A -- UNMANNED GROUND COMBAT VEHICLE (UGCV)

Notice Date

September 12, 2000

Contracting Office

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Contract Management Office (CMO), 3701 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203-1714

ZIP Code

22203-1714

Solicitation Number

RA00-52

Response Due

November 9, 2000

Point of Contact

Technical POC: Dr. Scott Fish, (703) 696-2302; Administrative POC: Ms. Robin Swatloski, Email -- rswatloski@darpa.mil

Description

UNMANNED GROUND COMBAT VEHICLE (UGCV). The DARPA Tactical Technology Office (DARPA/TTO) and the ARMY have issued a draft solicitation for the Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicle. The UGCV solicitation is available in electronic form only, and is posted on the DARPA/TTO web page (http://www.darpa.mil/tto/solicitationsfrm.html). The DARPA/ARMY UGCV program is one of several technologies supporting the DARPA/ARMY Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. This program will focus on the development of robotic combat vehicles with revolutionary mobility and resilience to augment technology trends in robotic control. This advanced performance will be created by new design paradigms and technologies enabled by an operational trade space unrestricted by human crews. Nominal goals for the UGCV in two mission classes are provided in the solicitation, and many design freedoms remain since no specific requirements for UGCV have been defined by the FCS program. The Solicitation describes the program plan and evaluation criteria for a two phase approach to prototype development and testing. Proposals may address concept designs in one or both of the mission classes outlined in the Solicitation. The payload weight targets associated with the two mission classes are 150 and 1500 kg with the second payload potentially including a weapons system. Proposals should include estimated component and subsystem weights, volumes, and power requirements for the concept being offered as described in the solicitation, as well as performance estimates for endurance and capability of negotiating obstacles. A complete listing of other elements expected in proposals is given in the Solicitation. A formal transfer of UGCV overall design characteristics (size, weight, mode of locomotion), performance (endurance, payload fraction, obstacle negotiation) and operational capabilities (see Category 2 metrics in the Solicitation) between the UGCV program participants and the DARPA FCS Concept Program contractors will be required. This data will be used to allow UGCV candidates to play in larger systems contexts to highlight their potential in FCS applications. The UGCV program will be executed as an "Other Transaction for Prototypes," using DARPA's authority under Section 845, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, as amended. This authority breaks down barriers that prevent COMMERCIAL COMPANIES from doing business with the government and provides flexibility for traditional defense companies to do business a new way. A critical element of the program is the potential for both large and small businesses, academia or government to bid and form into teams as necessary to produce the designs, analysis, hardware prototypes, and experiments required. DARPA/ARMY currently plans this program in two Phases. Phase I is composed of 2 design sub-phases. Phase IA is preliminary design and runs for a duration of approximately 9 months. Phase IB is detailed design and risk reduction experimentation and also runs for 9 months. Phase II involves fabrication of one or more integrated UGCV prototypes with testing both in the laboratory and in the field over a 21 month period. For details on proposal submission requirements, location and time see the solicitation at the website specified below. Questions and comments concerning the draft solicitation can be directed to the DARPA Agreements Officer, Robin Swatloski via email at rswatloski@darpa.mil or (703) 696-0081. The deadline for questions and comments is 9/22/00. The final solicitation is expected to be posted in late September. No additional notice will be published for the final solicitation. WEB: Click here for a copy of the draft solicitation, http://www.darpa.mil/tto/solicitationsfrm.html. E-MAIL: Click here to send via email questions regarding this RA00-52@darpa.mil.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20000914/ASOL003.HTM (W-256 SN495793)