SOURCES SOUGHT
25 -- The US Government is seeking sources to provide a vehicle control processor (VCP) unit for a ground combat vehicle.
- Notice Date
- 7/15/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- ACC-RSA - (Missile), ATTN: AMSAM-AC, Building 5303, Martin Road, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
- ZIP Code
- 35898-5280
- Solicitation Number
- W31P4Q11R0208
- Response Due
- 8/15/2011
- Archive Date
- 10/14/2011
- Point of Contact
- Justin McDaniel, 256-876-0845
- E-Mail Address
-
ACC-RSA - (Missile)
(justin.mcdaniel2@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a request for information (RFI) only. This is not an Invitation for Bids (IFB), Request for Quotations (RFQ), or Request for Proposals (RFP). The US Government is seeking sources to provide a vehicle control processor (VCP) unit for a ground combat vehicle. The unit is to provide all interface and control functions associated with the weapon system mounted on the ground combat vehicle. VCP units of interest would include those currently in production and employed in DoD Systems, those soon to be in production with a prospective customer standing by, and those under design that might be available within the next five years. Background: The design of the hardware elements of the system controlled by the software operating on the VCP unit will allow configurable support for a little-endian or a big-endian processor architecture. The primary concern will be, in particular, a credible processor obsolescence mitigation plan, and the plan for supporting the components with short production life-cycles such as memories, bus and memory controllers, video controllers, Ethernet controllers, PHYs, and magnetics, etc. Table 1 outlines the minimum I/O required for the VCP. The emphasis is toward serial interfaces between the VCP and any remotely located I/O functions required for the interface and control functions expected of the VCP. Concerns regarding or support for the use of serial interfaces should be provided in any response, particularly if related to obsolescence mitigation and testing of the VCP unit. Army and DoD polices are documented in DoD Directive 8500.01, AR 25-2 Information Assurance (IA), and AR 25-1 Army Knowledge Management and Information Technology. Table 1. Minimum VCP Processor Requirements. Processor Architecture Architecture32-bit General Purpose Low-Power Microprocessor with FPP and MMU. Performance100 MIPS (minimum). Memory DRAM256 MB (minimum). Larger capacities with ECC desirable. User Flash256 MB (minimum). Larger capacities supporting a Flash File System desirable. Boot ROMAs Required. Peripherals Ethernet2 10/100BaseT NICs. (10/100/1000 operation, and 4-8 additional switched ports.) Serial Ports3 RS-232C 115.2kbps buffered (16-byte FIFOs minimum) serial ports. 4 RS-422 38.4kbps buffered (16-byte FIFOs minimum) serial ports. 1 DS101-compatible key loader port (Synchronous, RS-485, 19.2kbps HDLC/SDLC). USB2 USB 2.0 High-Speed (480 Mbps) Ports. (Expected to be used for mass storage I/F) RTCNon-volatile real-time clock module with desired 5ppm oscillator stability. AudioAudio Alarm: 0.2VRMS @3 kHz tone, 8 Ohms; Audio Key: 0.5A relay closure (In-cab standard voice activated intercom system support) Digital InputsTTL, 5 V clamped (24V input): ARM Enable, FIRE Enable, PWR On Digital Outputs24mA@5V (LED Drive): Power On, Error, Spare System MonitorSystem Monitoring function supporting voltage, current, and temperature measurements. Elapsed time and power cycle tracking also desired. Other Features RTOS SupportSupport for a robust RTOS with exceptional Internet Protocol stack and support for IPv4. Specific RTOS not required but with capabilities and performance equivalent Wind River VxWorks 5.5.1 or later desired. Ethernet SwitchIntegral multi-port switch connected to primary Ethernet port desired. (Other Ethernet port is a non-switched, external test port) VideoOptional: 1024 x 768 RGB or DVI. (PMC implementation preferred implementation.) Nuclear EventNuclear event detection and mitigation is required. Due to the complexity of the task, there are challenges in fielding units that are inexpensive, small, reliable, and easy to upgrade. In particular, the obsolescence of many digital parts after a relatively short time in the field and the proliferation of enhancements provide a challenge when trying to repair or upgrade current systems. Careful employment of modular design, including group of parts by obsolescence blocks, and an open architecture would provide the Army with significant cost savings over the long term as compared with current systems. Program Objective: The Army seeks to explore the potential for improvements in each of the areas outlined above. Specifically, improvements over current designs in one or more of the following areas are of interest: Life Cycle Cost Obsolescence Control Upgradability Size, Weight, and Power Reliability Warranty Of particular interest are VCP systems that are already in use by military systems or are slated for such use in the near future. The ability to achieve economies of scale in both initial and life cycle costs is highly relevant. Unit Capabilities In order to be of interest, the VCP unit should meet the following criteria: 1)Meet the minimum I/O as defined Table 1 2)Address knowledge management requirements as defined in AR 25-1 3)Address IA requirements as defined in AR 25-2 4)Maintain operational status during Vehicle startup as defined in MIL-STD 1274D 5)Provide Nuclear Event Detection capability or an approach for rapid recover after a nuclear event. 6)Perform to standard while mounted in a ground combat vehicle and experiencing the various environmental conditions documented in Tables 2-6 and Figure 1 above and tested according to MIL-STD 810G. Response Guidelines: Vendor responses are limited to 10 written pages and should be made by e-mail. The information submitted should include: 1)Description of the company's past and current relevant performance for ground-vehicle-mounted vehicle control processing systems. 2)Specific information concerning the approach for obsolescence containment and ability to accept upgrades. 3)Description of the current or projected use of the proposed unit, to include military and civilian program(s), unit density, and timelines for its adoption. 4)Name, telephone number, fax number, street address and e-mail address for Program, Technical and Cost points of contact information Interested firms who believe they are capable of providing the above mentioned items and that possess a required SECRET clearance, are invited to indicate their interest by providing: a)Company name, company address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), Cage Code, point of contact, e-mail address, telephone number, fax number; b)Business size (i.e. large, small disadvantaged, veteran owned, woman owned, etc...) c)Affirmation of cleared personnel d)All responses shall be unclassified. All assumptions, including any assumed Government support, shall be clearly identified. All proprietary and restricted information shall be clearly marked. The closing date for this RFI is 15 AUG 11. The Government will not reimburse contractors or responders to this notice for any costs incurred in responding, or any subsequent exchange of information. All responses shall be transmitted electronically to justin.mcdaniel2@us.army.mil. POC: Justin McDaniel Contract Specialist U.S. Army Contracting Command (AMCOM) CCAM-TM-C 256-876-0845 Justin.mcdaniel2@us.army.mil This RFI is for planning purposes only and shall not be considered as an IFB, RFQ, or RFP. Additionally, there is no obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products described in this RFI. Your response to this RFI will be treated only as information for the Government to consider. You will not be entitled to payment for direct or indirect costs that you incur in responding to this RFI. This request does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated or received for this effort. The information provided may be used by the Army in developing its acquisition strategy. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary, restricted or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The Government does not intend to pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/34c4d89ac6800a87d24fd8c71329eb7d)
- Place of Performance
- Address: ACC-RSA - (Missile) ATTN: AMSAM-AC, Building 5303, Martin Road Redstone Arsenal AL
- Zip Code: 35898-5280
- Zip Code: 35898-5280
- Record
- SN02500313-W 20110717/110715235139-34c4d89ac6800a87d24fd8c71329eb7d (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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