RFI: Terrain Shaping

SOURCES SOUGHT TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION FOR SERVICES INTRODUCTION The Army Contracting Command-Research Triangle Park Contracting Office is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support the requirement for research in employing lethal and non-lethal effects delivery capabilities from unmanned aerial systems. The intention is to procure these research services on a competitive basis. BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES (IN FULL OR IN PART) OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION, and multiple awards MAY be made. All Small Business Set-Aside categories will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. DISCLAIMER - THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A - REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. RESPPONSES WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE RESPONDER. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS NOTICE DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ) OR INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) OR RFP, IF ANY ISSUED. IF A SOLICITATION IS RELEASED, IT WILL BE SYNOPSIZED ON THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE POINT OF ENTRY (GPE). IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POTENTIAL OFFERORS TO MONITOR THE GPE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMMATION PERTAINING TO THIS REQUIREMENT. RFI: Terrain Shaping Introduction The Army uses cannon-fired or air dropped anti-tank mines to impair (disrupt, turn, fix, or block) the enemy's ability to maneuver in the deep maneuver area of the battlespace. With the age of current systems, delivery challenges due to platform survivability, and overall quantity of munitions required to form obstacles at sufficient scale, new solutions are desired. The Army is looking to gather knowledge of innovative ways and alternative technologies to disrupt and restrict adversary movement and logistics 70km or more in advance of the frontline of a battlefield. While the current focus is on long range delivery of lethal obstacles, the Army is interested in any innovative methodology, lethal or non-lethal, to achieve similar effects. Problem Statement: 1. What is the problem that needs to be solved? While current US Anti-Personnel Landmine policy does not prevent the use of cannon-fired or air dropped anti-tank mines, the policy does restrict the use of current systems using anti-personnel mines to the Korean peninsula. This restriction prevents current systems from being a world-wide solution. In addition, current systems employed for terrain shaping capabilities are aging and resource intensive to replace. We are specifically interested in solutions that enable Soldiers to shape enemy controlled territory with unmanned obstacles 70-150km+ from the forward line of troops. This capability must be able to tie into the existing network capability resident within the Army and DoD. Options for control or employment that include pure teleoperation or are inclusive of semi- or fully-autonomous activity for target detection, navigation, positioning, and engagement are acceptable. The Army also desires the option to field these capabilities to not only US forces but potentially partner nation forces if required. The Army is looking for technologies that contribute to one or more tasks that impact the enemy's ability to maneuver 70-150km+ from the forward line of troops. Potential solutions that can provide the below are of equal interest: Unmanned systems capable of forming obstacles to shape existing terrain Unmanned systems that can position multiple explosive loitering munitions Systems that observe, identify, and classify threat targets to impede enemy maneuver Lethal effectors initiated from behind the front line to impact enemy maneuver in the deep fight (70-150+ km) Integration of remote sensing and lethal effector at machine speed with human-in-the-loop to approve lethal action Response Instructions: Your response should have a cover page with your company information to include the Company Name, Address, UEI, and the Primary Point of Contact with phone and email information. Please limit your response to each of the questions to under 250 words per question. Please provide the response to these critical questions in a single PDF format file. You may answer all of these questions or only a portion of the questions offered for consideration. Please email responses to terrain-shaping@aal.army no later than the date/time specified in the announcement. Questions for consideration (please attempt to answer the following questions to the best of your ability. If you are unable to answer a question, that is NOT a disqualifier) Critical Information (at a minimum, please answer all of the following questions): How does your proposed solution address the problem statement listed above? What types of enemies/threats does your solution target? What is the maximum distance your system can exhibit effects? If your system involves a munition is it organic to the system, or will it need government-furnished equipment (GFE) and/or integration via a 3rd party vendor? Where is your system in development - research, proof of concept, prototype, production, etc.? If available, what is your system's Technology Readiness Level (TRL)? What is the method of communication/control, if any? We are also interested in the following information to paint a more accurate picture of your system. Answer as many, or as few, questions as you like in a white paper with a maximum of 10 pages, or append existing product information (e.g. spec sheets, pitch decks, etc.) in lieu of written responses. Basic Information and Specifications: Explain in narrative format your company's main expertise. Explain in narrative format the product that you build, manufacture, produce, develop, or propose and how you see it best meeting the needs of the Army. What are the specifications of your product? What is the maximum available munition capability of your system? (if applicable) How is the system powered (i.e., fuel type, battery, hybrid)? Maintenance/Sustainment/Support: What is the size of the case/system for transportation? Are there specific sustainment considerations/costs for your product? What is the type of munition (if applicable) and kinetic impacts/capabilities? Does your technology require multiple platforms working together to achieve maximum effect (i.e. drone swarm)? How is the munition integrated into the system? Can the system easily be reloaded? (if applicable) Is your product reusable/recoverable? Operations: What is the minimum number of personnel to man the platform/what is your recommended Army echelon for deployment (i.e., individual, team (2-4 soldiers), squad (5-11 soldiers), platoon (12-30 soldiers), etc.) To what extent is the technology autonomous? Do you know if your system is integrable into existing DoD networks, C2 systems, and/or hardware? Is your product GPS hardened and/or protected against electronic warfare? If so, describe. Contracts: Has your company received any government funding to develop this technology? If so, is your company on an existing government contract with an available ceiling? If so, please provide details such as type of contract and the type of funding allowed. Is your product on a Program of Record (POR) in any DoD Service? Do you have any International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or other similar restrictions?