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Revised: 8/20/02

Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (TUAV) Platform Integration

BIA Number: 15260

Pricing Information
The Program anticipates a funding level of up to $90,000 for the contract award(s) resulting from this BIA.

Detailed Description of Effort and Tasks
The Future Combat System (FCS) Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) plan consists of a family of several types of airborne vehicles, including the Tactical UAV (TUAV). This BIA requests proposals for the definition and refinement of the TUAV platform, definition of common subsystem interfaces, specification development, ROM costs models, and System Development and Demonstration (SDD) program plans.

Task 1
The contractor shall define and refine an integrated FCS TUAV platform architecture. For the purposes of this award, the "platform" shall include the air vehicle and associated subsystems, integrated payloads/sensors, communication links, ground control station hardware and software, and payload control and data exploitation equipment. The architecture shall conform to the desired functional and performance characteristics described in Appendix A of this BIA. The contents of Appendix A may be updated and provided to the contractor at contract award.

Appendix A describes two sets of platform characteristics. The offeror may respond to either one or both of the platform characteristics sets. If the offeror wishes to respond to both platform characteristics sets, a separate technical and cost proposal shall be submitted for each. Proposals shall clearly identify the platform characteristics set that is addressed.

The contractor shall provide key functional and performance characteristics of the platform architecture, and information on the sensitivity of key performance characteristics to readily sizable elements of the architecture.

The contractor shall identify elements of the platform architecture that are not currently at TRL 6, and shall propose design refinement and development activities required to achieve TRL 6 (for the entire platform architecture) by the first quarter of 2003.

Task 2
The contractor shall define an architecture that achieves a substantial degree of commonality between key elements of the FCS UAV types. (The other FCS UAV types are the OAV, SUAV, and HALE; the characteristics of these UAV types are listed in their respective BIAs). The contractor shall recommend key areas where commonality can be achieved (such as ground control station hardware and software, communication links, etc.). The contractor shall indicate the degree of commonality that can be achieved and the benefits and limitations of incorporating the recommended common elements. The architecture definition shall include a description of the interfaces between the common elements and the air vehicle.

The contractor shall identify elements of the common subsystems & interfaces architecture that are not currently at TRL 6, and shall propose design refinement and development activities required to achieve TRL 6 by the first quarter of 2003.

Task 3
The contractor shall develop a draft technical specification and Interface Control Documents (ICDs) for the entire TUAV platform (including air vehicle, payload interfaces, ground control station, payload control and data exploitation equipment, and common subsystem interfaces). The specifications and ICDs shall use Mil-Std-490 as a guide, and shall be consistent with the desired platform characteristics specified in Appendix A (including modifications of Appendix A provided to the contractor at contract award).

Task 4
The contractor shall produce ROM cost models (recurring and non-recurring) for the proposed platform architecture.

Task 5
The contractor shall provide an TUAV platform preliminary program plan for SDD that includes at a minimum: preliminary system manufacturing plan, long lead items list, program critical path, preliminary subsystem/vehicle system level test plan, and identification of program risk issues.

Task 6
The contractor shall provide a recommended TUAV platform SDD Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

Schedule and duration of on-site support - N/A

Number, duration(s) and location(s) of meetings
Initial Coordination / Kickoff Meeting (Seattle, WA or Philadelphia, PA) - 10/8/02
Interim Coordination Meeting (Seattle, WA or Philadelphia, PA) - 10/25/02
Final Coordination Meeting (Seattle, WA or Philadelphia, PA) - 11/22/02

Schedule Milestones
Subcontract Start Date - 10/9/02
Subcontract Completion Date - 12/16/02

Data Requirements
Initial input - 10/25/02
Final input - 11/22/02

Deliverables
Refined TUAV Architecture & Design Description:
Initial 10/25/02; Final 11/22/02

Common Subsystems Interfaces Architecture:
Initial 10/25/02; Final 11/22/02

TUAV Platform Specification / ICDs:
Initial 10/25/02; Final 11/22/02

ROM Cost Models:
Initial 10/25/02; Final 11/22/02

SDD Plan / WBS:
Initial 10/25/02; Final 11/22/02

Evaluation Criteria
Offerors should ensure that their proposals address the following:

  • Demonstrated credibility of the proposed technical approach
  • Degree of understanding of the technical aspects of the work and related issues
  • Relevance and history of performing similar work
  • Availability of resources to successfully conduct the proposed work
  • Responsiveness to general BIA instructions

We will apply these considerations to the following areas:

  • Development of integrated UAV platform technology (including air vehicle development, air vehicle subsystems, payload integration, ground control station development, payload control and data exploitation systems, etc.)
  • Analytical and manufacturing capabilities associated with applicable UAV system development (including modeling, simulation, and test)
  • UAV platform specification development
  • Suitability to perform as a future TUAV platform integrator
  • Key personnel qualifications
  • Cost. Cost is NOT part of the evaluation criteria.

Appendix A - Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle - Desired Functional & Performance Characteristics

PLATFORM CHARACTERISTICS SET A

STOL (Short Takeoff/Landing)

Low cost catapult launched
Mission: RSTA brigade asset
Gross Weight: 600 lbs
Endurance: 5 hr
Altitude: 15,000 ft MSL
Speed: Vmax > 80 kts
Radius: 30 km
Payload: 60 lbs
Signature: Low IR
Day/Night operations
Diesel fuel engine
Conventional or arrested landing
Primary Payload Type: EO/IR
Alternate Payloads: Comm-Relay, COMINT, SIGINT, Met Sensor, Mine Detection, SAR w AiTR, NBC Sensors,
EA
Performance characteristics based on Army Standard Day (4000 ft, 95 F)
Performance values noted above are approximate.

PLATFORM CHARACTERISTICS SET B

VTOL (Vertical Takeoff/Landing)

Low-cost RSTA
Gross Weight: 2500 lb
Endurance: 6 hrs
Altitude: 15,000 ft MSL
Speed: Vmax > 100 kts
Range: 150 km
Payload: 200 lbs
Signature: Low IR
Day/Night operations
VTOL
Diesel fuel engine
Primary Payload Type: EO/IR
Alternate/Multiple Payloads: Comm-Relay, COMINT, SIGINT, Met Sensor, Mine Detection, SAR w/ AiTR, NBC
Sensors, EA
Performance characteristics based on Army Standard Day (4000 ft, 95 F)
Performance values noted above are approximate.