Protective and safety clothing. The Authority has a requirement for the provision of hearing protection. The system shall be fielded to users in the land environment. It shall be optimised for the dismounted soldier so that situational awareness is maintained whilst wearing the system.

The Total Fleet Requirement (TFR) has been broken down into the following user groups.

Dismounted user.

The dismounted user exists from Phase 1 training across the land environment and requires protection from both impulse and steady state noise. The dismounted user must have a system that is compatible with in-service communications. The dismounted user may, on occasion, be transported by a platform but compatibility with a platform’s intercom system is not required.

Platform user.

The platform user exists from Phase 2 / 3 training across the land environment and requires protection from both impulse and steady state noise. A platform user is either a crew member whose primary role is the operation of that platform or a passenger whose primary transportation around the battlefield is by a platform. When operating in a dismounted role, THPS must ensure:

(a) Crew members can dismount with minimal or no loss of hearing protection.

(b) Passengers to have compatibility with a platform’s intercom system, dismount without the loss of hearing protection and the need to doff and don PPE.

(c) Platform Users to have the same capability as the dismounted user, including the requirement to train on THPS in Phase 1 training.

Enhanced user.

An enhanced user is a dismounted user who is required to wear a greater level of hearing protection due to the weapon systems being operated.

Quantities.

The dismounted user capability is to be provided to the whole of Land Environment. The Enhanced user capability is to be provided only to those that require it so will likely be significantly fewer in number. The quantities of equipment required will depend on the solutions proposed.

More detail will be available at the ITN stage of this competition.

Levels of protection.

Impulse and Steady state Noise levels in the Land environment can be high and the system shall reduce these to acceptable levels.

Further information will be available on the noise levels that users are exposed to and the level of protection that is required at the ITN stage of this competition.