The manufacturing of empty BLU-129/B warheads in support of the Precision Lethality MK82 program

The Air Armament Center (AAC), 308th Armament Systems Wing, 808th Armament Systems Group, 685th Armament Systems Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL is conducting a market survey for the manufacturing of empty BLU-129/B warheads in support of the Precision Lethality MK82 program. Precision Lethality MK82 is a Quick Reaction Capability acquisition program to field a 500-lb composite case warhead (BLU-129) capability in response to a United States Central Command Joint Urgent Operational Need for a very low collateral damage weapon. On 29 March 2010, the OSD Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell directed the Department of the Air Force to rapidly develop and field the BLU-129 using the same composite case warhead and Multi-phase Blast Explosive technologies used in the 250-lb Small Diameter Bomb Focused Lethality Munition weapon. In May 2010, the Air Force Reseach Laboratory (AFRL) funded Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center, to complete a 3-month effort to mature their 2005 500-lb warhead design to meet the BLU-129 operational performance requirements. Upon completion of the design update, AAC will work with LLNL to test warhead performance, integrate it with Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and Laser JDAM guidance kits, and certify the weapon for fielding as early as the 1st quarter of CY2011. AAC plans to award a contract in August 2010 for manufacturing of 125-175 warheads to support the test program. Assuming successful test results, a one-time production option for 400-800 empty warheads will be awarded in the December 2010 timeframe to support BLU-129/B fielding, with the initial 50 qualified warheads available NLT January 2011 and the final warheads delivered within 12 months of initial deliveries. The Government will perform fill of the empty warheads. This schedule is necessary to meet the urgent need requirement. The warheads must be manufactured in conformance with LLNL-designed drawings and manufacturing procedures. These procedures will involve carbon-fiber-wound construction of the warhead casing and integrated steel components. No foreign participation is allowed for this effort. All respondents must have a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics and have the necessary organizational and technical experience, or the ability to obtain them in the necessary timeframe, including such elements as production management and control, quality assurance measures, and safety programs applicable to materials to be produced or services to be performed by the prospective contractor and subcontractors. Competence in these areas shall be demonstrated through written description of the vendors past and/or current experience of manufacturing fiber-wound composite structures. The respondent interested in producing the BLU-129/B warhead must be able to complete a qualification program and produce the warheads in the time frame required and with the quality necessary to maintain warhead performance. Interested sources should submit their information no later than 9 July 2010 to Capt Branndon Teffeteller at branndon.teffeteller@eglin.af.mil and to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Grisselle Nusimow, at grisselle.nusimow@eglin.af.mil. Submittals should include the contractor's name, CAGE code, DUNS number, address, point of contact, telephone number, email address, and size of business. All submissions must be in electronic format of no more than five (5) pages of 12 font type and should include a specific discussion of the sources capability to meet the required schedule. This market survey is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP). It is not to be construed as a commitment by the US Government. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part any private sector input as a result of this market survey. The Government is not obligated to notify respondents of the result of this survey.