This Request for Information (RFI) is part of a market research effort by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Research and Development Center (RDC) to explore the availability of existing and in progress technologies and their potential to contribute to CG missions in open waters off the coast of Florida. This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for information received in response to this RFI. The RDC is conducting research to identify both operational and state-of-the-art technologies. "Operational" in this context refers to existing technologies and equipment that are currently used in commercial and/or Government application, while "state-of-the art" in this context refers to near-proven technologies that are in the final stages of development and will be (available in the commercial and/or Government market in the next 20 to 24 months. The RDC intends to use the information collected from this RFI to better understand the state of technology with regard to Environmentally Friendly or Conservation Buoy Mooring Systems (line and anchor replacements) that could be used in the conduct of Coast Guard missions. Information concerning the Coast Guard's 11 missions may be found at http://www.uscg.mil/top/missions/. The RDC intends to conduct analysis that quantifies and evaluates various mooring system impacts on mission effectiveness, and technology lifecycle costs (i.e., cost of research and development, testing, acquisition, operations, maintenance, personnel and training, and disposal). Additionally, the RDC intends to assess the availability of potential technologies for demonstration off the coast of Florida as early as March 2017. You are invited to respond with information to assist the RDC with its market research to identify potential sources of technology applicable to conducting CG missions. BACKGROUND: For more than 20 years the Coast Guard has struggled with developing an adequate buoy mooring system that would have minimal impacts on the ocean floor, especially in coral reef areas. Recently, increased groundings in the vicinity of Guayanilla, Puerto Rico led to the installation of two buoys with traditional concrete anchors and heavy chain. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) evaluated these sites 10 months later and found that a once healthy, thriving coral reef in both areas had been completely scoured by the buoy chain sweep when in slack position. This is in direct violation of Executive Order 13089, which charges agencies to minimize the impact of their operations on coral reefs. The buoys were subsequently removed and sparked a renewed interest in developing an environmentally friendly buoy mooring system that can be installed in environmentally sensitive areas. TECHNOLOGY AREAS OF INTEREST: The RDC is looking for alternative mooring systems or improvements to the chain and concrete sinker currently used by the United States Coast Guard, which will prevent damage to plants and corals in the benthic zone. These mooring systems may be fixed or movable, passive or active, etc., with the goal of deployment in the following operating conditions: Hull Type: 6X16 or 8X22 LFR (foam buoy) Water Depth: 30ft - 50ft Bottom Type: Sand or Mud Current: 2kts-4kts Wind/Seas: 0kts/0ft - 70kts/14ft SPECIFIC TECHNICAL INFORMATION REQUESTED: The following information, or best available estimates, is requested for each proposed solution. If multiple solutions are presented by the same entity, the information should be specific to each solution. The following questions/statements should be addressed for each product/technology described in your response to this RFI: A. Equipment Specifications (height, weight, length, fixed or movable, power requirements, etc.); B. Environmental Impact (How does your product avoid directly damaging plants and corals? Please provide information on the mooring-seafloor contact area if any exists.); C. Acquisition Cost (Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) and Procurement Lead Time); D. Deployment, Retrieval, and Transportation requirements (Is the use of divers necessary or can current CG platforms be used?); E. Service Life and Maintenance Cycle; F. Life Cycle Cost Parameters (Development, Testing, Acquisition, Operations, Planned Maintenance/Inspection, Integrated Logistics Support, Training, and Disposal); G. Describe the current level of your product/technology using the TRL table (table 1); H. Developmental Cost (if required to transition existing technology to meet Coast Guard mission requirements); I. Operational Limitations (e.g., maximum sea state, minimum or maximum depth, required bottom type, etc); J. Interest in participating in RDC demonstrations or evaluations (include any special requirements needed to facilitate demonstration of the technology); RESPONDING TO THIS MARKET RESEARCH: When responding to the RFI, please include the following information: • A one page cover letter that provides a brief summary of the response and indicating if supporting documentation is included. • Amplifying information that addresses all areas of information requested by this RFI in the section "SPECIFIC TECHNICAL INFORMATION REQUESTED." If pre-developed marketing or technical information and specification sheets are provided, please include additional information, as necessary to "fill the gaps" between pre-developed material and the information required. Digital photographs, line drawings, and illustrations that clarify descriptive text are encouraged. • If multiple products/technologies are presented by the same entity, the responses to these questions should be specific to each product/technology. • Provide any digital photos and/or digital videos of the products/technologies in operation, if able. • In order to fully analyze the responses please include justification / amplifying information (e.g. reports, videos, actual applications, etc.) which supports your responses. • Proprietary/protected information submitted for review should be distinctly marked. If your RFI response is greater than 10 MB, please provide it on DVD media and mail it to: U.S. COAST GUARD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER 1 CHELSEA STREET NEW LONDON, CT 06320-5506 ATTN: MS. HELEN CARNES, CONTRACTING DIVISION • Please identify if you are a Small or Large Business • The NAICS Code for this RFI is 541330 Your submission will NOT be returned; it may become the property of the Government for its use This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for information received or efforts made in response to this RFI. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and will not be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. Responses to this market survey should be sent to
[email protected]. PHONE CALLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED, VOICE MAIL MESSAGES LEFT WILL NOT BE RETURNED AND EMAILS WILL NOT BE RESPONDED TO. Information submitted will be reviewed by US Coast Guard Government personnel. Government support contractors may access submitted information, but for specific Government purposes. The deadline for final responses to the RFI is 25 March 2015. REMINDER: UNLESS RESPONSE IS GREATER THAN 10 MB, RESPONSES MUST BE EMAILEDTO:
[email protected] Table 1: DHS high-level TRL definitions TRL TRL Definition 1 Basic principles observed and reported. 2 Technology concept and/or application formulated. 3 Analytical and experimental critical function and/or characteristic proof-of-concept. 4 Component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment. 5 Component and/or breadboard validation in relevant environment. 6 System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment. 7 System prototype demonstration in an operational environment. 8 Actual system completed and qualified through test and demonstration. 9 Actual system proven through successful mission operations. • Note: extracted from Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Readiness Level Calculator (ver 1.1) available at: http://www.homelandsecurity.org/docs/reports/DHS_ST_RL_Calculator_report20091020.pdf