This contract notice concerns the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) award of a Framework Agreement for procurement of Combat Vehicle Crew Helmet System (CVC Helmet).
Background and scope.
The Danish army operate a number of armoured vehicles. Crews that operate these vehicles work in a noisy and hazarders environment. To protect the personnel against these threats, the crews are equipped with the DH-132 Combat Vehicle Crew Helmet with the Bose audio system. This helmet system has been in use for many years thus DALO is tendering for a substitute/supplementary solution to provide hearing/head protection and clear communication. The scope is through a tender, to enter an agreement that allows DALO to acquire CVC helmets, spare parts, training, service and support. The offer should contain all relevant spare parts and accessories directly related to the CVC helmet.
Concept.
The CVC helmet must provide the user with protection, without hindering the user’s performance. At the same time the CVC helmet must support the user’s 2- way communication via vehicle intercom. Therefore the CVC helmet has 2 main objectives, protection and communication, of which neither can be neglected. The CVC helmet is to be used by crews on armoured military vehicles. This include primarily vehicles armed with cannons such as Leopard A2, CV9035 and artillery; M109 and Nexter CAESAR 8x8, but also similar vehicles e.g. armoured recovery vehicles (ARV) or armoured engineer vehicles (AEV) such as Wisent or Biber and APC Piranha 5 equipped with 120 mm mortar. Even though this helmet system is intended for use by crews on these platforms, the helmet system shall also support communication and protection when crew members solve tasks outside the platform. In these situations the helmet system will not be connected by wire to the platform intercom, but the helmet system shall still provide ballistic and hearing protection, and the opportunity to operate individual radios.
Relations to other material.
It is essential that the equipment is fully functional with the Thales SOTAS INTERCOM M2 and its connected Harris radios. It is desirable that the CVC helmet can also function with Harris radios directly and via Invisio V60 control unit.
Use cases.
The CVC helmet is to be used by the entire crew, such as commander, gunner, driver, helpers and operators on respective armoured vehicles. The helmet must protect the user, when the user is located inside as well as on/outside the vehicle. The helmet must be fully functional when connected to the intercom and the helmet should also be functional if connected directly to the mentioned radios via INVISIO V60 or via an adapter cable. The equipment is also to be used during night time, with the use of night vision goggles and during day time in a span from war-like operations in theatres around the world, to training in Denmark and abroad.
Example of use: a Tank Commander will wear the helmet and connect the audio to the intercom to communicate with his crew or unit via radios connected to the intercom. The commander will in some case command his tank while his head is outside the turret hatch in order to have a better view. During engagement he will lower himself under the hatch, in both cases connected to the intercom. Occasionally crew members will disconnect their cabled connection to the intercom and leave the vehicles to perform short term tasks outside the vehicle, still needing: The hearing protection in case battle commences, the protection from a ballistic helmet shell, the ability to maintain situational awareness and communication via personal radio and preferably the ability to operate e.g. a minesweeper with cabled acoustic input to the CVC helmet. Crew members manning artillery systems primarily work outside the vehicle, during engagement and loading procedures. During this they will be without a cable connection to the platform, so they will also need a CVC helmet solution which provides them radio input, hearing protection, ballistic protection and hear-through when dismounted.
Candidates are made aware that it is mandatory to deliver test samples to DALO in connection with a test of the tenderers offer. The candidates shall not deliver test samples in order to participate in the prequalification, however the candidates are encouraged to utilize the time during the prequalification period to insure timely delivery of the test samples. The test samples with necessary equipment shall be delivered to The Danish Army in connection with the test and must consist of 20 CVC helmet systems (in differentiated sizes) provided with necessary equipment to support the test. The test is expected to be conducted primo August 2019 till medio September 2019. However, this may be subject to change. More information will be avaliable after prequalification (expected medio February 2019).