LPWC_SS_13Jan2026.pdf

Large Penetrator Warhead Cases Agency: Department of the Air Force Office: Air Force Material Command Location: AFLCMC/EBDK – Eglin Air Force Base

Notice Type: Sources Sought NAICS Code: 332993 – Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing

1. Disclosure:

This Sources Sought is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute an invitation for bid (IFB) or request for proposal (RFP), and it is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose. There is no bid package or solicitation document with this announcement. Responses to this Sources Sought are strictly voluntary and will not affect any potential offeror’s ability to submit an offer if a solicitation is released. The Government shall not be held liable or incur any debt for the information solicited. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges will arise resulting from preparation of submissions in response to this Sources Sought or the government's use of the information provided. The Government is not liable for any costs incurred by any respondent to prepare and/or submit its response to this Sources Sought or subsequent submittals of information. All costs associated with responding to this Sources Sought are solely at the responding parties’ expense. This notice DOES NOT in any way restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. The Government encourages all responsible businesses, including small businesses, to respond to this Sources Sought.

Respondents to this Sources Sought may be requested to provide additional information/details based on their initial submittals. Any submittals will not be returned to the sender.

2. General and Background Information:

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Armament Directorate, Attack Division (AFLCMC/EBD) is conducting market research for an industry analysis of capabilities. AFLCMC/EBD is seeking capabilities statements from potential sources that are capable of providing Large Penetrator warhead cases of various scales, made from a variety of steels including 4340, HP9-4-20, AF96, or potential developmental novel alloys.

3. Capabilities:

All interested vendors shall submit a response demonstrating their capability to manufacture and deliver empty Large Penetrator warhead cases in accordance with the specification/drawing using the proposed steels to the Primary Points of Contact listed below. Furthermore, responses should provide evidence that the contractor has: (a) engaged in this type of weapon manufacturing for at least 5 years and has the capability to accomplish the manufacturing efforts required; (b) successfully managed and maintained manufacturing for government customers for at least 5 years [submit names, addresses, and phone numbers of references and a point of contact for each; and (c) possesses or has access to the necessary equipment, data, personnel, facilities, and financial resources to fulfill the requirements of efforts of this type. The response must show high level manufacturing processes and techniques that clearly demonstrate the source’s understanding of metallurgical and engineering aspects of fabricating Large Penetrator warhead cases. The government desires for contractors to forge, manufacture, machine, and ship Large Penetrator warhead cases of various scales weighing approximately 2,000 lbs. to 30,000 lbs.

The Government will provide representative technical drawings of small-scale and full-scale assets for the contractor to determine its capabilities. To receive the drawings and specifications, interested parties must submit a request with a valid DD Form 2345 to Steven Wagner at steven.wagner.13@us.af.mil and Christy Cross at christy.cross.2@us.af.mil no later than 2:00 P.M. (CST), 21 JANUARY 2026. All correspondence sent via email shall contain a subject line that reads “26LGPENSTEEL.” Drawings will only be sent via mailto:steven.wagner.13@us.af.mil mailto:christy.cross.2@us.af.mil

DoD safe to those contractors that are active in the JCP and will only be sent directly to the contact listed under the applicable CAGE code/JCP certification number. The drawings and specifications will be sent to interested vendors with a valid DD2345 via DOD Safe. If the drawings and specifications have to be distributed to a subcontractor, the Offeror shall request permission from the POCs above.

4. Submission Details:

All interested vendors shall submit a capabilities statement that explicitly demonstrates their capability to provide/perform the requirement stated in this notice. The capabilities statement should be brief and concise yet clearly demonstrate an ability to meet the stated requirement. The response must not exceed 10 single spaced, 10-point font typed pages. Attachments with files ending in .zip or .exe are not allowable and will be deleted. Ensure only .pdf, .docx, .xlsx documents are provided. All other attachments may be deleted.

Small businesses are encouraged to submit a Statement of Capabilities demonstrating their ability to manufacture a portion of the requirement, even if they do not possess the capabilities to manufacture the entire requirement.

All interested vendors should submit a response demonstrating their capability to provide these items/perform this effort to the Point of Contact listed below. Proposals are not being requested or accepted at this time. As stipulated in FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No solicitation (Request for Proposal) exists currently; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. The decision to solicit for a contract shall be solely within the Government’s discretion.

The NAICS Code assigned to this acquisition is 332993 Ammunition Manufacturing, with a size standard of 1,500 employees. Respondents should indicate their size in relation to this size standard and indicate socio-economic status (i.e. SB, 8(a), HUBZone, EDWOSB, WOSB, or SDVOSB). Respondents are further requested to indicate their status as a Foreign-owned/Foreign-controlled firm and any contemplated use of foreign national employees on this effort. Foreign-owned/Foreign-controlled firms shall not be considered for this effort. The Government reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside based upon responses hereto for any subsequent action. All prospective contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database to be awarded a DoD contract. No set-aside decision has been made. Note that a key factor in determining an acquisition to be a Small Business Set Aside is that small business prime contractors must perform at least 50% of the effort, as defined in FAR Clause 52.219-14.

Interested parties should provide a company profile to include the following:

a. Company name.

b. Contractor Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code.

c. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.

d. Points of contact with telephone, email, and address contact information.

e. Indicate your company’s category (e.g., a US company, large or small business, and if a small business, whether they are a small business, 8(a) concern, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned business, HUB Zone small business, small, disadvantaged business, or women-owned small business as defined by the planned NAICS code listed).

f. Your intentions to compete on any resulting RFP as a prime or as a subcontractor. Would your company partner with other firms and, if so, who? Specify which firms are US owned, and which are foreign owned.

g. Provide a brief history highlighting past relevant experience with developing similar items, to include number of years and specific experience. For each item for which capabilities do not exist, identify how you will satisfy the requirement.

h. Indicate what risks or concerns you see with this envisioned acquisition, and what your suggested mitigation strategies are.

i. Identify your technology readiness level for your proposed solution.

j. What Government Furnished Property would you envision the need for in order to perform this effort?

k. Estimate a timeline for the following:

i. Procurement of long-lead materials

ii. Procurement of long-lead boring and tools

iii. Forging, Manufacturing, and Delivery of Large Penetrator warhead cases (Full and Scaled versions)

The Government will use this information to determine if there are interested and qualified sources. Those desiring to do business with the Air Force must be registered in the Government's System for Award Management system located at https://www.sam.gov.

Information submitted regarding this effort shall be provided at the unclassified level. If respondents wish to restrict distribution of Capability Statements, they must be marked and distributed appropriately.

Interested parties should mark all responses accordingly prior to submission. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information.

Respondents are responsible for protecting and marking proprietary information at the appropriate level.

Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations.

5. Government Advisors:

Respondents to this Sources Sought are advised that proprietary, confidential, or privileged commercial data submitted as part of your response may be released to non-Government advisors supporting the Government in this acquisition. Although the Government's contracts with these advisors require non-disclosure agreements, please indicate in your response to this synopsis if your firm has objections to the use of these advisors. These advisors are employed by HX5, COLSA, DCS, ARS Astrion, Canvas, Credence, Torch or Odyssey Systems. Specify the specific basis of the objection, and the specific portions that the respondent objects to disclosure to non-Government advisors.

6. Other Information:

All responsible sources may submit information that shall be considered by the agency. If late information is received, it may be considered, depending on agency time constraints. All routine communications regarding the announcement should be directed to the contractual point of contact listed in this posting.

The Government may or may not use any responses to the Sources Sought as a basis for a subsequent project/requirement. Any project/requirement developed from the Sources Sought responses may be the subject of a subsequent acquisition; any such subsequent acquisition will be posted in Sam.gov separately.

Responses to the Sources Sought will not be returned. The Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to the respondents with respect to any of the information submitted under the Sources Sought. No requests for a bid package or solicitation will be accepted; a bid package or solicitation does not exist at this time.

7. Questions:

Please send any questions Steven Wagner, Contracting Officer at steven.wagner.13@us.af.mil or Christy Cross, Contract Specialist at christy.cross.2@us.af.mil no later than 12:00 P.M. (CST), 26 JANUARY 2026. All correspondence sent via email shall contain a subject line that reads “26LGPENSTEEL.”

https://www.sam.gov/

8. Sources Sought Response Due Date:

Responses are due no later than 2:00 P.M. (CST), 10 February 2026. Responses are to be submitted electronically to Steven Wagner, Contracting Officer at steven.wagner.13@us.af.mil or Christy Cross, Contract Specialist at christy.cross.2@us.af.mil. All correspondence sent via email shall contain a subject line that reads “26LGPENSTEEL.” If this subject line is not included, the e-mail may not get through e-mail filters at Eglin AFB. Filters are designed to delete emails without a subject or with a suspicious subject or attachment. Attachments with files ending in .zip or .exe are not allowable and will be deleted. Ensure only .pdf, .docx, .xlsx documents are attached to your email. All other attachments may be deleted.