Electronic Safe and Arm Devices (ESAD)

The U.S Army Contracting Command-Rock Island at Picatinny, on behalf of the Department of War (DoW) Fuze Integrated Product Team (IPT) is seeking feedback from industry on Continental United States (CONUS) sources and information regarding the existing capability to manufacture Electronic Safe and Arm Devices (ESAD) fuzes for munitions, as well as Ignition Safety Devices (ISDs) for rocket motors.

DISCLAIMER:

THIS RFI IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, NOR AS AN OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS RFI OR REIMBURSE ANY CONTRACTORS FOR ANY INFORMATION OR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RESPONDING TO THIS NOTIFICATION. PARTICIPATION IN THIS EFFORT IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY AND ANY OF THE INFORMATION STATED ABOVE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO USE THE INFORMATION RECEIVED TO DEVELOP A WHITEPAPER AND INVESTMENT STRATEGY TO SUPPORT THE SCALE-UP NECESSARY TO EXPAND AND SECURE THE DOMESTIC ELECTRONIC FUZING AND IGNITION SYSTEMS INDUSTRIAL BASE. THE GOVERNMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO USE ANY NON-PROPRIETARY INFORMATION IN ANY RESULTANT SOLICITATION(S). PROPRIETARY INFORMATION SHOULD BE MARKED AS SUCH. IF A FORMAL SOLICITATION IS GENERATED AT A LATER DATE, THE GOVERNMENT WILL PUBLISH A SOLICITATION NOTICE.

DESCRIPTION:

The Government is specifically seeking to understand the industrial base's capacity to scale production in response to emerging high-rate defense requirements. These include supporting Weaponized Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for Drone Dominance, Launched Effects (LE), Counter-UAS (cUAS) technologies, low-cost/high-rate systems, alongside the increased production demand for existing munition systems. To enable this scalability, the Government must identify critical manufacturing, testing, and component-level supply chain bottlenecks, specifically concerning high-voltage firing capacitors, solid-state high-voltage switches, and In-Line Initiators (ILI) to include Explosive Foil Initiators (EFIs) / Low Energy Exploding Foil Initiators (LEEFIs) / Exploding Foil Deflagrating Initiators (EFDIs).  The PSC code is 1390 – Fuzes and Primers

RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS:

The U.S. Government is requesting information from all interested CONUS sources having relevant ESAD and ISD manufacturing, assembly, energetic loading/integration, and testing capabilities. Respondents shall describe their prior experience, existing facility capabilities, relevant equipment, and personnel.

With respect to the Government’s interest in the above, to adequately assess capability, responses shall address the following specific requirements:

1. Past Performance and Demonstrated Experience: Describe your company’s historical experience and proven capability in developing, manufacturing, assembling, and qualifying electronic fuzing systems (i.e. ESADs, ESAFs, etc.) and rocket motor ignition devices (ISDs, Arm & Fire Devices, etc.) over the past five (5) years. Specifically address:
   
   • Deliveries and Programs: List specific types, nomenclatures, and physical form factors of ESADs and electronic ISDs delivered. Detail total annual quantities delivered, peak production rates achieved, and whether your company served as the Prime or Subcontractor.
   • Manufacturing and Production Infrastructure: Describe demonstrated experience operating electronics manufacturing and assembly lines, including Surface Mount Technology (SMT), Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Assemblies, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)-controlled cleanroom environments, and energetic integration bays.
   • Qualification, Testing, and Compliance History: Detail past performance qualifying systems to military safety and performance standards. Identify major cost and schedule drivers, specifically contrasting automated versus manual testing procedures. Additionally, describe your environmental stress testing experience and how it aligns with the operational envelopes of low-cost platforms.
   • Workforce Experience: Detail the baseline technical competencies and certifications (e.g., IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, energetic material handling) of your current workforce across touch labor, high-voltage analog electrical engineering, RF design, and test engineering.
2. Future Capabilities, Surge Capacity, and Scalability: Detail your facility’s ability to scale manufacturing throughput, adopt automated production/inspection methods, expand engineering capacity, and overcome component supply bottlenecks to meet anticipated defense surge demands. Specifically address:
   • Production Rates and Surge Capacity: State your facility's current minimum viable annual production rate (economic run rate) and absolute maximum surge capacity (assuming multi-shift operations). Provide a projected year-by-year production profile from Government Fiscal Year (GFY) October 2027 through GFY 2031, detailing ramp-up capacity to support:
     • Weaponized UxS / Purpose Built Attritable Systems (PBAS) to support Drone Dominance
     • Munitions Acceleration Council (MAC) requirements
     • Launched Effects (LE), Counter-UAS (cUAS) interceptors, and other similar low-cost, high-rate systems.
   • Component Supply Chain and Critical Bottlenecks: Identify lead times, cost drivers, sole/single-source dependencies, and/or End-of-Life (EOL)/Product Change Notices (PCN) across key ESAD/ISD component technologies such as High-Voltage Firing Capacitors, High-Voltage Switches, Explosive Foil Initiators (EFIs) / LEEFIs, Logic and Processing Devices (one-time programmable - OTP logic devices, microcontrollers, field-programmable gate arrays – FPGAs, etc. Detail mitigation strategies, domestic alternative sources, or government investments needed.
   • Advanced Manufacturing, Automation, and Facility Expansion: Outline planned or required capital investments, facility expansions, or automated assembly cells needed to support high-rate surge. Detail current and planned implementations of flexible automation cells, automated in-line inspection (e.g., in-line digital X-ray, Automated Optical Inspection [AOI], 3D dimensioning), and automated fuze/tester architectures (e.g., high-throughput bench-level testing for safety critical functions).
   • Workforce Recruitment and Scaling Plan: Provide an overview of recruitment, onboarding, and training roadmap to scale engineering and assembly labor for surge production. Include timed milestones, required training hours, measurable certification standards, and strategies to overcome regional labor shortages or cleared personnel constraints. Additionally, identify any systemic training shortcomings, instructional gaps, or critical hurdles to attracting and retaining qualified personnel for these specialized roles.

1. Security, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified Handling: Confirm your company’s capability to handle, store, transmit, and process Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), Controlled Technical Information (CTI), and classified material. Provide confirmation of compliance with relevant defense cybersecurity standards (e.g., NIST SP 800-171, CMMC requirements).

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested vendors are strongly encouraged to submit a capabilities statement with the following information:

NAICS: 332993 – Ammunition Manufacturing, 333249 – Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing

PSC: 1390 – Fuzes and Primers

Responses shall be in PDF format and shall not exceed fifteen (15) pages, including the cover sheet, photos, and diagrams. The minimum acceptable font size is 12 Calibri. The cover sheet shall include the following company information:

Response shall include documentation of technical expertise and capability in sufficient detail for the Government to adequately assess the capabilities of your company. It is imperative that business concerns responding to this Request for Information (RFI) articulate their capabilities clearly and adequately.

Classified material and material samples will not be accepted.

In addition, please provide Full company name and address, point of contact with telephone number and email address, CAGE Code and DUNS number, size of business (i.e. large, small, disadvantaged, veteran owned, woman owned, etc.) and applicable NAICS and Product Service Code’s (PSC), and website (if applicable).

Vendors must be properly registered in the Government System for Award Management database (SAM).  Contractors may obtain information on SAM registration and annual confirmation of requirements by calling 1-866-606-8220, or via the Internet at www.sam.gov.

The official response must be submitted to the U.S. Army Contracting Command – Rock Island at Picatinny. Please send responses to Contracting/Agreements Officer Charlotte Sylvain-Ceraul at charlotte.a.sylvain-ceraul.civ@army.mil and Contract Specialist, Antonius Gill at antonius.gill.civ@army.mil no later than November 19, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Phone inquiries will not be accepted; all questions must be submitted in writing via email. Respondents will not receive notification regarding the results of the survey.