Low Cost Undersea Effectors

Low Cost Undersea Effectors

Problem Statement

The United States Military faces a critical need for affordable small and medium Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) to enhance its operational capabilities in subsea and seabed warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and expeditionary warfare domains. Current and legacy systems are designed to be multi-mission, exquisite systems requiring long production timelines, significant training, reconfiguration prior to mission, and technical experts to process data. However, there are situations where a single use, mission specific UUV can be more desirable to the end user in the kinetic, ISR, and expeditionary domains. 

The Department of Defense (DoD) is seeking to address two unique problem sets in this one solicitation. Due to similarities in the UUV market, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) wanted to provide industry with the opportunity to submit to one solicitation for multiple different problem sets. Please review the “Submission Requirements” section prior to submitting a solution brief.

Problem Set 1 seeks to address the need for additional kinetic effects by leveraging existing government provided payloads and integrating them with industry provided platforms.

Problem Set 2 seeks to address the need for additional capabilities launched out of a submarine torpedo tube and providing critical effects in support of the host platform. 

Desired Solutions Attributes 

The DoD is seeking the next generation of small and medium UUVs. Proposed UUVs addressing any of these problem sets should be low cost, mission specific assets. Desired mission sets include but are not limited to delivering kinetic effects, ISR, and expeditionary.

Problem Set 1, Kinetic UUV

This solution is intended to provide a kinetic, one-way attack UUV. The solution should have the flexibility to be deployed from a government-provided platform or pier. The host vessels can either be surface or housed subsurface and most likely be uncrewed. The vehicle must be able to deliver a payload with the speed and endurance necessary to hone in and interdict a static or moving target. To maximize compatibility with existing deployment methods and packaging, handling, storage, and transportation (PHS&T) elements, the vehicle target dimensions are 12.75 inches in diameter, 120 inches in length, and less than or equal to 800 pounds at time of launch while carrying Government furnished payloads of various sizes, including but not limited to:

• 12.75 inch diameter, 16.5 inch length, and 135 lb weight 
• 12.75 inch diameter, 31.0 inch length, and 182 lb weight 

Problem Set 2, Sub-Launched UUV

The submarine-launched solution should demonstrate a path to torpedo tube launch and recovery without the use of divers. For deployment out of a torpedo tube, the vehicle must not exceed 21-inch diameter, 256-inch length, and 4000 lbs at the time of launch. The Vehicle should operate for at least 2 days and/or 120 nautical miles while operating with a payload. Vehicles should be able to host a payload that is 12.75-inch diameter and 54-inch length with a power usage that is 18 amps (A) at 18 to 40 volts direct current (VDC). The proposed UUV should be able to support multiple communication pathways to the host submarine. Tethered options will be considered. Accurate long-range navigation systems limiting the need for GPS, transponders, or bottom lock is preferred. Vehicles and effectors will need to demonstrate a pathway to Unmanned Maritime Autonomy Architecture (UMAA) compliance, and provide design concepts of up to 21-inch vehicles for autonomous launch and recovery from a submarine which includes battery, fire safety, and material requirements. Alternative sized UUV’s integrating with smaller payloads may be considered for deployment from the 6-inch and 10-inch submarine tubes, however priority will be given to the torpedo tube effects. 

Submission Requirements

Submissions will only be accepted as long as they are separated by the following naming convention. Submission titles must start with “PS1” or “PS2” followed by the rest of the title to reference “Problem Set 1” and “Problem Set 2”. Proposals not in accordance with this requirement risk being removed from consideration. 

Solution briefs should follow the CSO pitch guidelines listed under the “Read the DIU CSO” listed on our website here. Inclusion of examples of the successful deployment of similar commercial solutions is highly encouraged. Phase I submissions should highlight demonstrable results of the submitter’s technology at an appropriate technology readiness level for rapid integration—proven, working technology, not design concepts. Vendors invited to proceed to Phase II of the CSO will be invited to an in person pitch of their solution along with other solutions. The Government will not provide reimbursement for this event. 

Preference will be given to submissions that present a comprehensive and compelling solution to the problem statement and product requirements. Proposals should identify whether the submitter will employ partners or subcontractors and, if so, which companies would deliver which capabilities.

Awarding Instrument

This solicitation will be awarded in accordance with the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process detailed within HQ0845-20-S-C001 (DIU CSO), posted to SAM.gov on 13 Jan 2020, updated 02 Oct 2023. This document can be found here.

Vendors are reminded that in order to utilize an Other Transaction (OT) agreement the requirements of 10 USC 4022 must be satisfied. Specifically reference 10 USC 4022(d), which requires significant contribution from a nontraditional defense contractor, all participants to be small business concerns, or at least one third of the total cost of the prototype project is to be paid out of funds provided by sources other than the federal government.

Any resulting agreement from this solicitation will include language requiring your company to confirm compliance with Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-232). If you are unable to confirm compliance with the referenced law, the government will not be able to enter into an agreement with your company.

Follow-on Production:

Companies are advised that any prototype OT agreement awarded in response to this AOI may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of further competitive procedures. The follow-on production contract or transaction will be available for use by one or more organizations in the Department of Defense and, as a result, the magnitude of the follow-on production contract or agreement could be significantly larger than that of the prototype OT. As such, any prototype OT will include the following statement relative to the potential for follow-on production: "In accordance with 10 U.S.C. 4022(f), and upon a determination that the prototype project for this transaction has been successfully completed, this competitively awarded prototype OT may result in the award of a follow-on production contract or transaction without the use of competitive procedures.”