2025 5.56mm Ammunition RFI SAM.gov.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Ammunition - 5.56 NATO/223 Remington Service

Training Reduced-Lead Frangible

Suppressor-Safe Frangible

Issue Date: March 27, 2025

Due Date: April 17, 2025

DISCLAIMER

THIS NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

OR QUOTE. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS

A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND

THE GOVERNMENT IS WILL NOT AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS

ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THE PREPARATION OF

RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS

TO THIS NOTICE IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

INTRODUCTION

Response to this Request for Information (RFI) may be used to formulate final requirements and/or to identify qualified vendors capable of meeting those requirements. The description below outlines preliminary requirements envisioned for 5.56 NATO / 223 Remington Ammunition. The information gathered may be used to formulate acquisition strategies for competitive solicitations.

BACKGROUND

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is conducting market research and seeking information regarding available 5.56 NATO/223 Remington ammunition which meet all the requirements of the FBI. While this RFI is not a request for proposal or quote, the FBI intends to utilize data received from this RFI to assist in formulating final requirements for an upcoming request for proposal (RFP).

The FBI requests that manufacturers of 5.56 NATO/223 Remington ammunition review the preliminary requirements and test protocol documented herein. The preliminary requirements and test protocol do not necessarily represent the final specifications; rather, these highlight areas of interest and feedback from industry partners may help to shape final requirements and test protocol.

PROPOSED SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS

The FBI is seeking 5.56 NATO/223 Remington ammunition, as defined here, for the purposes of this RFI, in the following categories:

Service: Ammunition intended to be carried and fired in defense of self and others.

Training Reduced-Lead: Ammunition intended to be fired during typical firearms training.

Frangible: Ammunition comprised of compressed metal powders and/or polymers, which are intended to be fired at steel targets at close ranges.

Suppressor-Safe Frangible: Jacketed or semi-jacketed ammunition intended to be fired from suppressed weapons at steel targets at close ranges.

The FBI is seeking information on ammunition in the above-listed categories which meets the following characteristics:

1. Shall be compatible and safe for use in carbines currently approved for operational use within the FBI.1

2. Ammunition shall conform to all dimensional specifications and recommended performance standards by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI)2 or 5.56mm NATO standards.

3. Ammunition shall be safe to fire in FBI carbines at temperatures between -40°F and +140°F. Maximum Probable Sample Mean (MPSM) chamber pressures shall not exceed 58,500 PSI and no single shot shall exceed 66,150 PSI.

4. In the category of Service ammunition, the projectiles may be of monolithic or jacketed/plated soft point design. Polymer tipped projectiles are acceptable. The service projectile should be designed to expand when striking validated ballistic gelatin.

It is desirable that the service projectile consistently penetrate an average of 12” to 18” throughout FBI gelatin tests, with no shots less than 12”, expand to an optimal diameter, and retain as high a percentage of its weight as possible. No exposed lead is permitted at the base of the bullet.

5. The Training projectile shall be a full metal jacket (FMJ) or open tip match (OTM) design or have a similar appearance. The projectile shall not be of a frangible design. It shall have a conventional lead core with copper/brass jacket design. It is required that the projectile have no exposed lead on its base.

6. The Frangible and Suppressor-Safe Frangible projectiles shall contain less than 1% lead.

They shall break apart when impacting steel with a minimum thickness of 3/8” and a minimum Abrasion Resistance (AR) of 400 Brinell. It should minimize splash back when impacting steel targets.

7. The FBI is seeking ammunition with low failure rates. Specific to Service ammunition, any ammunition acquired under a future contract must meet the standard of no more than one (1) ammunition related failure per 10,000 round sample.

PRELIMINARY TESTING REQUIREMENTS

The FBI anticipates that ammunition submitted under a future solicitation would be subjected to a series of test events including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Velocity – for Service ammunition, the velocity of the projectiles when fired from FBI 11.5” carbines shall be within the manufacturer’s recommended velocity window for optimal terminal performance.

2. Bench Rest Accuracy – all ammunition submitted under a future solicitation will be fired using FBI carbines for accuracy at 100m.

3. Moisture resistance - for Service ammunition, the rounds shall function from FBI carbines, with no significant reduction in average velocity, after exposure to water up to and including full immersion in water for 24 hours.

4. SAAMI / NATO pressure – All ammunition shall meet the pressure requirements outlined in the SAAMI and NATO standards.

5. Environmental Pressure – Pressures shall be safe at temperature conditions from -40°

1 The FBI fields Colt-pattern carbines with a 11.5” chrome-lined barrel, 5.56 NATO chamber, 1:7 twist rate, with a Mil-spec upper receiver and M4 feed ramps.

2 Published by SAAMI, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, Connecticut 06470. Available through American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 11 West 42nd Street, Thirteenth Floor, New York, New York 10036, (212) 642- 4900, Publication: ANSI/SAAMI 299.4-2015.

F, up to +140° F.

6. Penetration – for Service ammunition, the projectile shall consistently penetrate an average of 12” to 18” throughout FBI gelatin tests, which include bare gelatin, heavy clothing, steel, wallboard, and automobile safety glass. The FBI is seeking no shots less than 12”, with projectiles expand to an optimal diameter, and retain as high a percentage of its weight as possible.

7. Accuracy – The FBI will test all ammunition for accuracy from a test barrel at 100m.

8. Instrumental Velocity – The FBI will test ammunition for velocity consistency over multiple ten-shot groups.

9. Muzzle Flash - for Service ammunition, the FBI is seeking a reduced signature from muzzle flash.

10. Frangibility – The FBI is seeking Frangible and Suppressor-Safe Frangible projectiles that will be safe for users impacting steel targets at close ranges. Those projectiles shall minimize damage to steel targets.

11. Functional Reliability – The FBI is seeking ammunition with an exceptionally high rate of functional reliability. Service ammunition shall have a malfunction rate or defect rate of 1 in 10,000 rounds, or less.

CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS

This RFI is open to large and small businesses. This RFI is for market research purposes only and the FBI seeks input from ammunition manufactures and potential vendors. That input should focus on the characteristics and performance of available 5.56 NATO / 223 Remington ammunition. The FBI is interested in the terminal performance of Service projectiles using the “FBI Protocols.” For Frangible and Suppressor-Safe Frangible projectiles, the FBI is interested in the composition of the projectile as well as the manufacturer recommended safe operating distances for engaging steel targets.

For ammunition manufacturers, the FBI is particularly interested in estimated, realistic delivery timeframes for orders. This estimated timeframe could be differentiated based on order size or type of ammunition.

The FBI would like to know which businesses could potentially provide 5.56 NATO / 223 Remington ammunition that meet the requirements outlined in this RFI. The FBI is requesting the following information:

1. Company name and business size

2. Company address and whether your company has a GSA Schedule

3. Product information specific to the ammunition that meets the preliminary requirements for each category of ammunition as documented herein.

4. Any other comments, concerns and/or questions relating to the RFI.

Required Information:

Contractor Legal / DBA Name

Address

Point of Contact

Telephone Number

Email Address

DUNS Number

Cage Code

Applicable NAICS Code

Standard Business Size

GSA Schedule

NASA SEWP Contract

CONTEMPLATED REQUIREMENT

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Training Division (TD), Ballistic Research Facility (BRF) is issuing this RFI to:

• Gather industry information on available 5.56 NATO / 223 Remington ammunition.

• Request information on any industry changes or improvements that the FBI should consider when looking to acquire products that meet the requirements.

• Obtain feedback on the preliminary testing requirements.

DISCLAIMER and RESPONSES

There is no commitment by the FBI to issue a solicitation as a result of this RFI. This RFI is being issued solely for informational and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. In accordance with FAR Federal 15.202(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the FBI to form a binding contract. This is not a request for proposal or quote. It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the FBI.

Responses in any form are not offers and the FBI is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. No funds are available to pay for preparation of responses to this announcement. Any information submitted by the respondents to this technical description is strictly voluntary.

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR RESPONSE:

1. Interested parties shall submit capability packages in response to this notice.

2. Do submit succinct, thoughtful responses to the requirements listed in this RFI.

3. Do submit comments that address the FBI 's requirements, assumptions, conditions or contemplated approaches to this future acquisition.

4. Do submit information and suggestions that may encourage new, different, or innovative approaches that would result in improved solutions which are of benefit to the FBI.

WHAT SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN YOUR RESPONSE:

1. Do not submit proposals or offers.

2. Do not submit past performance information or general descriptions of corporate experience.

3. Do not submit request to be considered for award or to be notified of a future solicitation.

4. Do not submit requests to be added to a mailing list or distribution list.

5. Do not submit questions or comments not related to this RFI.

6. Do not respond via telephone.

RFI SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS

Submit RFI information via e-mail to the attention of:

Katelyn Rose Haus, Contracting Officer Federal Bureau of Investigation

Email: krhaus@fbi.gov