This Request for Information (RFI) is part of a market research effort to assess craft and craft technologies that might permit the Coast Guard to perform missions in the Arctic in response to changing ice conditions which may allow shipping lanes to stay open for longer durations. This craft will be able to transit at considerable speed and traverse over either shallow water, thin ice, solid ice, sea ice with compression ridges, or any combination thereof. This craft will be expected to operate in an environment where extremely cold air temperatures can be encountered. The Coast Guard's missions and responsibilities do not change in the Arctic maritime environment. Response capabilities and management of risk must adapt to fit the seasonal threats and challenges. Responsibilities include maintaining aids to navigation, search and rescue, environmental protection, law enforcement, and security. The Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) is conducting market research to identify both operational and state-of-the-art technologies as potential craft and craft technologies for use in the Arctic. "Operational" in this context refers to existing technologies and equipment that are currently used in commercial and/or Government (law enforcement or Department of Defense) application, while "state-of-the-art" in this context refers to proven and near-proven technologies that can be developed for operational use in the next 30 to 36 months. You are invited to respond with information to assist the RDC with its market research by identifying potential sources of an Arctic Craft. Such craft could be appropriate for use on, or deployment from Coast Guard/Government vessels or commercial vessels, or capable of being deployed from a trailer operating in the Arctic maritime environment. SPECIFIC TECHNICAL INFORMATION REQUESTED The following information is requested for each proposed solution. If multiple solutions are presented by the same entity, the information should be specific to each solution. A. Craft's technical specifications including dimensions, speed, and range; B. Craft's capabilities to transit the Arctic maritime environment (e.g., shallow water operations, ability to transit various types of ice, or extended range); C. Details on any enabling technology for operations in the extreme arctic temperatures; D. Details on ability to effectively operate while exposed to arctic winds and high seas; E. Details on crew space thermal protection and survivability; F. Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) acquisition cost; G. Craft reliability; H. ROM life cycle cost parameters including planned maintenance, estimated service life, training requirements; I. Logistical considerations including transportation and fuel requirements; J. Details on preferred method/s of launch and recovery (e.g., stern launch, launch from deck of a high freeboard vessel, or shore launch from a trailer); K. Discuss any developmental efforts or test activities currently underway or planned to mature your technology and what additional capabilities will be achievable over the next 30 to 36 months for operational use; and L. With regard to NAICS 541330, please identify if you are a small or large business. RESPONDING TO THIS MARKET RESEARCH It is desired that responses to this RFI address all of the topics discussed in the ‘ SPECIFIC TECHNICAL INFORMATION REQUESTED .' Topics may be combined or treated individually. However, if information is not available for some of the topic areas, your submission is still of interest. When addressing each RFI topic, please include the following information: • A one-page cover letter that provides a brief summary of the response and indication if supporting documentation is included. • Descriptive material that addresses all areas of information requested by this RFI including 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 available, any digital photos and/or digital videos of the craft or technology in operation. 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. 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 Government personnel and members of the RDC's System Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) Contractor Team, who will assist the Government with this effort. NOTE: SETA contractor personnel assisting with this RFI have signed nondisclosure agreements. Please limit electronic responses to no more than 5 pages per solution (cover letter and supporting documentation in the form of a glossary or attachments to the RFI response will not be counted towards the 5 page limit per solution). If your RFI response is greater than 10MB, please provide it on DVD media and mail it to: Arctic Craft RFI Responses Attn: Ms. Helen Nelson, Contracting Division U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center 1 Chelsea Street New London, CT 06320-5506 The deadline for final responses to the RFI is March 25, 2011. REMINDER: ALL RESPONSES MUST BE EMAILED TO:
[email protected]