TITLE:
Modular Military Altimeter
BACKGROUND:
Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PM SCIE), Personnel Airdrop Team, Natick, MA are conducting a market survey to locate potential manufacturers and/or suppliers of a Modular Military Altimeter for Military Freefall (MFF)/standoff parachute operations. The Modular Military Altimeter shall support the US Army (USA) Airborne and Special Operations Forces (SOF) communities by providing a device that provides a durable and reliable method of determining the altitude of the parachutist.
DESCRIPTION:
The Modular Military Altimeter is a safety item that is necessary for the completion of missions requiring High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) or standoff insertions. The Modular Military Altimeter shall be durable and reliably provide the parachutist with accurate altitude measurements. The Modular Military Altimeter shall function with all current and future MFF/standoff parachute systems including, but not limited to, the MC-4, RA-1, and future Hi-Glide systems; and operate on all high performance fixed, rotary and non-standard aircraft which support the MFF mission. To be effective, the altimeter must be operational during all phases and usable in all weather and environmental conditions of the MFF/standoff mission to include extreme temperatures and high altitude and high g shock during canopy opening. It must be operable with all extreme temperature gear such as face shields, goggles, gloves, etc.
REQUIREMENTS:
The system should meet the following performance requirements, which contain both Threshold [T] and Objective [O] levels. The objective level is the performance goal, while the threshold level is the minimum acceptable performance short of the goal. These requirements represent the desired increased capability over the current military altimeter performance.
Requirement Threshold Objective
Operational range Shall be operable to 40,000 ft MSL Shall be operable to 45,000 ft MSL
Operational Temperature Shall be operable in -60 Fahrenheit (non cold soak temperature) to + 170 Fahrenheit Shall be operable in -65 Fahrenheit (non cold soak temperature) to + 180 Fahrenheit
Accuracy Display shall be accurate to +/- 250 ft up to 25,000 ft MSL Display shall be accurate to +/- 100 ft up to 35,000 ft MSL
Backlight Shall possess electroluminescence lighting system Shall possess self adjusting electroluminescence lighting system
Setting Shall be capable of being manually set by parachutist to different DZ altitudes Shall be capable of being set by parachutist to different DZ altitudes. Shall possess a wireless update capability via common wifi protocol
Display Shall possess analog face with a graduated linear scale Shall possess the ability to be changed between analog and digital displays
Power Shall be powered by commercially available batteries replaceable at the unit level Shall be powered by rechargeable batteries
Waterproof Shall be waterproofed at a depth of 6 ft for 1 hour Shall be waterproofed at a depth of 15 ft for 2 hours
Interface Shall be capable of being worn on the parachutist's left wrist without interfering with essential parachutist functions Shall be capable of being worn anywhere on the parachutist or his equipment without interfering with essential parachutist functions
Warnings Shall possess visible low battery warnings during start up Shall possess visible low battery warnings during start up and during operations
Maintenance Shall be maintainable at the unit level T=O
Calibration Shall be self calibrating with an annual chamber requirement. Shall have visual alert if the system is out of calibration. No annual chamber requirement. Shall be self calibrating. Shall have visual alert if the system is out of calibration.
Impact resistance Shall remain operable and calibrated after being dropped from three feet onto a concert surface Shall remain operable and calibrated after being dropped from six feet onto a concert surface
Scratch resistance lenses Lenses shall be scratch resistance or recessed to avoid scratches Lenses shall be scratch resistance or recessed to avoid scratches. Shall be replaceable at unit level
Dimension and Weight Maximum dimensions (3.50 quote mark x3.50 quote mark x1.50 quote mark ) (9.5 oz) including battery and wrist strap. Maximum dimensions less than (3.50 quote mark x3.50 quote mark x1.50 quote mark ) (9.5 oz) including battery and wrist strap.
Operations Shall possess a two step process to turn on, turn off and input DZ data to avoid inadvertent system shutdown or data input Shall possess a two step process to turn on, turn off and input DZ data to avoid inadvertent system shutdown or data input shall provide alerts that data has been changed

RESPONSES:
All interested firms and manufacturers, regardless of size, are encouraged to respond to this request for information. Information submissions should include available technology, product literature and illustrations, and relevant company background/experience. Available product pricing should also be provided as part of the information submission.
Information submissions must be received by 30 days after the date of this post. Responses to this notice should be directed to: Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment, Personnel Parachutes Team, ATTN: Nina Shopalovich, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5057 or e-mail to [email protected]. All information supplied will be considered confidential, unless otherwise specified by the firm or available from other sources without restriction. This Market Survey is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be taken as a future commitment by PM SCIE.

Bid Protests Not Available