Ballistic Testing on Specimens

(1) Action Code : SOURCES SOUGHT This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources. This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is it a guarantee of a forthcoming solicitation or contract. It is for market research purposes only. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry, to include the Small Business Community: Small Business, Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Small business, Section 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, & EDWOSB businesses are highly encouraged to participate. (2) Date : 12 August 2016 (3) Classification Code : 95 (4) NAICS Code: 541380 (5) NAICS Size Standard: $15.0 million (6) Contracting Office Address: 2800 Powder Mill Road Building. 601 Adelphi, Maryland 20783 (7) Subject: Sources Sought for Ballistic Testing on Specimens (8) Proposed Solicitation Number: W911QX-16-T-0319 (9) Sources Sought Closing Response Date: 08/19/16 (10) Contact Point: Nathlie M. Hicks, Purchasing Agent @ contact@example.gov (11) A. Objective: To find sources that are qualified to meet the supplies/services as listed in section 11B. Note that the specific requirements in section C are subject to change prior to the release of any solicitation. C.1 Background The Lightweight Specialty Metals Branch (LSMB) of the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requires ballistic tests on plate-shape samples of alloy steel material. The Government will provide precut individual plate samples of Alloy 2, and Alloy 3 as Government Furnished Materials (GFM) to the Contractor. The steel materials shall be ballistically tested to determine the V50 ballistic limit an accordance to the standard of MIL-STD-662F and under the protection criteria (V50 BLP). The GFM consist of twenty-six (26) plate specimens, of two (2) steel alloy materials, of either nineteen (19) pieces of Alloy 2, and seven (7) pieces of Alloy 3, or alternatively seven (7) pieces of Alloy 2 and nineteen (19) pieces of Alloy 3, approximate in size to 12 x 12 x 3/8 inches - 1.0 inch thickness. The Contractor shall not perform heat treatment modification on the materials and shall conduct the ballistic tests within an indoor environment, near room temperature, unless requested otherwise by the Government. C.2 Requirement The Contractor shall execute twenty six (26) V50 ballistic limit tests according to the details listed below (Ref C.2.1 -C.2.5). The material quantity is limited and a maximum of six (6) impacts/projectile-test shall be used for determination of each V50 ballistic limit. The Contractor shall photograph the fronts and backs of targets, impacts (rounds) and ensure labels are affixed to the fronts and backs of each target. No advertising is permitted on photographs, only scale makers are to be used, and only to indicate dimension. C.2.1 Test by Projectile Type: 0.30 cal. AP-M2, 0? obliquity The Contractor shall perform a subtotal of eight (8) V50 tests in accordance with the plate specimen details below: - Sample thicknesses 3/8, and 7/16 inch thick plate samples; - One (1) V50 test per thickness for materials Alloy 2, Alloy 3; - Two (2) V50 tests additional per thickness, of either Alloy 2 or Alloy 3. C.2.2 Test by Projectile Type: 0.50 cal. AP-M2, 0? obliquity The Contractor shall perform a subtotal of sixteen (16) V50 tests in accordance with the plate specimen details below: - Sample thicknesses 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, and 7/8 inch thick plate samples; - One (1) V50 test per thickness for materials Alloy 2, Alloy 3; - Two (2) V50s additional tests per thickness, of either Alloy 2 or Alloy 3. C.2.3. Test by Projectile Type: 0.50 cal. AP-M2, 30? obliquity The Contractor shall perform a subtotal of twelve (12) V50 tests in accordance with the plate specimen details below: - Sample thicknesses 3/8, 1/2, and 5/8 inch thick plate samples; - One (1) V50 test per thickness for materials Alloy 2, Alloy 3; - Two (2) V50 additional tests per thickness, of either Alloy 2 or Alloy 3. C.2.4. Test by Projectile Type: 0.50 cal. Fragment simulating projectile (FSP), 0? obliquity The Contractor shall perform a subtotal of six (6) V50 tests in accordance with the plate specimen details below: - Sample thicknesses 3/8, 7/16, and 1/2 inch thick plate samples; - One (1) V50 test per thickness for materials Alloy 2, Alloy 3. C.2.5. Test by Projectile Type: 14.5 AP BS41 Fragment simulating projectile (FSP), 30? obliquity The Contractor shall perform a subtotal of six (6) V50 tests in accordance with the plate specimen details below: - Sample thicknesses 3/4, 7/8, and 1 inch thick plate samples; - One (1) V50 test per thickness for materials Alloy 2, Alloy 3. C.3. Engineering Support and Reports (per individual V50 test) The Contractor shall ensure first firing velocities are estimated by addition of 75 - 100 ft. /s above the minimum velocities provided by the Government. The Contractor shall ensure the report details following test data is for V50 each test: a. Contractor identification; b. Test facility; c. Contract number; d. Lot numbers and quantities; e. Test specification number; f. Armor material description; g. Material identification number for each sample; h. Temperature and humidity at the test facility; I. Test date and times; j. Personnel conducting the test and any witnesses; k. Weapon used; l. Projectile used; m. Projectile weight, grains; n. Type of propellant; o. Weight of propellant for each shot, grains; p. Impact velocities used in computing V50s with highest partial penetration, lowest complete penetration, range (spread) , zone of mixed results (ZMR), and velocities of all test shots (rounds); q. Witness plate test response, partial or complete; r. Calculated V50 BLP; s. Remarks pertinent to the test, or behavior of the material; t. Manufacturer and lot number source of projectiles. The Contractor shall provide test data and reports 4 weeks after contract award and receipt of the test samples, then deliver the complete test data/preliminary report, final report and tested samples to the Technical Point of Contract (TPOC) at ARL, Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland. Preliminary reports shall be delivered within two weeks after receipt of test samples. C.4 HSPD-12 Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12: Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors N/A C.5 Distribution Statement The Contractor shall adhere to the following distribution statement when distributing this PWS: DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. C. Responses: All interested parties should notify this office in writing, mail, fax, or e-mail within the posted date. Responses shall include: (I) To what extent each of the specifications can be met. (II) Include your type of business (i.e. commercial, academia), whether your organization is classified as a large or small business based on the 15.0 million dollars standard that accompanies NAICS code 541380. If a small business, you must also list any small disadvantaged status you hold [HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), etc.]. (III) Past experience/ performance through the description of completed projects. (12) Responses to this sources sought synopsis are due no later than 10:00am eastern standard time 19th August 2016. Submissions should be emailed to: Nathlie M. Hicks, Purchasing Agent @ contact@example.gov . Mailed submissions can be sent to the address in block 7, ATTN: Nathlie M. Hicks Questions concerning this sources sought synopsis may be directed to Nathlie M. Hicks, Purchasing Agent @ contact@example.gov or +1 (555) 000-0000 Please be advised that .zip and .exe files cannot be accepted. (13) Place of Contract Performance: Adelphi, Maryland (14) Estimated Delivery Timeframe or Period of Performance: 60 days after award