Next Generation Advanced Bomb Suit (NGABS)
This is not a solicitation but rather a Sources Sought Notice to determine potential sources for information and planning purposes only. The purpose of this Sources Sought is to conduct market research to determine if responsible sources exist and to assist in determining if this effort can be competed. All questions related to this notice shall be sent via email to Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) point of contact (POC) Lisa Yamakawa, lisa.j.yamakawa.civ@mail.mil.
ACC-APG, in support of Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PM SPE), is seeking qualified potential sources that possess or can develop the Next Generation Advanced Bomb Suit (NGABS), an advanced design full body blast protective armor system to be worn by Explosive Ordnance Disposal Soldiers.
Interested parties shall submit all necessary documentation to validate their ability to meet the requirements outlined below.
Program Description: The Army is seeking a full body protective ensemble that incorporates the latest technological advances in protective materials coupled with ergonomic design to improve Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Soldier mission effectiveness and survivability from fragmentation, blast overpressure, impact, thermal hazards, and small arms fire. In response to the constantly changing and increased threats encountered, the Army has identified a need to improve and redesign the existing bomb suit ensemble to provide not only a higher level of protection, but also improve the mobility and capability of the EOD Soldier. The Next Generation Advanced Bomb Suit (NGABS) will enable the EOD Soldier to identify, render safe and dispose US and foreign explosive ordnance and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in support of the full range of military operations and homeland defense operations when requested from federal, state, local, and tribal authorities.
The Bomb Suit in current use by the US Army is known as the Advanced Bomb Suit (ABS). The ABS consists of two configurations of the Med-Eng Systems; the model EOD 8 bomb suit and model EOD 9 Gen 2 helmet bomb suit. The overall design is over 16 years old and features a high frontal protection bias with reduced ballistic/blast protection at the rear of the suit, which makes the EOD Soldier more vulnerable to secondary/tertiary device threats and small arms fire. The ABS's high coverage area, insulating characteristics, and lack of ventilation incur an extraordinary heat burden on the wearer, which is exacerbated by extremely high temperatures common to the current Area of Operations (AO). Moreover, the average weight of the ABS is 65 to 70 pounds. The Army needs a new and dramatically improved bomb suit with reduced weight and bulk to allow the EOD Soldier to maneuver more effortlessly in tight or restricted mobility areas while maintaining both balance and dexterity. This is especially crucial when the EOD Soldier is attempting to render safe functioning ordnance, mines, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) using specialized EOD tools and equipment to emplace counter charges.
EOD missions in support of Operation New Dawn (OND) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) required the EOD Soldier to communicate with team members and perform operations during periods of reduced visibility and in low / no light environments. Therefore, the Army needs an improved helmet design that reduces weight, enables communications, provides imaging capabilities for low/no light environments, and increases the field of view to maintain situational awareness of ongoing events all around. An integrated cooling system that does not require separate donning, is required to maintain optimal body core temperature while conducting counter IED operations. An integrated cooling system will also reduce the amount of time the EOD Soldier spends donning and doffing the NGABS ensemble.
There are no critical technology elements associated with the Threshold requirements. All of the specified Threshold requirements are achievable and currently exist in the ABS. The purpose of the NGABS ensemble is to reduce the overall weight of the by 10% through the use of improved materials, provide 360 degree protection, and provide protection from rifle and handgun projectiles which are not present in the current ABS. Current, commercially produced ballistic materials will offer a significant reduction of weight over the current ABS and is available now at a TRL 8/9. The performance requirements are intended to integrate existing technologies into the NGABS to eliminate donning these items separately when the EOD Soldier has limited time on target to accomplish the mission.
In response to the constantly changing and increased threats encountered, the Army has identified a need to improve and redesign the ABS ensemble to provide not only a higher level of protection, but also improve the mobility and capability of the EOD Soldier. Improvements are needed to allow use of the a bomb suit capability during periods of both clear visibility as well as low light operations in both urban and rural locations, in open areas, and in areas containing restricted mobility or tight spaces. The following improvements are proposed as they have potential to provide immediate impact for EOD Soldiers:
a) Force Protection: The NGABS will be designed to be a modular, scalable, and mission tailorable system that provides ABS level survivability or better utilizing an optimal area of coverage. The NGABS has several Force Protection (FP) Key Performance Parameter (KPP) requirements that are designed to protect the EOD Soldier from kinetic fires in the form of primary and secondary fragmentation, primary blast overpressure, tertiary impact, and rifle and small arms projectiles. It also covers environmental protection of Soldiers exposed to flame and heat from fire and explosions.
b) Weight and Distribution: The weight and weight distribution of the NGABS ensemble must not significantly impede mission efficiency. Weight of the system must be at or below the threshold stated below. Weight distribution of the suit shall allow the wearer to maintain neutral balance. The NGABS system will accomplish this by providing weight distribution or offset of the residual weight in order to increase endurance and mobility of the EOD Soldier. The EOD Soldier must be able to easily navigate through corridors, closely spaced furniture, climb stairs and ladders, look under, around or into a vehicle, aircraft, ship, desk, closet or other restrictive spaces. The NGABS ensemble must not hamper effective positioning of specialized EOD render safe tools and explosive counter charges when wearing the NGABS ensemble. The NGABS ensemble weight includes the bomb suit helmet.
The current ABS weighs 74 pounds for a size medium. The approximate weight for the size medium suit without the helmet is 62 pounds. The helmet itself weighs approximately 12 pounds. The goal is to reduce system weight by 10% (threshold (T)) to 40% (objective (O)) overall. System weight includes both the suit and helmet.
c) Helmet and Visor: Helmet and visor need to provide a wider field of view than the current helmet to maintain situational awareness.
-Degree lateral field of vision (FOV) without optical distortion: (T) = 140° (O) =170°
-Maximum occluded angle for dynamic downward FOV: (T) = 25° (O) = 22.5°
-Visor must resist fogging in operational environment of -40° to 140°: (T) = 90% (O) = 98%
-Helmet must be equipped to cycle air from outside of the helmet: (T) = (O)
d) Modular Sensor Suite and Heads-up Display (HUD): The NGABS ensemble will include a modular sensor suite and HUD. The modular sensor suite and heads-up display HUD must interface with the ensemble helmet without degrading any of the force protection performance of the helmet and visor. The modular sensor suite must include visible color, Low Light Level (LLL) Near InfraRed (NIR), and Long Wave InfraRed (LWIR) sensors. The sensor suite must include the capability to capture images in the visible, LLL NIR, and LWIR spectra. The FOV of the HUD must match or exceed the FOV of the sensor suite for alignment. The interface between the sensor suite and helmet and between the HUD and helmet will include power; the sensor suite and HUD will receive power from the NGABS helmet. The HUD must not obscure the horizontal or downward FOV provided by the NGABS ensemble helmet and visor
-The horizontal and vertical FOV of all sensors must be at least 40° (T).
-The horizontal and vertical FOV of all sensors must match the Objective HFOV of the helmet (O).
-The NGABS system should support digital image fusion of the visible color, LLL NIR, and LWIR sensors (O).
-The NGABS system shall incorporate a focus mechanism allowing the LLL NIR sensor to be focused from 0.1 meters to infinity (T).
-The NGABS system should incorporate a focus mechanism allowing all sensors to be focused from 0.1 meter to infinity. Focus controls should adjust the focus of all sensors (visible color, LLL NIR and LWIR) simultaneously such that at any setting all of the sensors are in focus (O).
-The NGABS system shall include a remote focus for the sensors so that the User does not have to reach up to the head to adjust the focus (T). The NGABS system should include a voice activated remote focus or an automatic focus (O).
-The minimum frame rate for all of the sensors (visible color, LLL NIR, and LWIR) shall be 60 +/- 0.1 Hz and shall be matched to the display frame rate (T).
-The sensor suite and HUD will have less than 30 ms latency from photon in to photon out (T).
-The sensor suite and HUD will have less than 5 ms latency from photon in to photon out (O).
-The HUD will display sensor imagery at unity magnification (T).
-The HUD will also provide digital zoom (O).
-The NGABS system should be a binocular system to provide depth perception (O).
-The HUD will be able to screen capture displayed image / data. Captured image needs to be recoverable via the I/O port (T) = (O).
-The sensor suite shall be powered by a central suit power supply which is conformal to the body (T).
e) Scalability (Modular): Scalability (Modular): The NGABS shall provide the EOD Soldier the ability to don select portions of the bomb suit to adjust protection and mobility characteristics to match the mission requirements. Often it is necessary to access IEDs in tight or restricted spaces (e.g., caves, culverts, elevator shafts, and underground tunnel complexes); for these situations, the EOD mission may call for reducing coverage and reducing protection to increase mobility. While it is recognized that reducing coverage and protection levels may effectively reduce personal protection, the increase in agility, mobility, and situational awareness is necessary to successfully and efficiently accomplish the mission. The ability to remove components while operating will provide the user with the ability to remove some layers of protection to operate without removing all provided equipment. The modularity capability cannot induce gross vulnerability in any area of the suit, in other words a weakness that reduces survivability.
-Scales down from full Bomb Suit level of protection (removable sleeves, leg protection, and blast thoracic plate): (T)
-Scales up from Tactical Vest and Helmet (removable sleeve and leg protection are compatible with SPS-TEP: (O)
Requirements:
Scope. The NGABS bomb suit is a personal protective equipment system that provides whole body, blast effects protection for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel. The NGABS ensemble is used in situations where the EOD Soldier will attempt a Render Safe Procedure (RSP) or Disposal Procedure (DP) against Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) or Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that cannot be attacked remotely.
Classification. NGABS is a whole body, blast effects protective ensemble consisting of the following primary protective components: head protection system (helmet, visor and sensor with heads-up display and communications device), torso and arms protection (jacket and integrated cooling system), legs and feet protection (trousers). The ensemble includes carrying cases/bags for the suit and the helmet system.
Helmet. The helmet (head protection system) should be available in at least four sizes to fit the 5th female to 95th male percentile Soldier via fit adjustment system. The sensors suite and HUD shall be designed in such a way so that they will interface to all four size helmets. A one-size-fits-all helmet system is desirable.
Helmet Retention: The NGABS helmet shall have an easily adjustable, comfortable helmet retention system that provides maximum stability and retention while also providing easy donning and doffing. A washable, comfortable, flame resistant head cover such as a balaclava shall be provided. Comfort liner materials, ear-pads, and other components subject to direct contact with the scalp, face, ears, and neck shall be removable and replaceable from the helmet, as well as hand washable.
Suit. The NGABS suit (thoracic and extremity protection system) should available in at least five sizes to fit the 5th female to 95th percentile male Soldier.
Sizes: Sizes shall be determined in accordance with the 2009 ANSUR II.
Maneuverability/Flexibility and Operational Suitability: The NGABS shall not significantly impede efficient and safe accomplishment of mission due to design, material selection or bulk of the system. EOD personnel shall be able to maneuver through corridors, closely spaced furniture, climb stairs and ladders; look under, around or into a vehicle/aircraft/ship, desk, closet, or other confined spaces. EOD personnel shall be capable of quickly and safely positioning specialized render-safe tools, diagnostic tools, and explosive counter charges during counter Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Operations when wearing the bomb suit system. Maneuverability/Flexibility shall be verified by soldier trials.
Donning/Normal Doffing/Emergency Doffing/Incapacitated Doffing: The following capabilities are to be met using the complete NGABS system including the cooling system. All closures and methods of adjustment must be durable and easy to operate.
Donning: The complete NGABS system shall be donned within five (5) minutes (threshold), two (2) minutes (Objective) with the help of one assistant.
Normal Doffing: The complete bomb suit shall be normal doffed within two (2) minutes with the help of one assistant.
Emergency Doffing (Autonomous): Emergency doffing shall be accomplished autonomously by the wearer for rapid removal of the suit. The complete bomb suit system shall be able to be removed by the wearer in less than one (1) minute, 30 seconds (T) and 15 Seconds (O).
Incapacitated Doffing: The bomb suit system shall have the ability to be doffed from injured (incapacitated) wearer in both the prone or supine position without excessive movement of the wearer. Excessive movement of the wearer is defined as needing to lift or rotate the subject in the torso region.
Response Instructions: Interested parties shall submit all necessary documentation to validate their ability to meet the requirements outlined above. At a minimum each response shall provide:
• Technical Narrative/White Paper describing the system and capability/requirement it provides, specifically to the performance requirements; force protection, weight and distribution, helmet and visor, modular sensor suite and heads-up display and scalability,
• Order of magnitude cost to purchase either limited rights in technical data or Government purpose license rights,
• Test Data from an independent, certified NIJ lab that supports the described capabilities of the system (if test data is available), and provide tabulated data showing where the product is deficient and how the product can be made compliant,
• Prime contractor and sub-contractor teaming for integration of the helmet system to include sensor, heads-up display and communications system, where the prime contractor will be responsible for all system integration,
• Production capabilities including design and engineering locations as well as manufacturing locations, and
• Delivery capabilities (how many NGABS could be delivered within a sixty day period).
In addition, interested parties shall provide the following information regarding their business, business size, delivery and production capabilities with their response:
• Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code
• Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
• Business size (Small Business (SB) versus Large Business (LB)) - identifying what type of SB, if applicable
• Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Price
• If available at least two past performance references to include contract number, customer name/organization, quantity ordered, contact information (point of contact (POC), POC email and POC phone number).
The North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code that any future requirement would fall under is 315990 which require a business size standard of 500 employees or less. The Government will use the business size information provided to determine the best acquisition strategy should a firm requirement come to fruition.
Responses are due no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Thursday, 9 March 2017 to Lisa Yamakawa at lisa.j.yamakawa.civ@mail.mil.
Lisa J. Yamakawa, Phone 4102786129, Email lisa.j.yamakawa.civ@mail.mil
