58 -- MARKET SURVEY FOR TELEMAINTENANCE BENCHMARKING PROJECTS

Notice Date

July 12, 2001

Contracting Office

US Army, CECOM, Logistics and Engineering Operations Directorate, Fort Monmouth, NJ 07703-5000

ZIP Code

07703-5000

Solicitation Number

N/A

Response Due

August 1, 2001

Point of Contact

Kenneth Vereb 732-532-2133

E-Mail Address

CECOM POC (Kenneth.vereb@mail1.monmouth.army.mil)

Description

This is an investigation into private and public organizations, which employ "TELEMAINTENANCE" technologies as part of their daily business. Some private industries, which may employ these technologies are Airlines, Trucking fleets, couriers services like UPS and FedEx, automotive manufactures and dealership, other repair activities, etc. As benchmarking "NO" industrial or corporate information will be released to outside sources. All information will be treated as confidential and sensitive. All information will be restricted to government use only. Corporations participating in this survey will provide their Telemaintenance partners and vendors an opportunity to market their products directly to the government and gain additional business via this benchmarking process. Telemaintenance technologies are used to diagnose, make repairs, and inspect equipment with tools provided by portable, wearable computers. These tools allow: the soldier to travel to equipment with the ability to communicate and access pertinent data, Technical Manuals (TM), and Subject Matter Experts (SME) without carrying a large amount of equipment or TM's with them. It will allow SME's the ability to review data, the equipment directly, and assist the soldiers in making the repair without traveling to the site. Tools also include a database with past problems and resolutions, a helpdesk ticket tracking, online Technical Manuals, and other software tools which provide the soldier online help in solving a problem. The Communications-Electronics Command is seeking vendors of hardware and software, which will facilitate the soldier remoting themselves from an office, PC, or other static location and travel to equipment without losing the tools he needs. We are also researching the tools, which provide the soldier access to experts. The maintainer will use the following tools for the remote collaboration but are not limited to whiteboard, text chat, video and audio with one or more sites. Responants to this benchmarking survey should allow the CECOM Telemaintenance Project to investigate their systems as well as contact partners. Initial products will be wearable computers; electronic diagnostic tools (multimeters, oscilloscopes, and onboard computer monitors. The Government is investigating the commercial availability of an integrated hardware/software system to support remote training, tactical mission equipment operations and maintenance assistance and troubleshooting, fault correction and component repair using a Video-Teleconferencing system enhanced with the ability to open, display and transfer files (text, graphics, drawings, video), full-duplex voice and data, whiteboard communications and distant end operator assisted circuit / system testing via on-line telemetry/metrology. The basic concept is to equip Army field maintenance personnel with a small, mobil> e terminal which is capable of establishing contact with a central maintenance management center using VTC over 16 kbps MSE/TRI-TAC, standard telephone, cellular telephone, satellite, ISDN and/or internet communications means. The link must be expandable to include a VTC conference capability of three or more locations (field user, maintenance manager, and technical expert) with a minimum video and audio capabilities. After coordination of requirements, the maintenance manager exits the conference; leaving the field user and the technical expert to resolve the operational problem throug> h coordination, transfer of information, over-the-link diagnostics, telemetry and metrology. Following fault isolation, the Army field maintainer is guided through the removal and replacement of the failed part (resistor, transistor, diode, fuse, IC, etc.) followed by an over-the-link quality assurance test using on-line telemetry/metrology controlled by the Technical Expert. The Army Communications-Electronics Command is conducting the survey and may contact potential suppliers for a demonstration of vendor system capabilities and products, which are determined as best capable of meeting Telemaintenance requirements. The results of this Market Survey and product demonstrations will determine whether or not the Government will seek to acquire Telemaintenance systems in support of future sustainment operations and the means by which that decision will be pursued. This Market Survey does not imply in any way Governmental intent to contract for the research and development, lease, purchase, or production of any product offered by a vendor in response to this survey. All interested parties are invited to obtain a copy of the performance requirement and concept plan by sending an electronic mail request to Kenneth.Vereb@mail1.monmouth.army.mil NLT 01 August 2001. Expectations are to Complete this survey NLT 1 August 2001.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010716/58SOL006.HTM (D-193 SN50R6Q3)