105mm M84A1 Hexachloroethane (HC) Smoke Artillery Projectile, 120mm HC Smoke Training Mortar Cartridge and 81mm Flash Bang Munition (FBM) Mortar Cartridge Production (Market Survey)

Item(s): 105mm M84A1 Hexachloroethane (HC) Smoke Artillery Projectile, 120mm HC Smoke Training Mortar Cartridge and 81mm Flash Bang Munition (FBM) Mortar Cartridge The U.S. Army Contracting Command - New Jersey (ACC-NJ) located at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, on behalf of the Office of the Project Manager for Combat Ammunition Systems is conducting market research to identify potential sources that are capable of providing a range of activities to include manufacture, production, assembly and system integration of the following items: 105mm M84A1 HC Smoke Artillery Projectile, 120mm HC Smoke Training Mortar Cartridge and 81mm FBM Mortar Cartridge. The purpose of this sources sought is to obtain current information on the capability of businesses to supply and deliver these products to the warfighter in the FY23-FY27 timeframe to provide to the appropriate Load, Assemble and Pack (LAP) facility. Item Descriptions: The 105mm M84A1 HC Smoke Projectile is comprised of a semi-fixed M14 Cartridge Case, M28 Percussion Primer, M67 Propellant Charge, time fuze and a projectile body that contains a pinned base plug, a black powder expelling charge and three HC smoke canisters. Each metal canister contains a core igniter flash tube, a first fire mix and the HC smoke composition, which when ignited, produces a caustic white smoke. The M84A1 is loaded and fired in a conventional manner. As the round approaches the target area, the fuze functions and ignites the black powder expelling charge, which simultaneously ignites and expels the three HC canisters from the base of the carrier. The smoking canisters fall to the ground producing billowing clouds of smoke which last from 40 to 90 seconds. The 120mm HC Smoke Mortar Training Cartridge is comprised of a two-piece shell body similar to the M930/M983 Illumination Mortars. The cartridge design uses the M781 Point Detonating (PD) Practice Fuze (or possibly the M983 PD/Delay Fuze), M31 Fin, M1020 Ignition Cartridge and M234A1/M234 Propelling Charge. The mortar airframe carries a single filled HC smoke mixture canister, which produces a caustic dense white smoke. The setup and firing of the 120mm HC Smoke Mortar Training Cartridge is identical to the M929 White Phosphorus Smoke Mortar Cartridge. Upon gun launch, the fuze is armed and detonates upon impact. The energetic mixture in the fuze ignites a supplemental charge assembly filled with black powder which ignites the smoke canisters, builds pressure to separate the two-piece body assembly, and ejects the smoke canister. The ejected canister will produce smoke for approximately 60 to 90 seconds. The 81mm FBM Mortar is comprised of the M767 Fuze, M29 Fin, M752A1 Ignition Cartridge, standard 81mm propelling charge, and a projectile body that contains a payload consisting of eleven flashbangs and two parachutes. Each flashbang payload consists of a cardboard tube that has two end plugs and contains a pyrotechnic delay element and a novel flash powder. When ignited, each flashbang utilizes the pyrotechnic delay to allow enough time to fall to the ground before functioning. The 81mm FBM Mortar is loaded and fired in a conventional manner similar to other 81mm cargo cartridges. When the 81mm FBM Mortar reaches its target area, the M767 Fuze functions at the pre-set time, which ignites the firing train, thus expelling the flashbang payload, as well as deploying the two parachutes for the major metal parts subassemblies. The flashbangs will fall to the ground and function, providing both a large light and sound output. The major metal parts will descend to the ground on their parachutes and low velocities to minimize collateral damage. Requirements: If awarded a contract, the provider(s) will be responsible for production, to include component acquisition, assembling, system integration and testing, quality control, inspecting, packaging, storing, shipping and delivery of end items to final U.S. Government designated storage location. As part of the Acquisition Strategy, the U.S. Government directs that final LAP of all three items be conducted at Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA), Pine Bluff, AR. This will require provider(s) to ship components to PBA. The Technical Data Packages (TDPs) for the above items are available upon request pending receipt of all required documents. The 105mm M84A1 HC Smoke Artillery Projectile has a Top-Level Drawing available, as well as pertinent sub-assembly drawings. The 120mm HC Smoke Cartridge only has a Top Level Drawing available. The 81mm FBM Mortar TDP is complete and available. These TDPs are marked Distribution D, therefore distribution will only be authorized to the Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. DoD contractors. Contractors interested in receiving TDPs for the purpose of appropriately assessing its capabilities in relation to the TDPs are required to submit a signed and completed DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement; AMSTA-AR Form 1350, Technical Data Request Questionnaire; and Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for the Government's consideration. Should a contract be awarded, the provider(s) will be responsible for providing 105mm M84A1 HC Smoke Artillery Projectiles, 120mm HC Smoke Training Mortar Cartridges and/or 81mm FBM Mortar Cartridges to the U.S. Government in accordance with the current TDP associated with each item. The U.S. Government will provide as Government Furnished Material: HC Smoke compositions, FBM payload components, parachutes and fuzes. Submission Information: Interested sources shall clearly identify technical and manufacturing capability to supply and deliver the 105mm M84A1 HC Smoke Artillery Projectile, 120mm HC Smoke Training Mortar Cartridge and 81mm FBM Mortar Cartridge. If a respondent does not have adequate resources (technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, the respondent must be able to demonstrate its ability to obtain those resources. Interested sources shall provide their top-level plan and any limitations for manufacturing these assemblies. Respondents should provide the following information which will assist the U.S. Government in developing its acquisition strategy: Provide company name, address, Commercial and Government Entity code, telephone number, email address, technical point of contact, and company size (please specify as either a Large Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a) concern, Woman-Owned Small Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone concern, Veteran-Owned Small Business, or Service-Disabled Small Business). The applicable NAICS Code is 332993, Ammunition (except small arms) Manufacturing, with a size standard of 1,500 employees. Description of facilities, equipment, manufacturing processes, inspection capability, personnel (number of employees, experience, specialized skill sets), and evidence of sufficient safety clearances to handle, store, and transport energetic materials, components and explosively loaded fuzes Summary of systems integration experience, production capabilities (indicating at what specific rate per month), description of storage facilities and equipment, manufacturing processes, testing and inspection capability and personnel relevant to 105mm Artillery, 120mm Mortar and/or 81mm FBM production Description of Quality Management System Past experience on 105mm Artillery, 120mm Mortar and/or 81mm Mortar munitions, to include component testing, integration and coordination of necessary activities in support of production Ability to manage technical performance issues with end items and associated sub-assemblies Information that demonstrates ability to produce an end item first article sample for Government evaluation and approval 270 days after contract award (DACA) and initiate production delivery 365 DACA Either possess or has the ability to acquire facilities with sufficient safety clearance to handle, store, and transport energetic materials Possible partnering/teaming arrangements This market research is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as an RFP or as an obligation on the part of the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this sources sought notice or otherwise pay for the information provided. This is a sources sought notice, which is part of the government's market research process; it is not a pre-solicitation notice. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, a pre-solicitation notice will be published. Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary and at no cost to the U.S. Government. Please identify any proprietary information submitted. Proprietary responses will be protected in accordance with documentation markings. Information submissions must be received not later than 30 calendar days of this publication date. All responses to this notice shall be submitted electronically to ACC-NJ Contract Specialist Chris Bartow at christopher.j.bartow.civ@mail.mil. All contractors interested in the potential future solicitation must be registered in the System for Award Management. The U.S. Government will not consider marketing brochures adequate information in response to this notice and reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part any private sector input as a result of this market survey. All information provided will not be returned and will be held as contractor confidential information. The U.S. Government will accept written questions to ACC-NJ Contract Specialist Chris Bartow (christopher.j.bartow.civ@mail.mil) by email ONLY. TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. THE PURPOSE OF THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT IS TO ANSWER A QUESTION FROM INDUSTRY. Question: Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing these services. If so, could you please provide the contractor name and contract number? Answer: There is no incumbent contractor or contract for these items. The 105mm M84A1 Hexachloroethane (HC) Smoke was last produced in the early 90's and both the 120mm HC Smoke Training Mortar Cartridge and the 81mm FBM Mortar Cartridge are still in development.