BLU-138 Warhead

Amendment 3: - Attached another Question/Answer dated 25 March 2021. Amendment 2: - Attached Questions/Answers to questions received about the sources sought. - Corrected the error identified in Q3. Amendment 1: Update: Qty changed from 1000 - 2000 to 500 - 2000 units BLU-138 Warhead Agency: Department of the Air Force Office: Air Force Material Command Location: AFLCMC/EBDK - Eglin Air Force Base Notice Type: Sources Sought Classification Code: 10- Weapons NAICS Code: 332 - Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 332993 - Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing Disclosure: This is a Sources Sought synopsis for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute an invitation for bid (IFB) or request for proposal (RFP), and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose. There is no bid package or solicitation document with this announcement. Responses to this Sources Sought and RFI are strictly voluntary and will not affect any potential offeror's ability to submit an offer if a competitive solicitation is released. The Government does not intend to pay for the information solicited. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges will arise resulting from preparation of submissions in response to this sources sought and RFI or the government's use of the information provided. The Government is not liable for any costs incurred by any respondent to prepare and/or submit its response to this synopsis/RFI or subsequent submittals of information. All costs associated with responding to this Sources Sought are solely at the responding parties expense. This notice DOES NOT in any way restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. The Government encourages all responsible businesses, including small businesses, to respond to this sources sought synopsis and RFI. Respondents to this sources sought synopsis may be requested to provide additional information/details based on their initial submittals. Any submittals will not be returned to the sender. As directed by the Foreign Disclosure Office, Eglin AFB, FL, no foreign participation is allowed for this acquisition. General and Background Information: The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Armament Directorate, Direct Attack Division seeks information on potential sources for a contemplated procurement of new BLU-138 Warhead cases and associated component part sets. The intent of this sources sought notice is to conduct a market investigation to collect supporting data and documentation on which to base an appropriate acquisition strategy. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this effort is 332993; with a small business size standard of 1,500 employees. The BLU-138 Warhead will consist of the large diameter empty warhead case made of AF96 to include associated components, parts, and data. The basic effort is anticipated to include required delivery of up to/approximately 125 units within 12 months from effective date, along with associated data, all in accordance with the specifications/drawings/data package. Further, it is anticipated this effort will include multiple annual orders for additional quantities spanning up to an estimated total production quantity of 500 -2000 units (BLU-138 with empty BLU-138 warhead cases and component part sets and associated data), again in accordance with the specification/drawings/data package. The deliverable warhead assemblies must be manufactured in conformance with the current Air Force BLU-138 Technical Data Package (TDP) and specifications. These procedures will involve construction of the warhead assembly, to include the warhead case and integrated components. Copies of the TDP and specifications are available upon request from Mr. Donald Perkins, email: donald.perkins.1@us.af.mil and Ms. Christy Cross, email: christy.cross.2@us.af.mil. If requested, the TDP and specifications will be made available via DoD SAFE to qualified respondents for reference only. Respondents must officially request the 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 Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code and System for Award Management (SAM) registration. Export Control: Yes. Respondents are required to be - EXPORT CONTROLLED certified in order to receive and view the TDP and specifications for the Sources Sought. If the respondent intends to become Export Control Certified, you must register at https://public.logisticsinformationservice.dla.mil/jcp/search.aspx and be able to provide an approved DD Form 2345 in order to receive the TDP and specifications. The U.S. Government (USG) will only disclose the TDP and specifications to the current data custodian annotated on the DD Form 2345. Access to the TDP and specs for the Source Sought is restricted to potential offers who have met the requirements to view/receive Export Controlled Data. Foreign Participation is NOT authorized. The TDP and specifications are marked with the following distribution and export control statement: DISTRIBUTION D. Distribution authorized to Department of Defense and U.S. DOD contractors only, Critical Technology, 20 June 2015 (or the latest revision date). Refer other requests for this document to AFLCMC/EBD, Eglin AFB, FL 32542. EXPORT CONTROL WARNING: This document contains technical data whose export is restricted by the Arms Export Control Act (Title 22, U.S.C., Sec 2751, et. seq.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended, Title 50, U.S.C., App. 2401 et. seq. Violations of these export laws are subject to severe criminal penalties. Disseminate in accordance with provisions of DoD Directive 5230.25. DESTRUCTION NOTICE: Destroy by any method that will prevent disclosure of contents or reconstruction of this document. Respondents are requested to provide the following information and 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. Statement of Capabilities (SOC): Interested and capable sources are encouraged to respond to this synopsis with a Statement of Capabilities that provides specific relevant knowledge and experience in the following areas as it pertains to satisfying the requirements detailed below in section a-k. The Statement of Capabilities should, at a minimum, provide evidence that the contractor: Has engaged in or has the ability to engage in this type and magnitude of weapon manufacturing; Possesses, has access to, or has ability to gain access to the necessary equipment, data, personnel, manufacturing facilities, and financial resources to fulfill the requirements of efforts of this type; Has the ability to perform high level manufacturing processes and techniques, to include evidence or demonstration of the source's understanding of relevant metallurgical and engineering techniques for fabricating large cases such as BLU-113/122, BLU-127 and BLU-137 as well as smaller aft-end component parts sets. If company has successfully manufactured previous warhead production, provide evidence. If not, provide information on how they plan to accomplish warhead production. Has the melt capability to produce BLU-138 class/size warheads, provide evidence on the current melt capability to be used; Vacuum Arc Melting (VAR) or open Ladle (airmelt). Has a Quality Management System (QMS) that meets the requirements of AS9100 or ISO 9001. Provide dates of any applicable certifications. Summarize how QMS requirements are flowed down to major/critical suppliers. Utilizes a manufacturing management process which meets the requirements of AS6500, and how the requirements are flowed down to major/critical suppliers. Has a risk management approach for production and acceptance of contract deliverables as related to cost, performance and schedule in establishing and maintaining a sustainable production capability. Identify any risks you perceive with the proposed procurement (technical, cost drivers, schedule) and describe reasonable mitigation strategy. Has sufficient capacity to produce in the quantities identified in the first paragragh under General and Background Information and describe the capacity capability to meet or exceed the per year requirement. Please limit your Statement of Capabilities to no more than 14 single spaced, 10-point font typed pages. Small businesses are encouraged to submit a Statement of Capabilities demonstrating their ability to manufacture a portion of the requirement, even if they do not possess the capabilities to manufacture the entire requirement. Submission Details: All interested vendors should submit a response demonstrating their capability to provide these items/perform this effort to the Primary and Secondary Points of Contact listed below. Proposals are not being requested or accepted at this time. As stipulated in FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No solicitation (Request for Proposal) exists at this time; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. The decision to solicit for a contract shall be solely within the Government's discretion. The NAICS Code assigned to this acquisition is 332993 Ammunition, 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. Interested parties should provide a company profile to include the following: Company name. Contractor Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. Point of contact with telephone, email and address contact information. Indicate your company's category (e.g., a US company, large or small business, and if a small business, whether they are a small business, 8(a) concern, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned business, HUB Zone small business, small disadvantaged business, or women-owned small business as defined by the planned NAICS code listed. Your intentions to compete on any resulting RFP as a prime or as a subcontractor. Would your company partner with other firms and, if so, who? Specify which firms are US owned and which are foreign owned. Provide a brief history highlighting past relevant experience with manufacturing similar items, to include number of years and specific experience. For each SOC item for which capabilities do not exist, identify how you will satisfy the requirement. Indicate what risks or concerns you see with this envisioned acquisition, and what your suggested mitigation strategies are. Identify your manufacturing readiness level for your proposed solution. What Government Furnished Property would you envision the need for in order to perform this effort? The Government will use this information to determine if there are interested and qualified sources. Those desiring to do business with the Air Force must be registered in the Government's System for Award Management system located at https://www.sam.gov. Information associated with this effort is unclassified. If respondents wish to restrict distribution of Capability Statements, they must be marked appropriately. Interested parties should mark all responses accordingly prior to submission. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. Respondents are responsible for protecting and marking proprietary information at the appropriate level. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. Government Advisors: Respondents to this RFI are advised that proprietary, confidential, or privileged commercial data submitted as part of your response may be released to non-Government advisors supporting the Government in this acquisition. Although the Government's contracts with these advisors require non-disclosure agreements, please indicate in your response to this synopsis if your firm has objections to the use of these advisors. These advisors are employed by HX5, Colsa, Quantitech or Odyssey Systems. Specify the specific basis of the objection, and the specific portions that the respondent objects to disclosure to non-Government advisors. Other Information: All responsible sources may submit information that shall be considered by the agency. If late information is received, it may be considered, depending on agency time constraints. All routine communications regarding the announcement should be directed to the contractual point of contact listed in this posting. The Government may or may not use any responses to the sources sought as a basis for a subsequent project/requirement. Any project/requirement developed from the sources sought responses may be the subject of a subsequent acquisition; any such subsequent acquisition will be posted in BetaSam.gov separately. Responses to the sources sought will not be returned. The Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received, or provide feedback to the respondents with respect to any of the information submitted under the sources sought. No requests for a bid package or solicitation will be accepted; a bid package or solicitation does not exist at this time. In order to protect the integrity of any possible future acquisition, no additional information will be provided and no appointments for presentations will be made in reference to the sources sought. An Ombudsman has been established for this acquisition. The only purpose of the Ombudsman is to receive and communicate serious concerns from potential offerors when an offeror prefers not to use established channels to communicate concerns during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. Potential sources should use established channels of PCO and buyer to request information, pose questions, and voice concerns before resorting to use of the Ombudsman. Potential sources are invited to contact AFLCMC's Ombudsman with serious concerns only: Colonel Sean Tucker, AFLCMC/AQ-AZ, (937) 255-5512, ASCA@us.af.mil. Routine communication concerning this synopsis should be directed to the primary point of contact listed in this notice. RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN 4:00 P.M. (CST) WEDNESDAY, 14 APRIL 2021. Direct all questions concerning this sources sought to Mr. Donald Perkins, Contracting Officer, donald.perkins.1@us.af.mil and Ms. Christy Cross, Contract Specialist, christy.cross.2@us.af.mil. All questions should be emailed only as to avoid any misunderstanding or confusion. All correspondence sent via email shall contain a subject line that reads - BLU-138 Warhead. 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. Contracting Office Address: 102 W D Ave Bldg 11 Eglin AFB, Florida 32542