Guided 120mm Mortar Demonstration

There is a need to assess the maturity of existing autonomous precision 120mmmortar cartridges to meet current warfighting requirements against targets thatdo not present standard target signatures. The need calls for a delivery accuracy of less than 5-meter Circular Error Probability (CEP) objective and 10-meter CEP threshold. In order to assess the industry state-of-the-art 120mm mortar precisioncapability, the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development & Engineering Center (ARDEC), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000, is seeking white papers from theindustry by December 19, 2008 describing their 120mm mortar precisioncapabilities and how their design would be applicable as a Common GuidanceControl Module. ARDEC is also seeking industry partners, through the formation of CRADAs, to bring industry state-of-the-art 120mm mortar precision designs to a successfulguide-to-target demonstration in March 2009. This demonstration is in addition to the 120mm mortar/105mm artillery demonstration in September 2009, which is discussed in Special Notices W15QKN-09-Z-0304 and W15QKN-09-Z-0305, and does not preclude industry from participating in the 120mm mortar portion of that demonstration. Partiesinterested in participating in both demonstrations must provide a different design for each demonstration. White Paper Requirements:In addition to describing their 120mm precision mortar capabilities and how the design would be applicable as a Common Guidance Control Module, interestedparties are requested to include in their white papers a description of their:technology readiness level, ability to meet the demonstrations timeline, anyspecial testing considerations, substantiation for predicted accuracy, predicted maximum and minimum effective range, fire control interface requiredfor operations, overall length and weight, lethality versus troops in the openand lightly armored vehicles, and ability to complete qualification of theguided cartridge in 12 months. White papers shall also include a cost estimateto complete qualification of the guided cartridge in 12 months, and estimatesof unit production cost based on ranges of: 1,000 2,000 cartridges inProduction Year 1 (PY1); 2,000 3,000 in PY2; and 2,000 3,000 in PY3. WhitePapers are requested no later than COB on December 19, 2008. CRADA:White paper submission does not guarantee the formation of the CRADA. ARDECplans to enter CRADA partnerships only with industry partners that are bestsuited to accomplish the stated operational need objectives. All parties thathave submitted white papers will be notified by January 16, 2009 of ARDECsdecision to initiate a CRADA for demonstration of their design. If chosen,industry partners will meet with ARDEC after January 16, 2009 to discuss theCRADA and demonstration details. CRADAs are expected to be signed no laterthan February 15, 2009. Safety Assessment Report:It is important to note that industry partners anticipating participation inthe March 2009 demonstration must furnish a Safety Assessment Report on thetest munition by the time of signing of the CRADA agreement. Guide-to-Target Demonstration:A demonstration to assess the state-of-the-art 120mm mortar precisioncapability will be scheduled in late March 2009 and will focus on a gunlaunched, inert, autonomous, precision 120mm mortar. For the 120mm mortardemonstration, ARDEC can furnish weapon system information, a test site, a test weapon, test instrumentation, and data gathering support, but industrymust provide munition test assets. It is anticipated that 7 to 10 test roundswill be needed for the demonstration, and firings will be done with Ambient(+70F), Hot (+125F) and Cold (-25F) conditioned cartridges. A US weapon(dismounted 120mm smooth bore mortar system) will be used for the guide-to-target demonstration. Interested parties shall identify and mark within their white paper submissionany information that is considered proprietary. The suggested page limit forthe submissions is 25 pages (8 x 11 inches) paper hard copies or electronic format equivalent. Font size shall be 12, single spaced, with one inch borders. Submission with more than 25 pages can be accepted. The Governmentreserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any private sector input inresponse to this special notice. The Government is not obligated to notifyrespondents of the results of this survey. This special notice is for planningpurposes only, and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP). It is notto be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government. No award will be madebecause of this special notice. White Papers are requested no later than COB on December 19, 2008.The POC for this special notice is Jeff S. Cheung, CGCM APO, +1 (555) 000-0000,contact@example.gov. Mailing address: U.S. Army, ARDEC, AMSRD-AAR-MEF-S,Jeff Cheung, Bldg 94, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, 07806-5000.