M67854-26-I-0232 PM AAA Sub-Caliber Trainer RFI

Request for Information (RFI)/sources sought notice

Portfolio Acquisition Executive – Marine Corps (PAE-MC)

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS.  THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY.  This RFI is for planning and informational purposes only and shall NOT be considered as a Request for Proposal (RFP) or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services.  The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred in responding to this RFI or furnishing the requested information.  No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of a respondent's submission to this RFI or the Government's use of any such information.  The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any respondent's input resulting from this RFI.  No Contract will be awarded from this announcement.  Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding Contract.

1.0 Introduction:

This is an RFI to conduct market research and identify sources for a Sub-Caliber gunnery training device for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV-30) equipped with the Mk44 30mm Cannon. The ACV-30 requires a training solution that allows crews to develop and sustain gunnery proficiency in a cost-effective manner.  The use of a Sub-Caliber device is intended to reduce ammunition expenditure and allow for training on ranges not suited for full Caliber 30mm ammunition.  The Government is seeking information on currently available, non-developmental items that can provide a realistic, live-fire training capability.

The ACV platform is currently being produced by BAE Systems (BAE) under competitively awarded Contract M67854-16-C-0006.  The Government does have technical data to aid the Contractor’s design effort so part of the work will require Contractors to interface virtually with the Hardware of the required components and their constituent parts to develop their own engineering information.  Government will be able to share Computer-Aided Design (CAD) models of the ACV-30 during prototyping efforts.  The Government will provide access to an ACV-30 for a Contractor to analyze should a Contract be awarded for this effort.

Interested Vendors should submit any information that shows their recommended solution.  If Vendors have recommended alternative solutions to the above stated problem, they should detail how this course of action is equal or better to solving the problem statement mentioned prior.  This information should include a description as to how their solution will enable gunnery training experience or minimize ammunition costs.  The Government may use the information received from this notice to justify a sole or limited source justification.

1.1        Purpose:

This RFI constitutes market research in accordance with FAR Part 10 and is not an RFP.  Portfolio Acquisition Executive – Marine Corps (PAE-MC) Program Manager Advanced Amphibious Assault (PM AAA) is issuing this RFI to determine if more than one interested party is capable of providing the effort described within this notice and obtain feedback from industry on the acquisition approach.  This notice fulfills the RFI/Sources Sought Notice (SSN) posting as required by Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Procedures, Guidance, and Information (PGI) 206.302-1 for a sole or limited source justification under FAR 6.302-1. 

1.2        Objective:

PAE-MC will use responses to this RFI to assess the marketplace environment for businesses capable of providing the efforts described below.

2.0 Requested Information:

1. PM AAA requests a High-level Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate for the development of two (2) prototypes and 30 production units.
2. PM AAA may execute a Prototyping Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Agreement or sole source Contract as a result of this RFI.  PM AAA requests that vendors submit their  existing contract vehicles for procurement consideration.
3. The RFI response should describe the capabilities of the Sub-Caliber System and the vendor including::

• Demonstrate the ability to integrate with medium caliber turret such as the MK44S 30mm and M242 25 mm Bushmaster chain guns.
• Ability to integrate with or replace the Vehicles Fire Control System.
• Use of common-practice heavy machine gun, M2HB .50 Caliber, or other munition as the Sub-Caliber weapon.
• Demonstrate that the ballistic characteristics can accurately simulate the trajectory of 30mm ammunition at various scaled ranges.
• A design that maintains the weight and balance of the primary weapon to ensure proper function of the Turret stabilization system.
• Robust construction is suitable for field use and straightforward installation/removal by the crew.
• Integration into existing Common Remote Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) and   Multi-User Multi-Screen (MUMS) Weapon System.
• Ability to obtain necessary Intellectual Property rights to develop required training Software and Hardware.
• Ability to provide necessary Cyber Security support and documentation to attain Authority-To-Operate (ATO).
• Provide New Equipment Training (NET) with consideration to reduce user training requirements.
• Provide warranty, maintenance, and Spares program.

       4. Speak to the background of the Vendor, including, but not limited to:

• Experience with Sub-Caliber training devices for Combat Vehicles.
• Examples of similar systems developed for Military or Government Customers, including relevant Contract Numbers or references.
• Safety and quality standards of above devices.
• Manufacturing and testing capabilities, and any relevant certifications (e.g., ISO 9001).
• Compliance with export control regulations, such as International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
• Life-cycle sustainment of systems and current supply chains.
• Potential Sub-Contractors or suppliers the vendor might plan to be in support of the Vendor’s effort.
• Previous Customer and Contract references for past performance.

       5. Ability and timeframe to design, manufacture, and deliver the first Training System for prototyping efforts by 29 January 2027 with production fielding anticipated in March 2027.

3.0 Response:

Interested Vendors possessing the requisite skills, resources, and capabilities necessary to perform the stated requirements are invited to respond to this RFI via a submission of an executive summary on 8-1/2 x 11 in paper, no more than ten (10) pages in length (including cover pages), using 12-point font describing product summary, complete technical characteristics, and training and spare parts support capability.  Responses over the ten-page threshold will not be considered.  All responses should include the following information:

• Company name, address, email, telephone number, Point(s) of Contact.
• Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
• Size of business pursuant to North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) Code 336992.
• White paper providing responses to all information requested in Section 2.0 of the RFI and describing all capabilities and relevant past performance.
• Feedback on the Government’s acquisition approach.  The Marine Corps is considering whether to pursue this acquisition leveraging a non-traditional approach, such as an OTA Agreement.  While this RFI is a FAR-based tool, the Government is interested in feedback as to whether, in the estimation of the respondent, and other transaction that may relax requirements such as those for cost and pricing data or the DFARS governing data rights would result in a less expensive or otherwise better value for the Marine Corps.
• Number of calendar days required to develop a responsive proposal and confirmation of the ability to propose prototype, testing, and developmental and production pricing within the initial proposal; and
• Identify any unique requirements to perform work for PM AAA (e.g. financing terms; availability of essential raw materials; requirements for efficient manufacturing during the design and production of the systems; the use of advanced manufacturing technology, processes and systems; special equipment or use of modern technology production equipment; use of commercial manufacturing processes; expanded use of commercial items or non-developmental items; Technical Data and computer Software deliverables and associated License rights; or, use of modular, open architectures to enable competition for upgrades).  To increase Instructor capability and system efficiency and compatibility, the Government may provide a technological Software tool in development by the Office of Naval Research to assist the successful Contractor, should a contract be awarded, in creating the training content.

Please be advised that any proprietary information must be marked as such on a page-by-page basis.  The Government will not assume that any of the information provided by a respondent is proprietary unless it is conspicuously marked on a page-by-page basis.  Moreover, the Government does not assume any duty to contact a respondent and inquire whether any unmarked information submitted in response to this RFI is proprietary.

Please do not submit proposals at this time.  The Government is only seeking sources/information for market research to determine the availability of commercial capabilities in the described areas and obtain feedback on its acquisition approach.  Acknowledgement of receipt will not be made.  Availability of any formal solicitation will be announced separately.  Submittals will not be returned to the sender.  Respondents will not be notified of any market research results.  It is the interested party’s responsibility to check the System for Award Management (SAM) website at https://www.sam.gov/ to get additional data.

Responses shall be submitted via e-mail to Contracting Officer, Jessica Hathaway at jessica.hathaway@usmc.mil and Contract Specialist Sara Grau at sara.grau.civ@usmc.mil, no later than 1600 local time Quantico, VA on 15 July 2026 with the subject line “RFI M67854-26-I-0232–PM AAA Sub-Caliber Trainer.”  Inquiries by telephone will not be accepted.

This RFI does NOT constitute an RFP nor a promise to issue an RFP in the future.  This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service.  Further, the Government is not seeking proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals.  Respondents are advised the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. 

The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government.  The Government has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed and the release of this RFI should not be construed as a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought.  All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.