USV Workshop Announcement

The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego (SSC San Diego), and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport (NUWC NPT) in support of the Naval Sea Systems Command (PMS 420) will conduct a Workshop on Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). The Workshop falls under the auspices of an SSC San Diego Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), no. N66001-05-X-6052, as synopsized on 11 July 2005. Specific interest areas in the BAA in which USV efforts fall include: control systems and software to support sensors and unmanned operation; and adaptations of small craft design which may better support such sensor systems. The Workshop has been scheduled for October 18-20, 2005, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at a TBD location in the Washington, D.C. Metro area. (The specific location will be posted at the SSC San Diego e-Commerce Central website NLT 29 September 2005.) The length of the Workshop is anticipated to be three days. The Workshop will consist of a three hour plenary session during which the government will present some briefing material on USVs. Following the plenary session individual contractors will have an opportunity (20-30 minutes based on attendance) to brief a government-only panel on their ideas for designing and building a USV. During these sessions the Government panel may ask questions of clarification but will not respond to questions. In anticipation of the Workshop, a set of documents, related to USVs, including important interface considerations, performance goals and Government experience in the area of USVs, will be posted on the SSC San Diego e-Commerce Central website https://e-commerce.spawar.navy.mil/. Attendance at the USV Workshop will be set up on a first come, first serve basis, however we will try to accommodate requests due to travel distance as much as possible. If you would like to attend the USV Workshop, please submit an email to the point of contact indicated at the bottom of this announcement 10 days prior to the start of Industry Day with a list of attendees. Due to space limitations, knowledge of attendees is critical. Following the Workshop, contractors who wish their proposals to be considered on this topic should submit proposals not later than 22 November 2005. These proposals will be evaluated as a group and will have a greater chance of being funded than proposals received after 22 November 2005. The Government intends to award one (1) procurement contract for a twenty-four (24) month period of performance to develop, fabricate and test two (2) prototype USV platforms, trailers and two (2) host workstations not including radio communication equipment. Radio sets will be provided as Government furnished property to the successful offeror. The Government expects delivery of two (2) prototype USVs and supporting design, maintenance and operation documentation to begin integration with Sonar Sensor Mission systems thirteen (13) months after contract award. The contract will include a future option for the fabrication of two (2) additional prototype USV platforms including trailers, based on the basic design. The option could be exercised up to ten (10) months after award of the contract. It is not necessary to attend the USV Workshop in order to propose a design and build effort. The main purpose will be for clarification. A transcript of questions and answers resulting from both plenary session and individual contractor sessions of the Workshop will be posted to the SSC San Diego e-Commerce Central website following each of the meetings. This USV Workshop announcement does not change the original BAA. Proposals will be accepted under the BAA until 11 July 2006. Information on the proposal format is included in the BAA announcement. Questions of a contractual or technical nature should be directed to Ms. Sylvia Evans, SSC San Diego Code 225, via e-mail: contact@example.gov or telephone +1 (555) 000-0000. Questions and resultant responses will be posted to the website for general access.