IAAAP Sources Sought.pdf

Description: The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Rock Island, on behalf of the Office of Project Lead Joint Services (PL JS), located at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ is currently seeking interested sources for the Facility Management, Maintenance and Oversight of the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant (IAAAP) which contains numerous different production lines for the Load, Assemble and Pack of conventional ammunition, including 155mm Artillery Melt Pour, 120mm and 105mm Tank Munitions, 40mm Grenade Production, Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC), M112 C4 Blocks and various other pressed and melt pour warheads. The U.S. Government (USG) is interested in industry presenting novel and unique models for the operation, maintenance, and modernization of the IAAAP and is looking for Industry to provide input into development of future procurement strategy. IAAAP is located in Middletown, IA, which is adjacent to Burlington, IA and is a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) facility that develops and produces munitions end-items for the Department of War (DoW) and commercial entities with contracts with the DoW. The operating contractor is required to maintain and modernize facilities as well as provide base support services (e.g., grounds maintenance, modernization strategic planning, property administration, environmental compliance, public relations, material management of Government Furnished Materials, fire protection, safety, and security).

One model that the USG is evaluating for IAAAP is an Industrial Park model, where a single facility management company will be responsible for the entire installation, while each individual production line might be operated as independent entities by different contractors. The formal lease agreement between the facility management company is yet to be determined, if the facility management company will be wholly responsible for the lease of the production lines, if the USG will be responsible for the lease of the production lines, or a combination between the facility management company and the USG. The facility management company will play a vital role in marketing facilities at IAAAP for commercial use by private sector firms. The facility management contractor must comply with all Federal, State, and Local laws and Army regulations and policies.

This opportunity will be briefed at the 2026 Munitions Executive Summit (MES) in Parsippany, NJ on March 17-18. Interested parties are encouraged to attend to gather additional information.

Specifications: Technical Data Packages (TDPs) which could be produced at each individual production line for this effort are not currently available and will not be provided prior to the closing date of the posting. TDPs will be provided at a later date upon issuance of any draft solicitation.

Planned Acquisition: The USG contemplates that as a result of competition; a long-term lease or facility use contract will be awarded with a period of performance beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2031. A transition period with the incumbent contractor will start in FY 2030 with concurrent modernization projects that will start in October 2030. Anticipated production quantities will vary given funding requirements. The USG anticipates hosting multiple Industry Days for this beginning in FY 2026, which may include one-on-one sessions.

Current State: The current IAAAP contracts consist of a facility use contract whose costs are included in product prices. Modernization projects are funded separately through Task Orders issued off a separate Services Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA). The contracts cover a full range of operations and maintenance services as well as program and project management services. Most current modernization projects are sourced through the operating contractor although some may be sourced through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or additional 3rd party vendors.

Government Objective: It is the USG’s intent to improve the business practices at the IAAAP facility to provide the USG with the most flexibility in modernizing and operating IAAAP as well as providing incentives for continuous improvement. The USG's long-term objective is to enable the facility to serve the USG's need for long-term, cost-effective, and efficient sustainment of production capabilities. The USG’s objective for the contemplated acquisition is to establish a new operating paradigm that reflects and enables the transition from the current state of the facility to the desired future state, as it relates to both production capabilities and the overall operating model. The USG's objective for this sources sought is to obtain information on potential interested industry sources.

Submission Information: The USG encourages all responsible interested sources to submit their capabilities/qualification data which demonstrates experience with management of large industrial parks, which may include production of energetic and explosive products, and large plant operations. Additionally, the USG encourages Industry's feedback on potential terms and conditions as annotated in the paragraph titled "Government Objectives" to be included in the acquisition. This includes, but is not limited to, the following (limited to fifteen pages):

(1) Contract length, incentive arrangement (e.g. award term) and structure that best provides potential offerors the incentive to self-invest and provides ultimate long-term advantages to both the USG and Contractor.

(2) Maximizing application of industry best practices in the operation and maintenance of the facility/

(3) Effect of third-party sales on overhead and Operations and Maintenance costs including revenue sharing model to incentivize the contractor to bring in commercial work.

(4) Enabling a future state where underutilized office or industrial workspaces on the installation can be modified or replaced to meet the future requirements of the Operator, subject to maintaining high safety and security standards.

(5) Teaming arrangements that optimize expertise across the diverse functions necessary to operate the plant (e.g. produce product, generate steam, design/construct/commission production lines and supporting facilities, facility security).

(6) Implementing cost effective and efficient processes that would enable offeror to maintain the capability to produce all current IAAAP products within the National Technology and Industrial Base (NTIB) in a cost-effective manner while preserving surge capability within the United States.

(7) Cost effective business operating model that would enable/encourage the long-term viability of the facility which may include reduction of current footprint or an effective re-configuration of the current production facilities.

(8) Suggested areas for Economic Price Adjustments and what may be necessary to support contract length.

(9) Describe any significant issues that would surface during the TRANSITION PERIOD from the end of the current contract to the beginning of a New Operator Contract (NOC) with regards to work in progress and ability to generate revenue.

(10) Suggested level of overlap recommended between exiting and entering contractor during the TRANSITION PERIOD and appropriate level of USG involvement during this period.

(11) Request interested offeror(s) provide the USG with necessary "White Papers" to further assess risk and identify any information that will accommodate a smooth and methodical transition for issues such as Requalification of Production, novation agreements between current and NOC, etc.

The USG requests submittal of information via electronic mail to Olivia Knox at olivia.r.knox.civ@army.mil and Ryan Oliver at ryan.m.oliver9.civ@army.mil no later than 60 days from this notice. Interested companies should respond by providing the USG the following information (limited to three pages):

(1) Name of company and CAGE Code

(2) Point of Contact's name, telephone number and e-mail address

(3) Company address

(4) Business size information (please specify as either Large, Foreign, Small, Small Disadvantaged, 8(a), Woman- Owned Small Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone concern, Veteran-Owned Small Business, or Service-Disabled Small Business)

(5) Experience in the management of industrial parks or similar models that include production of explosives or other energetic materials and how that experience could be leveraged to increase productivity, reduce costs or improve plant management at IAAAP.

(6) Experience in explosives safety

(7) Experience in the design, construction, commissioning, maintenance, and operation of explosive production or similar facilities

(8) Experience in modernization strategic planning and environmental compliance

This is a market survey for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal, nor as an obligation on the part of the USG. The USG does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this market survey or otherwise pay for information solicited.

Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary. The USG intends to use the information received to develop the acquisition strategy for future requirements. Any of the information stated above is subject to change. Please identify any proprietary information submitted.

All information submitted will be held in a confidential status and will be afforded the appropriate protections. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, the USG will publish a solicitation notice.

mailto:olivia.r.knox.civ@army.mil mailto:ryan.m.oliver9.civ@army.mil