Commanding Officer, NAVFACCO Bldg 41 Code 27, NCBC 1000 23rd Ave, Port Hueneme, CA 93043-4301

19 -- REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLE SYSTEM SOL N47408-98-R-3930 DUE 051598 POC Peggy Hake, (805) 982-5397 E-MAIL: SMTP@Gatewat@NetSvcs, plhake@cbcph.navy.mil. Questions and Answers to referenced combined synopsis/solicitation of 02 Apr 98. QUESTION 1. Your specification indicates that the armored umbilical will be connected to the neutral tether with underwater connectors. Breaking strengths are specified for both the umbilical and neutral tether, but no mention is made as to how the loads will be transferred through the underwater connectors. Please provide clarification as to how the loads will be transferred to the connectors. ANSWER TO QUESTION 1: The load from the neutral tether to the armored umbilical will be transferred from one cable jacket to the other, via a "Yale" grip. In regards to the implementation of a TMS, it suits the Navy's purposes better to incorporate a depressor weight on the umbilical for diving at depth. QUESTION 2. In the event of a dead vehicle at depth the entire system must be winched to the surface. Please provide clarification on how the required forces would be transferred to the connectors, if the proposed configuration were implemented. ANSWER TO QUESTION 2. See answer to Question 1. QUESTION 3. Your specification indicates that a slip ring is GFE. Please provide clarification on the location of this slip ring. Is the slip ring an underwater unit to couple the armored umbilical to the neutral tether, or is the slip ring to be installed on the shipboard? ANSWER TO QEUSTION 3. The slip ring is to be installed on the shipboard winch. QUESTION 4. Your specification makes no reference to the shipboard winch or handling system. Please provide details on the Navy's winch and handling system. ANSWER TO QUESTION 4. The Navy intends to fabricate an A-Frame skid (similar to what has been built previously), and incorporate one of our existing winches. QUESTION 5. Please confirm that you will accept a system with less thrust capability if the vehicle will meet your operational performance specifications. ANSWER TO QUESTION 5. Due to the diverse nature of task that may be required of this ROV system, the Navy requires a vehicle that can be readily expanded to incorporate sizeable subsystems. Hence, along with a potential need for high Ballard pull in carrying out some future tasks, the vehicle's thrust also need to be adequate for propelling itself and currently unidentified appendages effectively thorough high current environments. QUESTION 6. The use of a surface 220-240 VAC power supply for an ROV system operating over such long cable lengths could be a dangerous approach to powering the system. The use of higher voltage, such as 380/440/480 VAC is a much safer logical approach. ANSWER TO QUESTION 6. The surface power supply of 208-240 VAC refers to the ship power required to operate the overall system. QUESTION 7. Please advise if alternate, higher voltage power supplies will be accepted. ANSWER TO QUESTON 7. See Answer to question 6 above. The individual ROV manufacturer determines selection of vehicle power supply. QUESTION 8. Deployment of an ROV into water depths of 4,000 feet can be extremely dangerous when the system is not being operated in conjunction with an underwater tether management (TMS) system. The TMS provides sufficient weight depression when deployed in the mid water column. Additionally, when at depth the neutral tether can be deployed as needed. Can the specification be revised to reflect the requirement for a TMS? ANWSER TO QUESTION 8. See answer to Question 1. (0110)

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