--The Product Manager for Demilitarization (PM Demil) seeks industry participation in an initiative to find new approaches to the reduction of conventional ammunition stockpiles that no longer have operational utility for the DoD.

The Product Manager for Demilitarization (PM Demil) seeks industry participation in an initiative to find new approaches to the reduction of conventional ammunition stockpiles that no longer have operational utility for the DoD. Considerable invento ry is available which is believed to have commercial value. This RFI is intended to stimulate responses that propose new business arrangements that would allow industry acquisition of existing DoD ammunition for reuse or reclamation of materials that may have other military or commercial applications. Conventional ammunition is defined as a device charged with explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, or initiating composition for use in connection with defense or offense, including demolitions. Certain amm unition items can be used for training, ceremonial, or non-operational purposes. For demilitarization and disposal purposes, conventional ammunition also includes tactical missiles and large rocket motors. Even though the government has an ongoing program for demilitarization of conventional ammunition, the stockpile is growing faster than inventory is being eliminated. With the DoD fully engaged in the War on Terrorism, additional funding for standard meth ods of demilitarization is uncertain. Therefore the Army, as the DoD's executive agent for conventional ammunition demilitarization, is interested in finding alternatives that would create viable business opportunities for industry while achieving the DoD 's objective to reduce the stockpile of conventional ammunition products that are no longer in demand by the warfighter community. To better understand the Army's initiative an 'Industry Day' will be held on 12 October 2006 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia. Registration will begin promptly at 12:30 pm in t he Regency E Ballroom. The meeting will conclude at 4:30 pm. The government expects respondents to describe contracting strategies, business processes and technical approaches for consuming or reutilizing selected demil stocks. Responses that simply reiterate on-going practices will not satisfy this requirement. S uccessful respondents must show innovative, non-traditional alternatives based on sound business practices that would eliminate aging conventional ammunition stockpiles and avoid the costs to the DoD for its storage and surveillance burden. The government expects that the contractor will accept delivery at the point of storage. Non-traditional participants are highly encouraged to respond to this opportunity. Furthermore, this RFI is open to foreign participation, given the State Department protocols and appropriate security requirements for export of military ammunition can be satisfied. Responses to this RFI must be delivered within 45 days of the announcement date. Responses to the RFI will help shape the government's strategy for disposal of these materials and any subsequent formalized requests for proposal. Interested parties are en couraged to use the RFI to provide a general understanding of the disposal strategy to be employed, to ask the important questions that will help them decide the viability of future proposals and to inform the government of the critical elements necessary for a winning demil contractual relationship between government and industry. To the extent possible, the RFI response should indicate by ammunition type the quantity (Specific types of munitions may be limited in quantity) desired by year, the methods of disposal, the acceptance of liability for the material to be transferred, disclosure of any need to use government facilities in the execution of the disposal strategy, and the financial basis for the transaction. A summary list of candidate munitions that have been initially identified by DoD for disposal through this new contracting arrangement may be obtained by contracting Mr Rich Fuller, HQ JMC, Rock Island, I L email; contact@example.gov, phone number: +1 (555) 000-0000. Requests for additional technical data will be honored at the unclassified level and will be posted for all potential respondents to review. This is a request for information for planning purposes only. It is not a solicitation and does not obligate the Government to issue a solicitation. Please be advised that the Government will not pay for any information submitted under this announcement. Electronic submittals are preferred and should be sent to Ms. Chris Thompson, Procuring Contracting Officer, HQ ASC, Rock Island, IL email contact@example.gov phone number +1 (555) 000-0000, Mr. Ryan Larrison, Contract Specialist, HQ ASC, Rock Island, IL email: contact@example.gov phone number +1 (555) 000-0000. Note: Since a solicitation number has not been assigned to this action, please indicate in the subject heading of the email (( new approaches to Demilitarization Stockpiles ))