Rocket Motors Technical Services

1. DESCRIPTION: The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Targets and Countermeasures Directorate (TCL) is soliciting capabilities of sources to provide expertise and support for MDA/customers for the development, production, processing, shipping, storage, operation and disposal of propulsion assets and components. This includes support of safe handling and aging and surveillance as required to ensure flight worthiness and continued safe storage of Government Furnished Property (GFP) assets. Refurbishment, processing, assembly and testing of existing GFP or acquired hardware is required. Support is required for determination of flight worthiness, studies, and testing and disposition of hardware during processing, testing and launch operations. Offeror must possess and have a demonstrated technical knowledge and capabilities of the following criteria to meet requirements necessary for the Rocket Motor Technical Services efforts: - The offeror must possess knowledge of design and performance parameters, age related issues and shipping/handling requirements of the Trident 1 C4 First, Second and Third Stage solid rocket motors built for the US Navy during the 1970's and 1980's timeframe; the Polaris A3 Second Stage motors built for the US Navy during the 1960's, through the 1980's; the GEM 40/46/60 family of solid rocket motors which were commercially produced starting in the 1980's; the Orion First, Second and Third Stage solid rocket motors which was commercially produced starting in the 1980's; and the Orbus 1A solid rocket motors produced for MDA in the mid 2000 timeframe. - The offeror must possess and have demonstrated the ability to inspect the above rocket motors with a High Energy Computed Tomography X-ray system. - The offeror must possess and have demonstrated experience and ability in use of tooling/facilities/trailers which can handle, transport and store 1.1 Hazard Class (HC) and 1.3 HC solid rocket motors which weigh between 1,000 to 50,000 pounds; the ability to demilitarize/dispose of the identified rocket motors via a Thermal Treatment process. - The offeror must be in compliance with applicable provisions of DoD 4145.26 M Contractors Safety Manual for Ammunitions and Explosives. 2. BACKGROUND: - ATK Launch Systems provided technical services to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) and the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) since 1997. Prior to that, these services were provided by ATK to SMDC through a contract with Sandia National Labs. The initial contracts assessed the Polaris A3 Second Stage Rocket Motor for the Strategic Target System (STARS) flight program. The motors were evaluated for aging/surveillance characteristics of the propellant, case, igniter and nozzle. Tests were performed to monitor safety and hazards of the propellant stabilizers to ensure the motors were safe to transport. Prior to flight, each motor was disassembled, inspected and certified for use. - The ATK services and technical support evolved to require various tasks on the rocket motors in support of MDA's target and interceptor programs. The remaining A3 STARS motors continue to be evaluated during phase-out and prior to thermal treatment. The Ground-based Midcourse Defense Guidance Enhanced Missile 40 BV+ motors are assessed for alternate storage options. Data is gathered on Kinetic Energy Interceptors motors during the shutdown phase. The Trident 1 C4 motors are used for targets, an aging/safety assessment of these motors are required and certificates are necessary prior to flight. - The current contract W9113M-06-D-0002 for rocket motor technical services, was awarded sole source to ATK on February 06, 2006 and will expire in February 2011. 3. REQUIREMENTS: The top level requirements for the Rocket Motor Support Services are as follows: - Conduct analyses (structural, ballistic, thermal, etc.) - Evaluate concepts versus the requirements - Conduct anomaly, accident and incident investigations and support, including analysis and testing - Acquire and monitor instrumentation of assets stored in controlled environments and provide to MDA/customers - Complete a technical review on all refurbished/processed motors/components to include addressing new status of the asset and any anomalies or issues that occurred during operations - Complete/maintain all required documentation updates, reviews, approvals and paperwork necessary for refurbishment of GFP or procured assets - Evaluate required materials and components for availability, conformance to requirements, functionality, and quality - Evaluate, make recommendations on possible usage of motor systems - Provide factory support - Provide field support - Provide flight support - Support pre and post static fire activities - Conduct aging and surveillance. Activities may include, but not be limited to casebond, flexseal, nozzle bonds, propellant/insulator, mechanical properties, and standoffs - Modify/refurbish/process motors/components - Provide asset certification of worthiness, through the use of NDT, inspections, and analysis - Hold motor/component ship readiness reviews and other technical interchange meetings - Provide for and support the shipment or receiving of motors, components, and equipment and provide associated hardware - Perform first article inspections and certification of tooling/materials at vendor sites - Provide propellant safe life, safety-hazards surveillance, and testing - Provide equipment/hardware/tooling as necessary for certification of worthiness hardware - Recommend materials, and components in need of replacement, and remanufacture, or procure them upon request - Provide for storage of motors, components, tooling and hardware - Support analyses and repair efforts - Provide for disposal of GFP assets - Provide for tooling maintenance, design and procurement - Maintain GFP assets - Provide for program/system closedown activities 4. REQUESTED INFORMATION: - This sources Sought Synopsis is being conducted by MDA to determine industry's interest in the Agency's follow-on Rocket Motor Technical Services requirement. The information provided will help sustain the Agency's acquisition strategy. Small Businesses are encouraged to respond. The announcement is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP): There is no solicitation available at this time and no funding has currently been allotted for award. This notice does not obligate the Government to award any contract or otherwise pay for information/items provided in response to this synopsis. - Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining the follow-on acquisition strategy. Notwithstanding any responses received, the follow-on acquisition strategy is at the Government's sole discretion. The Government may use selected Advisory and Assistance Services and System Engineering and Technical assistance contractor personnel to assist in the evaluation and administrative handling of responses submitted to this announcement. These companies are bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements to protect proprietary information. Unless clearly marked otherwise, submission of a response to this synopsis signifies agreement to allow contractor personnel and MDA to use the information to develop the acquisition approach. Respondents who believe they can meet the requirement for this acquisition should submit their capabilities package in accordance with the following guidelines: - All responses should be in pdf electronic format only, and limited to no more than twenty (20) 8.5 inch X 11 inch pages using Times New Roman 12 pt font, with one inch margins on top, bottom and sides (11 inch X 17 inch foldouts shall be counted as two pages) Responses should include the following information: - Company profile to include number of employees, annual revenue history, office locations, DUN number, company size (small or large) in relation to the proposed NAICS, etc. - An explanation of the respondent's ability to perform the capabilities described above (In whole or in part). This should include a description of the company's effort in the past three years in support of same/similar requirement(s). Include information such as contract number ( indicate if your role was a prime of subcontractor), organization supported, contract value, Government points of contact and current telephone numbers, and a brief description of how the contract referenced relates to the technical services described herein. - Describe the company's recommended approach to transition work from the current provider to ensure no break in rocket motor services and operation, and minimize schedule impact derived from transition. The company should also discuss whether it currently has specific expertise needed to execute the activities described in the Sources Sought Synopsis, or how it would gain such expertise. - Describe tradeoff considerations for unmet requirements - Communication with MDA with regard to this synopsis will only be permitted in writing during the response period.