SOURCES SOUGHT
99 -- NON-LETHAL CLEAR-A-SPACE TECHNOLOGY
- Notice Date
- 12/11/2001
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Navy, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps Systems Command, 2033 Barnette Avenue, Quantico, VA, 22314-5010
- ZIP Code
- 22314-5010
- Solicitation Number
- M67854-02-R-1034
- Response Due
- 1/4/2002
- Archive Date
- 1/19/2002
- Point of Contact
- Dwight Micheal Sr, Contract Specialist, Phone (703) 784-2006 x2766, Fax (703) 784-1480,
- E-Mail Address
-
michealdb@mcsc.usmc.mil
- Description
- The Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) has a Mission Need to develop the ability for operating forces around the world to be able to clear hostile forces from a structure. The structures may be rooms, buildings, ships, aircraft or other similar confined spaces. MCSC is pursuing an exploratory development program to evaluate enabling technologies that can apply non-lethal force to cause personnel to immediately move out of a space. The Clear-A-Space (CAS) program is part of a broader non-lethal effort called Clear Facilities (CFAC). Under CAS, the MCSC will develop a ?system of systems? to address the following five sequential steps (critical actions) in the CAS process: sensing inside the space, creating a point of entry, incapacitating the occupants, entering and clearing, and clearing without entry. The Marine Corps plans to address ?sensing inside the space? first. The objectives for sensing inside a space to support a CFAC mission include determining the dimensions of the space, the size and configuration of objects inside the space, the presence of hazardous chemical or biological materials inside the space and most importantly, the presence of and numbers of people inside the space. Elements of sensing quality would include the ability to count the number of people inside the space, their absolute location, their position (moving, standing or prone) and physical characteristics (size, sex, etc.) Sensing inside a space can be accomplished in two fundamental ways; by introducing a probe (camera, sensor, microphone, etc.) directly inside the space, or by employing a true standoff capability (through the wall). There are many existing technologies for sensing using an introduced probe. Advances in this approach involve the miniaturization of the sensing and transmitting devices, allowing a probe to be introduced through increasingly smaller openings often without detection, and placement of the sensor on robotic devices to reduce risk to personnel. Advances also continue to be made on through-the-wall sensing devices. However, the information quality provided by these devices does not yet match that from systems introduced directly into the space. The trade-offs between direct probing and through the wall sensing technologies will be evaluated on a continuing basis as technologies continue to advance and mature. Below are examples of Sense Inside a Space systems that would provide the warfighter with important capability when executing a Clear Space operation. These examples are only illustrative of the capability desired. Additionally, the sensing device(s) must be lightweight (less than two or three pounds), man-portable, inexpensive, and commercially available. This office will consider any technical approach that can meet these sensing capability requirements to support the CFAC mission. Example of Sense Inside a Space using Probing Technologies Flexible fiber optic technologies for remote visual inspection of a space for covert or overt surveillance and sensing operations could be used to support a CFAC mission. A tactical video system could be designed to provide a warfighting unit with a means to covertly monitor a space targeted for clearing. A small video camera could be inserted under a door or through a small opening in a wall. A high resolution color camera would provide a real time imaging that could be interfaced with a video transmitter connected to a command post for simultaneous monitoring. The camera could also be attached to a lightweight boom or pole for safer stand-off operation as the warfighting unit enters and moves through the space. Alternatively, the camera could be mounted on a small remote controlled ground based robot or on a micro unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to provide more thorough reconnaissance prior to entry or real time look ahead capability for the warfighting unit advancing through the space. The fiber optic device could also be threaded through a ventilation system to provide visual images from vent and air intake openings. A sensitive microphone could also be coupled with the micro camera to provide high resolution listening capability. Examples of Sense Inside a Space using Through-the-Wall Technologies A Through-the-Wall sensing device could use detection technology that senses discriminating electromagnetic radiation at a frequency that passes through doors, walls and other solid structures. Sensor resolution of the device would allow the warfighter to determine the dimensions of a space, the location of its larger fixed contents and the presence of humans inside. The system would be able to detect movement behind a door or wall. The device would also detect the rate of movement that could provide inferential evidence of a hostile threat. Device data processing capabilities would allow the system to discriminate between humans of different sizes and filter out smaller animals such as dogs. The device would be man-portable and provide the capability for transmission to a remote command console for true stand-off capability. A forecasted development profile of this technology approach would indicate a capability enhancement pathway that would lead to higher resolution outputs in future versions of the system. This critical action will provide an improved capability for Marines to apply non-lethal force to briefly incapacitate or cause people to immediately move out of a space without causing permanent harm. Industry firms capable of providing sensing technologies, in whole or in part, are invited to submit a response to this notice. Firms should include literature, brochures, and capabilities summaries directly addressing their ability to meet the aforementioned needs. Interested firms are requested to respond NLT 4 January 2002, stating their business size, SIC Code, and identifying a corporate point of contact. Interested sources should respond to: Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command, ATTN: CTQ1-DBM, 2033 Barnett Ave., Suite 315, Quantico, VA 22134-5010. THE SUBMISSION OF THIS INFORMATION IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE INTERPRETED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE ANY ITEMS/SERVICES, OR FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE INFORMATION RECEIVED.
- Record
- SN20011211/00002885-011212094707 (fbodaily.com)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |