326_Additive Manufacturing (AM) Equipment procurement

The Navy requires Additive Manufacturing (AM) equipment to be installed on ships to enhance shipboard self-sustainment capabilities. AM is a digital manufacturing process that produces parts in a layer-wise fashion in either metal or polymer. AM capability onboard ships empowers Ship's Force to repair certain components within larger systems to quickly return such systems to operational status. Ship's Force operators can either download and print existing approved part files from Technical Data Packages (TDP), or model part files organically for shipboard fabrication. The government is interested in industry's capability to supply two types of AM machines. One is polymer-based equipment, and the other is metal-based. The government is requesting information if the following capabilities / attributes already exist, or, if they would be feasible to provide. If there is technical risk or challenges in providing AM machines that have the capabilities and attributes described below, please include a discussion of such in your response. Polymer: Material Extrusion - Does the machine/equipment have Filament Compatibility? o Carbon Fiber filled Polyamide o ThermoPlastic Polyurethane (TPU) - Does the machine/equipment have Continuous Fiber Reinforcement Compatibility? o Carbon Fiber o Kevlar o Fiberglass - Other System attributes o Utilizes Material extrusion AM process o Motor controls and hardware are able to maintain print head positioning at accelerations up to 0.7 g induced from expeditionary environmental conditions o Equipment needs to be capable of being hardwire-connected via ethernet to a government-issued laptop o The equipment shall not have a Wi-fi capability, or, shall be able to be configured to turn off or remove the Wi-Fi capability o Any software to prepare files for printing must not require internet/cloud connection in order to function - Does the machine/equipment have a government National Stock Number (NSN)? - Provide data/evidence that the machine/equipment has been qualified, or can accept design modifications that allow for qualification, to the following MIL-STD specifications related to Navy environmental testing requirements: o MIL-STD-167-1A Shipboard Vibration o MIL-DTL-901E Shipboard Shock o MIL-STD-461 Electromagnetic Interferences Susceptibility and Transmission o MIL-STD-810G Environmental Testing Metal: Hybrid Laser Wire Directed Energy Deposition (DED) - Does the machine/equipment have Welding Wire Material Compatibility? o 316L Stainless Steel o Copper Nickel (70/30 CuNi) - Other System attributes o Laser-wire directed energy deposition process o Functions as a fully capable 3-axis CNC mill in addition to providing additive manufacturing capabilities o Less than 6,000 lbs o System components can be broken down to transit through standard Navy hatches; reinstall at space location o Equipment needs to be capable of being hardwire-connected via ethernet to a government-issued laptop o Equipment shall not have a Wi-fi capability, or, shall be able to be configured to turn off or remove the Wi-Fi capability o Any software to prepare files for printing must not require internet/cloud connection in order to function - Does the equipment have a government National Stock Number (NSN)? - Provide data/evidence that the equipment has been qualified, or can accept design modifications that allow for qualification, to the following MIL-STD specifications related to Navy environmental testing requirements: o MIL-STD-167-1A Shipboard Vibration o MIL-DTL-901E Shipboard Shock o MIL-STD-461 Electromagnetic Interferences Susceptibility and Transmission o MIL-STD-810G Environmental Testing Proprietary data will be protected when so designated. Acknowledgement of receipt will not be made. Availability of any formal solicitation will be announced separately. Note: THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION/SOURCES SOUGHT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL OR ANNOUNCEMENT OF A SOLICITATION. The requested information is for planning purposes and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued nor will the Government pay for the information solicited. All information and data received in response to the sources sought marked or designated as corporate proprietary information will be fully protected and held in strict confidence. It is the Government's intention to procure this on a competitive basis. Accordingly, NSWCPD is requesting information from any and all interested sources in order to make an informed determination regarding procurement strategy. Responses: Responses to this Sources Sought notice are due no later than close of business on 25 JUNE 2024. Respondents shall provide capability statements with specific information regarding their ability to provide the requirement stated above. Unclassified responses shall be submitted via e-mail to Cathy Hughes, NSWCPD Contract Specialist, cathy.hughes5.civ@us.navy.mil.