Sources Sought Announcement - Uncooled B-Kit (UBK) Risk Reduction Demonstration The US Army Project Manager Night Vision/Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (PM NV/RSTA) is contemplating the initiation of a Risk Reduction Program Demonstration for the Uncooled B-Kit (UBK). The Uncooled B-KitUBK does not yet exist. However, the goal is an to bring industry and government system developers together to develop an uncooled infrared (IR) thermal imaging module that may be used across many current and developing systems that require uncooled thermal IR imagery. To this end, PM NV/RSTA is seeking industry participation in completing an UBK specification and Interface Control (ICD) documents. A draft specification and draft ICD has been developed. These documents describe the .current concept for the module, which It includes an uncooled IR Focal Plane Array (FPA), optical window, supporting electronics, shutter (optional), and a standard electrical connector. The Uncooled B-KitUBK does not include a displaydisplay or objective optics. The Uncooled B-KitUBK will have standard and well-defined electronic and mechanical interfaces to facilitate integration into future, and possibly current, thermal imaging systems such as those used for: driving tactical and combat vehicles, target acquisition systems for light, medium and heavy individual and crew-served combat weapons, missiles (seekers/sensors), IR search and rescue systems, RSTA payloads for unmanned aerial vehicles, unattended sensors, unmanned ground vehicles, and Future Combat Systems of Systems (FCS) uncooled IR applications. The goal is that the B-Kit may be used as the "thermal engine" for future system development efforts thereby serving to reduce the system development costs and technical risk as well as providing a substantial reduction in recurring/production costs due to the economies of scale associated with commonality. The B-Kit may also be integrated (forward fit) directly into existing systems to provide both a performance improvement and reduction in production costs. Currently, tThere are different three configurations of the Uncooled B-KitUBK envisioned to account for performance requirements that translate into different Focal Plane Array (FPA) formats (sizes). FPAs of the 25-µm-pixel size shall be considered standard in accordance with the goals of the Uncooled ManTech effort BAA 03-04-FH. FPA formats (sizes)sizes will span standard pixel counts: 160 x 120, 320 x 240, and 640 x 480. These are designated U1, U2, U3 respectively. In order to provide relative sizes in context: U1 may be used in very small systems such as unattended ground sensors (UGS), U2 may be used in future thermal goggles and light weapon thermal sights, U3 may be used in medium and heavy weapon thermal sights, Driver's Vision Enhancer (DVE) and FCS platforms. A larger, yet undefined array size (U4) may be used in future, larger vehicle applications. U1, U2 and U3 will have pixel size of 25.2 +/- 0.2 microns. The Uncooled B-KitUBK Risk Reduction Demonstration will focus on entail the development of a limited number of systems for test, integration and evaluation. Up to two awards may be madeThe goal is to have at least two awardsdifferent vendors participate in for this demonstration effort with a start no later than Jun 04. The current strategy is schedule for award of the Risk Reduction Program is to release an RFP in March 2004 and contract award(s) in June 2004. In order to facilitate the completion of the specification and ICD development of the best set of technical documentation for the Risk Reduction Program Demonstration, the Government is seeking the participation of industry in a working group session on 18 Feb 2004 at Ft. Belvoir, VA. The agenda for the working group session will include a briefing on the requirements and schedule of the Risk Reduction Demonstration, an overview of the current status of the Uncooled B-KitUBK Performance Specification and ICD, an open forum discussion, and individual meetings between the Government personnel and each interested company. A copy of the most recent draft Uncooled B-KitUBK Performance Specification and Interface Control Document (dated 5 Sep 2003) will be made available to interested parties. Technical point of contact is Mr. Aric Sherwood,
[email protected]. The working group session will take place at 0900 hrs to 1700 hrs on 18 Feb in the Kelly Conference Room in Bldg 399 of the Night Vision Compound at Ft. Belvoir, VA. Please send a list of individuals who will be attending to Ms. Jessica Dillon,
[email protected], no later than 13 Feb 2004. This announcement is an expression of interest only and does not commit the Government to make any award or to pay for any response preparation costs.