Request for Information (RFI) - Control Head Unit (CHU)

Request for Information (RFI) Control Head Unit (CHU) Classification Original Set Aside: N/A Product Service Code: 6610 Flight Instruments NAICS Codes: 334511 - Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing; 541330 Engineering Services Place of Performance: Army Contracting Command - Redstone 5678 Hicks Road, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898, USA Description Notice This Sources Sought is issued for informational purposes and market research only, it does not constitute a solicitation. The Government will not reimburse any company or individual for expenses associated with preparing/submitting information in response to this posting. The information provided may be used by the Government in developing its acquisition strategy, statement of work/statement of objectives, and performance specifications. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained within their response. Scope The United States Government (USG) Capability Program Executive Aviation (CPE AVN), Project Manager, Aviation Mission Systems and Architecture (PM AMSA) is conducting market research to identify possible sources capable of providing a form-fit replacement for the C-12601 control indicator (CI) and provide future growth to support future radio control software for communications and other applications. The USG is interested in information regarding control head system hardware, real-time operating systems, and software at a high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL), with environmental qualification that support Air-Worthiness Release (AWR) as specified in Section 3.3(C). Background The C-12601 CI is the current backup control head for the ARC-231 in Army Aircraft. The C-12601 serves as the backup control for Air Traffic Control (ATC) and other waveforms and is now approaching obsolescence. Nascent Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) Army requirements are driving inclusion of onboard computational capabilities and available interfaces. Multiple software defined radios require use of an intelligent control head capable of hosting multiple software applications to support Design Assurance Level (DAL) and non-DAL applications. 2.2 Instructions to Potential Respondents Respondents to this RFI must submit evidence which demonstrates their current ability to manufacture and sustain a control head unit if it has been demonstrated. Respondents are asked to submit documents in easily readable pdf formats not to exceed 20 pages. 3. Requested Information 3.1 Company Information Company Name Address Point of Contact (include phone number and email address) CAGE Code Web Page URL State the country of ownership for the company State whether the company is a non-traditional defense contractor 3.2 Capabilities The USG is particularly interested in the physical characteristics and performance capabilities including: Describe the configuration of your proposed solution. Include: Operational startup time Number and type of connectors (e.g., data/audio I/O, control, discrete, antenna, key fill, Ethernet, MIL-STD-1553, serial, RF). For consideration, respondents must include RS-485/422/232 serial control, full duplex 1553, and Ethernet Chipset and computational resources (RAM, ROM, GPU, etc.) Total weight and dimensions of proposed solution Display 4.3 inches (minimum diagonal) Desired Dimensions Width - 5.75 inches Height - 3.35 inches Depth - Not to exceed 3.9 inches (DZUS rail to connector opening) Any mounting hardware required (e.g., shock isolators, cooling plates, DZUS rails) For consideration, solution must be compatible with DZUS rail mounting Maximum and nominal input power requirements of your proposed solution. Include voltage and current. For consideration, nominal power should not exceed - 14W (0.5 A @ 28VDC) Cooling method(s) used on proposed solution Supply chain considerations (e.g., countries of origin, obsolescence) Operating System (e.g. Linux, VxWorks, Deos, etc.) Describe any non-standard (non-conformant) material used in the proposed solution Provide the Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of your proposed solution and describe how the MTBF was determined. Note that the Army considers MIL-HDBK-217F an unacceptable source for reliability estimates. Describe how the system architecture of the proposed solution would operate functionally and physically in DoD Modular Open System Approach (MOSA). Describe any experience with the Hardware Open Systems Technologies (HOST) Technical Standard and how the standard can be applied to the controller solution Describe how the solution can be deployed Describe any past experience with similar Department of Defense (DoD) implementations and lessons learned from past experiences Describe knowledge and experience in product line engineering (PLE) Describe how the developed solution would achieve Cyber Security Compliance IAW AR 25-2. Describe the rights for the external hardware and software interfaces, external drawings, and technical manuals. If other than Government Purpose Rights (GPR), provide an explanation. Compliance with Mandates State the DO-178 design assurance level of the controller operating system and board support package and how it was obtained; if not already DAL C, provide a path to DAL C certification. State the DO-254 compliance and how it was obtained Human Factors IAW MIL-STD-1472H. Include: Sound levels of components such as cooling fan(s) included with your proposed solution. Human factors characteristics of any displays included with your proposed solution. Daylight readability Describe compliance with MIL-STD-3009 for Type 1, Class A, Night Vision Goggles How your proposed solution is designed for maintainability. Prominence of knobs, buttons, and other hardware UI features that enable gloved operations in all required conditions. 3.3 Environmental and Electrical Describe the controller s compliance with the following environmental, electrical, and electromagnetic specifications. Describe the specific method(s) and procedure(s) utilized for test. Describe any specific test criteria (e.g. limits, duration, number of cycles). If not compliant, discuss future plans to gain compliance. Requirements for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Characteristics of subsystems, equipment, all ancillaries for EMI / Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) requirements defined in MIL-STD-461G and MIL-STD-464D, as modified by ADS-37A-PRF, electrostatic discharge, and electrical bonding. Requirements for the Interface Standard for Aircraft Electric Power Characteristics as defined in MIL-STD-704A-E and the performance specification utilized to determine compliance. Requirements for Environmental Characteristics as defined in MIL-STD-810H for the following characteristics. Altitude: Sea level to 50,000 ft pressure altitude (Method 500.6, Procedure I) High Temperature Storage: +85 C (Method 501.7, Procedure I) Low Temperature Storage: -62 C (Method 502.7, Procedure I) Temperature Shock: -62 C to +85 C (Method 503.7, Procedure I-C) Solar Radiation: (Method 505.7, Procedure II) Dripping Rain (Method 506.6, Procedures III) Humidity: (Method 507.6, Procedure II) Fungus: (Method 508.8 for test, Guideline 4 of MIL-HDBK-454 for analysis) Salt Fog: (Method 509.7) Sand and Dust: (Method 510.7, Procedures I and II) Explosive Atmosphere: (Method 511.7, Procedure I) Acceleration: Procedure I up : 10.5g s, Procedure II up : 7 g s; all other directions 6g s (Method 513.8, Procedures I and II) Vibration: (Method 514.8, Procedure I, Category 14) AH-64 Gunfire Vibration Shock Functional: (Method 516.8, Procedure I) Crash Hazard: (Method 516.8, Procedure V) Bench Handling: (Method 516.8, Procedure VI) Transit Drop: (Method 516.8, Procedure IV) Temperature/Altitude/Humidity: -54 C to +71 C, Sea Level to 20,000 ft pressure (Method 520.5, Procedure III) Contamination by Fluids: (Method 504.3) 3.4 Items of Interest The USG requests that responses also include the following information: Plans for hardware and software improvement Engineering Services capabilities Lessons learned from past performance Sustainment capabilities Topology - how the software and hardware components are integrated Production capabilities (monthly, yearly) Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) capability Preliminary airworthiness assessment in accordance with the Army Military Airworthiness Certification Criteria (AMACC), Revision A. The AMACC is available from the following website: https://www.avmc.army.mil/Directorates/SRD/TechDataMgmt/ TRL and MRL Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) / Government Furnished Information (GFI) required 3.5 Data Rights, Licensing, Costs The USG requests that respondents describe data rights associated with software code to include executable code, computer databases, computer software documentation, models (e.g., SysML) source code, code…