STRUCTURAL CONCEPTS FOR AFFORDABLE LAUNCHED EFFECTS

If you are aware of any existing technologies from other industries (e.g., automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics) that could be leveraged for low cost, high rate, agile LE production, please identify those existing technologies as well.

Scalability and Supply Chain Considerations

For both your current manufacturing method, as well as emerging technologies you are aware of, identify any potential scalability and supply chain concerns or considerations.

• Key considerations for improving manufacturing processes to meet potential high-volume demands for SCALE
• Potential supply chain challenges associated with sourcing materials and manufacturing equipment for LE structures
• Considerations to ensure a robust and resilient supply chain for LE manufacturing
• Considerations to enable rapid scale up or scale down of production to meet changes in demand

Broad Application of Manufacturing Methods

• Provide insights into how proposed manufacturing methods can be applied broadly across LE and sUAS manufacturers, rather than being tailored to specific designs.
• Highlight the adaptability of these methods to different structural designs and configurations.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Discuss the potential ROI for the technologies and methods proposed, including cost savings, production rate improvements, and scalability benefits.

Field Manufacturing Capability

Identify technologies that could be directly applied by Army units to support embedded manufacturing capabilities in operational environments.

Additional Considerations

Identify any additional considerations you think are pertinent to the topic of this request for information and you would like to bring to the Government’s attention. Examples include:

• Any large gaps in knowledge or technology you are aware of that need to be addressed to enable SCALE
• Any relevant standards or certifications that should be considered for SCALE implementation
• Opportunities for other platforms (e.g. medium to large UAS, manned Army VTOL platforms) to leverage the technologies developed under SCALE

Submission Instructions

If proprietary information is submitted, it must be appropriately and specifically labeled as “proprietary”. It is the submitter’s responsibility to clearly identify to the Government what is considered proprietary data. Any such proprietary data will not be released outside the Government. All responses must be UNCLASSIFIED. 

Your response shall be submitted via email to the points of contact noted.  Please include in the subject line ‘RFI W911W6-25-RFI-0003 SCALE Response” Please do not include attachments with files ending in .zip or .exe. Ensure only search enabled Portable Document File (.pdf), Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), or Microsoft Excel (.xsls, or .xls) documents are attached to your email. All other attachments may be deleted.

Additional points of contact in addition to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist to submit responses:

Daniel Camp, Aerospace Engineer,  daniel.v.camp.civ@army.mil

Robert Haynes, Aerospace Engineer, robert.a.haynes43.civ@army.mil

Resources

2009 DoD TRL Deskbook:   https://www.acqnotes.com/Attachments/Technology%20Readiness%20Assessment%20Deskbook.pdf

2020 DoD MRL Deskbook: http://www.dodmrl.com/MRL%20Deskbook%20V2020.pdf