Tri-Services Aircrew Escape Systems LCMS

Naval Sea Systems Command awarded this Master IDIQ on September 30, 2013, to provide engineering, technical, administrative, and programmatic management support for life-cycle management of Cartridge Actuated Device/Propellant Actuated Device (CAD/PAD) aircrew escape systems under the Tri-Service Joint Program Office. Ordering closed on October 30, 2020, making this vehicle inactive for new task orders. The vehicle is not suitable for new pursuits.

The 173 task orders awarded generated a combined potential value of $22.4 million, of which $21.7 million (97 percent) has been obligated. Annual ordering activity peaked at 40 orders in 2017, then declined to just 3 orders in 2021, the final year the vehicle accepted orders. Task orders range widely in value: recent awards span from minimum guarantees of five hundred dollars to engineering and logistical support ceilings of $1.92 million and foot retractor actuator propellant development ceilings of $1.24 million, with typical operational testing and engineering assessments ranging from approximately $30 thousand to $600 thousand.

Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company (California LLC) holds the largest share with 43 orders valued at $5 million combined potential value. Nammo Defense Systems Inc. and Chemring Energetic Devices Inc. follow with 20 and 23 orders respectively, together holding approximately $6.1 million. These three primes plus a longer tail of 23 smaller contractors account for all awards across the vehicle's lifecycle. Approximately 88 percent of all task orders carry no set-aside designation, with the remaining 12 percent split between small-business sole-source awards and competitive small-business orders.

Work comprises ordnance assessment testing of specific cartridge initiators and pyrotechnic components (DODIC MT64, SQ34, MU96, MT93, and others); qualification and pre-production testing on escape-system subcomponents including initiators, fuel shut-off valves, and mounting actuators; and engineering services covering propellant evaluation, synthesis scale-up, and product-improvement feasibility studies. A single customer—Naval Sea Systems Command—funded 172 of 173 orders; Naval Air Systems Command placed one order valued at 89 thousand dollars.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head/Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division has awarded a Master IDIQ for contractor services to provide engineering, technical, administrative and programmatic management support for total Life Cycle Management of the various aircrew escape systems managed under the Joint Program Office (JPO) for Cartridge Actuated Device/Propellant Actuated Device (CAD/PAD) Tri-Service Charter. The task areas of support in TASK 1: Development, Product Improvement and Prototyping Support; and Qualification and Product Support. TASK 2: Quality Evaluation/Surveillance Program Support; TASK 3: Technical Consulting Support.