The Naval Air Systems Command, Air Combat Electronics Program Office (PMA209), will host an Industry Day for the Common Avionics Display (CAD). Event details are planned as follows: When: Thursday December 15, 2005 from 08:00 AM to 4:00 PM Where: at the Hampton Inn, located outside the main gate to the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Lexington Park, Maryland. The purpose of this initial industry day meeting is to provide the Navy an opportunity to communicate to industry its objectives and expectations for the CAD program; and to enlist industry support for a series of integrated product team (IPT) meetings to identify capabilities, opportunities and technology trends for a family of common avionic displays that will meet the spectrum of Navy applications. Specifically, the U.S. Navy seeks to obtain information relative to current and/or future avionics display capabilities that promote commonality across a wide range of applications. Displays will be used in a wide variety of applications and installations ranging from primary flight in the open/closed cockpits to tactical operations in crew consoles. The forthcoming CAD program will create a family of displays that employ open architecture principles to ensure total ownership costs are affordable for all level of requirements. The CAD program will encompass displays that support both centralized and distributed processing avionics architectures. Initial launch platforms for CAD will likely include helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft. Platforms targeted for the Common Avionics Display could eventually include all legacy, in-production, and future aircraft. Ideally, the CAD would be a modular and scalable system with an open architecture to enable commonality of major sub-components between the end-item displays used in different aircraft. For example, the same display head assembly module could be mated to two different Input/Output (I/O) modules and installed in two different aircraft performing vastly different functions. The physical, electrical, and functional interfaces between these modules would be open, non-proprietary, based upon commercial standards, and easily implemented by third parties. Any CAD design should greatly reduce development cycle time and cost for redeploying an end-item display for a new platform to include final integration. The initial CAD family will be built upon the most advanced technologies available with improved optical performance (luminance ranges, contrast ratio, viewing angles, and NVIS compatibility), next-generation processing performance, and high-bandwidth video/data interfaces. Significantly increased MTBF is also a key requirement. The modular nature of the system will ensure simplified technology insertion when new technologies become available. For example, the display head assembly could be replaced with a form, fit, and function assembly based upon advanced concept technology in future years. Pre-registration for the Industry Day is required. For reservations, e-mail Soya Clapp (
[email protected]) with the following information: name, company, address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail NLT 09 December 2005. Industry Day check-in is between 0730 and 0800. The session will break for lunch between 1100 and 1200. Draft Agenda for Industry Day includes 1. CAD Program Overview and Update; 2. Notional CAD performance expectations; 3. Question and Answer Session; and 4. Kickoff of CAD Working Group. The U.S. Displays Consortium (USDC) will provide support for this Industry Day. USDC is an industry-led, public/private partnership providing a common platform for flat panel display manufacturers and developers, FPD users, and the supplier base. Technical questions concerning the CAD program should be directed to Mr. Jim Grubb at 301-757-6463 or by email at
[email protected]. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This notice is a market research tool being used to determine the availability and adequacy of potential business sources prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a Request for Proposal including the use of any appropriate small business programs. The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this notice. In addition, the Government is not liable for any costs incurred as a result of Industry Day attendance. This notice is for informational and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for bid or proposal, and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit for or award a competitive contract. Unless otherwise stated herein, no additional written information is available, and no formal Request for Proposal (RFP) or other solicitation regarding this announcement is available, Requests for the same will be disregarded. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in the FEDBIZOPPS and the NAVAIR home page. It is the potential offeror’s responsibility to monitor these sites of release of any solicitation or synopsis.