NGP_RFI_7Feb2024.pdf

Next Generation Penetrator Agency: Department of the Air Force Office: Air Force Material Command Location: AFLCMC/EBDK – Eglin Air Force Base

Notice Type: Request for Information NAICS Code: 332993 – Ammunition Manufacturing

1. Disclosure:

This is a Request for Information (RFI) 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 RFI 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 RFI 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 RFI or subsequent submittals of information. All costs associated with responding to this RFI 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 RFI. Respondents to this RFI 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 seeks to better characterize the technological, manufacturing, and business capabilities of the industrial base to develop and produce a materiel solution to address this operational objective. AFLCMC/EBD will use this information to inform its trade space analysis of industry capabilities that can potentially meet technology demonstration needs for a Next Generation Penetrator (NGP) requirement.

3. Requirement:

The United States Air Force (USAF) is seeking to identify capable vendors for the development of a prototype penetrator warhead design capable of defeating Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) identified in the 2012 Hard Target Munitions (HTM) Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) and HTM AoA Excursion from 2019. Details will be provided at Industry Day. Additionally, the USAF is seeking to identify vendors specialized in the design, development, and production of precision guidance systems for potential integration into this class of penetrator weapon.

The prototype penetrator warhead design effort should allow integration of technologies acquired and lessons learned under previous penetrator warhead developments to meet performance requirements for the HDBT target set.

The USAF will consider novel, demonstrated, or fielded Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) technologies with viability for integration into a warhead guidance system design that can achieve repeatable, high accuracy performance in GPS aided, degraded, and/or denied environments.

The Government will assess conceptual capabilities and associated acquisition approaches to execute a feasible and affordable technology demonstration event in an accelerated 18-to-24-month timeframe.

Respondents are requested to provide the following information and should tailor their responses based on their proposed team or company strategy. Citing prior experiences relating to the referenced activities below will aid in the Government assessment of industry capability.

Weapon Open Systems Architecture (WOSA) is required for all weapon concepts. Address the extent to which the Weapons Government Reference Architecture (GRA), WOSA, and hardware/software modularity are included in the interfaces across the system design and the subsystem design of key components. Response must specify limited rights per domain.

4. Capabilities:

AFLCMC/EBD requests white papers on notional penetrator designs and/or GNC capabilities from the industrial base to address necessary performance requirements identified in the following sections:

4.1 Prototype Warhead Design

4.1.1 Specification

a. Warhead prototype design not to exceed 22,000 pounds.

b. Capable of blast / frag / and penetration effects.

c. Possible integration of embedded fuze technology.

d. Prototype Delivery: ~10 subscale and 3-5 full-scale warheads 18-24 months from contract award.

e. Provide notional contractor average unit production price for the concept.

f. Provide schedule breakdown, with detail, on how the 18–24-month timeline can be met.

4.1.2 Experience

The vendor submissions should, at a minimum, provide evidence that the contractor has:

a. Engaged in this type and magnitude of weapon design, evaluation, validation, and modeling & simulation.

b. Demonstrated ability to execute rapid design and development in 18-24 months.

c. Evidence or examples of industry partnerships which ensure one’s ability to accelerate rapid prototyping and manufacturing.

d. Demonstrated proven inhouse/complimentary outsourced Modeling and Simulation capabilities to validate system designs against system requirements. Complimentary examples may be outsourced lethality/vulnerability analysis capability.

e. Ability to perform oversite of manufacturing processes and techniques, to include evidence or demonstration of the source's understanding of relevant metallurgical and engineering techniques for fabricating large warhead cases as well as smaller aft-end component parts sets.

f. Successfully prototyped or manufactured previous warhead efforts, provide evidence. If not, provide evidence on how they will accomplish necessary prototype delivery.

g. Identified any perceived risk with the proposed procurement (technical, cost drivers, schedule) and describe reasonable mitigation strategy.

4.2 Guidance, Navigation, and Control

4.2.1 Specification

a. Navigation System capable of operating in a GPS degraded/denied environment.

b. Terminal Accuracy: CE90 w/in 2.2m both in GPS aided, degraded, and denied environments.

c. Novel, demonstrated, or fielded technologies.

d. Provide notional contractor average unit production price for the concept.

e. Provide schedule breakdown, with detail, on how the 18–24-month timeline can be met.

4.2.2 Experience

The vendor submissions should, at a minimum, provide evidence that the contractor has:

a. Engaged in or can engage in this type and magnitude of GNC integration on systems.

b. Demonstrated ability to design and develop unique guidance solutions.

c. Proven ability to execute rapid design and development in a timeframe of 18-24 months.

d. Evidence or examples of industry partnerships which ensure one’s ability to accelerate rapid prototyping, development, manufacturing, and integration.

e. Demonstrated proven inhouse or outsourced Modeling and Simulation capabilities to validate GNC system capabilities against requirements.

f. Identified any perceived risk with the proposed procurement (technical, cost drivers, schedule) and describe reasonable mitigation strategy.

5. Submission Details:

Respondents may submit whitepapers according to the following instructions:

For warhead submissions:

Please limit your response to no more than 15 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 attached to your email. All other attachments may be deleted.

For guidance submissions:

Please limit your response to no more than 15 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 attached to your email. All other attachments may be deleted.

For AUR submissions:

If a respondent has the capability to meet the need of both the warhead and guidance sections of this RFI, the respondent may submit an additional All Up Round (AUR) white paper detailing prospective integration capabilities for guidance interface with the warhead. Respondents shall respond to the AUR submission by submitting BOTH white papers for the warhead and guidance requirements, as specified above, AND a separate white paper detailing their AUR approach to the requirement. In addition to the two separate sections for warhead and guidance, please include no more than 5 single spaced, 10-point font typed pages detailing your AUR approach. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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. Point 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?

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.

6. Government Advisors:

Respondents to this RFI 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, Quantitech or Odyssey Systems.

https://www.sam.gov/

Specify the specific basis of the objection, and the specific portions that the respondent objects to disclosure to non-Government advisors.

7. 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 RFI as a basis for a subsequent project/requirement. Any project/requirement developed from the RFI responses may be the subject of a subsequent acquisition; any such subsequent acquisition will be posted in Sam.gov separately. Responses to the RFI 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 RFI. No requests for a bid package or solicitation will be accepted; a bid package or solicitation does not exist at this time.

8. RFI Questions:

Questions are due no later than 2:00 P.M. (CST), 20 February 2024. Questions are to be submitted to Capt. Mandi Johnson, Contracting Officer, mandi.johnson.3@us.af.mil and Christy Cross, Contract Specialist, christy.cross.2@us.af.mil. All questions should be emailed only as to avoid any misunderstanding or confusion. Questions received are planned to be answered openly at an Industry Day. All correspondence sent via email shall contain a subject line that reads “Next Generation Penetrator.” 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. The Government reserves the right to not read or accept late question submittals.

9. Industry Day:

The Government will host an Industry Day and one-on-one sessions held on or near Eglin AFB on 5 and 6 March 2024. The Government will host an open forum presentation and question and answer session on 5 March 2024. The following day, 6 March 2024, will be one-on-one discussions with contractors desiring further clarification and to address any specific questions relevant to their proposed concepts/ approach. Time of the one-on-one sessions will be determined by number of interested respondents (est 30-45 min). Government responses to questions will be shared with all contractors. Contractors having any electronic presentation materials for this session must provide via email to Capt. Mandi Johnson, mandi.johnson.3@us.af.mil and Christy Cross, christy.cross.2@us.af.mil or via DoD SAFE (link must be requested) NLT noon, 28 February 2024 to ensure they are received prior to the one-on-one sessions.

The industry day briefing and one-on- one meetings will be held at the collateral SECRET//NOFORN level.

The first-round questions, and any other questions addressed at this Industry Day, will be posted on SAM.Gov no later than 3 days after the Industry Day.

10. Attendance of Industry Day:

If the respondent plans to attend the Industry Day, please provide a list of attendees to Capt. Mandi Johnson, mandi.johnson.3@us.af.mil and Christy Cross, christy.cross.2@us.af.mil via email. Attendance will be limited to up to three attendees per company depending on the number of interested companies we receive. In your attendee list, please include three primary and one alternate name. In order to be cleared for industry day, follow directions in paragraph 11. This must be done no later than close of business day mailto:mandi.johnson.3@us.af.mil mailto:christy.cross.2@us.af.mil mailto:mandi.johnson.3@us.af.mil mailto:christy.cross.2@us.af.mil mailto:mandi.johnson.3@us.af.mil mailto:christy.cross.2@us.af.mil

14 February 2024 to allow proper processing time. If the individual is not cleared prior to arrival they will be unable to attend.

In preparation of the Industry Day being held on base, please also fill out the attached Base Access Form.

This form must be returned to Capt. Mandi Johnson, mandi.johnson.3@us.af.mil and Christy Cross, christy.cross.2@us.af.mil, via email, no later than close of business day 14 February 2024 to allow proper processing time.

11. Security Requirements:

Require at a minimum Secret Collateral Clearance. Security clearances are to be sent via DISS:

SMO Code: AFLCMC EBD (space between C and E) Visit Name: NGP Industry Day Dates: 5 and 6 March 2024 POCs: Capt. Mandi Johnson, 850-882-1438

This must be done no later than close of business day 14 February 2024 to allow proper processing time.

12. RFI Response Due Date Responses are due no later than 2:00 P.M. (CST), 22 March 2024. Responses are to be submitted to Capt. Mandi Johnson, Contracting Officer, mandi.johnson.3@us.af.mil and Christy Cross, Contract Specialist, christy.cross.2@us.af.mil. All correspondence sent via email shall contain a subject line that reads “Next Generation Penetrator.” 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.

Attachments:

1. Base Access Form