CRT MARKET SURVEY_final-approved-25-Oct.pdf

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release.

MARKET SURVEY

Request for Information

Composite Rubber Track (CRT)

DESCRIPTION OF INTENT

The Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS), Product Director MAV Modernization is conducting this Market Survey to assess domestic U.S. industry interest0F

1 and current market manufacturing capability to produce Composite Rubber Track (CRT) powered by a drive sprocket for heavy combat vehicles (40-45 Tons), supplemental kits, and provide test and logistics support.

CRT DESCRIPTION

The new track system includes Left Hand (LH) and Right Hand (RH) tracks, and all components required to convert the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) platform from a T-161 track system to a CRT system. This includes single and/or double support rollers, track adjusting links, sprockets, idlers, track guards, shock guards, and special tools required for installation.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The submission of information in response to this Market Survey is for planning and informational purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S.

Government (USG) to procure any items/services described herein, or for the USG to pay for the information received.

Responding companies are asked to provide information about relevant experience and ability to produce a CRT system sufficient to enable the complete mobility of heavy ground combat vehicles. A complete Technical Data Package (TDP) is not currently available for the CRT host platform vehicle (AMPV). The Performance Specification is not being provided at the time of Market Survey.

Participation in this Market Survey is strictly voluntary, and the USG will not reimburse contractors for any cost incurred. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the USG.

This is NOT a pre-solicitation notice. This notice does not constitute an Invitation for Bid or Request for Proposal and is not to be construed as a solicitation, and no award shall be made on the basis of this notice. There is no formal solicitation available at this time, 1 Respondents to this market survey are advised that—though no solicitation is available—any subsequent solicitation for AMPV CRT requirements may likely include the “Trade Agreements-Basic (JAN 2023)” clause found at DFARS 252.225-7021.

CRT Market Survey (2024) no solicitation will be issued against this notice, and this request for information does not obligate the USG to issue a solicitation.

Data submitted in response to this market survey will not be returned. This market survey is not a request to seek contractor interest in being placed on a solicitation mailing list.

Respondents shall not be notified of the results of the survey or results of information submitted.

Telephone or email inquiries will not be honored.

DATA MARKING

The USG appreciates the time and effort taken to respond to this survey. The USG acknowledges its obligations under 18 U.S.C. 1905 to protect information qualifying as PROPRIETARY. Pursuant to this statute, the USG is willing to accept any trade secret, or confidential restrictions placed on qualifying data forwarded in response to the survey questions and to protect it from unauthorized disclosure subject to the following:

Clearly and conspicuously mark qualifying data as trade secret or confidential with the restrictive legend (all caps) PROPRIETARY with any explanatory text, so that the USG is clearly notified of what data needs to be appropriately protected.

In marking such data, please take care to mark only those portions of the data or materials that are truly trade secret or confidential (over breadth in marking inappropriate data as PROPRIETARY may diminish or eliminate the usefulness of your response - see item 10 under Instructions for Completing the Questionnaire, below). Use circling, underscoring, highlighting or any other appropriate means to indicate those portions of a single page which are to be protected.

The USG is not obligated to protect unmarked data. Additionally, marked data that is already in the public domain or in the possession of the U.S. Government or third parties, or is afterward placed into the public domain by the owner or another party through no fault of the U.S. Government will not be protected once in the public domain. Data already in the possession of the USG will be protected in accordance with the USG’s rights in the data.

Business Confidential data transmitted electronically, whether by physical media or not, whether by the respondent or by the USG, shall contain any restrictive legend, with any explanatory text, on both the cover of the transmittal e-mail and at the beginning of the file itself. Where appropriate for portions only of an electronic file, use the restrictive legends PROPRIETARY DATA BEGINS: and PROPRIETARY

DATA ENDS.

In any reproductions of technical data or any portions thereof subject to asserted restrictions, the USG shall also reproduce the asserted restriction legend and any explanatory text.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING SURVEY:

Please respond to every question.

1. Font size no smaller than 12 and no more than 60 pages total. Electronic files must be easily accessible, and in a searchable format.

2. Number each response with the appropriate question number.

3. You do not have to repeat the question in your response.

4. If you cannot answer the question, please indicate “No Response.”

5. If a response will satisfy another question, state: “See response to question XX.”

6. All questions will pertain to building CRT for the AMPV.

7. In your responses, please be specific with respect to whether you are describing the capabilities of your own firm, or those of a trusted partner/subcontractor (and identify the subcontractor as applicable).

8. If your sales media and/or manuals contain a restricted distribution statement, issue a release statement indicating that the restricted material may be distributed to Army personnel involved with reviewing this Market Survey.

9. Spell out any acronyms in their first instance.

10. Clearly mark any proprietary information. If applicable the front page of your response package should state” “Proprietary Information Contained.” Provide a release statement indicating that the proprietary information may be distributed to Army personnel involved with reviewing this Market Survey.

11. Responses to this request for information should be sent electronically using DoD SAFE located at https://safe.apps.mil/ to Ms. Natalie O’Reilly at natalie.m.oreilly2.civ@army.mil and Mr. Dale Pement at dale.l.pement.civ@army.mil.

Please title contractor response as “[Company's Name] response to Market Survey – CRT Production and Support Capability.” If you require a link to be able to submit your response via DoD SAFE, please send an email request to the above representative(s) at least 3 working days in advance.

Responses are due no later than 5:00 pm EST on Friday, 29 November 2024.

https://safe.apps.mil/ mailto:natalie.m.oreilly2.civ@army.mil mailto:dale.l.pement.civ@army.mil

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION:

1. Company Name

a. Name:

b. Mailing Address:

c. Company Website:

d. Location of facilities:

e. CAGE:

f. SAM Unique Entity ID (UEI):

g. Business Type for NAICS Code 336992 Military Armored Vehicle, Tank, and

Tank Component Manufacturing (Check all that apply);

8(a) Minority Owned Disabled Veteran Small Business Hub Zone Small-Disadvantaged Large Business Women Owned

2. Point of Contact for this Questionnaire

a. Name:

b. Title:

c. Company Responsibility/Position:

d. Telephone/Fax Numbers:

e. Email address:

3. MARKET SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE

Manufacturing:

1. Describe your experience with production of Composite Rubber Track suitable for use with armored ground combat vehicles. Describe your manufacturing processes, facilities, tools, and equipment which have been used to build the CRT. What is your projected production capacity for CRT (number of systems per month?) What is your minimum economical production rate, and projected maximum production rate.

2. Describe your experience in design, prototype build and testing of a CRT and associated components suitable for heavy ground combat vehicle. Include the weight class, quantity of systems and timeframes for which your experience applies.

3. The Army’s implementation concept for CRT onto the AMPV (whether directly on the AMPV manufacturing line, or at a depot maintenance/retrofit facility) is as part of a CRT kit or system. Describe your current capability/ capacity with respect to the facilities, tools, and equipment available to produce CRT kits. Include description and location of facilities for storage of completed kits;

shipping/receiving of kits; and testing and verification capabilities for the mounted, kits.

4. If a current CRT Kit capability/capacity doesn’t exist, describe your ability to adapt existing facilities, tools, equipment, processes, production of hardware parts kits, etc. to produce the CRT kit. Include estimated timeline and milestones necessary to begin production.

5. Describe your timeline for when you would be able to start delivering (DD250 off the production line) the CRT from contract award. Include relative timeframes for overall production contract, placement of orders with supplier(s), long lead material time frames (if applicable), and facilities prep. Describe any relevant material or supply chain concerns that may be encountered.

Engineering, Technical Data, and Intellectual Property Considerations:

6. Describe your experience modifying a combat vehicle with a steel track system to a composite rubber track system. Address the extent of modification(s) to the host platform.

7. Describe your level of experience with developing level 2 (developmental level) & 3 (product level) drawings in accordance with MIL-STD-31000B, in US government formats, CAD models, and renderings electronic formats used to design the CRT type systems.

8. The Army's objective is to work with contractors to create a mutually beneficial license arrangement that allows the Army to obtain technical data and the associated license rights to enable the Army to conduct future competitive acquisition of a CRT system. As such, for each component of your composite rubber track system developed, describe what level of rights (e.g., Unlimited Rights, Government Purpose Rights, Limited Rights, or Specifically Negotiated License Rights as defined by DFARS 252.227-7013) your company is willing to provide to the US government down to the individual parts, excluding common fasteners, shims, and COTS items. For parts where your company intends to provide Specifically Negotiated License Rights, please explain. For parts where your company intends to provide the USG with less than Government Purpose Rights, identify what aspect of that part applies to your company’s intended restriction of rights or that the intended restriction applies to the entire part. For parts where your company intends to provide the USG with less than Government Purpose Rights, can your company substantiate that US government funding was not used in the development of those parts?

9. Has any technical data associated with your CRT system already been delivered to the USG under a previous contract, other transaction agreement, or similar agreement? If so, identify the contract number and describe the data previously provided.

10. Describe your willingness to work with USG combat vehicle manufacturers in integrating your CRT system, and all related drawings into Army TDP’s. For parts where your company intends to provide the USG with less than Government Purpose Rights in the part’s full details, describe the level of detail for that part that you are willing to provide to the USG with Government Purpose Rights for incorporation into the TDP to support future competitive acquisition.

11. Identify any patents that you own or otherwise know of that apply to your CRT system, the underlying components, or any associated components or processes, including manufacturing components or processes.

12. For each part of your CRT system, please identify whether the part is produced directly by your company or if it is acquired from a third party. For any parts that may need to be acquired from a third party, please identify any encumbrances that would inhibit competitive acquisition of that part.

Test:

13. Has your firm conducted any independent (i.e., contractor-controlled, non-USG witnessed) CRT testing? If yes, please provide a list of all independent CRT testing completed and provide corresponding test reports.

14. Has your firm provided any product test support (e.g., spares, Field Reps on-site, troubleshooting, etc.) during USG-conducted testing? If yes, summarize such support provided, timeframe, and USG test site location.

15. Has your firm participated in a USG-conducted Test Readiness Review (TRR)? If yes, please identify the product tested, and type/scope of test (e.g., developmental (DT), production qualification (PQT), operational (OT)).

Contractor Business Systems:

16. Would your firm be willing to enter into a fixed price CRT production contract with multiple option years? What is your practical maximum contract length for a fixed price agreement? Provide examples of desired contract arrangements and notional durations for CRT technical support services for test support, maintenance and repair efforts, and experience with short notice responses.

17. Identify the cognizant Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) office that oversees your contracts with the USG and identify at least two recent DoD contracts performed or in-process.

18. Will you require any type of contract financing? If so, specify. Is your cost accounting system currently in an approved status with DCMA? Provide details.

Have you recently performed a cost reimbursement -type contract with the U.S.

Government, and if so, provide details of the customer, effort, procuring activity and contract number.

19. Does your company have a Property Accountability System in accordance with FAR 52.245-1 to track Government Property? If yes, provide system approval date, or findings from most recent DCMA review.

20. Identify if your firm has a facility clearance (for access to, and protection/storage of, classified information) and what level of classified information you can process at your contractor facility.

21. Describe the breakout of your current customers, DoD vs commercial, and the relative percentages that each represents. What have you experienced related to sub-contractor turn-over in the last 5 years?

Quality Assurance:

22. Describe the company’s experience with industry quality assurance/control systems. (e.g. ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF16949).

23. Provide examples of the company using continuous improvement as part of your quality management system.

24. Describe the company’s experience managing subcontractor quality assurance/control systems.

25. Describe the company’s problem-solving process for failure identification and isolation, root cause analyses, corrective actions, and preventative action processes (e.g. MIL-STD-2155, MIL-STD-1629A, SPC, etc. 8D Report, 3 Legged 5 Why, Mistake Proofing).

26. Describe the company’s knowledge and experience with the Product Data Reporting and Evaluation Program (e.g. Product Quality Deficiency Report (PQDR), Supply Discrepancy Report (SDR)).

27. Describe the company’s experience with Army arsenal and depot operations.

28. Describe the company’s experience with advanced/additive manufacturing.

29. Describe the company’s experience with Production Part Approval Process

(PPAP).

30. Describe the company’s experience managing/controlling safety or critical characteristics.

Logistics:

31. Describe the company’s experience developing logistics products and executing logistics activities to support and sustain weapon systems or equipment fielded to the U.S. Army and its allies, including spare/repair parts provisioning, military packaging development, technical publication development, and materiel fielding and training support. Please describe whether the support was performed directly or through the use of sub-contractors.

32. Describe the company’s experience with spare/repair parts procurement, inventory management, and care of supplies in storage (COSIS). Describe shelf life of CRT and expected storage conditions.

[end of survey]