Next Generation General Purpose Automatic Test System (NxGenGPATS)
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The United States Marine Corps is conducting market research to identify qualified vendors capable of developing the Next Generation General Purpose Automatic Test System (NxGenGPATS), intended to replace legacy test equipment such as the Third Echelon Test Sets and VIPER/T systems. This initiative aims to modernize and consolidate testing functionality through a portable, reliable, and advanced test system that addresses current shortcomings in size, weight, power consumption, software obsolescence, and hardware reliability. The new system must support comprehensive Line Replaceable Unit and Electro-Optical system testing, and utilize a modern instrumentation architecture such as PXIe or better, while ensuring cybersecurity compliance with DoD standards and compatibility with contemporary operating systems like Windows 11. The system design requirements emphasize modularity, open architecture for future scalability, and strict limits on system weight and power consumption, including a robust and flexible Power Distribution Unit (PDU) capable of accepting multiple power inputs and providing dedicated power management for various test components. Industry responses are requested to include detailed company profiles, technical approaches for instrumentation and software modernization, power distribution solutions, hardware reliability considerations, and rough order of magnitude cost estimates. This sources sought notice is strictly for market research purposes—no contracts will be awarded at this stage—and responses are to be submitted by mid-June 2026, with clarifications limited to written questions directed to designated government contacts.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
Quantico, VA, 22134, USASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE
Program Acquisition Executive Marine Corps (PAE MC)
Program Manager Combat Support Systems (PM CSS)
Next Generation General Purpose Automatic Test System (NxGenGPATS)
M67854-26-I-5416
10 June 2026
Industry Questions and Government Responses; Attached for reference.
SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE
Program Acquisition Executive Marine Corps (PAE MC)
Program Manager Combat Support Systems (PM CSS)
Next Generation General Purpose Automatic Test System (NxGenGPATS)
M67854-26-I-5416
18 May 2026
NOTE: THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS. THIS IS A SOURCES
SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. This sources sought notice 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 notice 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 Contractor’s submission of responses to this Sources Sought Notice or the Government's use of such information. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any Contractor's input resulting from this notice. No contract will be awarded as a result of 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. Purpose
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), Program Acquisition Executive Marine Corps (PAE MC), Program Manager Combat Support Systems (PM CSS), Program Product Manager Maintenance Support Systems (PdM MSS) is conducting market research in accordance with FAR Part 10, to determine the availability of qualified, experienced, and interested potential vendors capable of developing a single, modernized, and transportable test system to succeed the legacy Third Echelon Test Sets, TETS (AN/USM-657B(V)2) and Virtual Instrument Portable Equipment Repair/Tester, VIPER/T (AN/USM-717(V)2&3).
The TETS (AN/USM-657B(V)2) is a portable, multi-purpose test system used to diagnose ground electronic systems, troubleshoot maintenance issues, and verify equipment performance in the field. The VIPER/T (AN/USM-717(V)2&3) is a modular and adaptable test system designed for ground electronic ordnance equipment, including optics. Together, their capabilities include high-fidelity signal generation and analysis, testing of satellite communications, power supplies, lasers, and optics, as well as diagnosing ground electronics through detailed analysis of line-replaceable units and circuit cards.
These legacy systems suffer from a significant Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) footprint, software obsolescence (ATLAS programming language), obsolete instrumentation backplanes (VXI), and critical hardware reliability issues stemming from aging physical components (cabling, connectors, circuit cards). The goal of the Next Generation General Purpose Automatic Test System (NxGenGPATS) is to complete modernization of both hardware and software to create a sustainable, reliable, and forward-compatible test platform.
2. Requested Capability
The Government requests industry capability statements for a consolidated test system meeting the following target parameters:
• Functional Consolidation (LRU Testing): The NxGenGPATS must be capable of testing the full suite of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) and Electro-Optical (EO) systems currently tested by the legacy TETS and VIPER/T.
• Instrumentation Architecture (PXIe or Better): The legacy VXI architecture must be replaced. The proposed system must utilize modern, high-speed modular architecture, such as PXIe (PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation Express) or superior, to ensure sufficient bandwidth, compatibility with modern operating systems, and support for future programming languages and high-speed data acquisition.
• Modern Software Architecture & Cybersecurity: The system must utilize modern, widely supported programming languages. The use of legacy languages, such as ATLAS, is strictly prohibited. The architecture must support current and future DoD cybersecurity requirements (Risk Management Framework) and modern operating systems (e.g., Windows 11, Secure Linux/SELinux).
• Size & Weight (SWaP): The total system weight, including all required modules, shall not exceed 325 lbs. The system should be broken down into man-portable cases, with no single case exceeding 75 lbs.
• Power Architecture: The system must be powered by a robust Power Distribution Unit (PDU), which may be integrated or a separate, field-attachable module. The PDU must meet the detailed requirements specified in Section 2.1.
• Interoperability: Modular, open architecture to support future weapon systems.
2.1 Key Power Distribution Unit (PDU) Requirements
The PDU is a critical component of the system and must provide the following capabilities:
• Multi-Source Input: The PDU must demonstrate operational flexibility by accepting power from the following sources, determined by the input cable:
o DC Power: 28 VDC nominal (Threshold: 24-29 VDC @ 100A).
o Single-Phase AC Power: 220 VAC nominal (Threshold: 208-240 VAC, 58-62 Hz).
o Three-Phase AC Power: 208 VAC nominal Wye (Threshold: 185-230 VAC, 58-62 Hz).
• Power Consumption: The maximum power consumption of the entire Automated Test System (ATS) shall not exceed 4000 Watts.
• Programmable UUT Power: The PDU shall contain ten (10) programmable, floating DC power supplies for the Unit Under Test (UUT) interface, with sense lines for each. Nine sources must provide 0-40 VDC @ 5A, and one source must provide 0-65 VDC @ 5A.
• Dedicated EO Power: The PDU must provide dedicated, sequenced power for Electro-Optical (EO) components (+15 VDC and +28 VDC) via a MIL-DTL-38999 series connector or equivalent.
• Protection & Safety: The PDU must incorporate comprehensive power protection, including resettable circuit breakers, transient voltage suppression, and a readily accessible mushroom-type Emergency Power Shutdown switch.
3. Submission Instructions and Format
Interested vendors are invited to respond to this notice by providing the following information:
a. Company Profile: Company name, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code and UEI, and socio-economic status; Business size standard (large, small, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, women-owned, etc.)
b. Instrumentation & Technical Approach: Describe your overall hardware solution. Specifically detail your proposed instrumentation backplane (e.g., PXIe) and how it resolves VXI obsolescence while supporting future OS/software upgrades. State the current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of key components.
c. Power Distribution Approach: Describe your proposed PDU solution. Detail how it meets the multi-source input, programmable output, and protection requirements. Specify if the PDU is integrated or a separate module and how it fits within the overall system SWaP budget.
d. Software Modernization & Cybersecurity: Detail your proposed software architecture and how it replaces legacy ATLAS programming. Explain how your hardware/software stack ensures compliance with DoD cybersecurity standards and supports modern Operating Systems (e.g., Windows 11).
e. Hardware Reliability & Maintainability: Describe how your proposed hardware solution (connectors, cabling, etc.) will ensure signal integrity and mitigate the intermittent connection failures seen in legacy systems.
f. Cost Estimate: Provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) with a brief Basis of Estimate (BOE), including the estimated cost to re-develop existing ATLAS test scripts into the new modern architecture.
3.1 Responses
Vendors possessing the requisite skills, resources, and capabilities necessary to perform the stated requirements are invited to respond to this notice via submission of an executive summary of no more than ten (10) pages in length on 8 ½ x 11 in paper, using 12-point font describing product summary, complete technical support capabilities, and training and support capability. All responses must include the information cited in Section 2, Submission Instructions and be addressed to the POCs listed below or in Section 4, Questions.
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 each page containing proprietary information. Moreover, the Government does not assume any duty to contact a respondent and inquire whether any unmarked information submitted in response to this notice is proprietary.
DO NOT submit proposals at this time. The Government is only seeking sources/information for market research to determine the availability of industry capabilities in the described areas. Availability of any formal solicitation will be announced separately. Submittals will not be returned to the sender.
Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to the Contract Specialist, Ms. Cheryl Dunn, at cheryl.dunn.civ@usmc.mil and the Contracting Officer, Ms. Shanna Laging, at shanna.laging@usmc.mil no later than 1000 local time, Quantico, VA, on Thursday, 18 June 2026. The subject line of the email shall be read as follows:
“M67854-26-I-5416 RFI // PdM MSS // NxGenGPATS”
Telephonic inquiries or replies will not be entertained.
4. Questions
Questions or comments regarding this notice may be addressed to the Contract Specialist, Ms. Cheryl Dunn, at cheryl.dunn.civ@usmc.mil and the Contracting Officer, Mrs. Shanna Laging, at shanna.laging@usmc.mi via email. The Government requests all questions and comments be emailed to the Contract Specialist with a copy to the Contracting Officer no later than 1000 local time, Quantico, VA, on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The subject line of the email shall be read as follows:
“M67854-26-I-5416 RFI // QUESTIONS // PdM MSS // NxGenGPATS”