JIEDDO seeks to shrink soldier-worn IED detector technology to less than 20 pounds

ARLINGTON, Va., 18 Oct. 2012. U.S. military roadside bomb-eradication experts are reaching out to industry to find companies capable of building soldier-worn buried bomb detectors that weigh less than 20 pounds to replace larger systems deployed today in Afghanistan and other hot spots in the Middle East.

Officials of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) in Arlington, Va., on Monday released a request for information (JIEDDO RFI HQ0682-13-RFI-0001) as part of market research in dismounted counter radio-controlled improvised explosive device (RCIED) electronic warfare (CREW) systems.

JIEDDO's plan is to conduct market research before developing detailed new requirements for a counter-IED acquisition program. Results of the market survey will help determine whether qualified sources exist and whether commercial items are available to meet requirements.

JIEDDO officials are looking for companies capable of building a ruggedized, and energy-efficient system that infantrymen can wear that would provide protection to the operator as well as those in close by. Such a system needs to be easy to use, sustainable, and weigh less than 20 pounds, officials say.

Such a future lightweight soldier-worn counter-IED system would replace or augment existing systems such as the THOR III system from Sierra Nevada Corp. in Sparks, Nev., which the U.S. Marine Corps uses for deployed RCIED CREW applications.

Each Thor III system consists of three backpack subsystems, as well as one battery charger, and 24 batteries. The Thor III system provides the user in the field with a wearable RCIED jammer designed to counter a variety of frequency-diverse remotely triggered IEDs, which typically are detonated by cell phones or garage door openers.

The THOR III is an expandable, active and reactive, scanning-receiver-based jammer with several jamming signal sources that enable the system to counter different simultaneous threats.

JIEDDO officials point out that the RFI is not a request for proposals. They may choose some responding companies for one-on-one discussions based on their responses. Laboratory demonstrations may be involved.

Companies interested must respond to the RFI no later than 9 Nov. 2012. Respond by e-mail to the JIEDDO's Sandra Martinez at [email protected].

For questions or concerns contact the JIEDDO's Warrant Officer Willie Grier by phone at 703-604-2989, or by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information contact the JIEDDO online at www.jieddo.mil.

More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/a0df36147ed094cdc59f0b90682294e5.