2 and 3 with your information placed in the ECBC Drop Box by Close of Business (COB) on Friday, 29 February 2008. The U.S. Army is under no obligation to select any participating technologies. TRE 08-3 will offer part icipants an opportunity to obtain unique performance data about their system as a result of this evaluation.