DPA Title III - HTPB RFI - FA8650-22-S-5505.pdf

FA8650-22-S-5505

Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Program

Request for Information (RFI) on Military Grade Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) Production Capability for DoD Munitions

CONTRACTING OFFICE ADDRESS

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) – Wright Research Site, Manufacturing Technology Section, AFRL/RXKMT, Area B, Bldg. 45, 2130 8th Street, Wright- Patterson AFB, OH, 45433-7541.

SCOPE

The intent of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather information on the domestic production capability/capacity of military grade Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB), a raw material that is crucial in the fabrication of propellant formulations. Its performance over a wide range of temperatures, low glass transition temperature (Tg), strong solid loading and robust elongation capacities, and good ageing resiliency make it ideal to be used in such propellant formulations as a binder that holds together the oxidizer, fuel, and all other ingredients. HTPB has multiple commercial applications, but the technical and performance requirements set by the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DoD) for missiles and munitions are different to those HTPB grades used in other applications. The DoD has identified a deficiency in the Industrial Base for the supply of HTPB, which is a key component in the manufacturing of solid rocket motors used across all agencies of the military. The Government has experienced cost surges, as well as material shortages as a direct consequence of the current supply situation of HTPB. It is therefore important to establish a domestic source of this material to avoid escalation of these issues. Additionally, there is a risk in relying on a single source of supply for a material that is considered critical for the defense of the country.

REQUEST DETAILS

The DPA Title III Program Office, part of the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy (INDPOL), is seeking information related to the domestic production of HTPB used to manufacture DoD missiles and munitions (i.e., military grade HTPB). Additionally, the DPA Title III Program Office is seeking information related to manufacturing improvements for domestically produced HTPB used in the manufacture of DoD missiles and munitions.

OSD(INDPOL) is interested in information regarding the domestic production of military grade HTPB that could be qualified for use in U.S. DoD missiles and munitions. The goal would be to have sustained production quantities of 200,000 to 300,000 pounds per year. However, responses of any production capacity, including pilot scale, will also be of interest. In the case that the responder is currently manufacturing/commercializing a non-military grade of HTPB, responses should discuss the capability that is required to make military grade material.

Questions To Consider for Responses:

NOTE: All responses should address production of military grade HTPB.

1. Do you currently make military grade HTPB, or have you made it in the past?

a) If yes, what quantities are produced annually, and with what type(s) of manufacturing equipment?

b) If no, do you currently have the capability (e.g., equipment, personnel with the required skills, etc.) to make military grade HTPB?

i. If your answer to question 1b is yes, please provide an estimate of the quantity that could be produced annually.

ii. If your answer to question 1b is no, describe what would be needed for you to produce military grade HTPB. Identify what equipment, process development, scale up plans, etc. would be required.

2. Provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate to create, expand, or operate a production capacity of 200,000 to 300,000 pounds annually. If a capacity that falls outside of the given range can be achieved, identify the estimated quantity and adjust the ROM to reflect the identified quantity. State whether production approach would utilize traditional or advanced manufacturing (AM) technologies/equipment.

3. Provide recommended types of investments needed (e.g., research and development, production/scale up, engineering/plant design, equipment acquisitions, business development, process optimization, etc.).

4. Identify estimate of time required to reach a production capacity of 200,000 to 300,000 pounds annually. If your projected capacity target is outside of that range, identify your minimum capacity (in lbs./year) and estimate time required to reach it.

a) Identify limiting factors to reach minimum capacity (i.e., equipment lead time, permits, construction, etc.).

b) Provide the location(s) of your production facility or facilities where military grade HTPB will be produced.

5. Provide information of origin of the raw materials you are currently using or would use to manufacture military grade HTPB.

6. Identify the target cost on a per pound basis, and identify the minimum capacity required to achieve the target cost.

7. Please describe the intended markets (both DoD and commercial) that your company would target if you had/have/will have the capability to manufacture military grade

HTPB.

8. If you do not currently have the capability to manufacture military grade HTPB, what market barriers to entry exist to your establishing that capability?

9. Describe any site challenges (e.g., space, environmental compliance, etc.) that would need to be overcome to establish production capability.

10. Describe any advantages of establishing your company as a source of military grade

HTPB.

11. Are you currently a distributor of military grade HTPB? If your answer is no, please move on to question 12.

a) Please disclose where the HTPB is sourced from.

b) What is the approximate annual volume of HTPB used?

12. Are you currently an end-user of military grade HTPB? If your answer is no, please move on to question 13.

a) Please disclose where the HTPB is sourced from. Indicate if your source is a manufacturer or distributor.

b) What is the approximate annual volume of HTPB used?

13. Please provide technical requirements of HTPB manufactured or used, currently or in the past. Specification(s) may be referenced and/or attached to your RFI response.

Specifications that are attached will not be included as part of the page count.

14. Describe tests performed to ensure that the HTPB (either as a manufacturer, distributor, or end-user) conforms to the set specification.

15. If you are not currently investing in this area, why not, and what type of incentive would be required for you to invest?

GENERAL INTENT

DESCRIPTION

The Air Force, as the DoD Executive Agent for the DPA Title III Program, provides this RFI inviting Industry to provide information on the technology of interest for the DPA Title III Program. Industry responses to the RFI will be assessed and may assist in potential future Title III actions.

On July 21, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 13806 on Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency of the United States. The EO directed the Secretary of Defense to conduct a whole-of-government effort to assess risk, identify impacts and propose recommendations in support of a healthy manufacturing and defense industrial base, a critical aspect of economic and national security. The report identifies ten risk archetypes that threaten the U.S. manufacturing and defense industrial base. For chemicals that are critical for producing DoD missiles and munitions, these include single source, sole source, and fragile suppliers/supply chain/markets, foreign dependency and diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages (DMSMS).

Note: There is no guarantee that this topic area will become a Title III project, and responders to this RFI will have no competitive advantage in receiving awards related to the submitted topic area. The information submitted in all responses may be utilized to help the Government further define all the requirements, including but not limited to, business and technical. If the Government develops a Title III project that addresses any submitted or similar topic, the resulting procurement will address technology and business specific requirements as defined by the Government to achieve Title III program objectives.

DPA TITLE III BACKGROUND

Title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. App. § 4501 et seq.) grants the President of the United States the authority to provide appropriate incentives to develop, maintain, modernize, restore, and expand the productive capacities of domestic sources for critical components, critical technology items, and industrial resources essential for the execution of the national security strategy of the United States and securing the defense industrial base.

These authorities enable DPA Title III in making purchases to create or expand (scale-up) production capacity; improving quality and yield; purchasing test quantities for process validation and qualification testing; developing and implementing business and marketing plans, purchasing, and installing production equipment, and providing purchase commitments to incentivize companies to establish production capability.

The DPA itself contains three criteria that every Title III project must meet before any funds may be obligated on a Title III activity. The DPA stipulates that the President must certify to the Congress that the activity satisfies the criteria. The statutory criteria state that: (1) The industrial resource, material, or critical technology item is essential to the national defense; (2) Without Presidential action under the DPA Title III, United States Industry cannot reasonably be expected to provide the capability for the needed industrial resource, material, or critical technology item in a timely manner; and (3) Actions under Title III are the most cost-effective, expedient, and practical alternative for meeting the need. The problem/issue should be amenable to Title III business solutions. Title III authorities and funding are not intended to be used as supplemental to the normal DoD material acquisition or R&D programs.

Note that DPA Title III is concerned with only domestic sources. Foreign capabilities will not be considered. Title III cannot be used to create or expand a foreign source, regardless of the essentiality of the technology to U.S. defense requirements. The DPA defines domestic source to be a business concern that performs in the United States or Canada substantially all of the research and development, engineering, manufacturing, and production activities required of such business concern under a contract with the United States relating to a critical component or a critical technology item and that procures from such concerns substantially all of any components and assemblies required under a contract with the United States relating to a critical component or critical technology item. Territories and possessions of the United States, and the District of Columbia are considered part of the domestic United States.

Title III investments are most appropriate to address pervasive (benefiting more than just a single service, agency, or program office) industrial base manufacturing shortfalls that can be typically remedied within a 5-year timeframe. Government investments usually range from $5-20M with matching cost share anticipated from the Responder/Recipient. Title III investments are not intended for basic or applied research or for technologies with limited or no DoD advocacy.

Typical Title III tasks include the procurement, installation, and qualification of production equipment; modernization of manufacturing capabilities and capital upgrades to the plant;

manufacturing line prove-out; production of samples for customer and/or Government evaluations; implementation of quality systems and practices; manufacturing cost reduction and yield improvement activities; and the implementation of business and marketing plans. Title III investments typically have a broad, enterprise-wide impact on a sub-tier defense supplier. The overall goal is to secure and assure a viable, domestic supplier for the long-term.

ADDITIONAL GENERAL INFORMATION

This is a RFI only as defined in FAR 15.201(e) to obtain information about U.S. national security industrial base shortcomings, risks, and opportunities which may be addressed by investments made under provisions in Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA). Of particular interest are the technical, manufacturing and market barriers to establishing a viable business for the technology of interest. This RFI is not a request for competitive proposals;

therefore, responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Companies that respond will not be paid for the information submitted except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in FAR 31.205-18, “Bid and Proposal Costs.” The Government will be utilizing non-government personnel under this RFI. The role of these non-government personnel is to function as technical advisors to the Government reviewers. These non-government personnel will have access to the information submitted in response to the RFI and will provide technical expertise and/or advice as required. All non-government personnel have Non-Disclosure Agreements on file with the Government.

NOTE: Responses to this RFI are due 18 February 2022, 12:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time). If late information is received, it may be considered by the Government reviewers, depending on the agency time constraints.

SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTATION

Documentation shall be delivered to the Contracting Office via e-mail to the following:

AFRL/RXKMT AFRL/RXKMT Alternate POC Ms. Felicia Bibbs Ms. Whitney Foxbower Contract Negotiator Contracting Officer Telephone: (937) 713-9901 Telephone: (937) 713-9877 E-mail: felicia.bibbs@us.af.mil Email: whitney.foxbower@us.af.mil

E-mail responses are preferred but if you have large files or information that is proprietary in nature to send, you may provide your submission using the DoD SAFE site (https://safe.apps.mil/). You must request a submission email for the DoD SAFE site via the listed Contracting POCs. You will then receive an email from DoD SAFE with a secure link and password to upload and submit your documents via the DoD SAFE site.

The cover material shall include the following at a minimum:

Interested Party Name, mailing address, overnight delivery address (if different from the mailing address), phone number, and fax number;

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code under which the company traditionally does business and the Business type (e.g., large business, small business) based upon that NAICS code;

A designated point of contact of the Interested Party, including that contact’s name, title, direct phone number, and e-mail address.

Responses shall be submitted not later than 18 February 2022, 12:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time). If late information is received, it may be considered by the Government reviewers, depending on agency time constraints.

Please note: the Government is not required to provide feedback to RFI Responders.

FORMAT & PAGE LIMITATION

RFI responses shall be provided on standard letter size 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper, limited to a maximum of 10 single-sided, double-spaced pages. The font for text should be Times New Roman 12-point or larger. Respondents may use oversize pages (including “foldouts”) where appropriate to contain graphic presentations. Oversize pages do not count as extra pages within the page limitations. Responses shall be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word (Office 2010 compatible) or Adobe Acrobat format. Existing commercial documentation, technical specifications, and product literature can also be submitted and are not subject to a page limitation. Note: Responses must be unclassified. Reponses may contain proprietary information but must be appropriately marked.

INFORMATION APPROACH

The DPA Title III Program Office may or may not select any of the listed technology areas for use as a Title III project. Projects developed from these topics, as with all Title III projects, may be competed in a full and open competition. The Air Force, as the DoD Executive Agent for the DPA Title III Program, is not required to provide feedback to responders. The Air Force may respond directly to obtain additional or clarifying information.

DISCLAIMER

This RFI is not a request for competitive proposals; therefore, responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

Companies that respond will not be paid for the information submitted except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in FAR 31.205-18, “Independent Research and Development and Bid and Proposal Costs.”

No telephone calls will be accepted requesting a bid package or solicitation. There is no bid package or solicitation at this time.

All information received shall be safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure. Responses to this RFI may constitute proprietary information, For Official Use Only (FOUO) information, or export-controlled information. Respondents are directed to contact the Contracting Office POCs for supplemental instructions related to the submission of proprietary information, FOUO, or export-controlled data.

OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC) REQUIREMENTS:

The contractor shall participate in all activities associated with the disciplines of the organization’s Industrial Security, Information Security, Personnel Security, Operations Security (OPSEC), and Antiterrorism programs, following appropriate measures in each program as required for this particular request. Security measures are required to reduce program vulnerability from successful adversary collection, exploitation of critical information, and violations of export control requirements. The prime contractor shall ensure all subcontractors, if applicable, conform to these requirements as required by the prime contractor.

PROGRAM PROTECTION PLAN (PPP) REQUIREMENTS:

Any potential critical program information (CPI) generated as part of this response will be reviewed to determine the need for a PPP or to be included as part of an existing PPP.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional Title III information is available on the DPA Title III website:

https://www.businessdefense.gov/Programs/DPA-Title-III/

Direct all inquiries to the Contracting POCs listed in the Submission of Documentation paragraph above.