Scope of Work: The U.S. Army Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems (PMFSS) is conducting market research regarding industry's interest and capability in providing up to 60 Containerized Ice Making Systems (CIMS). This is not a request for proposal. This notice is only to request information, which may assist the Government in developing future procurement strategies. The CIMS will improve soldier health and well-being by providing consumable ice at the point of consumption, the Force Provider Expeditionary (FPE) camp. A FPE module supports full spectrum operations by providing the Army with a rapidly deployable, containerized, and prepackaged environmentally controlled base camp life support capability for 150 personnel equipped for feeding, billeting, and hygiene (laundry, shower, and latrine). The CIMS shall consist of a self-contained system that can produce and bag 3600 Lbs. of consumable ice/day. The detailed requirements will be in the form of a performance-based specification rather than detailed drawings and specifications. Ahead of production will be a design and development phase during which a vendor or vendors would design and build a CIMS for qualification testing. Much of the design may include modifying or enhancing commercial ice makers, ice baggers and freezers to create a rugged, expeditionary system suitable for military use, and a system that meets all of the performance requirements below. Initial development indicates that commercial ice makers face stiff challenges meeting the requirements for military transport, maintenance, storage and high temperature operation. There are also logistics support requirements associated with CIMS, including development of military technical manuals, training courses and explanatory DVDs. Key CIMS Performance Requirements: * The largest material handling equipment available to move and set up the system is a forklift with 10k pound lift capacity. *When transported to or from the expeditionary site the entire CIMS shall fit within the footprint of no more than the equivalent of one ISO container of 8'x8'x20'L (e.g., may also use two 10-foot long containers or three 6.6-foot long containers). * Containerized systems shall be capable of 9-high stack for marine transport * The system shall be compatible with available electric power at a contingency basecamp, 50/60Hz, 120/208 and/or 240/460VAC 3-phase power with Milspec Class-L connectors. * The system shall make 3,600 lbs. per day of potable ice in 10 Lb. sealed bags. Ice quality standards for potability are validated through the use of TB MED 577 and MIL-STD-3006. * The system shall be able to store a minimum of 1,200 Lbs. (120 bags) of ice. * All FPE systems should demonstrate a Mean Time Between Essential Functional Failure of at least 300 hours. * No specific MOS will be required to operate the system. PMCS expected to be performed by 92G or 92A. Maintenance expected to be performed by 91C (utilities Equipment Repairer) and 91J (quartermaster and chemical equipment repairer). * The only soldier interaction required should be limited to repositioning stored ice or replenishing the bag supply. The system shall not require any soldier interaction for a minimum of 2 hours. In general, operation should be trouble free (i.e., no bag jams, resets, or other nuisance trips). * Shall demonstrate compliance with UL, FDA and NSF regulations and guidance for this type of equipment including cleaning and maintenance (PMCS). *Shall be durable enough to withstand transport by air, sea, rail, and ground. Shall remain functional after being subjected to rail impact testing and extensive military road shock testing. * The CIMS shall withstand storage in the temperature range of Basic Cold (-28oF/-33oC) to Hot Dry (160oF/71oC) per AR 70-38 without loss of full capability (plastic bags excluded). * The system shall demonstrate its ability to meet the 24 hour capacity requirements under conditions described in AR 70-38 for 'Hot' (including 'dry' and 'humid' sub sections) and 'Basic' environments. The system is not expected to operate at temperatures lower than 40oF. * The system shall demonstrate its ability to meet 24 hour capacity requirements with high input water temperatures that can range from 40 F-110 F during the hottest parts of the day. * The system shall be able to produce and store potable ice in the windy and sandy conditions as described in AR 70-38 Section II. * Able to be erected on semi-prepared surfaces (cleared and basically level). Ice System may be placed on foot pads, concrete blocks, footers, beams/rails, head wall or its pedestals. * External surfaces will be corrosion resistant and be capable of being cleaned by the user. * A blackout option is required. Information of interest: PMFSS appreciates vendor's interest in this notice. For those sources interested in responding, the information is required within 45 calendar days from the publication date of this notice. PMFSS understands some sources may not have all capabilities and experience sought in the notice, and welcomes responses that do not address all items. The following information is requested: 1) Product technical description. Fully describe the product inclusive of all components. (i.e. housing/container, ice maker, bagging system, power distribution system, operation concept, and any other applicable components.), or information on existing commercial systems that potentially meet the above performance requirements; and how they currently match up against each performance requirement; 2) Product specifications including energy consumption, capability, dimensions, weight, capacities, input requirements, or other characteristics as appropriate. 3) willingness of the vendor to modify existing systems to meet the above requirements and description of any products that demonstrate the vendor's interest in and capability of integration and containerization of systems; 4) experience designing systems to meet performance specifications and configuration control; 5) experience developing technical manuals and training courses for vendors' products; 6) existing quality assurance program; 7) description of current manufacturing capacity and capability; 8) Vendor's NAICS Code and whether or not vendor is a small business (include number of employees); and 9) recent unit prices of the products presented in the vendor's response to include proposed costs for 1, 10 or 60 systems. Information shall be limited to fifteen (15) pages or less with font size no smaller than ten (10). If provided electronically, the response needs to be in Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Word 2007 or Adobe Acrobat 9 compatible format. Electronic responses to this notice are requested to be emailed to
[email protected] no later 5:00PM Eastern time, 45 calendar days from the posting date of this notice. Any questions regarding this notice may be sent to this email as well. The subject line of any emails should include the words quote mark CIMS Sources Sought Notice quote mark .