DEPLHINUS PROTOTYPE PAYLOAD PROJECT

Special Notice N0016422SNB39Agency:  Department of the NavyOffice:  Naval Sea Systems CommandLocation:  NSWC Crane DivisionClassification Code:  AC13 National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense – Military; Experimental Development / Research and Development SystemNAICS Code:  541715 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)Response Due Date:  October 24, 2022, 12:00 PM ESTRequest for Solutions:DEPLHINUS PROTOTYPE PAYLOAD PROJECTPURPOSEThis Request for Solutions (RFS) is issued to seek a prototype maritime system of expendable unmanned systems with subsystem integration support. The Department of Defense (DoD) desires to develop a Delphinus Prototype to include overall mechanical and electronic compatibility with modular payloads, inclusive of Neptune and other payloads to be integrated that will be provided as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE).The DoD has determined that the need for additional

developers is necessary to keep pace with the advancements of payload technology. The Government will evaluate the solutions with the intent of awarding an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) in accordance with 10 U.S. Code § 4003.  BACKGROUND AND SUMMARYS2MARTSVendors interested in responding to this RFS must be members of the Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) consortium. Interested parties may visit S2MARTS.org for membership information. This project will be managed by a Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division Project Manager. PROJECT OVERVIEWThe Government requires material designs that will require varying levels of modifications to mechanical design and housing, electrical design, modularity and integration, and hardening/ruggedization for a maritime application. The selected party for this effort will integrate the GFE in the Delphinus vehicle as a tested and demonstrated prototype in a relevant environment under relevant operating conditions. Delphinus will include design flexibility to identify and develop alternative designs for other form factors and deployment mechanisms. The Government will award to the respondent whose solution is assessed to provide the best balance between performance/capability, schedule, level of data rights, technical risk, cost, and other factors considered. Key technical objectives of the desired Delphinus Prototype Payload Project include but are not limited to the following:A.        Achieving a balanced expendable unmanned undersea vehicle design that trades among detailed technical objectives, design/schedule risk, and projected unit cost.B.        Design compatibility with submarine launcher systems in a variety of representative form factors. Includes mechanical and electrical interfaces, as well as specified mechanical design margins and system safety criteria.C.        Maximizing modularity to support integration and effective employment of planned and prospective payloads.The Delphinus OTA prototype is anticipated to be released and executed with a base award, primary options, and secondary options each with 10-12 month periods of performance with the total project lasting up to 48 months.  Unknown requirements related to various payloads, accelerated tasking and/or design modifications that may emerge are to be negotiated post-award. Please visit the S2MARTS website at https://s2marts.org/ to review the full RFS.Contracting Office Address:300 Hwy 361Crane, IN 47522United StatesPrimary Point of Contact:Joe StrattonBryan.j.Stratton2.civ@us.navy.milPhone: 812-854-6772Secondary Point of Contact:Erin WittmerErin.l.wittmer.civ@us.navy.milPhone: 812-854-5908