Sources Sought Notice for Visible Light (VL) and Infrared (IR) Candle Assemblies for the 81mm M853A1 VL and M816 IR, and 120mm M930 VL and M983 IR, Mortar Illumination Cartridges

The U.S. Army Contracting Command - New Jersey (ACC-NJ) located at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, on behalf of the Office of the Project Manager for Combat Ammunition Systems (PM CAS) is conducting market research to identify potential sources that are capable of production and delivery of the VL and IR Candle Assemblies for 81mm M853A1/M816 Illumination Mortar Cartridges and 120mm M930/M983 Mortar Illumination Cartridges Item Description: The Visible Light and Infrared Candle Assemblies for the 81mm and 120mm Illumination rounds are formed steel cylinders (.050 inches thick for 81mm and .077 inches thick for 120mm) that are about 5.1 inches in length and have diameters of 2.67 inches and 3.5 inches, respectively. The candle assemblies are manufactured by spot welding a steel disc (.102 inches thick for 81mm and .150 inches thick for 120mm) to the top of the cylinder and installing an aluminum swivel assembly through the disc. A fiberboard liner is inserted inside the cylinder and staked into place. The illumination composition is pressed into the cylinder creating the Candle Assembly. The completed Candle Assemblies are shipped to a specific LAP facility where parachutes are attached and loaded into mortar cartridges. During ballistic operation, as the cartridge approaches the target area, the mortar fuze functions, igniting the candle assembly, separating from the mortar shell body, and ejecting the candle assembly. Once the parachute opens, the candle provides illumination over the target area. Requirements: The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to obtain current information on the capability of businesses to supply and deliver the VL and IR Candle Assemblies for 81mm and 120mm Mortar Illumination Cartridges to the appropriate Load, Assemble and Pack (LAP) facility in the Fiscal Year (FY) 26-FY31 timeframe. Interested sources shall clearly identify technical and manufacturing capability to supply and deliver the VL and IR Candle Assemblies for 81mm and 120mm Mortar Illumination Cartridges. If a source does not have adequate resources (technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, the source must be able to demonstrate its ability to obtain those resources. Interested sources shall provide their top-level plan and any limitations for manufacturing these assemblies. Responses shall include the following information for the Government's review and assessment: Provide company name, address, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, telephone number, email address, technical point of contact, and company size (please specify as either a Large Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a) concern, Woman-Owned Small Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone concern, Veteran-Owned Small Business, or Service-Disabled Small Business). The applicable NAICS Code for this effort is 332993, Ammunition (except small arms) Manufacturing, with a size standard of 1,500 employees. Description of facilities, equipment, manufacturing processes, inspection capability, personnel (number of employees, experience, specialized skill sets), and evidence of sufficient safety clearances to handle, store, and transport energetic materials, components and explosively loaded fuzes Summary of systems integration experience, production capabilities (indicating at what specific rate per month), description of storage facilities and equipment, manufacturing processes, testing and inspection capability and personnel relevant to Mortar Ammunition production Description of Quality Management System Past experience on Mortar Ammunition, to include component testing, integration and coordination of necessary activities in support of production Ability to manage technical performance issues with end items and associated sub-assemblies Information that demonstrates ability to produce an end item first article sample for Government evaluation and approval 270 days after contract award (DACA) and initiate production delivery 365 DACA Information that supports the respondent's minimum and maximum monthly production rate capability of the end item Either possess or has the ability to acquire facilities with sufficient safety clearance to handle, store, and transport energetic materials Possible partnering/teaming arrangements The Technical Data Packages (TDPs) for the above items are available upon request pending receipt of all required documents and approval by PM CAS. The VL and IR Candle Assemblies for 81mm and 120mm Mortar Illumination Cartridges have Top-Level Drawings available, as well as pertinent sub-assembly drawings. The TDPs are marked Distribution D, therefore distribution will only be authorized to the Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. DoD contractors. Contractors interested in receiving the TDPs for information only are required to submit a signed and completed DD Form 2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement; AMSTA-AR Form 1350, Technical Data Request Questionnaire; and Non-Disclosure Agreement for the Government's consideration. This market research is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request For Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this market research or otherwise pay for the information provided. This is a market survey notice, which is part of the Government's market research; it is not a pre-solicitation notice. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, a solicitation notice will be published. Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary and at no cost to the U.S. Government. Please identify any proprietary information submitted. Proprietary responses will be protected in accordance with documentation markings. Information submissions must be received not later than 30 calendar days of this publication date. All responses to this notice shall be submitted electronically to ACC-NJ Contract Specialist Kaley Casagrande at kaley.m.casagrande.civ@army.mil. All contractors interested in the potential future solicitation must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). The U.S. Government will not consider marketing brochures adequate information in response to this notice and reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part any private sector input as a result of this market survey. All information provided will not be returned and will be held as contractor confidential information. The U.S. Government will accept written questions to ACC-NJ Contract Specialist Kaley Casagrande at kaley.m.casagrande.civ@army.mil by email ONLY. TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.