Integration and Testing of the Rheinmetall 25mm Ammunition on GAU-22/A Gun System

The Air Armament Center, 308th Armament Systems Wing, 808th Armament Systems Group, 685th Armament Systems Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL anticipates awarding a sole source Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract to General Dynamics - Armament and Technical Products (GDATP), 128 Lakeside Ave., Burlington, Vermont, 05401-4939. It is anticipated that the total contract period of performance will not exceed three (3) years from time of award and will have an estimated value of $3,000,000.00. The contractor will conduct integration and testing of the Rheinmetall 25mm x137mm Frangible Armor Piercing (FAP) ammunition in the F-35 GAU-22/A gun system designed and developed by GDATP. The Government anticipates the effort will be performed in five (5) phases. Execution of the phases and period of performance for each phase will be negotiated with GDATP at award of the basic contract. All phases will be awarded on a FFP basis. The 5 phases are as follows: 1) evaluation of previously fired 25mm FAP ammunition performance and preparation of documentation for USAF qualification testing, 2) design/manufacture of Mann barrels, 3) preparation of test plans and evaluation of FAP performance, 4) FAP ammunition suitability assessment, 5) 25mm ammunition qualification testing. The contractor will be required to submit a qualification report for suitability of the 25mm round. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. The proposed contract action is for work for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, - Only One Responsible Source. The GAU-22/A is different from other 25mm gun systems in the USAF inventory in terms of weight, length, operational requirements and environmental operating parameters. The highly specialized GAU-22/A gun design and the operational requirements of the F-35 gun system require highly specialized ammunition. None of the 25mm x 137mm ammunitions in the existing DoD inventory can satisfy these USAF ammunition requirements. The round selected for the FCT project was designed to the GAU-22/A gun system specifications. The 685 ARSS believes that award to any other source would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the Air Force's requirements because the 25mm ammunition must pass qualification testing by Aug 2011 and only GDATP can meet this integration schedule. Therefore, any offerors responding to this notice must provide evidence of capability to perform the above requirements to include the detailed knowledge and capabilities of the GAU-22/A gun system. All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. GDATP is the only known source of the technical expertise required to support this requirement. The clause at 5352.201-9101, Ombudsman, is applicable to this procurement. An Ombudsman has been appointed to address concerns of offerors or potential offerors. The Ombudsman does not diminish the authority of the program manager or contracting officer, but communicates contractor 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 Colonel Arnold W. Bunch, AAC/CV, at 101 West D Avenue, Suite 116, Eglin AFB FL 32542-5495; his phone number is 850-882-5422. Collect calls will not be accepted. For subcontracting opportunities, please contact Shawn Manley at smanley@gdatp.com, 802-657-6026 or General Dynamics - Armament and Technical Products, 128 Lakeside Ave. Burlington, VT 05401-4985 Please forward any written statements of eligibility to 685 ARSS, Attn: Jason Barnes, 207 West D Avenue, Bldg 349, Suite 626, Eglin AFB FL 32542-6864, or facsimile (850) 882-7983 or e-mail Jason.Barnes@eglin.af.mil.