RFI_CompositeArmor_Final.pdf

UNCLASSIFIED

SBU - CONTRACTING AND ACQUISITIONS

SBU - CONTRACTING AND ACQUISITIONS

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

and

SOURCES SOUGHT

ARMORED VEHICLE COMPOSITE ARMOR SOLUTIONS AND JOINING

METHODOLOGY

A. PURPOSE

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) / Sources Sought (SS) is to accomplish market research pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, and to identify businesses capable of performing the functions described herein. The Government is requesting information regarding the capabilities of companies and information that could support development of the requirements of the Department of State (DOS) as described in this RFI/SS.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. This RFI/SS is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a solicitation or a promise to issue a solicitation in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Furthermore, the Government is not seeking proposals.

Respondents are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI/SS; all costs associated with responding to this RFI/SS will be solely at the respondent’s expense. Not responding to this RFI/SS does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if any is issued; however, industry responses, or lack of responses may impact the future strategy of Government acquisition efforts.

B. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES (SOO)

Project: Armored Vehicle Composite Armor Solutions and Joining Methodology

1.0 Purpose

The Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Countermeasures

Directorate, Office of Physical Security Programs, Defensive Equipment and Armored

Vehicle Division (DS/C/PSP/DEAV) is seeking an industry partner to conduct research and analysis on possible composite armor materials as well as manufacturing processes and joining methods as a lighter replacement for currently used metallic vehicle armor.

• Provide lighter composite armor materials to replace currently utilized metallic armor with equal or increased ballistic and blast protection.

• Design armor sections such that they may be effectively joined without compromising ballistic and blast protection at seams.

2.0 Objectives

The objective of this requirement is to reduce overall weight of DEAV AVs and reduce the excess wear on mechanical components caused by increased weight.

3.0 Background

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The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) provides security for U.S. personnel overseas and foreign dignitaries visiting the U.S. AVs are a key component in providing effective security and the Defensive Equipment and Armored Vehicle Division

(DEAV) of the Office of Physical Security Programs (PSP), Countermeasures

Directorate, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), purchases armored sedans, SUVs and vans for both the Department of State (the Department) and other federal agencies and departments.

Currently, DEAV has a deployed AV fleet of over 4,000 armored vehicles and an additional several hundred AVs in production. A recurring issue that arises when armoring commercially available automobiles is the stress that a significantly increased Gross Vehicle Weight puts on vehicle components. Suspension, tires, and drivetrain are negatively impacted by the increased weight, and performance is degraded in acceleration, braking, steering, and handling.

Several composite armor materials are commercially available, but a major problem is the joining of separate pieces. Currently used metallic armor can be welded together to form a strong bond without significant effort or complicated processes. Composite armor cannot be joined this way and will require a different bonding process. DEAV requires a lightweight, composite armor that can perform as well or better than currently used metallic armor, and a comprehensive manufacturing and installation process that will effectively join separate pieces without loss of protection.

4.0 Organizational Background

As the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Department of State, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. DS is the most widely represented

U.S. law enforcement and security organization in the world and protects people, property, and information at 275 State Department missions around the globe. Every

U.S. diplomatic mission in the world operates under a security program designed and maintained by Diplomatic Security. To achieve its mission, DS is a leader in detecting and mitigating terrorist threats to American lives and facilities, mounting international investigations, and developing innovations in security training, cyber security, and physical security engineering.

The DS Countermeasures Directorate (DS/C) manages the development and implementation of all physical and technical countermeasures security standards and policies that apply to U. S. Department of State facilities domestically and overseas;

securely transports classified diplomatic materials across international borders; and provides defensive equipment to protect the lives of U.S. government personnel, classified information, and property.

The Office of Physical Security Programs directs the development of Overseas

Security Policy Board (OSPB) security standards and Department policies and procedures associated with the physical security, construction security, transit security, secure procurement, defensive equipment, and armored vehicle programs at U.S.

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missions. The office provides oversight on the implementation of these programs abroad to ensure compliance with the OSPB security standards.

The Defensive Equipment and Armored Vehicle Division (DEAV) manages the

Department's domestic and overseas special protective equipment (SPE) and armored vehicle (AV) program. DEAV represents the Department to international and U.S.

Government interagency committees involved in developing uniform security standards for defensive equipment and armored vehicles.

5.0 Scope of Services

The scope encompasses recommendations for standard procedures, developed through the application of specific subject matter expertise to composite armor materials and composite armor material bonding, project management and oversight, all tools, and specialized ballistic and blast testing facilities. The tasks are expected to include:

• Validation and verification of DEAV requirements for armor resistance to blast and ballistic projectiles.

• Market research and analysis of available composite armors with respect to blast and ballistic resistance as well as manufacturing and forming capabilities.

• Market research and analysis of available composite bonding techniques and technologies to minimize loss of ballistic and blast protection at armor seams.

• Performance of armor testing including defining a test procedure for recreating standard blast and ballistic threats that conform to DEAV standards, evaluation of composite armor performance and the performance of various bonding methods, and determination of which composite armor and bonding method best provides the desired results.

• Perform a cost/benefit analysis of proposed composite armor systems weight reduction, threat protection, and monetary cost against currently used armor systems.

6.0 Performance Standards

• Project plans and schedules are consistently accurate and complete. Project milestones and deliverables are completed in the time projected.

• Requirements are validated and verified against Government-provided use cases, constraints, and concepts of operation. Incomplete or inconsistent sets of requirements or use cases are flagged and reported to the Government with recommendations for corrective action.

• Test plans/procedures accurately recreate armor layout and seam dimensions found in current production vehicles (e.g. the composite armor must still fit within vehicle doors, above headliners, below flooring, etc) with accurate blast and ballistic threats applied.

• Recommendations identify armors and bonding techniques that are cost-effective, weight-saving, and maintain or improve threat protection.

• Estimated costs and timeframes to implement solutions are realistic and accurately forecasted. Sourcing recommendations factor in elements such as the

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value of any warranties, supplier reliability, and performance and maintenance trends.

• Deliverables meet or exceed content and template standards and are usable, responsive, technically accurate and complete. Recommendations are fully supported by the analyses and documentation.

• The status of ongoing projects is briefed to government management and staff weekly, at a minimum.

7.0 Period, Place of Performance

The period of performance is anticipated to be from award lasting approximately 8-12 months. Performance requirements verification and validation is to occur at DEAV facilities in Springfield, Virginia. Testing is to be conducted at the Contractor site or at laboratories or other facilities belonging to the Contractor or its subcontractors.

8.0 Deliverables

Contract deliverables shall include the following: A written overall Project Plan with detailed descriptions of all required tasks and a schedule of deliverable due dates, weekly written progress reports, a weekly conference call with the DEAV program office, and a final report.

The Project Plan is expected to be submitted via email to the COR and DEAV program office no later than 15 business days after contract award. Weekly written progress reports to be submitted via email to the COR and DEAV program office and weekly conference calls with the COR and DEAV program office shall both commence no later than five business days following contract award.

Additional deliverables are expected to consist of the following:

• Presentation Materials

• Project Manage Plan

• Monthly Status Reports

• Market research report.

• Composite armor and bonding test plan.

• Composite armor and bonding test report.

• Final Report: The final report shall include specific recommendations and detailed approaches for composite armor implementation by AV production companies and the bonding tools and techniques required.

9.0 Constraints

• The Contactor must have access to a instrumented blast/ballistic chamber or range that can accommodate full vehicle and component blast and ballistic testing, and must have the ability to conduct testing to the following standards:

AEP-55 .

NOTE: This effort will be unclassified.

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(End of SOO)

C. REQUESTED INFORMATION - RESPONSES

If your firm is capable and interested in working with the Government to provide feedback/market research in support of the Department of State, a capabilities document and narrative response is requested.

Response Shall Include:

Vendor Name

a) Identification of GSA Schedule 00CORP, (or new equivalent GSA Multiple Award

Schedule/MAS) Contract, including category(ies).

b) Business Size and Socio-Economic Status

c) Contact Information (Point of contact, phone, email)

d) Identify all of the following:

1. Recommendations of how the Government can improve the SOO (or convert to a

Performance Work Statement);

2. Recommendation for contract type and CLIN structure (Blanket Purchase

Agreement, Task Order, Labor Hours, Firm-Fixed Price, etc.)

3. Whether your firm is capable of achieving all objectives and requirements independently, or whether your firm will need to subcontract or team in order to do so;

a. Provide a description of the firm’s technical capabilities which would support the services described herein

b. Identify any potential subcontractors or partners that may be considered (if it is possible to release this information)

c. Identify the roles of the different entities in the anticipated team

4. Whether your firm (or team) has existing facilities for all blast and ballistic testing, or whether environments will need to be acquired/constructed in order to conduct required tests;

a. Identify the types of testing that have been successfully conducted at the facilities in the past, if applicable

b. Identify any constraints or limitations of the facilities with respect to their use for blast and ballistic testing, if applicable

5. What additional background information is needed (if any) to help firms accurately quote the work to support the above?

6. What additional performance standards are typical for testing and analysis services of this nature?

7. Provide market research pricing information, such as typical testing fees, market research and analysis, report generation and documentation fees, etc. What are the specific cost drivers in this type of work?

8. Questions your firm has for the Government regarding this emerging requirement.

9. Provide estimated timeline for the completion of the work identified in the SOO.

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Responses are requested in searchable Microsoft Windows-compatible format (i.e. .doc, .pdf, etc.) by the date noted in the RFI/SS announcement.

Responses may include up to 20 single-sided, double-spaced pages (including images or schematics) and submitted via e-mail only to Richard Crum at: crumrb@state.gov with a cc: to

Wanda Cruz at CruzWI@state.gov.

Notify the CO listed above as soon as possible if more time is needed to submit a complete response.

Proprietary information, if any, MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED FOR ALL PAGES

CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information from non-proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become

Government property and will not be returned.

D. INDUSTRY DISCUSSIONS

Government representatives may or may not choose to meet with respondents. Such meetings may be scheduled to gain further clarification of capabilities, gather market research information to support requirements development, and ascertain development and certification risks. This is, in no manner, an opportunity to submit a proposal.

E. SUMMARY

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT (SS) to identify sources and information. The information provided in the RFI/SS is subject to change and is not binding. The Government has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI/SS should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become

Government property and will not be returned.

mailto:crumrb@state.gov