U.S. ARMY SOLDIER SYSTEMS COMMAND, ACQUISITION DIRECTORATE, ATTN AMSSC-AD, NATICK MA 01760-5011

16 -- ADVANCED TACTICAL PARACHUTE SYSTEMS (ATPS) SOL DAAK60-97-R-9613 DUE 022097 POC Contracting Officer LAURA L. MACLEAN (508) 233-5028 (Site Code DAAK60) PM Soldier Support-U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command has a requirement for the development of an Advanced Tactical Parachute System (ATPS). The ATPS will be a mass assault personnel parachute system that will replace the T- 10C parachute system currently used by the US Army. This acquisition reflects an evolution in system and user requirements beyond those identified in a similar acquisition (DAAK60-96-R-9010) that was undertaken in August 1996 that was subsequently cancelled. The ATPS will be an individual troop parachute system that will consist of a main parachute canopy and deployment system, reserve parachute canopy and deployment system, and parachute harness. The ATPS will have the following objective performance characteristics: operation from a minimum planned jump altitude of 500 ft AGL from military aircraft traveling at airspeeds from 130-150 KIAS; troop payload weight of 332 lbs., not including parachute system (comprising main parachute, reserve parachute, and harness); maximum sea levelstandard day average rate of descent at ground impact not to exceed 16 ft/sec and 27 ft/sec for the main and reserve parachute, respectively; peak opening loads of 10G and 15G for the main and reserve parachute, respectively; maximum altitude loss of 275 and 250 ft for the main and reserve parachute, respectively to open and achieve steady descent. The objective weight for the ATPS system is 40 lbs., and the maximum threshold is 60 lbs. The ATPS main parachute shall have a stable descent with 10 degrees maximum oscillation during the last 5 seconds of descent. The ATPS reserve parachute shall be operable during main parachute malfunctions from jumper exit from the aircraft at the minimum planned jump altitude of 500 ft AGL, and shall be capable of activation by either hand. The ATPS harness shall be capable of being comfortably worn by a 1st percentile female through a 99th percentile male soldier, shall be designed to orient the paratrooper along the long body axis during both main and reserve parachute deployment, and shall be fitted with an equipment release for manual lowering of equipment during descent. Major changes to the ATPS effort relative to the recently cancelled solicitation include shifting from a Non-Development Item (NDI) approach to a developmental approach for a truly leap-ahead-technology personnel parachute system. The effort will entail the development of the main parachute, reserve parachute, and harness, delivery of systems for developmental and operational testing, and development and delivery of a performance specification and technical data package which will lead to type classification. Focus by the Government will be on obtaining maximum performance at minimum total system cost. The SIC Code for this acquisition is 2399. The Request for Proposal will be released on or about 20 February 1997. Requests for copies of the RFP must be submitted in writing and should include the requestor's name, address, phone number, facsimile number, and e-mail address (if available). Requests may be submitted by mail, facsimile, or e-mail. Telephone requests will not be accepted. E-mail will be used to the maximum extent possible to distribute RFP related documents. The facsimile number is (508) 233-5286. The e-mail address is "lmaclean@natick-emh2.army.mil". (0021)

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