Family of Hand Held Signals

The Army Contracting Command - Rock Island (ACC-RI) is using this Sources Sought announcement to provide information to industry about the Family of Hand Held Signals (HHS). The purpose of providing this information is to conduct ongoing Market Research and to identify interested sources capable of manufacturing and delivering the Family of Hand Held Signals (HHS). This is a market survey for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this market survey or otherwise pay for information solicited. The Government will utilize the information provided only to develop the acquisition strategy for future requirements. All information submitted will be held in a confidential status. Updated Item Descriptions by Category: Cluster Signals M125A1 SIGNAL, ILLUMINATION GROUND, GREEN STAR CLUSTER DODIC L314, NSN 1370-01-652-2300 Signal Assembly Dwg: 13061289-1, Illuminant Assembly Dwg 8797956, Packaging Dwg 13061300 M158 SIGNAL, ILLUMINATION GROUND, RED STAR CLUSTER DODIC L306, NSN 1370-01-624-2851 Signal Assembly Dwg: 13061289-2, Illuminant Assembly 13058118-1, Packaging Dwg 13061300 M159 ILLUMINATION GROUND, WHITE STAR CLUSTER DODIC L307, NSN 1370-01-653-2854 Signal Assembly Dwg: 13061289-3, Illuminant Assembly Dwg 13058118-2, Packaging Dwg 13061300 Parachute Signals M126A1 SIGNAL, ILLUMINATION GROUND, RED STAR PARACHUTE DODIC L311, NSN 1370-01-651-5159 Signal Dwg: 13061290-1, Illuminant Assembly Dwg 13058117, Packaging Dwg 13061300 M127A1 SIGNAL, ILLUMINATION GROUND, WHITE STAR PARACHUTE DODIC L312, 1370-01-652-9144 Signal Assembly Dwg: 13061290-2, Illuminant Assembly Dwg 13058119, Packaging Dwg 13061300 M195 SIGNAL, ILLUMINATION GROUND, GREEN STAR PARACHUTE DODIC L305, NSN 1370-01-654-7693 Signal Assembly Dwg: 13061290-3, Illuminant Assembly Dwg 9255113, Packaging Dwg 13061300 The Family of Hand Held Signals (HHS) is used for both daytime and nighttime signaling by all military services. The star clusters consist of five-star illuminant assemblies and a rocket motor propulsion assembly contained in a hand-held aluminum launching tube. The base of the launching tube contains a primer and an initiating charge. As shipped, the firing pin cap is assembled to the forward end and must be reversed for firing. Stabilizing fins on the tail assembly of rockets are folded parallel to the axis of the signal. A bolt, which also transfers the initiating charge flash to the propellant, extends into the center of the solid propellant which fills the propulsion assembly. The illuminant assembly is mounted on top of the propulsion assembly with a delay assembly and an expelling charge between. A label specifying firing procedures is secured to the body of the signal. The parachute signals consist of a parachute-suspended illuminant assembly and a rocket motor propulsion assembly contained in a hand-held aluminum launching tube. The base of the launching tube contains a primer and an initiating charge. As shipped, the firing pin cap is assembled to the forward end and must be reversed for firing. Stabilizing fins on the tail assembly of rockets are folded parallel to the axis of the signal. A bolt, which also transfers the initiating charge flash to the propellant, extends into the center of the solid propellant, which fills the propulsion assembly. The parachute/illuminant assembly is mounted on top of the propulsion assembly with a delay assembly and an expelling charge between them. The parachute with suspension chords is packed on top of the illuminant, and the tube end is sealed with a cork disk (rocket barrel seal). A label specifying firing procedures is secured to the body of the signal. The propelling charge for both cluster and parachute type signals is Black Powder Propellant. Black powder is used for the initiating and expelling charge for both cluster and parachute signals. The No. 209 percussion primer is used in both cluster and parachute signals. Critical components include magnesium powder, black powder, black powder propellant, the No. 209 percussion primer, and the stabilizing fin assembly. Critical skills include the ability to handle/store hygroscopic materials, handle/formulate/press pyrotechnic mixtures, and fabrication of metal parts. For different stages of the manufacturing process, special inspection and test equipment is required to ensure that the final product complies with USG requirements. The Contractor will be required to successfully conduct First Article Acceptance and Lot Acceptance tests on the items listed above. The Family of HHS is procured to a USG Technical Data Package (TDP). The entire TDP will not be provided in support of this market research; however top-level and packaging drawings identified above are available for interested sources to review. The drawings are Distribution Statement D, which means distribution is authorized to the Department of Defense and U.S. DOD Contractors only. Interested contractors that would like to obtain the top-level and packaging drawings must submit a written request to the POC identified below. The written request must include the company's cage code and Joint Certification Number (JCP) (see http://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp/). Interested contractors will also be required to execute and return a Non-Disclosure and Non-Use Agreement (NDA) prior to obtaining the TDP. This NDA will be provided by the POC upon the written request. For pricing purposes the USG intends to categorize each of the six items as either a Cluster or a Parachute Signal. Based on current budget estimates the most probable quantities by signal group for each fiscal year is as follows: M125A1, M158, & M159 Clusters: FY23: 54,775 ea FY24: 117,602 ea FY25: 114,936 ea FY26: no budgeted quantities FY27: no budgeted quantities M126A1, M127A1 & M195 Parachutes: FY23: 3,332 ea FY24: 2,320 ea FY25: 1,665 ea FY26: no budgeted quantities FY27: no budgeted quantities The NAICS code for this item is 325998 with a business size standard of 500 employees. Responses: Interested companies are invited to indicate their interest by providing the USG the following information: 1) a brief summary of the company's capabilities (a description of the facilities, personnel experience, quality system, and past manufacturing experience) and their availability, if a respondents does not have adequate resources (facilities, technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available they are encouraged to demonstrate their ability to obtain those resources without significant delay; 2) business size; 3) a brief summary of potential key subcontractors and which key components or processes would be subcontracted; 4) identify if part or all of the Family of HHS requirements can be met by available commercial or non-developmental items; 5) feasibility of or alternatives to the USG's preferred lead-time of 300 days after award for submission of First Article Test Report (FATR) and 390 days after award for production deliveries to commence; 6) provide a Minimum Procurement Quantity (MPQ) and whether the USG's planned quantities as stated within this announcement meet or exceed the MPQ; 7) minimum and maximum monthly production quantities and identify the remaining capacity for simultaneous production of all the Family of HHS of items (and if manufacturing resources are shared with other items/production lines), and 8) Fill out the attached questionnaire. Interested companies may provide updated or new FY23-FY27 Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) unit prices for the requirements listed above; please include a separate ROM for First Article Test. Interested parties must submit a response no later than the date listed in the post in order to be considered in the development of acquisition strategy for this item. Electronic submission is acceptable and preferred. Address all responses to: U.S. Army Contracting Command - Rock Island; ATTN: CCRC-AR Benjamin Riessen; 1 Rock Island Arsenal; Rock Island, IL 61299-8000; Email: Benjamin.c.riessen.civ@army.mil. Please direct all drawing requests and any other questions pertaining to this announcement to the POC identified herein. All responses to this sources sought must reference the solicitation number: W52P1J-22-R-0019, and subject: Family of Hand Held Signals.