The US Army Research Development Engineering Command, Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), Natick, MA, is conducting a Request for Information for Concept (White) Papers on Soldier-Borne Energy Harvesting Technology for the dismounted Soldier and Small Combat Unit (e.g. Squad). This is not a Request for Proposal. In the future, dismounted Warfighter capabilities will continually be modernized with advanced sensors, networking and processing technologies, all of which require power. While many of these new capabilities will possess advanced low power electronics and power management features, the need for innovative power source solutions for the dismounted Warfighter and Small Combat Unit will remain an essential aspect of the Army's Soldier modernization program. Emerging operational concepts dictate the need for technology to support extended missions without the benefit of re-supply for 72 hours or longer. Personal energy harvesters have great potential, particularly over long duration Soldier missions, by being able to provide on-the-spot backup electrical power generation. Novel concepts for Soldier-borne energy harvesting technologies, including but not limited to: kinetics-based, metabolic (i.e. body heat), solar, wind, and other novel energy conversion solutions are sought for further development and evaluation. Technologies and concepts that provide improvements in energy density, optimized personal energy harvesting, ergonomics, "ease of use," and safety to facilitate human factors and Soldier-centric integration are of interest. The weight, power density, and energy density of the proposed energy harvesting systems will be compared with the conventional power solutions in field or in development for man-wearable, back-packable, and man-portable applications to determine their technical viability, while keeping in mind that the advantage energy harvesting systems have over these conventional solutions is that the former have unlimited capacity whereas after the battery is depleted, or fuel has run out, the conventional power sources are useless or dead weight but the energy harvesting system will continue to provide power. Therefore, the energy harvesting system can have a higher weight and lower power density than the conventional power sources and still be competitive. Offerors shall include performance metrics for the proposed technology solution. The proposed system's performance metrics shall include system weight, size, energy conversion efficiency, and coefficient of performance (COP), human factors (comfort, mobility, range of motion, bulk, etc.), metabolic cost, its military operational relevance, and its compatibility with the Soldier fighting ensemble and equipment, as well as any negative impact on Soldier mobility, metabolic cost, and "fightability." Also of interest are systems related to efficient power distribution, monitoring, connectors, battery recharge, and energy storage solutions related to Soldier-borne energy harvesting. All interested firms, regardless of size are encouraged to submit a Concept (White) Paper to NSRDEC in accordance with NSRDEC Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) 09-11, under topic # C15- Soldier-borne Power Sources, which can be found at https://www3.natick.army.mil/ssbaa.html. Offerors shall submit concept papers that are consistent with the intent of the BAA. Instructions for the submission of concept papers are contained in BAA Topic # C15. "Soldier-borne Power Sources." Proprietary information will not be disclosed outside the U.S. Government. Nothing shall be construed herein or through the RFI process to commit or obligate the Government to further action as a result of this RFI. Firms responding to this RFI 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 become the property of the Government, and will not be returned to the submitter. Responses shall be submitted by 31 August 2011 and may be sent via email to
[email protected] or by regular mail to US Army RDECOM, Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, TSPID (ATTN: Kailash Shukla), Kansas Street, Natick, MA, 01760. Point Of Contact: Kailash Shukla, 508-233-5313