QAs_NQ_PPON_W15QKN-24-R-0PZ7 18 July 2024 (1).xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 20 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- W15QKN-24-R-0ZP7
About this file
This document is a collection of questions and answers related to a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Nitroguanidine (NQ) Recrystallization Technology Demonstration solicitation, Solicitation Number W15QKN-24-R-OZP7.
The key details are:
- The objective is to build an NQ recrystallization process facility to reprocess the ~17.5M pounds of NQ material stockpiled by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to make it suitable for use in Solvent Extruded Triple Base (SETB) propellant manufacturing.
- The solicitation is for a prototype Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) with a duration of 12 months. The Government intends to award up to 2 FFP prototype OTAs no later than September 2024.
- The intended final product is 100 lbs of recrystallized NQ from the DoD stockpile that will be delivered to Picatinny Arsenal for testing 10 months after award.
- The Government may pursue a follow-on production contract or transaction without further competition if the prototype is successful.
- Eligibility requirements include participation of a nontraditional defense contractor, small business, or alternate cost share arrangement.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PPON - NQ Recrystallization Amendment 0001 18 July 2024.docx | DOCX document | |
| PPON - NQ Recrystallization.docx | DOCX document |
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Sheet1
| PPON: W15QKN-24-R-0PZ7 | ||||
| Amendment 0001 | ||||
| Date: 18 July 2024 | ||||
| Question and Answers | ||||
| Page # | Para # / Line # | Question/Comment | Responses: | |
| Item # | ||||
| 1 | 9 | 3.4.1.1.2 and 3.4.1.1.3 | What is the desired throughput in pounds per month, or the total duration for reprocessing 17.5M pounds? | The total duration for reprocessing the 17.5M would not fall under this OTA, but the follow-on effort that would follow. However, the desired throughput would be approximately 333Klbs per month at a minimum. This is based on the mid-term objective to support up to 8Mlbs for M31A2 triple base propellants per year to fill up to 1.6M M232A2 charges per year. NQ is approx. 50% per pound of the M31A2 formulation. Information added to PPON 1.2 Acquisition Approach. |
| 2 | 9 | 3.4.1.1.2 and 3.4.1.1.3 | Is there a planned or desired operating location for the full-scale reprocessing operation? | The usage of the recrystallized NQ will be in Valleyfield, CN. Therefore, best-value and minimized shipping/inter-plant transportation cost & logistics would be desirable. This initial effort is to develop / demonstrate a technology for recrystallizing NQ currently stockpiled that was produced at Sunflower AAP. Once the product is tested and found to be acceptable, a follow-on effort may be funded to implement the technology. At that time, site selection (e.g., government or commercial) and anticipated throughput will be determined. Information added to PPON 1.2 Acquisition Approach. |
| 3 | 1 | 12 | Requesting a one month extension for submission of the proposal to August 17, 2024. | Response date has been extended to 2Aug2024. PPON has been updated accordingly. |
| 1 | 1.1 | Concerning the NQ stockpile material, can the USG provide elaboration on what material property/properties are driving the requirement for recrystallization? The RFQ does not indicate what material property is out of specification and what is causing it. | The existing stockpile of nitroguanidine (NQ) was produced at Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant (SFAAP) during the mid-late 1980s. The remaining stockpile (~17.5M lbs.) has been stored in an uncontrolled environment for 35+ years. Therefore, the condition of this material is unknown. The USG plans to use stockpiled NQ to produce M31A2 triple base propellant in support of the Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS) {high zone}. NQ is a critical component of this propellant, representing approximately 50% of its composition. For the propellant to function as required, it is imperative that NQ meets all MIL-N-494, Type II, Class 1 specification requirements, especially low bulk density. Additional information has been added to the SOW. | |
| 2 | 1.2 | Would the USG consider funding this effort as a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract in lieu of Firm, Fixed Price? | The USG considered all potential agreement types and concluded that a Firm Fixed Price agreement best suited the requirement. | |
| 4 | General Question | Are you able to disclose the delivery address where the product would need to be |
delivered? Additionally, are there any specific countries or locations from which the product
| should or should not be sourced? | The 100 pounds or recrystallized NQ will be sent to Picatinny Arsenal, NJ for testing. The purpose of this effort is for the Contractor to take the stockpile (GFM) NQ material re-crystallize it to meet the MIL-N-494 per the requirements outlines in the announcement. “ Additionally, the NQ is coming from USG stockpile, so the contractor should not be resourcing any NQ from any locations under this OTA besides the NQ the USG will be providing as GFM as part of this effort. Information added to SOW. | ||||
| 5 | 13 | All | Does the recrystallized NQ have to be shipped back in the dry form? | The 100Ib of recrystallized low bulk density NQ that will be shipped to Picatinny can be either water wet or dry. However, NQ water wet (>25% moisture) is considered a Class 4.1 flammable solid. NQ <25% wet is considered a Class 1.1D high explosive. The SOW and PPON Section 6, Packing and Marking has been updated. | |
| 6 | 4 | CLIN Table | It seems the only CLINs against which invoices can be submitted are #0001 and #0002. There will amounts of money spent up front prior to being able to invoice CLIN #0001 11 months after award. It is possible to allow for invoicing of other CLINs such as CLIN 0007 and CLIN 0008 | CLINs 0007 and 0008 will remain as Not Separately Priced deliverables. However, interested parties may provide a proposed milestone schedule within their proposal for consideration. This can be included within the Offeror Cover Letter in Volume IV, Miscellaneous Agreement Documentation. | |
| 7 | 3 | 4 | The USG has requested delivery of CLINs 0003, 0004 and 0005 at 10 months after agreement award. However, this delivery precedes delivery of the material to be used for the FAT testing. We recommend that the delivery of these CLINs coincide with project close-out to ensure that any lessons learned during material manufacture can guide the development of the milestone schedule, production transition plan and ROM. | CLINs 0003, 0004, and 0005 have been changed from 10 months after agreement award to 11 months. PPON Section 2, CLINs and SOW 4.0 Deliverables has been updated. | |
| 8 | Attachment 6 - Terms and Condidtions, ARTICLE VI: PATENT RIGHTS | No question - This was a USG Directed change to make minor updates to the Patent Rights section. This update will need to be requested and will be provided via DoD SAFE. | Article VI: PATENT RIGHTS has been amended. |
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