FMU-167 Sources Sought.pdf

Sources Sought FMU-167/B Hard Target Void Sensing Fuze (HTVSF) System

PURPOSE

The U.S. Government (USG) is conducting market research to identify qualified sources for a potential FMU-167/B Fuze System procurement. This effort will determine market competitiveness and assess the feasibility of a Small Business Set-Aside.

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 332993 – Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing, which has a corresponding size standard of 1,500 employees. This notice seeks industry feedback on capabilities, small business status, and preferred contract mechanisms. Responses will validate acquisition strategy decisions.

This is not a solicitation and does not guarantee a future contract. The Government encourages responses from all small businesses, including 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, HUBZone, and Women-Owned small business concerns.

Interested parties should provide:

• Confirmation of small business status under NAICS 332993

• Description of anticipated teaming arrangements, specifying roles of the prime and partners, delineating between the work that will be accomplished by the prime and the work accomplished by the teaming partners

• Summary of relevant experience delivering similar hardware, energetic systems, or manufacturing services to government or commercial customers within the past three years

DESCRIPTION

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Armament Directorate seeks potential contractors who possess the skills, experience, and technical knowledge required to successfully manufacture, assemble, test, and deliver the FMU-167/B Hard Target Void Sensing Fuze

(HTVSF).

System Components:

• FMU-167 Hard Target Void Sensing Fuze

• FZU-60/B: Bomb Fuze Initiator

• JDAM Adapter Cabling

• Retaining Ring and Lanyard assemblies

• M548 Ammo Cans with associated insert material for shipping and storage

Operational Capability & Design Characteristics:

• Hard Target Defeat: The design must be capable of penetrating and providing desired weapons effects on targets protected by multiple layers of soil and/or reinforced concrete.

• Fuzing & Detonation Modes: Must incorporate void sensing capability, time delay option, and backup timer functions.

• Cockpit Selectability: All fuzing functions and parameters must be selectable from the cockpit with current mission planning systems.

• Production Throughput: The manufacturing design, production facilities, and tooling must demonstrate the capability to produce at a minimum rate of 3,000 units per year.

TECHNICAL DATA PACKAGE (TDP) AVAILABILITY

The Government does not own, possess, or have access to a complete Government-owned Technical Data Package (TDP), detailed engineering manufacturing drawings, proprietary software/firmware source code, or component acceptance test procedures for the FMU-167/B Hard Target Void Sensing Fuze.

Unlike acquisitions where technical data packages are distributed via DoD SAFE upon request, no Technical Data Package (TDP) or manufacturing specifications are available or will be provided by the USG for this effort.

The proprietary baseline, technical data, tooling, and manufacturing processes for this fuze architecture are held by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation. Potential respondents must demonstrate that they possess, or have the legal, financial, and technical ability to independently develop, fabricate, test, and qualify an equivalent form, fit, function, and interface () TDP—including completing all non-recurring engineering (NRE), precision tooling fabrication, and full qualification testing in accordance with MIL-STD-1316 and MIL-STD-331—at no cost to the Government.

GENERAL INFORMATION & USG POINTS OF CONTACT

No reimbursement will be made for costs associated with providing information. Submission is voluntary and does not guarantee award. All responses to this Sources Sought must be submitted to the points of contact below.

USG Points of Contact:

• Primary Contracting POC: Ryan Mitchell (ryan.mitchell.21@us.af.mil)

• Alternate Contracting POC: Nicholas Padgett (nicholas.padgett.2@us.af.mil)

Any additional information will be posted on SAM.gov.

KNOWN QUALIFIED VENDORS:

• Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

REQUIRED ITEM SPECIFICATIONS & FORM FACTOR:

The following table details the technical form factor and physical hardware specifications required for the FMU-167/B procurement:

Item Specification Parameter Specification Requirement Notes / Conformance

Standard System Nomenclature FMU-167/B Hard Target Void Sensing Fuze NSN: 1325-01-632-0205 Gross Weight 6.3 Pounds Complete assembly Net Explosive Weight (NEW) 0.389 Pounds Energetic / booster components Mounting Hardware / Interface

Form factor fit to mate with standard 3-inch bomb fuze well

Physical mechanical interface

External Dimensions 7.4 inches (Length) 2.88 inches (Diameter) Envelope dimensions Cockpit / Weapon Interface

Fully selectable via cockpit interface & mission planning

Fuze mode control & logic

Technical Data Package

(TDP)

Not Available / Not Furnished by Government Proprietary to OEM

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested vendors should submit a capability statement demonstrating their ability to provide the required items and perform the effort described to the listed USG Points of Contact. Proposals are not being requested or accepted at this time. In accordance with governing Rules for Ordering (RFO) procedures for market research and acquisition planning, responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted to form a binding contract. No solicitation currently exists; issuance of a solicitation will be at the Government’s sole discretion.

The assigned NAICS code is 332993 – Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing, with a size standard of 1,500 employees. Respondents should indicate their business size relative to this standard and identify any applicable socio-economic status (e.g., SB, 8(a), HUBZone, EDWOSB, WOSB, SDVOSB). Additionally, please disclose if your firm is foreign owned/controlled and whether foreign nationals will be involved in this effort. The Government may consider a small business set-aside based on responses; no decision has been made. Note:

Small business prime contractors must perform at least 50% of the cost of manufacturing the supplies, not including the cost of materials, per applicable small business limitation on subcontracting rules.

Responses should be submitted in Microsoft Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF (.pdf) format, limited to 20 single-sided pages, with 1-inch margins and 12-point font or larger.

Include the following company information:

• Company Name and Address

• Point of Contact (Name, Title, Email, Phone Number)

• Website URL

• Business Category (per NAICS 332993) and Number of Employees

• CAGE Code and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

CAPABILITIES STATEMENT:

Interested contractors must submit a brief, clear capabilities statement demonstrating their ability to meet the requirements outlined in this notice. This statement is part of the 20 single-sided pages (or less) response stated above. Specifically, the response should address:

1. Manufacturing & Technical Approach in the Absence of Government TDP: Detailed explanation of how the respondent will produce conforming FMU-167/B fuze assemblies without USG-furnished engineering drawings, schematics, or proprietary manufacturing specifications.

2. Production Throughput Capacity: Demonstrated facility tooling, precision assembly lines, automated inspection, and capacity to achieve and sustain a minimum production rate of 3,000 units per year.

3. Hard Target Fuzing Capabilities: Demonstrated experience and technical maturity in designing, producing, and qualifying hardened penetrator fuzes capable of void sensing, time delay, and backup timer operations surviving severe impact and high shock environments.

4. Safety, Energetics, & Quality Standards: Demonstrated past performance complying with MIL-STD-1316 (Fuze Design Safety), MIL-STD-331 (Environmental and Performance Tests), and certified ISO 9001 / AS9100 quality assurance systems in dealing with explosive, energetic, and safe-and-arm hardware.

5. Supply Chain & Obsolescence Management: Proactive Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) tracking and counterfeit parts prevention plans for critical microelectronics, void-sensing sensors, and energetic components.

Direct all routine communications to the points of contact listed in this posting. Responses to this Sources Sought are for market research only and may inform future requirements, which could lead to a separate acquisition. Proprietary information must be clearly marked and segregated.

Responses will not be returned, and the Government is not obligated to acknowledge receipt or provide feedback. No bid package or solicitation exists at this time, and requests for such will not be accepted.

RESPONSE DEADLINE:

3:00 PM (MST), 15 October 2026