9MM JACKETED HOLLOW POINT (JHP), SPECIAL PURPOSE CARTRIDGE, MK 351 MOD 0

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC-CR), is issuing this RFI/Sources Sought as part of market research pertaining to the production, acceptance, and delivery of the 9mm Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) Special Purpose (SP) ammunition. The 9mm SP cartridge includes a 135 grain JHP, Rifle (WPR) 291 smokeless propellent, and percussion Primer. The Government anticipates awarding a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP), five-year, Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) supply contract. The estimated value of this procurement is approximately $40,000,000.

The 9mm +P (overpressure) ammunition is a specialized, high-performance variant of the standard 9x19mm cartridge engineered to maximize ballistic potential for law enforcement, military, and civilian self-defense applications. By operating at higher internal pressures within established safety specifications, it generates increased muzzle velocity and kinetic energy, which directly enhances terminal ballistics through more reliable projectile expansion and greater overall energy transfer.

Additionally, this overpressure design provides superior penetration against intermediate barriers (such as heavy clothing, drywall, and automotive glass) while maintaining a flatter trajectory over standard engagement distances. Because of the increased pressure and recoil impulse, this ammunition must only be used in modern handguns explicitly rated for +P compatibility, and operators must account for slightly higher felt recoil and accelerated firearm wear during extended use.

All units procured under this contract shall be manufactured in accordance with the following DRAFT documents: Statement of Work (SOW) and Performance Specification. The award will be made to the responsible offeror whose proposal represents the best value to the Government, considering technical approach, past performance, and price.

When specified, a representative sample of the 9mm SP cartridge, MK 351 MOD 0, shall undergo First Article Inspection (FAI) in accordance with the specifications. This requirement is intended to validate the contractor's production processes, tooling, and quality management systems to ensure consistent adherence to all performance, dimensional, and material standards.

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.104-1, this acquisition is explicitly set aside for small business participation. As such, only proposals submitted by eligible small business concerns will be evaluated for award.

To receive the controlled attachments associated with this solicitation, contractors must be properly registered in both the System for Award Management (SAM) and the Joint Certification Program (JCP). Information regarding SAM registration can be obtained by calling 1-866-606-8220 or by visiting https://www.sam.gov. Information about the JCP is available at https://www.dla.mil/Logistics-Operations/Services/JCP/. The controlled attachments will be posted with the solicitation in the PSM.

At the time of award, contractors must be compliant with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), as stipulated in DFARS 252.204-7025. A minimum of CMMC Level 2 (Self-Assessment) is required.

The solicitation, all subsequent amendments, and any associated controlled documents will later be made available through the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE) Solicitation Module (PSM) at https://piee.eb.mil. While a notice of the solicitation will be posted on SAM.gov, the complete solicitation will be accessible only through PIEE. Proposals must also be submitted via the PSM. Any modifications to this competitive action prior to the closing date will be posted to Contract Opportunities on SAM.gov through the PSM. For any in-scope changes made after the closing date, only those offerors who have submitted a proposal will be notified of any amendments and will be considered for future discussions and/or award.

All responsible sources are invited to submit a proposal, which will be duly considered by the agency.

Vendor registration instructions can be found at the DoD Procurement Toolbox: https://dodprocurementtoolbox.com/site-pages/solicitation-module. Please refer to the "Vendor Access Instructions."

Additional training materials are available at: https://pieetraining.eb.mil/wbt/xhtml/wbt/sol/index.xhtml.

The Government is providing the draft documents currently available as attachments to this pre‑solicitation notice to allow industry the opportunity to review the materials and raise any questions or concerns. Additionally, interested parties are encouraged to complete the market research questionnaire and submit it to the Government point of contact identified in this notice. The information provided will enable more informed discussions regarding capabilities, level of interest, and the potential for your business to successfully perform this requirement.

All inquiries should be directed to the Government point of contact, Mr. Ryan Harvey, at (812) 826-4441 or ryan.d.harvey21.civ@us.navy.mil. Please reference the solicitation number above in all correspondence.