Enhanced Armor Inspection System RFI_26I5428.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Program Manager, Combat Support Systems (PM CSS)

Product Manager, Combat Service Support Equipment (PdM CSSE) Individual Armor (IA) Team

INDUSTRY MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY FOR THE

ENHANCED ARMOR INSPECTION SYSTEM (EAIS)

1) GENERAL INFORMATION.

This Request for Information (RFI) initiates market research under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 and is not a Request for Proposal. The information herein only initiates communication with industry to assess market potential. No solicitation document exists currently. This RFI constitutes no Government obligation to procure these items or issue a solicitation. The Government does not have an obligation to pay for information responding to this RFI and will not accept any responses as offers. Vendors should mark any proprietary information clearly and appropriately.

2) PURPOSE.

This is a Sources Sought Notice / Request for Information (RFI) for the Program Manager, Combat Support Systems (PM CSS), Portfolio Acquisition Executive Marine Corps (PAE MC) in Quantico, Virginia for the Enhanced Armor Inspection System (EAIS). The purpose of this sources sought is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS ) code 334517 (Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing); and Federal Supply Code (FSC) 6625 (Electrical and Electronic Properties Measuring and Testing Instruments) apply.

PM CSS is conducting market research regarding U.S.-based industry's interest and capability to manufacture a three-dimensional (3D)/ Computed Tomography (CT) scanner capable of scanning Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) Lightweight Plates (LWP). These systems are used to scan individual hard armor plates for cracks and delaminations. The USMC projects to deploy up to ten CT scanners dispersed throughout the continental United States (6), Hawaii (1), Japan (2), and Guam (1).

ESAPI & USMC LWP Material Composition & Sizes

Torso Plates - 8 sizes:

• Extra Small (XS)

• Extra Small Short (XS-S)

• Small (S)

• Small Short (S-S)

• Small long (S-L)

• Medium (M)

• Large (L)

• Extra Large (XL)

Enhanced Side Ballistic Insert (ESBI)

• ESBI side plate, 6×8 in

• ESBI side plate, 6x6 in

Lightweight Plate Side

• USMC LWP side plate, 6×8 in

• USMC LWP side plate, 6x6 in

Potential Plate Materials:

• Ceramic Strikeface o Boron carbide o Silicon carbide o Blend of boron carbide and silicon carbide o Aluminum oxide

• Composite Backer o Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) o Aramid (i.e. Kevlar, Twaron) o UHMWPE Aramid blend

• Legacy plates may have metal crack arrestor material in addition to the ceramic and backer material components and Foam (protective layer on strike face, comfort layer on body side)

The Government is requesting information from each vendor in the following areas:

Production and Manufacturing Capability and Capacity

Vendors should describe their current and projected manufacturing capability and capacity to produce up to ten (10) CT scanner systems within a specified timeframe. This should include details on production facilities, supply chain management, quality control processes, and any potential scalability for higher production volumes.

At a minimum, white papers shall discuss the following:

1. A commercial system that utilizes computed tomography (CT) based scanning technology and meets Title 21, Part 1020, Section 40 of U.S. Code of federal regulations for “cabinet X-ray systems”.

2. A commercial system that can detect cracks and delamination defects, in ESAPIs and LWPs per the enclosed USMC Hard Armor Defect Classification Table (Appendix A).

3. A commercial system that utilizes an automated material custom conveyance & sorting system, imaging system, and data processing/handling that is fully equipped with customized Automated Defect Recognition (ADR) software to meet the USMC’s requirements.

4. The system’s minimum and maximum screening throughput speeds (vendors should provide throughput speeds in terms of 'plates per minute’ for both minimum and maximum operational settings. Please specify the conditions under which these speeds are achieved (e.g., resolution settings, defect detection sensitivity, plate size, and material type).

5. Specific challenges or limitations your system encounters when scanning materials with varying densities or compositions, such as the blend of boron carbide and silicon carbide, or the presence of metal crack arrestors. How does your system mitigate these challenges?

6. The system’s minimum and maximum scanning envelope size.

7. The total system footprint, including any required clearance areas for safe operation, maintenance access, and material handling (e.g., loading/unloading zones).

8. The system’s networking requirements and whether the scanner can operate as an air-gapped system (i.e., disconnected from Internet).

9. Visual and automated defect recognition pass/fail alert system with limited user input or decision making required. Describe the user interface for the pass/fail alert system.

10. The secure process for delivering and installing software updates, patches, and antivirus definitions to air-gapped systems, including any specialized hardware, software, or procedures required to maintain system integrity and security.

White papers shall also answer the following questions:

1. What is the scope of the OEM’s warranty? Please specify the duration of the warranty, what components or services are covered, and any exclusions or conditions.

2. Will there be a system service or maintenance plan offered? Describe the typical response times for technical support (remote and on-site) and on-site service. Are different Service Level Agreements available?

3. What is the recommended preventative maintenance schedule, and what are the estimated annual costs for consumables, spare parts, and service contracts?

4. If customization or new feature development is required for USMC-specific needs, what is your typical software development process and estimated timeline for such efforts?

What is your roadmap for future software updates and enhancements for the proposed system?

5. If operating as an air-gapped system, how are data backups, software updates, and diagnostic information managed and transferred securely (e.g., via secure removable media)? Describe the process and any specialized hardware/software required.

6. What cybersecurity measures are integrated into the system's software and hardware, especially for data at rest and in transit (even within an air-gapped network)? Please address data encryption, access controls, and intrusion detection capabilities.

7. Does the system incorporate any machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for defect recognition?

8. What are the dimensions, weight, and power requirements of the system when packaged for transport? Does it require specialized handling equipment (e.g., forklifts, cranes)?

9. Are there any environmental considerations during transport (e.g., temperature, humidity, vibration limits) that require specialized packaging or climate control?

10. What are the utility requirements (e.g., electrical power (voltage, amperage, phase), compressed air (pressure, flow rate, quality), HVAC (temperature, humidity range), exhaust/ventilation, network drops, water cooling if applicable). Include minimum and maximum tolerances.

11. What is your estimated lead time for manufacturing and delivering the first system, and subsequent systems, after contract award, assuming a production run of 10 units?

Provide a detailed project timeline from contract award to system delivery and installation for a single unit and for a batch of ten units. Include key milestones such as design review, manufacturing, verification/acceptance testing, shipping, and initial operator training.

12. Provide an estimated unit price for a single system and a discounted price for a quantity of ten (10) systems. Please also include estimated costs for installation, initial training packages, and a typical annual maintenance contract for the first five to ten years.

13. Do you have relevant past performance with the Government? If yes, please provide details on relevant contracts (Government or commercial, especially those involving similar inspection technologies or security requirements), including agency/client, contract number, value, brief description of work, period of performance, and a point of contact for verification.

3) SUBMISSION REQUEST.

Responses to this RFI are limited to a total of TWENTY pages (i.e., TEN pages front and back), inclusive of a cover letter not to exceed one page. Responses must include the following information:

a) Company name:

b) Commercial and Government Entity Code (CAGE) and Unique Entity Identifier

c) Small or large business?

d) If small, which categories apply?

i) 8(a) certified

ii) Disabled veteran-owned

iii) Veteran-owned

iv) Woman-owned

v) HUB Zone

vi) Native American

e) Other Small Business Administration-approved designation

f) System for Award Management (SAM) registration expiration date.

4) SUBMISSION PROCESS

a) Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing via email to the

Contract Specialist, Ebony King: ebony.king@usmc.mil with a courtesy copy to the Contracting Officer, Shanna Laging via email: shanna.laging@usmc.mil no later than September 10, 2026. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after September 10, 2026, will be answered. PAE MC will post all questions and answers to the sam.gov website at (https://sam.gov).

b) Responses shall be submitted to the Contract Specialist, Ebony King via email:

ebony.king@usmc.mil with a courtesy copy to the Contracting Officer, Shanna Laging via email: shanna.laging@usmc.mil no later than October 2, 2026. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Only Government employees will review the responses.

5) PROPRIETARY DATA

The Government may use information received from this RFI to establish future Marine Corps requirements. Vendors deciding to submit competition sensitive or proprietary information bear sole responsibility for marking the information for appropriate safeguarding. Proprietary information will be protected from unauthorized disclosure as required by Subsection 27 of the Office of Procurement Policy Act as amended (41 U.S.C. 423) (hereinafter referred to as "the Act"), as implemented in the FAR.

6) SUMMARY

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that offer the product(s) listed above. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Marine Corps has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. Further, the Marine Corps is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be released on the SAM.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

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Appendix A: Defect Classification Table