9/18/36K BTU/hr Improved Environmental Control Units (IECUs)

Synopsis: This is a Sources Sought Notice for the U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) Natick Division, No. PdM-FSS-IECU-RFI on behalf of Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems (PdM FSS) located at the Natick Soldier Systems Center. PdM FSS is conducting market research, pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 10, in advance of a potential solicitation, under Authority of FAR Part 15.201 (e). The purpose of this notice is for PdM FSS to gain knowledge of industry's interest and capabilities for designing and delivering four variants of IECUs that conform to a performance specification. The variants are: 1) 9,000 (9K) BTU/hr single phase; 2) 18,000 (18K) BTU/hr three phase; 3) 18,000 (18K) BTU/hr single phase; and 4) 36,000 (36K) BTU/hr three phase. Past requirements for these IECUs were met by industry building to print from a Government-furnished technical data package (TDP). Going forward, the IECUs need to meet a performance specification rather than a Government-furnished TDP. The estimated quantity needed to fill the remaining Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) for each variant are contained in the planned scope of work below. However, the Army Procurement Objective (APO) quantities are yet to be determined and typically constrained by budget. Quantities contained in this notice are for information only and subject to change. Planned scope of work: The estimated quantities for each variant for the next contract are yet to be determined. But for industry's information, the estimated quantity to fill the remaining AAO for each variant are: IECU Variant Estimated qty (EA) 9000 (9K) BTU/hr single phase 586 18000 (18K) BTU/hr three phase 2933 18000 (18K) BTU/hr single phase 212 36000 (36K) BTU/hr three phase 513 The Government's schedule objectives require that industry complete the design; the manufacture of First Article Test (FAT) units; and successful FAT testing within 18 months of a contract award. The estimated quantity of FAT units to be built are 8 of each variant above. The Government could allow additional schedule for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) only if desired new capabilities are sufficiently mature. Desired new capabilities include but are not limited to IECUs cooling on the move; low global warming potential (LGWP) refrigerants or other alternative refrigerants; and refrigerant-agnostic IECUs. IECUs shall meet the requirements of a performance specification. The performance specification is still under development and not available for this notice. However, the new performance specification will significantly leverage current standards. The current standards are 1) Purchase Description PD 4120-1401 (01 Jan 2014) and 2) Interface Standard MIL-STD-1408D (2 Apr 2009), and those are included with this notice for reference. The refrigerant (R-410A) required by these referenced standards could become unavailable due to its global warming potential, so alternatives are under consideration. Industry shall design, manufacture, and test the IECUs in a manner to assure all variants meet the performance specification. Industry shall also manage the IECU configuration. The Government intends to furnish its IECU TDP, but only for reference and information purposes. Industry shall not construe the Government's furnishing of TDP information to mean that the TDP meets the performance specification. Industry shall develop and furnish Integrated Product Support (IPS) documentation including but not limited to operation and maintenance manuals, repair parts lists, provisioning parts list, and packaging instructions. The IPS shall comply with MIL-STD-40051-2C. Industry capabilities for product design, development, logistics support, engineering, and technical support are required. Any company building IECUs must be able to develop and implement solutions for issues including but not limited to parts obsolescence, vendor specifications changes, product defects, test failures, and engineering changes. Instructions for Response: All interested firms and manufacturers, regardless of size, are encouraged to respond to this notice. Information submissions should include: Basic Company Information CAGE, UEI/DUNS, and NAICS (use multiple NAICS if necessary) State whether company is a small business, female-owned, veteran-owned, and/or is disadvantaged in some way Number of employees PdM FSS is also interested in what partnerships a company might form to provide the capabilities highlighted in this notice. Product literature and illustrations for any existing company products that could meet the IECU requirements or be modified to do so. Company capability for designing and building products to meet a performance specification rather than building a product to meet a set of drawings or TDP. Company capability to develop items such as drawings, 3D modeling, and bills of material. Company capability in configuration control, configuration management, and development and implementation of engineering changes. Company capabilities for testing equipment. Company background and experience relevant to IECUs Design and/or manufacturing of vapor-compression cooling cycles and equipment Design and/or manufacturing of products similar to IECUs Engineering and Manufacturing capability Engineers on staff or by consulting Number and type of technicians and manufacturing employees Manufacturing facility square-footage Description of the existing Quality Assurance program and certification Description of machinery and tooling Experience with developing and maintaining logistics (product support document packages) typical of Government systems, including: military Technical Manuals (TMs) provisioning data (parts lists linked to sources, technical data and TMs) Describe an overall strategy of how the company could meet the 18-month objective to complete design; FAT unit manufacture; and FAT testing while meeting the performance standard. The 18-month objective assumes RDT&E for new capabilities will not be part of scope. Examples of a strategy could be to design from scratch; use an existing product; modify an existing product; or leverage, as a reference only, the Government's drawings. The strategy could also include a combination of approaches. Company experience in RDT&E and how it would achieve the following desired capabilities: Use of alternative refrigerants; low global warming potential; and/or refrigerant-agnostic On-the-move operation PdM FSS also welcomes comments on Purchase Description PD 4120-1401 (01 Jan 2014) and 2) Interface Standard MIL-STD-1408D (2 Apr 2009). The response needs to be in Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat compatible format. All submissions must be received NLT 3:00 p.m. EST on Date TBD (within 21 calendar days of release of the notice). Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to the points of contact listed below. The subject line of all emails should include the words - 9/18/36K BTU/hr IECU Sources Sought Notice. All information supplied will be considered confidential, unless otherwise specified or available from other sources without restriction. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This request is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute a solicitation for proposals, offers, bids, and/or quotes. This notice is not a confirmation that the Government will contract for the items contained in this notice, nor is any commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract implied. The Government shall not pay and/or reimburse respondents and/or associates for any costs incurred to submit the requested information. Responses to this notice will not be returned. All information received in response to this notice that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. In accordance with FAR 15.201(c), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Points of Contacts: Contracting: Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), Natick Division Andrew Richard, andrew.j.richard12.civ@army.mil Ethan Seal, ethan.p.seal.civ@army.mil