Automation of Packaging and Foreign Object Debris Detection

The Army Contracting Command-Rock Island (ACC-RI), on behalf of the Project Lead Joint Services and the Joint Munitions Command, issues this Sources Sought Notice (SSN). Description This is a Request for Information (RFI) synopsis. This RFI is for planning purposes only. This is NOT a request for Quotations or Proposals. Each interested party is responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in its response. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. Responses will be reviewed by the U.S. Government, and its contractors, solely for informational purposes and will not be disclosed to the public for any purpose. Synopsis Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HSAAP) is a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated facility located in Kingsport, TN that produces Research Development Explosive (RDX), High Melting Explosive (HMX), and Insensitive Munitions Explosive (IMX). In support of future modernization efforts, the U.S. Government is seeking information from industry regarding potential systems and technologies that can satisfy a requirement for the automation of Foreign Object and Debris (FOD) detection as well as the automation of bagging, weighing, boxing, and palletizing of various explosive formulations to current military specification packaging requirements. The intended process includes receiving, handling, and integrating explosives in containers unique to HSAAP. Potential technologies may automate all or part of these processes, with an ideal solution isolating personnel from contact with explosive packaging operations. Limited operator interaction is acceptable provided that ergonomic, occupational, and explosive hazards are low as reasonably practicable. The initial focus will be on dry, flaked materials. Future efforts may consider materials with different consistencies. Pictures of these materials are provided in the attachments. RESPONSES/REQUIREMENTS: Interested parties are requested to include a capabilities statement and address the following specific requirements. The U.S. Government is requesting information from all interested parties that have relevant experience and equipment capability. Responses shall address: Identify the critical skill sets needed to perform this effort. Does your company currently possess employees with those skill sets? If you do not, how long will it take you to posture yourself to have those employees with those skills sets? Describe your company's understanding of and experience with automated FOD detection, bagging, weighing, boxing, and palletizing of explosives and/or other solids safely in an explosive environment (NFPA 497, Class II, Division 1, Group G). Provide examples of these capabilities that you've developed that highlight this knowledge and experience. Include discussion of packaging equipment, degree of automation, dust control, static protection, hazardous location (dust) installation and operation, electrical classification requirements in an explosive environment, any intended partitions or separate operations to safely meet explosive service requirements and/or electrical classification requirements, and process monitoring and control. Please identify operator pinch points and areas where metal-to-metal contact occurs. If your company does NOT have experience dealing with explosive solids and/or working within an explosive environment, please express your interest and willingness to develop these capabilities either through internal development or your willingness to participate in funded study, design, or prototyping effort. With your expression of interest, include a conceptual timeline for the development of these capabilities. Would any aspect of providing services, and equipment, including fabrication, installation, commissioning, or training, be subcontracted?? Is your company, fully or in part, owned by foreign entities or will any of the services be provided by foreign partners? Provide performance parameters, to include precision/accuracy, reliability, operational availability, estimated throughput in continuous operation, and estimated annual throughput. Performance parameters must also factor in estimated operational availability. Cite existing installations, materials of construction, welding specifications, and performance, if available. Highlight safety features, automation, and ergonomic improvements. Provide examples for any prior work in explosive environments. If existing equipment is intended to be modified to meet explosive service requirements, provide details of plans to accomplish this. Cite opportunities to integrate automated inventory management and tracking systems. What experience does your company have handling CUI and meeting the guidance and recommendations found in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publications 800-171, 800-171A, 800-172, and 800-172A? If your company does not have experience handling CUI, would it be capable of satisfying the guidance and recommendations found in the referenced NIST Special Publications? INFORMATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Responses are limited to fifteen (15) pages, including the cover sheet and diagrams. The capability statement sent in response to this SSN must be submitted electronically (via email) to the Points of Contact (POCs) identified below. Response shall include documentation of technical expertise and capability in sufficient detail for the U.S. Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary functional area expertise and experience. It is imperative that business concerns responding to this SSN articulate their capabilities clearly and adequately. Only electronic submission (email) will be accepted. Use MSOffice A365 compatible (.xlsx, .docx or .pptx) or Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (.pdf) formats. Classified material will not be accepted. Material samples will not be accepted. The cover sheet shall include the following company information: name, address, and Web URL (if available), POC, email address, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code and business type/size. Responses should utilize an easily readable font (e.g. Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, etc.), single spaced, with a 12-point font size as the minimum. The associated NAICS code for this effort is 333248 - All Other Industrial Manufacturing. Respondents shall indicate whether they are a large or a small business based on this NAICS Code. For any small business, please indicate any applicable socio-economic status such as: Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), 8(a), HUB Zone, etc. The deadline for submitting capability statements is September 2, 2024, no later than 4:00PM Central. All responses shall be sent via email to warren.l.stropes.civ@army.mil and brandon.m.garnica.civ@army.mil. CONFIDENTIALITY: No classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The U.S. Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary information in any resultant solicitation(s). DISCLAIMER: The U.S. Government will not provide reimbursement for any information or administrative costs incurred in the response to this notification. All costs associated with responding to this notification will be borne solely by the respondents. This notice does not constitute an Invitation for Bid or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not a commitment by the U.S. Government to procure subject products and/or services. Not responding to this notification does not preclude participation in any future RFP or other solicitation, if any is issued. This is a market survey, not a pre-solicitation notice. This request for information is for Market Research purposes only and is being used as an instrument to identify potential sources that can provide the capabilities described herein. The information provided in this notice is subject to change and is not binding on the U.S. Government. Feedback and/or evaluation information will not be provided to any interested party regarding their individual capability statements. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, a pre-solicitation notice will be published. All product information and samples, if submitted, shall be at no cost or obligation to the U.S. Government. The details of specific technologies, development efforts, and technical requirements of this request may contain Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Interested parties are required to be able to transmit CUI data in accordance with U.S. Government data encryption requirements at the time of this RFI to receive the additional information. Relevant documents. Additional Controlled Information to be provided upon request and verification: Department of Defense (August 31, 2018). DoD Contractor's Safety Manual for Ammunition, and Explosives. 4145.26 Defense Explosives Safety Regulation (DESR) 6055.09, Edition 1, 13 January 2019 Department of the Army Pamphlet (DA PAM )385-64, Ammunition and Explosives Safety Standards, 24 July 2023 Department of Energy (June 2012). DoE Standard. Explosives Safety. DOE-STD-1212. 7548645 REV AU Drawing of Box, Fiberboard,Packing, Reusable, Collapsible, for High Explosives MIL-C-401E w-AMENDMENT 1 04 Apr 2019 MIL-DTL-32425 IMX-104 03-23-2022 MIL-DTL-15011K w/Amendment 1 31 March 2017 Engineering Standard 11507 General Design and Fabrication Practices, Process Equipment Handling Explosives