The US Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments command, Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (TACOM-ARDEC), Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey is conducting a market survey to identify sources that are capable of supplying 120mm ignition cartridges for Mortar Ammunition. This solicitation will be restricted to the National Technology and Industrial Base. The Load, Assemble, and Pack (LAP) of the ignition cartridges involve the handling of energetic materials. The main components which comprise each ignition cartridge include the following: 1) Head and body assemblies. 2) Firing Plug. 3) Mylar-wrapped flash tube with pin. 4) O-ring seal and fitting 5) Mylar- wrapped paper tube. 6) Cap. 7) Ball Powder. 8) Fed 150 primer. 9) Five pressed black powder pellets. The main operations for the each propellant charge is: 1) Marking head with required lot nomenclature. 2) Assembling head to body with primer and firing plug. 3) Applying Mylar tape to flash tube and paper tube. 4) Inserting pin into flash tube. 5) Inserting black powder pellets into flash tube, securing with lacquer. 6) Assembling loaded flash tube to head/body assembly, securing with o-ring and fitting. 7) Assembling paper tube to head/body assembly, securing with RTV. 8) Weighing and loading ignition cartridge assembly with correct amount of Ball Powder. 9) Fitting cap to filled ignition cartridge assembly, securing with RTV. 10) Packing ignition cartridges into boxes, barrier bagging boxes, palletizing boxes, and shipping pallets. The contractor shall be responsible for purchasing and testing all the packing material. The requirements will support FY06 production quantities of Mortar rounds. The contract will be firm-fixed price basic plus 4 options (FY07-FY10). The anticipated quantity for the base year is 58,000 of 120mm M1020 ignition cartridges. The maximum quantity for each option range is 225,000 120mm M1020 ignition cartridges. Production rates shall be up to 30,000 Ignition Cartridges per month. The contractor should have the following: a) Experience in efforts of similar complexity, such as the LAP of other munitions for applications of mortar systems 60mm, 81mm, 120mm and larger, which incorporate rigid combustible cases, propellants, and igniters. b) Experience with respect to propellant handling/storage and other hazardous handling/storage. c) Available on-site or near-site storage capacity to handle/store at least 150,000 lbs of energetic materials at one time. d) A means of acquiring black powder to specification MIL-P-223 for pressing into pellets. Firms with experience in the areas cited above should provide a summary of their company’s capabilities including a description of facilities, personnel and past experience to meet this requirement. The market survey is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government will utilize the information provided for planning purposes only. All information submitted will be held in a confidential status. Interested firms with capability of providing 120mm ignition cartridges should provide, at no cost to the government, a summary of their firm’s capabilities and storage facilities within thirty days of this publication by electronic mail to mjones@pica.army.mil.
