Active

Contract Opportunity

List of Revisions:

Revision 2- (a). In regard to the potential need for NDAs between the USG support contractors and any contractor interested in submitting documents related to this RFI, the contractor is responsible for contacting the USG support contractor. The NDA is an agreement between the contractors. (b). The USG may have interest in next generation technology that requires development. A discussion of the USG potential strategy and timeline for this effort will be presented in greater detail at industry day.

Revision 1 removed the reference to the quad chart because no USG sample quad chart will be provided.

Request For Information (RFI) Announcement for Industry to Provide Potential Solutions for the High Energy Laser (HEL) Vendor Demonstration in support of the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office & Directed Energy Prototyping Office (DEPO)

Description:

This is a Request for Information for parties interested in participating with the DEPO to conduct a HEL Weapon System Vendor Demonstration. The U.S. Army is evaluating the potential of integrating a DE weapon system into its maneuver forces. The Demonstration may be facilitated by use of a Bailment Agreement between the U.S. Government (USG) and participating contractors, with each party providing components, information, and services at no cost to each other. The purpose of the Vendor Demonstration is to identify potential HEL Weapon System solutions that can demonstrate a Modular Open System Architecture laser design capable of Group 3 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) defeat.

Following the HEL Vendor Demonstration, the USG plans to issue a Solicitation to develop the DEPO Enduring HEL prototype solution. Participation in the HEL Vendor Demonstration is not a pre-requisite for submission of a proposal in response to the Request for Proposal (RFP).

The USG will not pay for information received or equipment provided by the contractor. The USG will review contractor's request for Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE) and Government-Furnished Information (GFI) that is in the U.S. Army inventory for availability. The USG will provide the contractor test range time/access for

the HEL Weapon System Vendor Demonstration as well the resulting demonstration performance of their system(s). The USG will protect any information provided in accordance with the document markings. Any potential release of respondents' information to other Government agencies will be coordinated with the vendor prior to release.

Background:

DEPO is looking to increase HEL’s ability to address the Group 3 UAS threats. Existing DEPO HEL Weapon System prototype efforts identified that a potential “sweet spot” exists in terms of lethality and cost while maintaining a focus on reducing HEL weapon system “Entry Barriers” in terms of designability, affordability, and sustainability. The U.S. Army desires to assess the operationalized maturity of industry HEL weapon system solutions at the subsystem level (includes but not limited to Beam Control System, Beam Director, Power/Thermal Systems, and Threat Tracker) capable of integrating with system hardware and software interfaces, and existing U.S. Army command and control and sensor architectures.

Key Dates:

Industry is required to submit a summary (two-page maximum) paper and quad chart to the Contracting Officer by 1500 CST 21 February 2024 in preparation for an Industry Day hosted by the USG. Details of the summary paper and quad chart are provided later in this RFI. The USG will not allow industry representatives to attend the Industry Day without this prior submission. The USG will issue a separate special announcement via SAM.gov detailing any additional requested information. The Industry Day is tentatively scheduled for 03 April 2024 at Toftoy Hall

Industry Day(s):

DEPO invites interested vendors to a government-sponsored Industry Day to discuss the HEL Weapon System and subsystem requirements. Industry Day is open to all interested U.S. firms who meet the submission requirements noted above. The purpose of the Industry Day is for DEPO to provide an overview of the effort, discuss desired capabilities, and to answer questions from industry related to the demonstration. The Industry Day will afford an opportunity for industry interaction related to this event. Each industry partner that plans to participate in the demonstration will submit white papers on their respective system by 21 February 2024.

Additional Industry Day details follow:

Date: (T) 3-4 April 2024

Location: Toftoy Hall, BLDG 3496, Redstone Arsenal, AL

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  To register, please RSVP by 1500 CST on 06 March 2024. The USG will not accept registrations after that date.

  
  


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  Include a by-name list of all Industry Day attendees for your organization. Each industry team is limited to five attendees; however, the USG reserves the right to limit participation if the event is oversubscribed.

  
  

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  Registration will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. For visitor information, and to send your RSVP, please contact:

  
  

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  Tracy Elliott. tracy.d.elliott2.ctr@army.mil

  
  


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  Copy furnish MAJ Goodrich, weston.b.goodrich@army.mil

  
  

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  All attendees must be able to provide proof of U.S. citizenship; identification will be required at check-in on Industry Day.

  
  


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  No meals or beverages will be provided at the event.

  
  

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  The Industry Day will be unclassified.

  
  


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  Following your registration, the Industry Day POC will provide additional information on the event.

  
  

The USG will conduct the Industry Day activities in two parts:

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  A session comprising briefings/panel discussions providing acquisition-planning information for the requirement.

  
  

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  An open Question and Answer (Q&A) session between USG personnel and prospective industry teams. Industry teams are encouraged to submit written questions at least seven days prior to Industry Day to the Industry Day POC listed above.

  
  


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  *NOTE* This event is an open exchange with industry and no answers given will be considered official or binding on the part of the USG. No digital recording of Industry Day events is permitted.

  
  

Information Exchanges:

Following Industry Day, the USG desires to hold one-on-one information exchange discussions with those parties that have a serious interest in participating in this demonstration. The USG wishes to hold individual discussions to gain additional information and clarification and to offer industry the opportunity to discuss this requirement and identify any GFE or GFI that is being requested for the demonstration. The USG will limit each discussion session to one hour. The USG requests that each respondent bring a team not to exceed five people. Please include technical experts in addition to business development staff. The respondent should plan to spend the first 20 minutes of the discussion session summarizing their HEL Weapon System concept. Hard copy briefing charts are preferred and should be provided to the USG at the information exchange. The remaining time will be open discussions. The USG reserves the right to share any non-proprietary information exchanged during the one-on-one sessions with all potential participants. The sessions will be unclassified.

Response Instructions for Industry Day:

Please contact Tracy Elliott to schedule a one-on-one discussion session. After your registration, the USG will provide additional details and where to send your read-ahead material. The USG will hold discussions following Industry Day. The last time for requesting appointments is 1500 CST on 06 March 2024. Please provide the following information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners: Company/Institute name, address, main POC, phone number, e-mail address, and list of those attending the session and their positions. Personnel who do not have access to Redstone Arsenal, AL will submit the names of team members needing access.

**ATTENTION**The Industry Day submissions and whitepapers will be reviewed by USG personnel and their support contractors. All information provided will be adequately protected. Any proprietary information must be identified.

To be reviewed, the statement "Releasable to USG Agencies and their supporting Contractors for Review Only" must accompany any proprietary submission. The USG reserves the right to request further clarification to enhance understanding of the respondent's submittal. Participants may request that USG support contractor employees sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

The following contractors will be reviewing the information:

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  AVACAL

  
  


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  Georgia Technical Research Institute (GTRI)

  
  

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  Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation (IRTC)

  
  


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  Radiance Technologies

  
  

Responses:

Interested vendors are requested to submit two responses:

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   A two-page summary of corporate (may include partners and/or subcontractors) capabilities:

   
   

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  The two-page summary should document corporate/team member's system capabilities and a point of contact for the USG.

  
  


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  The contact identified in the two-page summary will be the person notified with regard to participant approval to attend the Industry Day.

  
  

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   A quad chart summarizing the system capabilities:

   
   

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  The quad chart should provide a summary of the system to include system description, design/integration approach, picture of system, and system capabilities.

  
  

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   Submissions Details:

   
   

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  Submission will be unclassified

  
  

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  If any of the material provided contains proprietary information, then mark and identify disposition instructions (submitted data will not be returned).

  
  


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  Submit only unclassified information.

  
  

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  Limited to no more than two, one-sided 8.5" x 11" pages

  
  


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  11-point font size in Arial

  
  


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  One-inch margins

  
  

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  Line spacing should be no less than single space

  
  


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  Tables, drawings, and header/footer information shall be 10-point font size or larger in Arial.

  
  


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  All replies to this special announcement must reference PANRSA-24-P-0000 004638.

  
  


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  All responses shall include company size status under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541715 as stated below.

  
  


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  *NOTE* No telephonic inquiries will be accepted

  
  

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   Submit all responses via email or mail to this special announcement with reference to PANRSA-24-P-0000 004638.

   
   

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  For email, send to amy.d.miller41.civ@army.mil and tracy.d.elliott2.ctr@army.mil. A return email will confirm your submission was received.

  
  


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  For mail, send to the Directed Energy Prototyping Office. Responses must be received no later than 21 Feb 24.

  
  

This RFI is issued for market research and for planning purposes only and shall not be considered an RFP or Invitation for Bid, shall not be considered an obligation from the USG to acquire any products or services, and shall not be considered an authorization to incur any cost in anticipation of such authorization. The USG does not intend to reimburse respondents for information solicited or for costs of any other activities associated with responding to this RFI, including participation in any demonstration. The information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the USG to pursue any course of action described herein.

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