SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Development and Demonstration of Robotics Technologies and Systems to Support Self-Escape or Rescue Efforts
- Notice Date
- 3/27/2014
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Acquisition and Assistance Field Branch (Pittsburgh), Post Office Box 18070, Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15236-0070
- ZIP Code
- 15236-0070
- Solicitation Number
- 2014-N-15806
- Archive Date
- 4/28/2014
- Point of Contact
- Howard D. Bish, Phone: 4123865848
- E-Mail Address
-
hbish@cdc.gov
(hbish@cdc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is responsible for conducting acquisitions in support of the National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH). The Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a requirement to conduct research, exploratory development, testing, or evaluations of new technologies to improve mine safety, or to adapt technologies from other industries for application in mining environments. The primary interest of this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is to promote the modification or final development of practical robotics technologies or systems that can be adopted by the mining community in a short period of time to support self-escape or mine rescue efforts. Under this specific solicitation, proposals to conduct theoretical or basic research will not be considered. Focus Areas: Following are four focus areas that are currently envisioned for the use of robotics assistance during escape and rescue operations. These areas are provided to guide responders in addressing the highest priorities of NIOSH. However, NIOSH strongly encourages responders to propose practical robotics solutions to health and safety issues that are outside of these areas. 1. Before and during rescue operations there is a need to identify the conditions within the mine and the viability of any trapped miners. These areas may be miles from areas that can be safely accessed by the rescue teams, and therefore can only be reached through boreholes. These boreholes are generally 2 to 8 inches in diameter. OMSHR is interested in robots that can be lowered through the boreholes and then navigated through the mine providing visual and atmospheric information to the operator on the surface. 2. When exploring the mine, rescue teams may encounter conditions in front of their direction of progress that are unknown or could possibly be too dangerous to explore without more information. These areas may be scattered with debris and rock, which makes navigation by a robot challenging, additionally the height of the entry may be as low as three feet. OMSHR is interested in robotics technology that can explore several thousand feet ahead of the rescue teams and provide visual and atmospheric information to the rescued team at the fresh air base. 3. During rescue operations, the rescue members may need to remove injured miners or carry similarly heavy loads into and out of the mine. OMSHR is interested in robotics technology that can provide a "pack mule" capability for the rescue teams on a fully or semi-autonomous basis. 4. A problem which is unique to coal mining and other gassy mining environments facing any robotics development is the possible ignition of methane by electrical energy associated with the robot. The power limitations created by intrinsic safety requirements and additional weight associated with explosion proof boxes, greatly limits the types of robots that can be used. OMSHR is interested in explosion protection technologies that can be applied to robots to minimize or eliminate the possibility of explosion with minimal impact on the mobility and weight of the robots. The proposed solution can be either a general solution or incorporated with a solution to one of the three topic areas described previously. This requirement is solicited on a full and open competition - unrestricted basis. The complete solicitation document and reference material will be available for downloading at www.fedbizopps.gov on or about 15 calendar days after the posting of this notice. No verbal or written requests for copies will be accepted. It is the responsibility of prospective offerors to stay abreast of additional postings regarding this solicitation at the FedBizOpps Internet site.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/CMBP/2014-N-15806/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Contractor's Facility, United States
- Record
- SN03322057-W 20140329/140327234646-0c8ea38d8345d890b09c1cd6a90cad45 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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