Call for Solution - AdvM Vacuum Furnace Post Processing Capability.pdf

Call for Solution for Advanced Manufacturing Vacuum Furnace Post Processing Capability

Project Number PANRSA-26-P-0000 037993

Army Open Solicitation (AOS) Number

W9128Z-25-S-A002

Call for Solution Title Advanced Manufacturing Vacuum Furnace Heat Treat

Issued By

Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (ACC- RSA) Redstone Services and Information Technology Solutions Branch (CCAM-CAC-B)

Submission Instructions To respond to this Call for Solution, please refer to Sections 7 and 10 of this Call for Solution

*Solution Briefs Due Date/Time (Suspense)

01 July 2026, 12:00 PM Central Daylight Time

Point of Contacts (POCs) for Solution Brief Submission:

Contracting Officer: Portia Sampson, Portia.r.sampson.civ@army.mil

Contract Specialist: Morgan McGee, morgan.p.mcgee2.civ@army.mil

*Any submissions that are received by the Contracting Officer after the suspense date/time listed above will be deemed late and not evaluated. It is the sole responsibility of the company to ensure that its submission is received in the inbox listed above before the deadline specified.

This Call for Solution may result in the Government awarding Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) contracts or non-FAR agreements in accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 212.70 – Defense Commercial Solutions Opening. This Call for Solution, and any Other Transaction (OT) that may be awarded from this Call for Solution, is not subject to the FAR or its supplements.

1. BACKGROUND

The US Army recognizes the need for accelerated modernization of weapon systems through Advanced Manufacturing (AdvM) technologies that directly address issues and challenges in the supply chain to underpin readiness of Army materiel. In accordance with (IAW) Army Regulation (AR) 750-1 (Army Materiel Maintenance Policy) and companion Department of the Army Pamphlet (DA PAM) 750-1 (Army Materiel Maintenance Procedures), Commanders, U.S. Army Organic Industrial Base (OIB) activities will develop additive and advanced capabilities consistent with Army Materiel Command (AMC) guidance to produce Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) quality parts for use to meet obsolescence and other readiness requirements as required.

This Call for Solution aims to expand vacuum furnace heat treat capacity for post processing requirements specific to AdvM capability at Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD), Corpus Christi, TX.

2. PROBLEM STATEMENT

The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) require immediate integration of a vacuum furnace heat treat capacity specific to AdvM capability at CCAD to address critical readiness gaps in aviation maintenance operations. Current supply chain constraints result in extended lead times for obsolete and low-demand repair parts, directly impacting Aircraft on Ground (AOG) rates and operational readiness across rotary-wing platforms. The integration of AdvM post processing technology will enable CCAD to rapidly fabricate qualified parts, tools, jigs, fixtures, and ground support equipment in accordance with applicable airworthiness qualification requirements.

CCAD currently faces critical readiness gaps and elevated AOG rates due to persistent supply chain delays for obsolete rotary wing components. While AdvM offers a viable pathway to rapidly fabricate these complex, high performance alloy parts, current post processing capabilities represent a significant bottleneck. Traditional vacuum furnaces are insufficient for this mission critical application; they lack the advanced, 360-degree cooling uniformity required to prevent component distortion and ensure the strict microstructural integrity necessary for airworthiness qualification. Furthermore, legacy heat treatment systems lack modern, data driven predictive maintenance capabilities, which limits their operational availability and reliability. The Army requires an innovative post processing solution that moves beyond standard commercial heat treatment specifications. The required solution must integrate novel technologies such as highly uniform internal quenching for complex AdvM geometries and intelligent sustainment software to enable the rapid, reliable qualification and fielding of mission-critical aviation components.

3. DESIRED SOLUTION OBJECTIVES

The U.S. Army AMCOM is seeking a vacuum furnace capability for immediate integration at CCAD. Any offered solutions shall be inclusive of the following: shipping costs with onsite installations to include all heavy equipment handling, ancillary equipment, operating software, warranties, sustainment to include preventative maintenance, and on-demand technical support as requested.

Refer to Table 1: Description of Supplies - CCAD for a detailed list with duration and delivery timeframe.

Solutions shall be capable of meeting the following requirements:

• Maximum Load Dimensions (W x H x L) o 36” x 36” x 48” (914 mm x 914 mm x 1219 mm)

• Maximum Weight Capacity o 3,000 lb (1,361 kg)

• Operating Temperature o 900 oF – 2400 oF (482 oC – 1,316 oC)

• Quench Pressure o Up to 12 bar

• Features o Internal quenching with 360-degree cooling uniformity o Quarter-twist graphite or molybdenum heating element support hangers o Flare-locking rim for molybdenum colling gas nozzles o Nozzle system capable of providing uniform quench with a convection option

• Offered solutions shall be produced in the continental United States.

Proposals shall include the following:

• All required ancillary equipment to include but not limited to water cooling system and inert gas backfill reservoir (nitrogen and argon).

• Facility transformers for power requirements.

• Dew point monitoring system.

• Temperature Uniformity Survey (TUS) capability.

• Extended warranty for a minimum of two (2) years in addition to the one (1) year warranty included with the furnace, cooling tower, and buffer tanks for a total of three

(3) warranty years.

• Predictive maintenance software licensed for a total of three (3) years, inclusive of one

(1) year included with procurement.

• Preventative Maintenance (PM) for a minimum of (2) years in addition to the one (1) year included with the furnace, cooling tower, and buffer tanks for a total of three (3) PM years. PM shall be inclusive of regular inspections of vital components; leak checks; burnouts; oil changes and other maintenance tasks; calibrations; regular cleaning of all components; inspections of all vacuum & pressure switches and safety interlocks; service technician support for onsite repairs & troubleshooting with onsite support arriving no later than (NLT) 48 hours after initiating a service request (Monday

– Friday); and remote technical support during CCAD business hours.

• Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) inclusive of testing and inspection.

• The proposal response shall include costs for 100% turnkey onsite installation at CCAD inclusive of heavy equipment movers/riggers and all required equipment (e.g., rigging equipment, forklift), personnel to complete the assembly, leveling, alignment, anchoring, SAT, and TUS; and all required electrical and piping materials for connection to CCAD’s utility systems (electricity and inert gas & cooling water) shall be shipped to CCAD NLT 90 days prior to system delivery for CCAD facility modifications.

• The selected source shall provide a point of contact (POC) for coordination with CCAD and oversight from shipment through SAT completion, to include conducing an initial site survey with a written installation plan with supporting installation drawing(s) and a bill of material (BOM) identifying all required facility modifications and utility connections NLT 90 days prior to system delivery. The POC is responsible for working with the CCAD POC(s) to ensure compliance with all CCAD Naval Air Station (NAS) code, safety, and security requirements.

• Training shall consist of initial training for AdvM vacuum furnace heat treat at installation location, to include up to four-day course for up to five (5) personnel. The selected source shall provide a training certificate of completion for each CCAD personnel trained.

• The selected source shall provide documentation confirming compliance with all Anti- Terrorism and Operational Security (AT/OPSEC) requirements for any personnel supporting the as detailed in paragraph 11 of this Call for Solutions NLT thirty (30) days prior to arrival at CCAD for the site survey, installation, and any PM-related activities.

No. Description UOM QTY Duration Requested Delivery CLIN

High-Pressure Vacuum Furnace System

Unit Each 1 - 8 Months ARO 0001 2 Dew Point Monitoring System Integrated Each 1 - 8 Months ARO 0002 3 Ancillary Infrastructure Package Lot 1 - 8 Months ARO 0003 4 Facility Transformers, Industrial Lot 1 - 8 Months ARO 0004

Control System, Software Integration, Network integration Lot 1 - 8 Months ARO

6 Initial Spare Parts Kit Consumables Lot 1 - 8 Months ARO 0006

Freight & Rigging Services Transportation to

CCAD Lot 1 1 Month 8–9 Months ARO 0007

Site Survey, Installation Plan, Installation &

Commissioning, Utility, SAT, and TUS Lot 1 1 Month 9-10 Months ARO 0008

Training (Operator & Maintenance), On-site instruction for CCAD Lot 1 As Proposed 10 Months ARO 0009

10 Extended Warranty (Years 2 & 3) Lot 1 24 Months 12 Months ARO 0010 11 Preventative Maintenance (Years 2 & 3) Lot 1 24 Months 12 Months ARO 0011

Table 1: Description of Supplies – CCAD

4. AWARDING INSTRUMENT

In accordance with Open Solicitation Procedures detailed within W9128Z-25-S-A0021, the Government intends to award FAR Part 12, Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) type contract(s) as a result of this Call. The Government further reserves the right to reward to all, some, or none of the companies who submit proposals. This Call for Solution will utilize Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) procedures. Use of a CSO in accordance with DFARS subpart 212.70 is considered to be a competitive procedure for the purposes of 10 U.S.C. chapter 221 and FAR subpart 6.102.

5. SOLICITATION NOTES

The response process for this Call will generally consist of the following phases:

Phase 1: Solution Brief

Offerors will submit a high-level summary of their proposed solution, addressing the government’s objectives and requirements.

Phase 2: Pitch (unless bypassed)

Selected offerors may be invited to present and discuss their solution in a live or virtual setting.

Phase 3: Solution Proposal

Offerors advancing to this phase will be invited to submit a detailed proposal for final evaluation and potential award.

Detailed submission requirements for Phase 1 are provided in Section 6. Evaluation criteria for Phase 1 are outlined in Section 7. Phase 2 and/or Phase 3 submission requirements and evaluation criteria will be provided via subsequent invitation letters.

5.2 General Notes

• Offerors are reminded that all awards are subject to the availability of funds and the Government reserves the right to make multiple awards, a single award, or no award as a result of this Call.

• Only a Contracting or Agreements Officer has the authority to enter into, modify, or execute a binding instrument on behalf of the United States Government. All payment obligations are subject to Congressional appropriations.

• To be eligible for award, offerors must:

o Possess a Unique Entity ID (UEI) and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award and maintain active registration throughout the period of performance.

o Register in the prescribed government invoicing system (e.g., Wide Area Workflow).

1https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/cca74bd099c04e1f9b88018c995a248e/view https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/cca74bd099c04e1f9b88018c995a248e/view o Accurately represent their small business size and status as required.

o Be determined responsible by the Contracting/Agreements Officer and not be suspended, debarred, or otherwise prohibited from receiving an award.

o Disclose any actual or potential Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCIs) to the Contracting/Agreements Officer prior to award.

In addition to the general guidelines included in the solicitation referenced in the parent solicitation, the following guidelines apply to this Call for Solution:

• Offerors are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for any amendments to this solicitation that may have updated information.

• The Government will give preference to submissions that demonstrate an innovative, existing, and verifiable ability to accomplish the desired solution attributes listed in Section 3.

• All solution briefs will be valid for 180 calendar days after the submission date.

• Submissions must identify any intellectual property involved in the effort and any associated restrictions on the Government’s use of that intellectual property.

• The Government reserves the right to go directly from a submission to an award.

• The Government reserves the right to award more than one (1) award resulting from this Call for Solution or to make no award.

6. GENERAL INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS

Questions are to be sent only to the Points of Contact (POCs) listed in this Call for Solution. The following shall be utilized in the email subject line: ‘Call for Solution – Advanced Manufacturing Vacuum Furnace Post Processing Capability’.

Material questions and answers will be published and updated on SAM.gov.

The deadline to submit questions for Phase I is 24 June 2026.

7. SOLUTION SUBMISSION REQUIRMENTS

The Government will utilize up to three (3) phases for assessing solutions:

7.1. Phase 1 – Solution Brief Content

Solution Briefs shall not exceed five (5) written pages using 12-point Times New Roman font or, alternatively, may take the form of briefing slides not exceeding fifteen (15) slides. The Government will not consider inserted textboxes/pop-ups or internet links to additional information as part of the Solution Brief and will not consider such information in its evaluation. Solution Briefs are intended to be clear and concise.

Solution Briefs shall include the following at a minimum:

a. Title Page (does not count against page limit)

i. Company Name, Title, Date, Point of Contact Name, E-Mail Address, Phone, Address, Address, and Call reference number. If registered in SAM.gov, include the Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code and Unique Entity Identification (UEI) code.

ii. Specifically identify the Call for which the Solution Brief is submitted.

b. Executive Summary (one page)

i. Provide an executive summary of the technology.

c. High-Level Technology Solution/Concept

i. Describe the unique aspects of your solution/concept and its relevance to the respective Call/Topic.

ii. Explain whether the solution/concept is innovative and/or a potential capability.

iii. Describe how your proposed solution/concept solves a capability gap/problem and/or provides innovative technological advancements.

iv. Outline the capabilities and scalability of the solution/concept.

v. Describe the benefits of your solution/concept as it applies to the respective Call/Topic.

vi. Explain how the proposed technical approach is feasible, achievable, and supported by a technical team with the expertise and experience to accomplish the proposed solution/concept.

vii. Provide a proposed project schedule and total estimated out-the-door price and describe how the proposed schedule is achievable for the proposed solution/concept.

viii. If Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), identify whether the proposed solution/concept includes a pilot or demonstration of an existing commercial technology (identified as commercially ready and viable technology), or the development of technology for potential defense application.

If development or adaptation is proposed, identify a suggested path to mature the technology.

Identify aspects which may be considered proprietary.

d. Company Viability

i. Provide a brief overview of the company. Include a summary of current fundraising to date or a summary of top-line (gross sales/revenues).

ii. If CSO, provide a summary of product/solution commercialization and go-to-market strategy.

e. Affirmation of Business Status Certification (does not count against page limit) Note: Only required for OTs.

i. Include documentation for each company that would be a participant in the solution/concept (see Attachment X).

f. Intellectual Property Statement/Agreement/Disclosures (does not count against page limit)

i. As needed, include a separate disclosure for each company that would be a participant in the solution/concept.

The Government may be unable to evaluate the Solution Brief if a Company fails to provide the information requested above.

7.2 Phase 2 – Pitch

Phase 2 submission requirements and evaluation criteria will be outlined in the invitation to this phase, unless bypassed.

7.3 Phase 3 – Proposal

Phase 3 submission requirements and evaluation criteria will be outlined in the invitation to this phase.

8. NON-GOVERNMENT ADVISORS

Non-government advisors will not participate during the evaluation process.

9. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (OCI)

The Offeror shall perform an OCI analysis and submit the results of that analysis in addition to the white paper submission. The OCI analysis does not count towards the 5-page limitation.

Specifically, the Offeror shall analyze the planned acquisition for actual or potential OCI situations associated with the Offeror or any of the Offeror’s proposed teammates or subcontractor’s performance under any contract or agreement the Offeror or the Offeror’s teammates or subcontractors has been or may be awarded by any federal agency or other entity. The Offeror shall describe in detail the methodology used to identify actual or potential OCI issues. If the Offeror identifies any actual or potential OCIs with respect to the performance of the Offeror or the Offeror’s subcontractors or teammates, the contractor shall provide an OCI Mitigation Plan to be incorporated as an attachment to any resulting contract or agreement.

Any proposed avoidance or mitigation techniques shall be consistent with FAR 9.5 and the most recent decisions of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

10. EVALUATION CRITERIA

The Government will evaluate submissions based on their potential to satisfy the needs of the Government’s SOO. Proposals will be evaluated on their own technical merit and not against other submissions. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price. The evaluation factors are listed below in descending order of importance:

1. Technical Merit and Relevance: The solution's applicability to the Government’s SOO, its scientific and technical feasibility, and its potential to significantly enhance HQ AMC and OIB capabilities.

2. Innovation and Uniqueness: The degree to which the proposed solution is new, underutilized, or uniquely applied to solve an Army problem.

3. Company Viability: The offeror's ability to execute the proposed effort, including relevant corporate experience, personnel qualifications, and a sound business model.

4. Price and Affordability: The reasonableness of the proposed price and the overall affordability of the solution for the Government. Price will be considered to the extent appropriate to determine fairness and reasonableness.

Notice to offerors: The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used during evaluations.

Any AI tools utilized by the Government will be employed in a manner consistent with applicable regulations that govern the protection of proprietary and source selection sensitive information. No proposal data will be transmitted to or processed by external, non- Government systems without appropriate safeguards and authorizations in place.

11. ANTITERRORISM (AT), OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC)

Offerors shall ensure that the following required language is included in the proposed SOW.

AT Level I Awareness training. All contractor employees, including subcontractor employees, requiring access to Army installations, facilities and controlled access areas shall complete AT Level I Awareness training within 30 calendar days after contract start date or effective date of incorporation of this requirement into the contract, whichever is applicable. The contractor shall submit certificates of completion for each affected contractor employee and subcontractor employee, to the COR or to the contracting officer, if a COR is not assigned, within 15 calendar days after completion of training by all employees and subcontractor personnel. AT level I Awareness training is available at the following website:

http://jko.jten.mil.

Access and general protection/security policy and procedures. Contractor and all associated subcontractor employees shall provide all information required for background checks to meet installation access requirements to be accomplished by installation Provost Marshal Office, Director of Emergency Services or Security Office. Contractor workforce must comply with all personal identity verification requirements (FAR clause 52.204-9, Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel) as directed by DOD, HQDA and/or local policy. In addition to the changes otherwise authorized by the changes clause of this contract, should the Force Protection Condition (FPCON) at any individual facility or installation change, the Government may require changes in contractor security matters or processes.

For contractors that do not require CAC but require access to a DoD facility or installation.

Contractor and all associated sub-contractors employees shall comply with adjudication standards and procedures using the National Crime Information Center Interstate Identification Index (NCIC-III) and Terrorist Screening Database (Army Directive 2014-05/AR 190-13), applicable installation, facility and area commander installation/facility access and local security policies and procedures (provided by government representative); or, at OCONUS locations, in accordance with status of forces agreements and other theater regulations.

iWATCH Training. The contractor and all associated sub-contractors shall brief all employees on the local iWATCH Army program (training standards provided by the requiring activity ATO). This local developed training will be used to inform employees of the types of behavior to watch for and instruct employees to report suspicious activity to the COR. This training shall be completed within 30 calendar days of contract award and within 30 calendar days of new employees commencing performance with the results reported to the COR NLT 30 calendar days after contract award.

http://jko.jten.mil/

For contracts that require OPSEC Training. Per AR 530-1, Operations Security, the contractor employees must complete Level I OPSEC Awareness training. New employees must be trained within 30 calendar days of their reporting for duty and annually thereafter.