M119A2 and/or M203 Series (M203/M203A1) Propelling Bag Charge

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-New Jersey (ACC-NJ), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000, on behalf of the Project Manager Combat Ammunition Systems (PM CAS), is conducting a market survey to identify potential sources who are capable of producing and supplying M119A2 and/or M203 Series Propelling Bag Charges to support 155mm Artillery Howitzers, the M109 Series and the M777. The priority of this market survey is to obtain information from potential sources within the United States and Canada to manufacture the M119A2 Bag Charge with deliveries starting in FY24 to support an Urgent need of 155mm Propelling Bag Charges. The M203 Series Propelling Bag Charges would be used as the basis for a developmental item, M203A1E1, described below. The Government is seeking to employ a Systems Contract Approach where the resultant contractor will be responsible for acquiring all of the necessary materials/components required to produce the M119A2 in accordance with the Technical Data Package (TDP) & Mil-Spec (MIL-C-63405) and/or the M203/M203A1 Propelling Bag Charge TDP. The estimated requirements for planning purposes are 200k annually with the ability to surge to 400k annually per item, when required. The M119A2 is a single increment red bag charge with red/black markings that in its final configuration weighs approximately 22.5 lbs and is 28.5 in long x 6 in diameter (maximum). The M119A2 is designed to achieve 17 km at a muzzle velocity of 686 meters per second. It is comprised of an end bag igniter, main charge, and flash reducer. The cloth material used throughout the M119A2 is rayon/polyester blend and must be red in color. The forward section of the charge is sheathed in lead foil which serves as a liner. The Lead Liner is 0.0020 thick by 16 - in x 14 5/16. The Flash Reducer consists of 16 ounces of Potassium Sulfate Type II which is loaded into four columns along the side of the charge in the area of the lead liner. The End Bag Igniter is a circular igniter pad that contains 4 ounces of Clean Burning Ignitor (CBI) and - ounce Class 1 Black Powder. CBI is a Single-Based Single Perforated Flake Propellant and either Type I or Type II is approved for use. The End Bag Igniter is sewed to the base of the main charge propellant bag. The main charge is loaded with approximately 21 lbs of M6 Single-Base Multi-Perforated Propellant. When the weapon is fired, the primer ignites the CBI in the igniter pad at the base of the propelling charge, followed by an ignition of the black powder and propellant. The burning propellant generates rapidly expanding gases to propel the projectile through the barrel at the required velocity to reach the target. Blast overpressure and muzzle flash of the firing are reduced by the flash reducer included in the charge. The lead liner (foil sheath) serves as a de-coppering agent to prevent copper build-up (coppering) in the weapon system. Since Lead is being phased out across various DoD applications due to environmental concerns, the Government is interested in industry's approaches to Lead replacements/alternatives. No further energetic material safety qualification is desired for this design alternative. The M203 Propelling Charge is a single increment red bag charge that is approximately 30 inches long and contains approximately 26 pounds of M30A1 propellant. The M203 is designed to achieve 30 km at a muzzle velocity of 826 meters per second. It is comprised of an igniter assembly, main charge, and flash reducer. The Igniter Assembly consists of three parts: base igniter pad, rigid center core tube, center core bag. The base igniter pad contains 1 ounce of Black Powder which is sewn to the center core bag. The center core bag contains 4 ounces of Black Powder. The central core tube is a molded 27 inch long Nitrocellulose paper tube that extends through the center of the charge lengthwise. A wax liner consisting of a cloth side impregnated with a Titanium Dioxide based wax mixture acts as the tube wear reducer. A lead foil sheath lines the sides of the forward end of the charge serves as the decoppering agent. The Flash Reducer is donut shaped and contains 16 ounces of Potassium Nitrate. Four tie straps are sewn at the base of the charge and run the entire length of the charge, which are then tied at the forward end of the charge. The Flash Reducer is inserted under the tie straps at the forward end of the charge. A cylindrical jacket is placed over the charge length and tightly laced. This lacing jacket serves to provide necessary rigidity and structural stability of the assembled charge. The M203A1 propelling charge is a single increment combustible cartridge case base ignited charge that is approximately 30 inches long x 6 inches in diameter and contains approximately 28 pounds of M31A1E1 Slotted Stick propellant. The M203A1 is designed to achieve 30 km at a muzzle velocity of 826 meters per second. The igniter base pad is comprised of a cloth bag loaded with 1 ounce of CBI and 0.7 ounces of Class 3 Black Powder encased in rigid combustible cartridge case end cap. The combustible cartridge case consists of Nitrocellulose impregnated kraft paper, stabilizer, resin binder, and a wear-reducing additive (8% talc). A lead foil sheath is assembled around the forward end of the propellant bundle inside the combustible case and serves as the decoppering agent. A wax liner weighing 17.6 ounces consisting of a Titanium Dioxide based wax mixture acts as the tube wear reducer. The Government is considering replacing the rigid combustible cartridge case with a cloth bag (red), where the resultant configuration will be a cloth bag loaded with M31A1E1 Slotted Stick propellant, which will be considered a developmental effort (M203A1E1). Suggested Supplier List: Combustible Cartridge Case: Armtec Defense Cloth: EPI, Widder Bros, Indiana Ordnance Works Lead Liner: Olin Corp, Amax Aluminum Co., Revere Copper and Brass Black Powder: Estes Energetics-GOEX Inc., Wano Schwarzpulver, Poudrerie d'Aubonne, Zloty Stok Group Propellants: BAE Radford, GD-Valleyfield Potassium Sulfate, Type II - Crater Chemical, Barium Chemicals Wax Liner: Spectra Technologies, Radford AAP To be considered a qualified source for this effort, all interested sources must submit the following information: Provide the organization's name, address, technical point of contact, phone number, e-mail address, and business size; A summary that includes a brief description of the contractor's capabilities to include, if applicable: parent organization(s), name/address/point of contact identification/email address, potential partnering/teaming arrangements, capabilities; Identification of a notional supply chain of raw materials, energetics, components; A description of the manufacturing processes, inspection capability, personnel, and Quality Management System certifications or standards used; The ability to achieve First Article and delivery starting 12 months after award for the M119A2 and 18 months after award for the M203 Series. Manufacturing experience with Load, Assembly, Pack (LAP) and delivery of 155mm propelling bag charges i.e. M3A1, M4A2, M203 Series (M203/M203A1) or items of similar complexity; A description of the company's and their supply chain's existing production capacity, their projected monthly production rate and delivery capability. The Government will release only the respective top-level drawings and associated Military Specifications, if requested. The full TDPs will be available if a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) is released at a later date. All contractors interested in this potential future solicitation must be registered in the System of Award Management (SAM) in order to be eligible for award. This market survey is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a RFP or as an obligation on the part of the Government. All information submitted will be held in a confidential status. All submissions shall be made BY REQUESTED RESPONSE DATES WITHIN NOTICE by electronic mail to Bethany Ficacci-Kretzmer, bethany.m.ficacci-kretzmer.civ@army.mil and Iryna Mudra, iryna.mudra.civ@army.mil. The Government will accept written questions by E-MAIL ONLY. TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any private sector input as a result of the Sources Sought notice. All information provided will not be returned and will be held in a confidential status. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, a solicitation notice will be published. No award will be made as a result of this market survey.