ENHANCING NAVY LOGISTICS

ENHANCING NAVY LOGISTICS



Searching High and Low for Innovative Solutions to Improve Naval Logistics Efforts.

by Jeff McKaughan, Editor-In-Chief

Commercial and military supply chains in general operate in a very similar manner. The end user need is transmitted or anticipated, and this need sets in motion a series of actions that culminate in the delivery of the desired material to that user. During this process, the material is transported via a variety of methods and passes through numerous distribution nodes.

The Navy has observed the incredible changes that have occurred in the commercial retail and manufacturing industries brought about by automated warehousing and automated material handling systems, both integrated with innovative information technology approaches. Since the Navy has many legacy systems in their land- and sea-based infrastructure, implementing significant change must be properly planned.

The challenge for the Navy is to research and investigate operational logistics technologies that can: 1) work on a ship in the at-sea environment; 2) handle a variety of commodities including ordnance; 3) include adequate back-up methods in case of system failures 4) be adequately integrated into the ship’s design and 5) reduce the total ownership cost of the force.

OPNAV N42, the Strategic Mobility and Combat Logistics Directorate, provides guidance and resources for the Operational Logistics Integration Program (OPLOG). OPLOG is chartered to conduct technology development and integration efforts with cross-platform, multiple vessel/class applicability. OPLOG is also tasked to provide input to developers of future operation logistics systems and technology requirements. Additionally, OPLOG coordinates with the naval research and development, science and technology, and acquisition communities. OPLOG is focused in the areas of advanced replenishment systems, shipboard materiel transport, standardized packaging and interface technologies (for transportation, supply and storage) and asset visibility and planning.

INCREASING CAPABILITY

Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Systems Warfare Center-Carderock Division (NSWCCD) has recently issued a three-phase broad agency announcement (BAA) soliciting innovative concepts from industry that can advance Navy operational logistics capabilities with a rapid transition period through component improvement and/or integrated demonstration and evaluation. The Navy wants to consider existing products, modify or further assist in the development and integration of system(s), and evaluate them with a focus on at-sea application.

The BAA, “Back-fit Operational Logistics with Near Term Transition Capability” addresses current combat logistics force/ Navy operational logistics system operations and maintenance issues. Potential contractors may utilize a wide array of technologies to address quantifiable operations and maintenance issues in the fleet. Technology maturity should, at a minimum, have basic technological components integrated with reasonably realistic supporting elements and be ready for testing in a simulated environment. Emphasis is placed on readily transitionable technologies, capable of making near-term, measurable improvements to operational logistics systems with crossplatform utility. The technologies should be able or targeted to demonstrate the prototype in an operational environment by the end of phase II. Development efforts can not include information technology/ software development, except in cases where it serves as a concept accompaniment. Efforts that purely focus on information technology/software development are funded through other sources and will not be considered by NSWCCD in this BAA.

The BAA is subdivided into four subtopics.

ADVANCED REPLENISHMENT COMPLEMENTS

Advanced Replenishment addresses transfer of materiel and personnel via afloat systems utilizing features such as connected replenishment (CONREP) and vertical replenishment (VERTREP). The materiel to be transferred between ships will include consumables, spares, provisions, petroleum products, mission equipment and ordnance.

For this topic the Navy is seeking either entire solutions or specific subsystems or components that act to complement the advanced replenishment system. Similarly, technologies, devices, improved interfaces and management systems that will reduce cost and/or time and/ or increase the speed, effectiveness, reliability and/or safety of such transfers or transfer systems are of great interest.

Consideration to compatibility/system interoperability with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) containers, 463L Pallet, ISO flatrack, Army CROP, material handling equipment and transportation platforms to include air, sea and ground assets will be assessed. Assessments will also be made of service interoperability, sturdiness, weight, storability, blast mitigation ability, ability to retrograde, minimization of waste material, traceability, interlock ability and ability to be secured.

Possible examples of desired advanced replenishment complements may include (but are not limited to):

•      Advanced material applications to reduce scheduled maintenance and/or weight of the Standard Tensioned Replenishment Alongside Method (STREAM) system, such as ASD drum wear resistance, improved fueling probe receivers/bushings, lightweight sliding pad-eye/kingpost
  
•      Quick-connect devices for connect-up for CONREP/VERTREP loads
  
•    Elimination of the highline and spanwire winch hydrostatic transmissions
  
•      Containers and container concepts that are standardized, lightweight, rugged, environmentally controlled, easily loaded/unloaded/stored
  
•      Improved rigging devices and concepts
  
•      Ship deck adsorption system to adsorb energy from cargo impact during atsea cargo transfer

SHIPBOARD MATERIEL TRANSPORT

Shipboard materiel transport addresses the movement of materiel aboard ship (“within the lifelines”) and should be integrated within the shipboard technical architecture. Technologies proposed here be scaleable across commodity and ship types, and should enable improved replenishment system performance, strike up/down rates and have standardized shipboard interfaces.

Consideration will be given to standardized hardware interfaces and integrated information/management systems and should assess compatibility/system interoperability with ISO containers, 463L Pallet., ISO flat-rack, Army CROP, material handling equipment and transportation platforms to include air, sea and ground assets. Assessments will also be made to service interoperability, sturdiness, weight, storability, blast mitigation ability, ability to retrograde, minimization of waste material, traceability, interlock ability and ability to be secured.

Possible examples of desired materiel transport technology may include (but are not limited to):

•      Omni-directional pallet movers, motion-compensating conveyor systems
  
•      Human amplification technologies
  
•      Sense and respond logistics systems
  
•      Autonomous self-guided vehicles
  
•      Standardized packaging and interface concepts that are compatible with (or can work around) the restricted ship passageways, hatches, doors and storage compartments
  
•      Improved shipboard material transport technologies that integrate effectively with and complement the other three subtopics in the BAA

STANDARDIZED PACKAGING AND INTERFACE TECHNOLOGIES

Standardized packaging and interface technologies for transportation, supply, and storage addresses standardized and modular unitized loads—20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), quad cons, tri-cons, pallets, boxes, cases, etc)—across major classes of supply and in the context of commercial and defense transportation, supply and storage systems.

This topic addresses unitized cargo improvement technologies such as integrated dunnage systems and blast mitigation technologies. Technologies will include consideration of existing and emerging ISO and ASTM standards, as well as the implied interfaces and constraints of the intermodal transportation system and should assess compatibility/system interoperability with ISO containers, 463L Pallet, ISO flat-rack, Army CROP, material handling equipment and transportation platforms to include air, sea and ground assets. Assessments will also be made as to service interoperability, sturdiness, weight, storability, blast mitigation ability, ability to retrograde, minimization of waste material, traceability, interlock ability and ability to be secured.

Possible examples of desired unitized cargo complements may include (but are not limited to):

•      ISO twist-lock fittings
  
•      Deck tie-down technologies, interior coatings to mitigate ordnance explosions
  
•      Standardized packaging and packaging interfaces

ASSET VISIBILITY AND PLANNING

This topic addresses concepts of total asset visibility and in-transit visibility afloat and the development/integration of enabling technologies for improving shipboard asset visibility. Additionally, it will consider system architectures, technical architectures, and required interfaces for AIT/UID/RFID in the context of shipboard materiel movement and containerization. It also considers planning and tracking tools to enhance ship loading/unloading and facilitates in-transit visibility.

The technologies will address tracking systems and the associated trade-offs associated with the proposed system and the value added by utilization of the proposed system.

Possible examples of asset identification and visibility technology desired may include (but are not limited to):

•      Devices that can successfully operate the restricted radiation environment associated with ordnance
  
•      Devices that can operate, detect and locate items in a fully loaded compartment (i.e., can “see through” other stored items)
  
•      Devices and systems that can maintain real-time visibility of the quantity of items and their location on ship
  
•      Devices that can be integrated with standardized packaging and packaging interfaces
  
•      Devices and concepts that enhance the ability to operate in a “sense and respond” mode
  
•      Asset identification and visibility concepts that integrate effectively with the other BAA topics

Of consideration would be:

Ordnance tracking system/technology that complies with shipboard E3 requirements and can be hazards to electromagnetic radiation to ordnance/personnel/ fuel (HERO)/HERP)/(HERF) certified for zero standoff distance and active and passive RFID technology.

Asset tracking system/technology for shipboard tracking of items to support selective offload, distance support, automated inventory management and reduced supply department manning requirements. The system must be HERO safe for application to mixed use store rooms.

PHASING

NSWCCD may award one or more contracts for Phase I, Phase II and Phase III. Phase I is for concept refinement, funded with about $1 million and expected to last 3-6 months. Phase II is for concept demonstration, expected to take 6-8 months and receive $3 million for all efforts, and all contracts. Phase III requirements have yet to be either determined or announced. Phase III requirement is to be determined at a later date. ♦