The US Army Research Development Engineering Command, Natick Soldier Research Development & Engineering Center (RDECOM-NSRDEC) in Natick, MA, is conducting a market survey for technical information, concepts and/or capabilities on methods to develop a Static Line Automatic Activation Device (SLAAD) for use with the currently fielded static line parachute systems. The system must ultimately be capable of automatically activating the reserve parachute of a paratrooper that is unable to activate the reserve on their own under a partial or total malfunction of his/her main canopy. The desired characteristics for such a system (not in priority order) are as follows: (1) functions on current static line parachute systems including the T-11(threshold) and MC-6 (objective) parachute systems with the common T11-R reserve parachute. (2) operates onboard high performance fixed wing, rotary wing, and non-standard aircraft at speeds from 70 to 150 Knots Indicated Air Speed (KIAS), (3) accurately determines separation from the aircraft prior to any activation of the reserve system, (4) must operate from exit altitudes of 1,000 ft. Above Ground Level (AGL) and higher (threshold) and 525 ft. AGL and higher (objective), (5) must not interfere with or affect any existing equipment with the exception of the reserve canopy and container, (6) must not interfere or affect any existing equipment associated with the aircraft, including avionics communications or any other electrical or mechanical systems, (7) system must allow for the ability to manually deploy reserve canopy without changing current procedures, (8) system will have "black box" capability to store critical data of each jump that may be accessed and analyzable by the user, (9) system will have a minimum 12.5 year usable life to coincide with parachute expected life. Expected fielding numbers for systems will be determined when requirements are finalized but are expected to be between 10,000 and 80,000. Above noted characteristics are top level desired characteristics additional attributes may be communicated via a potential future request for information. Confidence and reliability numbers are expected to be established if a formal program of record advances. Responses to this market survey shall include information to demonstrate how the above characteristics will be met after development of the system and the current system maturity level. System maturity level may be defined using Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) definition found in Section 2.5 of the Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA) Guidance dated April 2011 (http://www.acq.osd.mil/chieftechnologist/publications/docs/TRA2011.pdf). Responses shall include summarized information on any testing and evaluation that has beencompleted, if applicable, to justify the TRL of the proposed system/concept. Proprietary information will not be disclosed outside the U.S. Government and will adhere to the attached non-disclosure policy form. All interested firms, regardless of size are encouraged to respond to this request for information. It should be noted that this is a market survey and not a pre-solicitation notice. A pre-solicitation notice will be published if a formal solicitation is generated. No awards will result from this market survey. Nothing shall be construed herein or through the market survey process to commit or obligate the Government to further action as a result of this market survey. Firms responding to this market survey shall bear all risk and expense of any resources used to provide the requested information, and all information submitted in response to this request shall be marked as proprietary and will not be returned to the submitter. Respondents must submit their product brochures, technical data, or other information concerning performance and cost within 30 days of this publication. Responses may be sent via email to
[email protected]. No solicitation document exists at this time. This market survey is for information and planning purposes only. This is not an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be taken as a commitment by RDECOM-NSRDEC. E-MAIL ADDRESS:
[email protected],
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