Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Wolverine Escort Vehicle Light Chassis (W-EVLC)
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The Department of Energy, through the Office of Secure Transportation, intends to sole source the design and build of the First Article Wolverine Escort Vehicle Light Chassis (W-EVLC) to Wulco Inc. d/b/a NextGen Armor due to its exclusive possession of the proprietary EVLC design, complete technical data package, and irreplaceable manufacturing capabilities. NextGen holds the original design and all associated engineering documentation dating back to 2010, including tens of thousands of custom CAD drawings that incorporate every modification mandated by OST, including integration of the Advanced Radio Enterprise System, a DoT-compliant sleeper berth, and safety-compliant storage areas. No other vendor possesses the depth of institutional knowledge required to replicate the complex electrical, mechanical, and communication system integrations necessary for compatibility with the OEM chassis and harnesses, nor the historical testing data that validates performance under stringent off-road and highway conditions. NextGen is the only vendor capable of dismantling aging EVLCs and reconstituting the reusable Aft-Body into the new W-EVLC configuration, leveraging on-site tooling, fabrication lines, and disassembly processes optimized specifically for this transition. Other vendors lack the specificity to identify and preserve critical components for salvage and reuse, which would lead to inefficiencies, extended timelines, and increased risk. NextGen holds ISO 9001 and IPC 610/620 certifications and maintains an approved OST Site Security Plan for handling Controlled Unclassified Information, which new entrants would need time to establish and validate, introducing unacceptable delays. The company’s production infrastructure is already configured for mass production once the prototype is accepted, eliminating the need for costly, years-long reconfiguration by a new contractor. Failure to sole source to NextGen would risk mission-critical delays, fleet sustainment challenges, and the potential adoption of an alternative design that compromises interoperability and increases long-term lifecycle costs.
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ROAD FORKS, NM, 87117, USASet-Aside
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Full Description
This is a Notice of Intent to sole source to Wulco Inc. doing business as: NextGen Armor (NextGen), for the design and build of the First Article of Wolverine Escort Vehicle Light Chassis (W-EVLC) and development and delivery of Office of Secure Transportation’s (OST/NA-15) next generation W-EVLCs.
NextGen owns the original EVLC proprietary design and complete technical data package (TDP) utilizing highly specialized Government-Furnished equipment (GFE). NextGen’s proprietary EVLC design is critical to the success of the new and modern W-EVLC. The current design includes a DoT compliant sleeper berth, safety-compliant equipment storage areas, and an OST Advanced Radio Enterprise System (ARES) communication suite incorporated into a specialized custom enclosure. The TDP encompasses all OST directed EVLC design changes, modifications, and engineered enhancements captured in tens of thousands of proprietary Computer-Aided Design (CAD) drawings dating back to 2010.
NextGen is the only vendor with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the complexities of the electrical, mechanical, internal cabling, power systems requirements, and integration of the ARES communications suite that has been fully tested to be forward and backwards compatible with the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) vehicle chassis and electrical harnesses of the EVLC platform. The ARES communication suite will be an important component of the new W-EVLC design.
NextGen owns all proprietary EVLC testing data, including how this data has changed due to OEM changes in order to meet stringent OST off-road and highway requirements. Leveraging this foundational dataset within the W-EVLC design-build phase minimizes engineering risk and eliminates redundant cycles by directly applying proven historical baselines to the new system configuration.
NextGen is the only manufacturer capable of dismantling an EVLC and then reconstituting and re-engineering the re-usable “Aft-Body” into a new W-EVLC. NexGen’s manufacturing facility (on-site tooling, fabrication/testing stations, and disassemble line) has been optimally and efficiently configured to take an aging EVLC where it will be dismantled as follows: (1) removing the Aft-Body and then reconstituting it into the new W-EVLC build; (2) removing all exterior panels; (3) tearing down the engine and transmission; (4) removing all interior components; (5) creating a bill of materials for salvage or re-use; and (5) dismantling the chassis and suspension components. Though other vendors may be able to dismantle an EVLC, they will not be as efficient or effective since they may not know what part(s) should be marked for salvage, disposition or reconstitution into the new W-EVLC.
NextGen is International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9000/9001 and Association Connecting Electronics Industries (formerly known as Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits) (IPC) 610/620 certified and has an approved OST Site Security Plan designed to protect sensitive but unclassified information that requires safeguarding and dissemination controls (Controlled Unclassified Information). A new vendor would have to demonstrate that it meets the ISO 9000/9001 and IPC 610/620 certifications, including meeting OST’s Site Security Plan requirements. If a vendor does not meet either requirement, OST will experience delays that will significantly impact and disrupt its mission.
NextGen on-site tooling, fabrication facilities/testing stations, and assembly line are pre-configured to mass produce the W-EVLC once the prototype is built, tested, and accepted by OST. It would be extremely challenging and difficult for another vendor to build or attempt to reverse-engineer the steps needed to build the next W-EVLC prototype using the re-usable Aft Body when the vendor’s production facility is not setup to mass produce the W-EVLC without years of pre-planning, trial and error, and a substantial investment of time and resources from OST personnel. This substantial duplication of cost, testing, and Government involvement is not only cost prohibitive, but it also has high likelihood to significantly delay and disrupt OST’s mission-critical schedule as more EVLCs approach and/or exceed their life cycle. Additionally, this could also result in an alternate system design, thereby creating unnecessary challenges and costs related to vehicle maintenance and fleet sustainment.
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