BLU-129

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Notice Type: Sources Sought Title: Bomb Live Unit (BLU)-129/B Warhead Case Production DISCLOSURE: This is a Request for Information (RFI) notice only. This RFI is for informational planning purposes and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government for any actual procurement of materials, machinery, or services. This notice does not constitute a solicitation or a promise of a solicitation in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to a contract for any supply or service. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI are solely at the responding parties' expense. Respondents are solely responsible for properly marking and clearly identifying any proprietary information or trade secrets contained within their response. The Government will not be liable for, or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly marked or clearly identified. Proprietary information received in response to this RFI will be safeguarded and handled in accordance with applicable Government regulations. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract or agreement. The Government will not be obligated to pursue any particular alternative because of this RFI. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if one is issued. Specific responses to the approaches will not disqualify or have an impact on participation and evaluation on future solicitations, if issued. GENERAL AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Department of Defense, United States Air Force (USAF), Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Armament Directorate, is conducting market research seeking capability statements from potential sources, including small businesses (SB), 8(a), HUBZone, Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned (EDWOSB), Woman-Owned (WOSB), Service Disabled Veteran Owned (SDVOSB) small business that are capable of rapidly producing BLU-129/B warheads in support of a validated Urgent Operational Need. The explosive fill is not considered part of this RFI. The technical drawings to include weights, dimensions, hardware, and manufacturing processes that include carbon-fiber and steel are identified within the BLU-129/B Technical Data Package (TDP) that will be made available by request. Our current Best Estimated Quantity (BEQ) is up to 1000 warheads with initial deliveries required within two months for contract award at a rate of at least 100 a month until contract quantity is fulfilled. Respondents must officially request the TDP documents in writing, via email. To validate the documentation release, the request must include: the company name, mailing address, email address, point of contact, phone number, current CAGE number and System for Award Management (SAM) registration. The written request must include acknowledgement of the responder's responsibility under the U.S. export contract laws and regulations. Upon verification of status in http://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp and acknowledgement of responsibilities under U.S. export control laws and regulations, the requested technical data will be provided to the address approved in this system upon submission of a valid 2345. No foreign participation is allowed for this RFI. All respondents must have the necessary organizational and technical experience, or the ability to obtain them in the necessary timeframe. Competence in these areas shall be demonstrated through written description of the vendors past and/or current experience of manufacturing fiber-wound composite structures. The respondents interested in producing the BLU-129/B warhead should be able to complete a qualification program and produce the warheads in the time frame required and with the quality necessary to maintain warhead performance. The NAICS Code assigned to this acquisition is 332993 Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing, with a size standard of 1,500 employees. Respondents should indicate their size in relation to this size standard and indicate socio-economic status (i.e. SB, 8(a), HUBZone, EDWOSB, WOSB, or SDVOSB). Respondents are further requested to indicate their status as a Foreign-owned/Foreign-controlled firm and any contemplated use of foreign national employees on this effort. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside based upon responses hereto for any subsequent action. All prospective contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database to be awarded a DoD contract. No set-aside decision has been made. Note that a key factor in determining an acquisition to be a Small Business Set Aside is that small business prime contractors must perform at least 50% of the effort, as defined in FAR Clause 52.219-14. Any information submitted by respondents to this RFI is voluntary. This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government reimburse any costs associated with the submission of information in response to this notice. Respondents will not be individually notified of the results of any government assessments. The Government's assessment of the capability statements received will factor into whether any forthcoming solicitation will be conducted as a full and open competition or as a set-aside for small business, or any particular small business program. Respondents are requested to provide the following information. Respondents should tailor their responses based on their proposed team or company strategy. Citing prior experiences relating to the questions will aid in the Government assessment of industry capability. a. Provide a capability statement that they possess the necessary organizational, technical, and manufacturing experience to rapidly manufacture and deliver BLU-129/B's within the timeframe specified above. b. Ideal respondents shall be able to pass a Manufacture Readiness Assessment with a minimum Manufacture Readiness Level of a 7. Provide support that your company can meet this requirement. c. Provide a detailed schedule that shows the events/activities to deliver 1000 warheads. d. Offer your opinion on the feasibility of the procurement approach including procurement quantities and schedule requirement. e. Identify the critical corporate capabilities and certifications necessary to achieve the proposed procurement need. Examples of capabilities and certifications include quality processes, Failure Analysis and Corrective Actions, production management and control, satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics and International Standards Organizations Certifications. f. Describe your capabilities and experience with assembly and production of complex composite material assembly and/or mechanical components, and manufacturing process controls. g. Identify a proposed production schedule and quantity bands with associated production costs and per warhead case costs. h. Identify the minimum quantity of BLU-129s necessary for your company to sustain stable annual production throughput. Also identify your economic order quantity. i. Provide estimated average yearly production rate and estimated maximum yearly production rate. j. Describe your experience working directly with government organizations using government personnel and facilities, first article testing, environmental testing, and final acceptance testing of composite assemblies. k. Review TDP and provide your comments. SUBMISSION DETAILS: Respondents to this RFI should adhere to the following details. Interested parties are requested to respond to items a thru m above with a white paper in the following format: Microsoft Word 2010 compatible; 40 pages or less (including cover and administrative pages); 1-inch margins; and 12 point font (or larger). Interested parties should provide a company profile to include the following: a. Company Name b. Company Address c. Point of Contact d. E-mail Address e. Website Address f. Telephone Number g. Business Category as it relates to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 332993 numbers of employees h. DUNS number i. CAGE Code An Ombudsman has been appointed to address the concerns from potential vendors. The Ombudsman does not diminish the authority of the Program Manager or Contracting Officer, but communicates vendor concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations to the appropriate Government personnel. When requested, the Ombudsman shall maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The Ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals or in the source selection process. Matters of routine or administrative nature concerning this acquisition should not be addressed to the Ombudsman, but rather to the Contracting points of contact identified below. The Ombudsman is, Lt Col Peter Sandness, AFLCMC/AQP, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433. He may be contacted via email at peter.sandness@us.af.mil or phone number (312) 785-5512. Collect Calls will not be accepted RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 4:00 P.M. (CST) ON 15 June 2018. Direct all questions concerning this requirement and all submissions/responses via email to Jennifer Kottke at jennifer.kottke@us.af.mil and Andrea Matson at Andrea.Matson.1@us.af.mil. All correspondence shall be sent via email and shall contain a subject line that reads "FA8681-19-R-0020, BLU 129." If this subject line is not included, the e-mail may not get through e-mail filters at Eglin AFB. Filters are designed to delete emails without a subject or with a suspicious subject or attachment. Attachments with files ending in .zip or .exe are not allowable and will be deleted. Ensure only .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xsls, or .xls documents are attached to your email. All other attachments may be deleted.