RFI MDAC Rev1_20240719.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

ARMY RAPID CAPABILITIES AND CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE

3307 WELLS ROAD

REDSTONE ARSENAL, ALABAMA 35898-3801

SAAL-RCC-B 19 July 2024

MEMORANDUM FOR: Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon REQUEST FOR

INFORMATION

SUBJECT: The Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon (MDAC) Request for Information; Revision 1

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP). NO SOLICITATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS

TIME.

The Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) is seeking information on potential sources that could provide the necessary technical skills, facilities, tooling, and personnel to support prototyping a complete Multi-Domain Artillery Cannon (MDAC) prototype consisting of a wheeled self-propelled 155 mm weapon system and HVP-compatible propelling charge solution. Responses must clearly demonstrate technical qualifications, capability, and experience to provide a prototype MDAC solution with battery-level prototype deliveries no later than Q4FY27 followed by an Operational Demonstration (OD) in FY28. Upon the conclusion of the OD the prototype will be delivered to soldiers as a residual combat capability. Assumption for contract award is 3QFY25.

1. Overview

a. Current air and missile defense munitions require onboard guidance and targeting components that drive high munition procurement costs. In contrast, the MDAC seeks to significantly reduce munition costs and enhance expeditionary utility by developing a 155 mm artillery cannon-based air defense system capable of firing Hypervelocity projectiles (HVP)s, integrated into a wheeled platform. The HVP will communicate with off-board sensors that track both the HVP and the threat and complete the interception of the target. The MDAC will interface with an external GFP Command and Control Battle Manager (C2BM) and the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS).

b. The MDAC OD in FY28 will be composed of prototypes delivered under this RCCTO effort combined with similar prototypes delivered under separate Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) developed for the Hypervelocity Gun Weapon System (HGWS).

SAAL-RCC-B

UNCLASSIFIED

2. Scope of Support Effort

The contractor will be required to perform the following tasks to deliver MDAC prototypes interoperable with SCO prototypes.

Develop, manufacture, and deliver MDAC weapon system prototypes leveraging existing fielded and mature technologies with the following capabilities:

• Air, rail, and sea transportation per MIL-STD-1366

• Tactical mobility

• Weapon system survivability through the use of rapid emplacement and displacement

• Automated high rates of fire with HVP

• Remote weapon firing capability

• Integration with US government Battle Manager Vehicle and IBCS

• Large launch window enabled through large elevation and traverse range limits

• Peak rise pressure muzzle velocities set back, and accelerations much greater than surface-to-surface artillery

• Deep magazine capacity

• Rapid ammunition resupply time (manual and automated)

• High operational availability

• Demonstrate supportability, safety, and cybersecurity characteristics in the projectile design

The contractor can assume a 155 mm cannon will be provided as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). The contractor has the option to utilize their own 155 mm cannon but must include a response that shows a path to transition to a Government furnished cannon within five (5) years of this award.

Develop, manufacture, and deliver propelling charge solutions that are compatible with HVP and MDAC weapon system prototypes. Propelling charge solutions shall maximize muzzle velocity performance.

3. Response Guidelines

a. Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a capability statement that describes the contractor’s ability to meet the requirements. Submissions cannot exceed five (5) pages, single-spaced, 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font with at least one-inch margins on 8 1/2” X 11” page size. Tables, drawings, and header/footer information shall be 10-point Arial font or larger. All questions, requests and submissions should be provided to the following Government POCs: Joshua Flinn, at joshua.e.flinn.civ@army.mil, and Sydney Horn, at sydney.m.horn.civ@army.mil.

Additional technical information for the scope detailed above and the prototype characteristics is available upon submission of a CAGE code to the Government POCs listed above. Upon validating the ability to access Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) a technical appendix will be provided.

All questions and clarifications from interested parties must be submitted to the Government POCs listed above, no later than Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 12:00 p.m.

(noon) central time. Any questions submitted after this time may not be acknowledged.

b. The Government anticipates the receipt of UNCLASSIFIED white papers in response to this solicitation; however, if the offeror believes classified data is necessary to present a contractor's past performance and/or approach, then a written request must be submitted to the Government POCs listed above, no less than 5 calendar days BEFORE the capability statement due date. If approved by the Government, then a separate written classified annex may be included in the capability statement. This annex may not exceed the classification of collateral SECRET and must be delivered in accordance with the 32 CFR Part 2117, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). Capability statements shall not contain any information above SECRET or contain any restrictive markings (e.g., special access program (SAP), NATO, CNWDI, WNTEL, etc.) The CONFIDENTIAL marking is reserved as a security marking in accordance with AR 380-5 and the NISPOM and shall not be used as a marking for company proprietary information. All material submitted in response to this RFI must be properly marked. The Government review team reserves the right to request further clarification to enhance our understanding of the respondent's submittal.

c. Interested sources responding to this RFI must have demonstrated expertise in the production of technically sophisticated weapon system components, secret facility clearance, strong configuration management, and quality controls, prototype experience, test experience, and the ability to support multiple concurrent weapon system integration activities. Information from submitted papers may be taken into consideration for future efforts. At a minimum, responses to this RFI must address the following:

mailto:joshua.e.flinn.civ@army.mil mailto:sydney.m.horn.civ@army.mil

(1) Concept for delivery of up to eight MDACs in Q4FY27 and associated assumptions

(2) Pathway to incorporating Government provided C2BM into the MDAC concept

(3) Ability to incorporate IBCS into the MDAC concept.

(4) Ability to incorporate government-provided Hypervelocity Projectiles.

(5) Total ROM cost, broken out by FY, including schedule.

(6) Pathway to incorporating pre-MDAC prototypes into operational demonstration in FY28, to include safety and material release requirements.

(7) MDAC Prototype Capabilities:

(A) For non-GFE cannons, provide details on: bore diameter, length in calibers, chamber volume, projectile travel, type of breech, cannon assembly max permissible pressure, smooth bore or rifling with twist

(B) Provide a summary of expected weapon system capabilities:

Transportability, emplace/displace/resupply times, rate of fire, magazine capacity, weapon platform’s maximum effective impulse capacity, muzzle velocity, elevation/traverse limits, reliability/operational availability.

(C) Provide a summary of propelling charge architecture: formulation type, ignition system details, cartridge case type/material and features to interface with weapon system and HVP.

Company data to include company name; address; point of contact; CAGE Code; socio-economic status under NAICS 541715 (e.g., other than small business (SB), SB, woman-owned SB, veteran-owned SB, etc.); and proposed role in the acquisition (e.g., prime offeror, subcontractor). If a SB, discuss your firm’s ability to perform at least 51% of the requirement. Responses from SB concerns will aid the Government in determining if any future efforts regarding this topic can be set-aside for SBs and/or small business subcontracting goals should the Government decide to issue a solicitation. Companies who wish to respond to this RFI should send responses via email no later than Friday, August 2, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Central to the Government POCs listed above.

4. Non-Government Personnel

The Government may use Contractor Support Personnel (CSP) to assess responses to this RFI. The CSP will be required to submit to the Government a Non-Disclosure

Agreement reflecting the effort(s) that they will be supporting. The Offeror’s submission of a capability statement under this RFI indicates concurrence with the aforementioned use of CSP.

Offerors are advised that employees of the firms identified below may serve as non-government advisors in the review and evaluation of capability statements. Such firms are expressly prohibited from competing on the subject acquisition.

KODA Technologies; 620 Discovery Drive Building 2, Suite 100 Huntsville, AL 35806 POC: Amanda Zimmerman, Contracts Manager amanda.zimmerman@kodatech.com Work: (256) 509-2710 Cell: (256) 570-5632

Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation, 5030 Bradford Drive Building 2, Suite 205 Huntsville, AL 35805 POC: Cortney Hardiman Cortney.hardiman@irtc-hq.com Work: (256) 936-4180

Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI), 360C Quality Cir NW #310, Huntsville, AL 35806 POC: Dr. Micaiah Paddock micaiah.c.paddock.ctr@army.mil Work: (703) 545-9038

In accomplishing their duties related to the capability statement evaluation, the aforementioned firm may require access to proprietary information contained in the offerors' capability statement. Therefore, these firms may execute an agreement with each offeror that states that they will (1) protect the offerors’ information from unauthorized use or disclosure for as long as it remains proprietary and (2) refrain from using the information for any purpose other than that for which it was furnished. To expedite the evaluation process, each offeror must contact the above companies to effect the execution of such an agreement prior to the submission of proposals. Each offeror shall submit copies of the agreement with their capability statement, if applicable.