16 -- ENHANCED CONTAINER DELIVERY SYSTEM (ECDS)

Notice Date

January 29, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Army Robert Morris Acquisition Center Natick, ATTN: AMSSB-ACN, Natick, MA 01760-5011

ZIP Code

01760-5011

Solicitation Number

N/A

Response Due

March 1, 2000

Point of Contact

Takis Blanas

Description

The U. S. Army Soldier Biological and Chemical Command (SBCCOM) is seeking technical information on an Enhanced Container Delivery System (ECDS) or system components that could be used for aerial delivery of preplanned and emergency supply loads for compact and support operations. With ECDS, multiple resupply containers, weighing up to 15,000 lbs. each, will be airdropped into the operational area via aerial delivery aircraft. The ECDS developed under this effort, should enhance aircraft survivability, increase load capacity and airdrop accuracy and decrease the cost and labor associated with aerial delivery operations. The primary mission of ECDS is the delivery of various cargoes at a variety of altitudes (low, medium and high). Typical support missions for ECDS will include combat forced-entry and aerial resupply operations for small, medium and large unit/team and humanitarian/disaster relief supplies airdropped to surrounded or isolated populations. The Enhanced Container Delivery System shall have the following capabilities: (1) Compatible with all 463L rail system as currently equipped on fixed and rotary wing aircraft, and sling load compatible with rotary wing aircraft; (2) Meet (threshold) or exceed (objective) identifiable ballistic characteristics of current airdrop systems for low velocity (28.5 fps) drops; (3) Capable of being deployed at a release altitude of 500 feet (threshold) above ground level (AGL) and at 375 feet AGL (objective) at current standard Cargo Delivery System (CDS) air speeds (130 to 150 KIAS) at maximum payload capacity; (4) Capable of delivering serviceable loads in 13 knot ground winds (threshold), 21 knot ground winds (objective); (5) Must be compatible with Army materiel handling equipment (MHE), with United States Air Force (USAF) cargo aircraft and aerial port cargo materiel handling equipment (CMHE), forkliftable and sling-loadable. In addition, future upgrades for ECDS may include compatibility with the Palletized Loading System (PLS); (6) Provide a maximum rigged weight capacity of 8,000-lbs (threshold) and 15,000-lbs (objective) with a minimum requirement of 5,000-lbs; (7) Utilize standard airdrop components to the maximum extent possible with new designs not requiring modification to the delivery aircraft or the restraint rail system; (8) Allow for the delivery of single or multiple pallets in a single pass over the drop zone; (9) Overall packing and rigging time, including aircraft rigging, not greater than time required for current comparable CDS loads with like capacities; (10) Allow for the configuration of up to four standard A-22 loads with minimum modification and for the delivery of single mass load at the maximum rigged weight allowance; (11) Provide for de-rigging procedures that are no more complex than current CDS (threshold) and less complex (objective); (12) Compatible with standard combat off-load procedures of existing 463L palletized cargo; (13) Allow for appropriate in-flight load restraints; (14) Utilize current A-22 honeycomb configurations with no modifications (objective) and minimal adaptation (threshold); (15) System not to exceed current CDS maintainability requirements (threshold) and reduce current requirements (objective). Maintenance tasks to be performed by MOS 92R rigger personnel at organizational level; (16) System components to be reusable 12 times (threshold) and 25 times (objective); (17) Provide a probability of at least 92 percent (threshold) and greater than 92 percent (objective) of successful airdrop completion without a system abort and a probability of at least 85 percent (threshold) and greater than 85 percent (objective) of airdrop completion without the occurrence of an essential function failure; (18) Capable of gravity extraction at conventional airspeeds with ability of future conversion/upgrade to parachute extraction method; (19) Capable of being operated and maintained by soldiers having fifth percentile female to the ninty-fifth percentile male profiles; (20) Capable of use and storage in all climatic categories where CDS is currently being used. In addition, technical information that address a low cost, one time use variant of ECDS could be supplied for addressing future requirements for the system. Information provided will be used to develop specific requirements for a future ECDS. Proprietary information will not be disclosed outside the US Government. At this time, SBCCOM is seeking sources, technical, and product information for an enhanced airdrop container system or system components that meet the Army's requirements, or may meet requirements with modifications to existing airdrop systems or system components. All interested firms, regardless of size, are encouraged to respond to this request for information. Responses may be sent via email to takis.blanas@natick.army.mil, or by regular mail to US Army SBCCOM, AMSSB-PM-RSS-A(N) (ATTN: Takis Blanas), Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760, Telephone (508) 233-6356, Fax (508) 233-4716. This market survey is for informational purposes only, this is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). See Note 25. For assistance in interpreting the CBD announcements, please see the CBD Reader's Guide.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010131/16SOL014.HTM (W-029 SN50C1E1)