M421 & M420 Shape Charge and M039 Cratering Charge

The United States (U.S.) Army Contracting Command-Rock Island (ACC-RI), on behalf of the Office of the Project Manager, Close Combat Systems (PM CCS), is issuing this Sources Sought Notice as a means of conducting market research to identify potential sources having an interest and the industry technologies available for the production and supply under a five-year, Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (ID/IQ) type contract for the following items: Charge, Demolition, Shaped: 15LB, M2A4 (DODIC) M421 NSN: 1375-01-023-7994 Charge, Demolition, Shaped: 40LB, M3A1 (DODIC M420) NSN: 1375-00-088-6691 Charge, Block, Cratering: 40LB (DODIC M039) NSN: 1375-01-378-9669 This market survey is to obtain information from potential sources within the US and Canada to manufacture the M421, M420, and/or M039. If an interested source would prefer to produce the M421, M420, or M039 individually, please state so in your response. The Government anticipates meeting this requirement through a five-year, Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (ID/IQ) type contract. The manufacture of these charges requires special skills and facilities. Melt pour loading of high explosives is a critical technology. Critical skills include laboratory personnel, explosive operators, quality assurance, environmental, and research and development. Critical facilities include temperature-controlled cooling bays, melt pour systems, real time x-rays/x-ray technicians. X-rays are important to determine whether the melt-pour casting contains cracks, voids, porosity, or separation. Defects can cause malfunctioning of the charge. The Contractor will be required to successfully conduct First Article Testing (FAT) and Lot Acceptance Tests (LAT) on these items. The charges are procured to USG Technical Data Packages (TDP). The entire USG TDPs will not be provided in support of this market research; however top-level drawings and packaging drawings identified below are available for interested sources to review. The requested top-level drawings and Military Specifications will be issued uncertified. The full certified TDP(s) 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. Some attachments associated with this notice are classified as Distribution "D", which means it is limited to the Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. DoD Contractors only. Dissemination shall be in accordance with the provisions of DoD directive 5230.25. Violations of export laws are subject to civil and criminal penalties. Distribution of these documents are only authorized to U.S. agencies and private individuals or enterprises eligible to obtain export-controlled technical data in accordance with regulations implementing 10 U.S.C. 130. Controlled Documents (including the TDP) may be obtained by having an active Joint Certification Program (JCP) account. A contractor can obtain an active JCP account by visiting the following website and submitting the necessary documents: https://public.logisticsinformationservice.dla.mil/jcp/search.aspx When requesting access, provide your Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code in the "Reason for Request" block. Once your account is active, you may request access to documents in the System for Award Management (https://www.sam.gov ). *** PLEASE NOTE, THE PERSON APPROVED FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN JCP MUST BE THE PERSON WHO REQUESTS ACCESS IN SAM OR YOU WILL BE DENIED. *** Shape Charge Description: Shaped Demolition Charge's primary use is for boring holes in earth, metal, masonry, concrete, and paved and unpaved roads. When the charge is detonated, the explosive is converted to a compressed gas. The gas exerts pressure in the form of a shockwave. The main charge converts the shaped liner into a high-speed jet, which penetrates the target. The M2A4, 15 lb. Shaped Charge penetrates reinforced concrete to a depth of about 3 feet, with the diameter of a hole tapering from about 2.75 inches at the mouth. The M3A1, 40 lb. Shaped Charge penetrates reinforced concrete to a depth of about 5 feet, with the diameter of a hole tapering from 3.5 inches at the mouth. M2A4, 15 lb. Shaped Demolition Charge (DODIC: M421), (NSN: 1375-01-023-7994) Item Top Drawing: 8861565 & Item Top Packaging Drawing: 9281170 The Composition B may be provided as Government Furnished Material (GFM). In support of Contractor acceptance testing (FAT/LAT), M6 Blasting Cap may be provided as GFM. The M2A4 consists of approximately 10 pounds Composition B, which is loaded using a melt-pour process. It also contains approximately 50-gram Composition A-3 booster charge. The explosive charge is enclosed in a molded fiberglass container with a glass cone liner and a tin-plated steel closing cap. The shape charge is 14 15/16 inches high and 7 inches in diameter, including the standoff. The shaped charge assembly also has a carrying strap made of cotton webbing and a detachable molded fiberglass 6 inches standoff. Each charge with the standoff is packed in a fiberboard box with foam cushions. Then the fiberboard box is put in a barrier bag. 4 charges are packed in a wooden box per drawing 9281170. M3A1, 40 lb. Shaped Demolition Charge (DODIC: M420), (NSN: 1375-00-088-6691) Item Top Drawing: 8858390 & Item Top Packaging Drawing: 7549165 The Composition B may be provided as GFM. In support of Contractor acceptance testing (FAT/LAT), M6 Blasting Cap may be provided as GFM. The M3A1 consists of approximately 30.5 pounds of Composition B, which is loaded using a melt-pour process. It also contains approximately 50-gram Composition A-3 booster charge. The charge is 15 1/2 inches high and 9 inches in diameter, not including the standoff. The explosive charge is enclosed in a seam welded or drawn sheet steel container along with a formed 10-inch diameter steel conical liner. The liner is assembled using a crimp, in conjunction with an adhesive/sealant. Brackets are spot welded to the outer surface of the shaped charge to affix the carry strap made from cotton webbing. A drawn brass detonator well is soldered to a tin-coated steel closing cap which is press fit into the container after loading. The shaped charge assembly includes a detachable welded three-legged steel stand. Finished assemblies are covered in a barrier material and packed in wooden boxes per drawing 7549165. Cratering Charge Description: The 40 LB Cratering Charge is a watertight, cylindrical steel sheet metal container that is loaded with approximately 40 pounds of Comp H-6 explosive. A semi-circular handle is affixed on the top of the container for handling the charge or lowering it into a hole. The 40 LB Cratering Charge is packed in an M18A2 Propelling Charge metal container. Fifty (50) each M18A2 containers are loaded on each wooden pallet. The 40 LB Cratering Charge is a highly explosive demolition charge used in destroying buildings, fortifications, and overturning bridge abutments. To properly function underground, the Cratering Charge is dual-primed with two (2) M112 Demolition Charges which detonate the Comp H-6 explosive charge. The Comp H-6 explosive has a relatively low detonating velocity, making it unsuitable for cutting and breaching operations. The low velocity blast does produce a pushing or heaving effect, making it suitable for cratering and ditching operations. 40 LB Cratering Charge (DODIC) M039, (NSN: 1375-01-378-9669) The Composition B and Composition D2 wax may be provided as GFM. In support of Contractor acceptance testing (FAT/LAT), the M112 Demolition Charge and M6 Blasting Cap may be provided as GFM. The 40 LB Cratering Charge is load, assembled and packed by the melt pouring of the H-6 explosive material into the cylindrical metal container. The H-6 explosive material consists of Composition B, Type 1, Grade A, NSN 1376-00-628-3306, and Composition D-2, NSN 1376-00-628-3323; the aforementioned items shall be provided as GFM. The Aluminum Powder, NSN 6810-00-628-3382 (which is mixed as part of the melt pour process shall be Contractor-furnished material (CFM). The primary metal parts consist of the 40 LB Cratering Charge cylindrical metal body and the M18A2 Shipping Container (cylindrical) which shall be CFM. Finished assemblies are packed, marked, and sealed into a M18A2 shipping container in accordance with drawing 12624777; and then palletized with quantity 50 in accordance to approved government procedures. Interested companies who have the necessary capabilities should respond by submitting the following information: 1. To be considered to qualify for this effort, one must show the ability to achieve successful FAT 12 months after contract award and delivery 18 month after contract award. 2. Respondent shall identify which items they can produce or if they are capable of producing all items (Shaped Charges and the Demolition Charge). 3. A respondent to this Sources Sought Notice shall demonstrate strong: Evidence of existing facilities, item specified manufacturing equipment and capability required to manufacture. Technical and manufacturing capability Past performance (manufacturing experience) to support the production manufacturing, assembly, inspection, testing, packaging, shipping, and delivery of the subject items. 4. A brief summary of your company's capabilities (no more than 15 pages. 5. Description of facilities, business size information as it applies to NAICS code 332993-Ammunition. 6. Personnel 7. Related manufacturing experience (similar items), 8. Estimated maximum monthly production quantities (and whether manufacturing resources required to produce this item are shared with other items/production lines) 9. Include an estimated delivery timeline of each lot. Expedited deliveries may be needed under urgent requirements. 10. The minimum procurement quantity (MPQ) required for economical production (DODIC: M420, M421, M039) 11. A rough order of magnitude (ROM) for each item (DODIC: M420, M421, M039) at MQP. If a respondent does not have adequate resources (technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, the respondent must describe and demonstrate the ability to obtain those resources, as well as the timeframe for obtaining. If a respondent chooses to utilize the services of sub-tier vendors and/or subcontractors, those vendors or subcontractors must also meet these criteria as stated above. All contractors interested in the potential future solicitation for these items must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM). Any response to this Sources Sought Notice should include the following: 1. Company's Name 2. Address 3. Cage Code 4. Unique Entity ID 5. Point of Contact 6. Company Ownership (public, private, joint venture) 7. Business Classification / Socio-Economic Status (NAICS 332993) 8. Phone Number 9. E-mail Address All submissions, written comments, or questions shall be submitted to Mr. Shawn Kerr, shawn.e.kerr6.civ@army.mil and Ms. Megan Kirby, megan.m.kirby.civ@army.mil no later than 1400 hrs. Central Standard Time (CST) on October 06, 2023. This is a Sources Sought Notice for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal or as any other obligation on the part of the Government to acquire this item. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of any responses to this notice or otherwise pay for information solicited herein. The Government will utilize the information provided only to assist in developing an acquisition strategy for future requirements for the 15LB /40LB Shaped and 40LB Cratering Charge. Please identify any proprietary information submitted. All information submitted will be held in a confidential status.