13--Demolition Materials

The purpose of this Sources Sought announcement is to identify worldwide sources capable of manufacturing the M142 Firing Device, NSN: 1375-01-040-1526, DODIC: ML03. This announcement is in support of Market Research performed by the United States Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Contracting Center, to determine interest in a potential Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 procurement for the M142 Firing Device. Item Description: The M142 is a mechanical firing device intended for use as a remote detonator with demolition charges. It is also used for assisting training to combat booby traps or can be attached to signal flares for use in locating enemy combatants. The basic component of the device is a mechanical switch designed for actuation by pressure, pull, pressure release, or tension release. The M142 can be used to ignite either a blasting cap or a time blasting fuse for setting a short delay. The device is weather sealed and will function under water. The firing device consists of a number of different components to facilitate operation in its various modes; they are the switch, sear plate, and firing pins. The switch contains a spring loaded firing pin held in position by a movable sear plate that can be set to release the firing pin in one of the four operating modes. Fifty (50) feet of copper or steel tripwire are wound on a cardboard or plastic spool. A coat of paint over the wire prevents it from accidentally unwinding. The tension release attachment is a specially formed stainless steel wire with a spring type action. The coupling body is a cylindrical plastic assembly that contains an M42 primer, which is the explosive initiating element. The coupling body is interchangeable with the standard coupling base in functioning attached blasting caps and has the alternate capability of lighting a time blasting fuse. An instruction sheet giving abbreviated set-up instructions is provided with each device. Fasteners, a set of nails and screws, for securing the switch are included with each device. The M142 firing device components in addition to the instruction sheet, screws and nails are packed in a cylindrical metal or plastic container 3-1/8 in. diameter and 1-1/4 in. high. Fifty-six containers are packed in four M19A1 ammunition boxes (14 per box). The manufacturing process of the M142 encompasses, but is not limited to: (1) precision molding of plastic parts, (2) spring and wire formation, (3) primer loading in the coupling body, (4) electrodeposited and painted metal coatings, and (5) load, assemble, and pack-out (LAP) of the completed firing devices. For different stages of the manufacturing process, special inspection and test equipment is required to ensure that the final products comply with Government requirements. Special fixtures and conditioning chambers are required to perform First Article and Lot Acceptance tests on the Firing Devices. Production of the Firing Devices requires the capabilities of precision plastic molding, metal forming and finishing, and functional testing. The M142 Firing Device is procured to a U.S. Government Technical Data Package (TDP). Responses: Interested companies, U.S. or Foreign, who consider themselves capable of manufacturing the M142 Firing Device, are invited to indicate their interest by providing the U.S. Government the following information: a brief summary of the companys capabilities (a description of the facilities, personnel experience, quality system, and past manufacturing experience) and their availability. If a respondent does not have adequate resources (facilities, technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, then they must be able to demonstrate their ability to obtain those resources without significant delay. Any potential sub-tier vendors or subcontractors should also be addressed, by indicating which components or sub-components would be subcontracted and providing a brief summary of potential component and sub-component suppliers. Respondents are encouraged to address the feasibility of or alternatives to the Governments preferred lead-time of 180 days after award for First Article Test (FAT) Report and 270 days after award for production deliveries to commence. Interested companies are requested to provide rough order of magnitude (ROM) prices for estimated FY11 production quantities of 50,000 or 100,000 each M142 Firing Devices and a ROM for First Article Test. The full U.S. Government TDP will not be provided at this time, however a top-level drawing will be provided to interested sources upon their written request to the POC below. This is a market survey 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 does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this market survey or otherwise pay for information solicited. The Government will utilize the information provided in developing the acquisition strategy for future requirements for this item. All submissions are requested electronically within 30 calendar days from the date of this publication (22 Nov 2010). All information submitted will be held in a confidential status. All companies interested in a potential future solicitation for this item must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration Database. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and any follow-up information requests. No basis for claim against the U.S. Government shall arise as a result from a response to this announcement or U.S. Government use of any information provided. Address all responses to U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Contracting Center; ATTN: CCRC-AM (Eischen), 1 Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, IL 61299-8000, E-mail: contact@example.gov.