Attachment 0001 - Sources Sought for 155MM Cargo Projectile LAP Flexible Line Facility Capability.pdf

W519TC-26-R-0004

Sources Sought for 155MM Cargo Projectile Load, Assemble, Pack (LAP) Flexible Line Facility Capability

15 December 2025

DESCRIPTION

The Army Contracting Command - Rock Island (ACC-RI) Rock Island, IL, on behalf of the Project Lead Joint Services (PL JS), Project Manager Combat Ammunition Systems (PM CAS), and Joint Munitions Command (JMC), is seeking information from foreign and domestic vendors interested in the design, construction, installation, and qualification of a flexible modernized manufacturing Load, Assemble, and Pack (LAP) facility capable of loading/filling, assembling, and packing various 155mm cargo projectiles at Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD), a Government-Owned facility in Richmond, KY. The required production capacity is 30,000 rounds per year.

GOVERNMENT INTENT

1. Interested vendors are hereby notified that due to the urgency of this requirement, the Government will utilize the information submitted in response to this Sources Sought notice to award a non-competitive, sole source, undefinitized contract action (UCA) under the temporary acquisition authorizations provided in Class Deviation 2024-O0005, paragraph B (1), for covered contracts related to Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel. The Government intends for this sole source action to include a contract(s) for the design, construction, installation, and qualification of the LAP facility.

2. A Public-Private Partnership (P3) with BGAD is available to support qualification of the LAP line. For information and questions regarding establishing a P3, contact Bill Dunkin, JMC Chief Business Development Planning, at (520) 693-0615 or william.w.dunkin.civ@army.mil.

3. ACC-RI intends to issue any UCA resulting from this notice with a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) ceiling, not-to-exceed (NTE) value, based upon interested vendors’ responses to this notice and/or other appropriate rationale. Interested vendors are advised that the definitized value of the action shall not exceed the stated FFP ceiling/NTE in accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.217-7027(e). Therefore, interested vendors are advised that the values provided in response to this notice shall represent the total cost for performance of the requirement in its entirety.

4. The Government's intent is to award the proposed contract(s) based on the capabilities demonstrated in response to this Sources Sought notice; therefore, any interested vendor is responsible for fully identifying capabilities believed necessary to perform the requirements included in this, and any subsequent notices. The Government reserves the right to conduct a facility capability review which includes study of financial, organization, and operational status to be made prior to contract award to determine a prospective contractor’s responsibility and eligibility for award of a Government contract. Interested vendors are hereby notified that responses to this notice shall, and any resultant contract will, include unlimited data rights.

5. Submissions shall be limited to no more than 100 pages.

6. The Government’s intent is to award a sole source contract as a result of this Sources Sought notice, subject to availability of funds. The Government reserves its right to amend this notice and/or its acquisition strategy at any time, as determined in the Government's best interest.

The Government has identified tentative site locations at BGAD available for the construction of the facilities and infrastructure. Interested vendors can assume water, sewer, compressed air, and electrical services are available at BGAD, but interested vendors will be responsible for ensuring appropriate connection and load capacity requirements of the utilities to the physical building locations.

The priorities to the Government include, but are not limited to, production capacity, schedule, technical risk in the design, build, installation and qualification of a manufacturing facility, total costs of qualified facility, safety and environmental requirements, and planned operation efficiency.

The performance completion date for qualification of the LAP manufacturing line, including x-ray, is 30 September 2027.

RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS

Individual companies, teaming arrangement(s), or partnerships of companies are invited to respond to this notice. Interested vendors shall address the following:

1. Describe team members and roles, including any teaming arrangements (letters of commitment, Joint Ventures, etc.). If an interested vendor does not have adequate resources (technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, the interested vendor must be able to demonstrate its ability to obtain those resources, to include, but not limited to, safety and modern automation practices in an explosive environment.

2. Describe the interested vendor’s background and experience in each of the following essential areas, to include dates and locations:

a. Explosive Safety Site Plan preparation IAW DoD 6055.09-M (Defense Explosive Safety Regulation)

b. Process design related to LAP (155mm/other similar items) and other related processes

c. Environmental permitting and compliance (local, state, federal)

d. Energetic LAP facility operations and qualification/commissioning

e. Munitions loading/filling, assembling, and packing facility design experience

f. Munitions non-destructive inspection experience, including X-Ray

g. Munitions loading/filling, assembling, and packing facility construction and qualification/commissioning experience

3. Describe the proposed technology process including:

a. Technical description of relevant technology(ies) to be utilized

b. Representative layout of an artillery LAP production facility with the following operations/facilities:

i. Facility Concept

ii. Technical Description of the Process

iii. Process Flow Diagram

iv. Facility Layout Diagram

v. Facility and Process Drawings

vi. Facility and Building Size (Square Feet)

c. Overall annual throughput including operation availability basis of the calculation. Note, the Government typically considers 85% operational availability against design capacity as reasonable for LAP manufacturing lines. Describe the turn-down capacity of the processes and the minimum throughput to maintain efficient operations.

d. Utilities requirements, specifications, and consumption (e.g. electricity, process water, cooling water, natural gas, compressed air).

e. Evidence provided that the proposed solution can be operated at sufficient scale to verify operating feasibility and reliability.

f. Ability to meet U.S. standards, if using a foreign design.

4. Provide a not-to-exceed price for the design, construction, installation, and qualification of a complete flexible modernized manufacturing LAP facility. Provided not-to-exceed price should include all assumptions.

5. Provide a notional list of buildings/facilities with approximate size and net explosive weight by hazard class (e.g. 1.1, 1.2) in each and include QD Arc requirement.

6. Provide a complete process flow map and equipment list. These documents shall be updated as necessary throughout the project with finalized documents due at project conclusion. The process flow map and equipment list shall begin with raw materials entering the facility and end with completed LAP parts. At a minimum the following shall be identified: equipment status and condition, production operation, cycle time, single shift throughput, maintenance requirements and maintenance schedule.

a. 155mm Artillery Projectile LAP machine/tool

i. Utilizes lower support piston and upper press piston

ii. Specialized adapter(s) to press cargo kits

b. Lift plug (de-)torque wrench

c. Expulsion system installation (removal) tool

d. (De-)Torque tool for projectile base assembly

i. Torque feature base adapter

ii. Torquing machine / breaker bar

e. Inspection equipment

i. Visual/Automated optical inspection systems

ii. Dimensional

iii. Weight Scale

iv. 155mm Ring Gage

v. Radiographic Inspection

vi. Electronics (as needed)

1. Multimeter, with capacitance

vii. Mechanical properties (as needed)

viii. Energetic properties (as needed)

ix. Chemical Properties (as needed)

x. Material Review Board (MRB) Holding Cell (Quarantine Area)

1. Proper Blast/Barricade Enclosure, for energetic item rejects

f. Climate Control Bay (Less than 30RH)

g. Marking Paint/Touchup equipment

i. Projectile Serialization (barcode or similar)

h. Metal punch tool (weight zones, as required)

i. Scissors/Knife (as applicable)

j. Pressure Leak-Test machine

k. Inert - Air Purge system

l. Projectile serialization database system

i. Centralized data logging traceable to the barcode for measured variable data on critical and major characteristics for SPC purposes

7. Provide a breakdown of manufacturing and engineering personnel required

(numbers, experience, specialized skill sets) as it relates to:

a. Facilitization

b. Continued Operations

8. Provide an estimate for the scrap rates of cargo projectile LAP rounds and explosive scrap material.

9. Discuss qualification and transition plans for the facility to include maintenance related schedules and protocols.

10. Provide an Integrated Master Schedule outlining top-level activities and milestones to design, construct, install, and qualify the facility.

11. Describe any potential solutions that would allow the Government to configure/re-configure the facility to support various 155mm cargo projectiles and/or surge requirements.

12. Discuss assumptions and major cost and schedule drivers of the proposed technology solutions and building design and construction.

Interested vendors shall provide sufficient details to allow the Government to make a reasonable assessment of the interested vendor’s capabilities to build a BGAD LAP facility including all relevant assumptions.

All interested vendors are hereby informed that the Government intends to assess the information submitted in response to the Sources Sought and thereon make a determination as to which response, including all aspects logically encompassed therein, would be in the public’s best interest for the award and execution of a sole source contract for the design, construction, installation, and qualification of a flexible modernized manufacturing LAP facility.

As part of its assessment of the responses, the Government will take into consideration the following:

1. The interested vendor’s demonstrated capability of, and recent experience with design, construction, installation, and qualification of a LAP or similar production facility. The demonstrated capability of, and recent experience with, providing the proposed technologies to LAP 30,000 units of various 155mm cargo carrying projectiles per year. The interested vendor’s demonstrated capability of designing and constructing manufacturing lines with an expected 25+ year lifecycle and equipment with an expected 20-year lifecycle with modern technologies.

2. The interested vendor’s proposed technology and associated risks and benefits.

3. The proposed schedule for the design, construction, installation, and qualification of the facility, focusing on its feasibility and the team's ability to achieve it. This evaluation will include an assessment of the benefits and risks associated with the proposed schedule, as well as how the interested vendor plans to secure their commitment to meeting the timeline. Additionally, the Government will consider how any proposed terms and conditions, submitted for inclusion in the prime contract and relevant subcontracts, will mitigate risks and ensure benefits to the Government.

4. The estimated not-to-exceed price to the Government for the proposed solution, to include, but not be limited to, the design and construction of the facilities, and capital investment; the extent to which the interested vendor has demonstrated the proposed process and plant operating model and all cost-related assumptions for construction (for example: make or buy decisions) and identified or anticipated factors that could impact construction cost/price. If applicable, the Government will assess the party’s demonstrated commitment to performing the contract within a not-to-exceed price ceiling. This includes evaluating how the proposed terms and conditions, submitted for inclusion in the prime contract and relevant subcontracts, will secure that commitment, ensure benefits to the Government, and mitigate associated risks.

5. Any teaming arrangement being proposed and intended contractual relationships (e.g. joint venture, prime/subcontractor, lessor/lessee) between the interested vendor/proposed team submitting the response (i.e. the intended prime contractor), the technology provider (if not the prime contractor), the entity(ies) who will design and build the facility, the entity who will qualify the facility (if not conducted by the prime contractor), and, transition to BGAD. The Government will consider the benefits and drawbacks or risks associated with any proposed teaming arrangements and expected contractual relationships, including the extent to which benefits to the Government will be secured by, or risks to the Government will be mitigated by, any proposed terms and conditions submitted by the interested vendor for inclusion within the prime contract and by the terms and conditions of legally-binding commitment letters, Joint Venture agreements, subcontracts, leases, or third-party contracts.

6. The viability of, and benefits, drawbacks, and risks associated with the proposed solution. The Government’s consideration will include, but not be limited to:

accessibility of supporting infrastructure; size and type of available space; the planned footprint of the facility and potential for expansion; projected cost differentials; projected cost savings (savings on this project and subsequent LAP, and on other relevant DoD contracts); impacts on current production-related activities at the site; impacts on production activities across the DoD footprint;

impacts to existing hazardous waste disposal or treatment; necessary environmental permits; availability of a capable workforce; competent non-destructive testing solution; competing programs; the Government’s ownership of the facility and equipment; the Government’s continued access to, and control over, the facilities and equipment; and, national security concerns. The Government will also consider the extent to which benefits to the Government will be secured by, and risks to the Government will be mitigated by, commitments from all proposed teammates, proposed terms and conditions submitted by the interested vendor for inclusion within the prime contract, and inclusion of those terms and conditions in any subcontract, lease, or other legally binding agreement.

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) AND BUILDING FLOOR PLANS

SOW for 155mm Cargo Projectile LAP Flexible Line Facility Capability (Attachment 0002), Building 550 Dimensions (Attachment 0003), and Building 562 Dimensions (Attachment 0004) are provided as attachments to interested vendors for this announcement. Interested Vendors must have an approved DD form 2345, Military Critical Technical Data Requirement on file with Joint Certification Program (JCP) to be granted access to the documents.

Interested vendors not already certified that wish to become certified as data custodians must be registered with the JCP to gain access to these documents. See https://www.dla.mil/logistics-operations/services/jcp/ for instructions and information.

Once certified, interested vendor must request explicit access through the “attachments/links” tab in Sam.gov under Sources Sought Notice ID W519TC-26-R- 0004. Restricted documents will not be available to an interested vendor who has not been certified.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

https://www.dla.mil/logistics-operations/services/jcp/

1. Interested vendors must be registered in the System of Award Management (SAM).

2. Submissions for this notice must be provided no later than 04 February 2026 at no cost to the Government by electronic mail (email) to Mr. Warren Stropes at warren.l.stropes.civ@army.mil and Ms. Lindsey Arguello at lindsey.j.arguello.civ@army.mil.

3. If the file size of the response to this Sources Sought exceeds 5 MB, then respondent may email Mr. Stropes and Ms. Arguello to request a drop off via DoD Safe. All inquiries shall be made via E-mail ONLY. TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL

NOT BE ACCEPTED.

4. All information provided will not be returned and will be held in confidential status.

5. Provide company name, address, telephone number, email address, technical point of contact, web URL (if applicable), Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Commercial and Government Entity Code (CAGE), and company size based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Please specify as either a Large Business, Foreign-Owned Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Woman- Owned Small Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone concern, Veteran- Owned Small Business, or Service-Disabled Small Business.

6. Response shall include documentation of technical expertise and capability in sufficient detail for the Government to adequately assess the capabilities of your company. It is imperative that the interested vendor responding to the Sources Sought articulate their capabilities clearly and adequately.

7. Classified material and material samples will not be accepted.

INDUSTRY DAY INFORMATION

The Government intends to hold an Industry Day the week of 12 January 2026 at BGAD for interested vendors capable of meeting this requirement. The industry day will include a requirements overview briefing, one-on-one sessions, and a tour of the potential site.

The Government will limit each one-on-one session to no more than 30 minutes.

Interested vendors are encouraged to submit all questions in writing at least five days prior to the industry day. Interested vendors shall send all questions, prior to and after the event, to the Procuring Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist. After the event, the Government will amend this notice to attach an abstract of the Q&As as well as a list of attendees.

mailto:warren.l.stropes.civ@army.mil mailto:lindsey.j.arguello.civ@army.mil

To facilitate preparations, interested vendors shall complete the Industry Day Registration Form (Attachment 0005) and each individual attendee shall complete the BGAD National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Form (Attachment 0006) attached to this announcement. Any foreign nationals shall include a copy of their passports. Submit all forms to Mr. Warren Stropes at warren.l.stropes.civ@army.mil and Ms. Lindsey Arguello at lindsey.j.arguello.civ@army.mil by 04 January 2026. Attendees shall note, the number of persons per interested vendor is limited to a maximum of four attendees.

Interested vendors are cautioned that, while attendance is not mandatory, information presented during the event may be valuable and the Government cannot guarantee equal dissemination of all commentary to interested vendors. An interested vendor that does not participate does so at its own risk. The Government staff at BGAD will vet all attendees accessing the facility using the National Crime Information Center.

DISCLAIMER

The Government does not intend to reimburse any interested vendors for any information or administrative costs associated with responding to this notification.

Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary and any of the information stated above is subject to change. Interested vendors are responsible for appropriately marking any proprietary information.

mailto:warren.l.stropes.civ@army.mil mailto:lindsey.j.arguello.civ@army.mil