RFI- TESTED AND PROVEN LIGHTWEIGHT ARMOR for US ARMY AIRCRAFT

The Army Contracting Command - Redstone Arsenal is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) on behalf of the U.S. Army, Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM), Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC), Technology Development Directorate (TDD). Requested Information The U.S. Army is requesting information from industry on the weight, cost, and performance of technology readiness level (TRL) 6 or higher lightweight armor for use in US Army aircraft. A technology is considered to be TRL 6 after a system/subsystem model or prototype has been demonstrated in a relevant environment. The objective of this request is to gather information on the current state-of-the-art of lightweight armor which has already demonstrated performance through testing and that is ready to be integrated into an aircraft. The Army is interested in information on all lightweight armor that can defeat any of the following threats: 5.45x39mm 7N39 at 100m standoff 5.8x42mm DBP10 at 100m standoff 5.8x42mm DVC12 at 100m standoff 7.62x54Rmm LPS at 100m standoff 7.62x54Rmm B32 API or .30 Cal AP M2 at 100m standoff 12.7x108mm B32 API or .50 Cal AP M2 at 100m standoff 12.7x108mm B32 API or .50 Cal AP M2 at 500m standoff 12.7x108mm B32 API or .50 Cal AP M2 at 1000m standoff Respondents to this RFI should provide the following: Company name and description. Company technical point of contact (POC). Company profile to include: 1. CAGE code 2. NAICS code Armor manufacturing capability to show the company can manufacture armor at the rates needed to equip Army aircraft. For each armor system capable of defeating one of the threats listed above, respondents should include the following information regarding that armor system: Description of the armor to include materials used and any novel features included, and space claims required to integrate the armor onto an air vehicle. Areal density of the raw armor, i.e. the areal density of only the material needed to stop the projectile. Areal density of the complete armor solution, i.e. the areal density of the total armor package which may include materials which serve functions other than threat defeat such as environmental protective coatings or other additional materials needed to secure the system while under flight and operating loads. Country of origin for the materials used. Test data which substantiates the ballistic performance of the armor, the test method used, and any other durability or environmental testing conducted to date on the complete system, including but not limited to MIL-STD-810H test methods. A description of the test setup to substantiate the TRL of the armor technology. An estimate of the production cost, in dollars per square foot, of the armor and substantiation of the level of confidence of the cost estimate including basis of estimate An identification and assessment of prioritized risks that would need to be mitigated to develop the various armor solutions from TRL6 to TRL7/8 NOTE: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. This RFI is solely for informational and planning purposes and shall NOT be considered as a Request for Proposals (RFP) or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. All information submitted in response to the RFI is voluntary. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred in responding to this RFI. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any Contractor'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 RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responses to this request for information will be used to conduct market research in accordance with FAR Part 10. The intent of this RFI is to obtain the latest information from industry with respect to tested and proven lightweight armor ready for integration into U.S. Army Aircraft. This RFI is also planned to be used to facilitate a conversation between the U.S. Army and industry. Information provided by industry will be used for internal planning purposes only and will not be publicly released outside the Government. It is the intent of the U.S. Army that industry responses to this RFI will be considered with respect to the development and planning of future projects. Submission Instructions All submissions should adhere to the Armor Materials and Technology Security Classification Guide (SCG) published March 2022. A copy of this SCG may be obtained from the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) Accession Number AD1165424. Classified responses are not required. If unable to obtain the SCG, responses should be kept unclassified. For help and guidance with classification questions, you may contact Daniel Camp, daniel.v.camp.civ@army.mil. For all other questions, please contact the points of contact listed. Classified responses to this request for information can be submitted either electronically via SIPR or by printing or burning to a CD and sending by registered mail. Classified submissions sent electronically via SIPR should be submitted to daniel.v.camp.civ@mail.smil.mil. Classified submissions sent by mail should adhere to AR 380-5 Chapter 7, Section II, 7-8 and 7-9: proposals should be double wrapped in two opaque, sealed envelopes or wrappings that protect the material from accidental exposure and to ease in detecting tampering. Documents will be packaged so that the classified text is not in direct contact with the inner envelope or container. The outer envelope or container for classified material will be addressed to TDD-A/SID, Security Office, Bldg. 401 Lee Blvd. Fort Eustis, VA 23604. The inner envelope will be addressed to TDD-A/SID, Contracting Office, Bldg. 401 Lee Blvd. Fort Eustis, VA 23604 and will show the address of the sender, the highest classification of the contents, including, where appropriate, any special dissemination or control markings, and any other special instructions. The outer envelope or single container will not bear a classification marking or any other unusual marks that might invite special attention to the fact that the contents are classified. Please submit all Unclassified questions, inquiries, and responses to this RFI electronically to the points of contact noted. Submissions are due by 10 MAY 2023. Please indicate RFI Number: W911W6-23-RFI-0003 in the subject line of the email.