Source Sought Notice - APOBS Program.docx

Sources Sought Synopsis:

INTRODUCTION

The Army Contracting Command – Rock Island (ACC-RI) is using this Sources Sought announcement to provide information to industry about the Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching Systems (APOBS), both inert and live. The purpose of providing this information is to conduct ongoing Market Research and to identify interested sources capable of manufacturing and delivering APOBS.

The results of this market research will be used to help determine the method of procurement, if a requirement materializes. Based on the responses to this Sources Sought notice/Market Research, this requirement may be procured (in full or in part) via a small business set-aside (SBSA) or via full and open competition: Multiple awards may be made. All small business set-aside categories will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions.

All contractors interested in this potential future solicitation must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

DISCLAIMER

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONSENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

ITEM DESCRIPTIONS:

The APOBS is a self-contained, one-shot expendable linear demolition charge system, which can be transported and deployed by a two-person team. APOBS will be used by assault elements to breach lanes, approximately 45 meters long (146 feet) and 0.6 meter wide (2.0 feet), through encountered wire and anti-personnel mine obstacles.

APOBS consists of the following major sub-components:

• Shipping and Storage Container - Extruded aluminum container for system storage and shipboard transport.

• Front Backpack Assembly - Backpack assembly containing a 25-meter (82.0-foot) front line charge segment with 60 grenades threaded and launch rod.

• Rear Backpack Assembly - Backpack assembly containing a 20-meter (65.6-foot) rear line charge segment with 48 grenades threaded, a rear fuze, and parachute.

• Rocket Motor and Fuze Assembly (Soft Pack) - Rocket motor and fuze assembly, a Command Mode initiator in a sealed barrier bag, tool kit and field card, all packed in a fabric reinforced, foam lined container.

The Contractor will be required to perform First Article and Lot Acceptance Tests on the APOBS, as delineated in the item specification.

• The APOBS must meet WS 35168, Revision J and drawing 87012A0000, Revision AB;

• The APOBS Rocket Motor component must meet WS 32438, Revision N and drawing 87012A1000, Revision AE;

• The APOBS Mechanical Initiator component must meet WS 33005, Revision J and drawing 87012A1260, Revision U;

• The APOBS Non-Electric Initiator component must meet WS 35169, Revision E and drawing 87012A1310, Revision D;

• The APOBS Fuze component must meet WS 32585, Revision L and drawings 87012A6000, Revision K and 87012A7000, Revision U;

• The APOBS Shipping and Storage Container must meet WS 32965, Revision C and drawing 87012A5000, Revision AL;

• The APOBS Parachute component must be packed in accordance with WS 26336, Revision D and drawing 87012A3240, Revision P;

Any exceptions to the material, construction, packaging, inspection/testing requirements contained within the item specification should be clearly explained in your response.

The drawings and specifications are Distribution Statement D, distribution is authorized to Department of Defense and U.S. DoD Contractors only. Interested contractors who would like to obtain the applicable top-level drawings must submit a written request to the POC identified below. The written request must come from the data custodian of the requesting company who is registered with the Joint Certification Program (JCP). The request must include the company's cage code and Joint Certification Number. More information on the JCP may be found at: http://www/dlis.dla.mil/jcp/. Interested contractors may be required to execute and return a Non-Disclosure and/or Non-Use Agreement prior to obtaining the drawings.

The full technical data package (TDP) will be made available upon request. However, there is no guarantee that this TDP will be identical to one released under a future solicitation. If a solicitation is released the full TDP will be accessible to interested contractors who are registered in JCP. It is recommended that all interested companies who are not currently registered with JCP or do not have a valid data custodian listed with JCP begin the registration process immediately to avoid potential delays in receiving the TDP when the solicitation is released.

APOBS Inert Trainer: Mod 2.1; NSN: 1375-01-646-9368; DODIC: MN84 The APOBS inert trainer is a near exact replica of the MK7 Mod 2, APOBS Live Breaching System, only with no energetic capability. This trainer replicates all aspects of the system and allows soldiers a hands-on training approach without the necessity for a live-fire range. There are several past variants of the inert trainer with shortened dummy line charges; however, the newest variant is comprised of a full-length dummy line charge.

REQUESTED INFORMATION:

Interested companies are invited to indicate their interest by providing the Government the following information:

1) A brief summary of the company's capabilities and availability including: description of facilities, personnel experience, quality system, past distribution or manufacturing experience related to the items described in this notice, and satisfactory past performance in the explosives industry. Please include the business size, if applicable.

2) Description/demonstration of respondent's technical and manufacturing capability to manufacture or procure the items described in this notice. If a respondent does not have adequate resources (facilities, technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, then they must be able to demonstrate their ability to obtain those resources without significant delay.

3) Any potential key sub-tier vendors or subcontractors should also be addressed by indicating which key components would be subcontracted and providing a brief summary of potential key component subcontractors, including their experience and qualifications.

4) Would a Contractor Pre-Manufacturing Engineering Review of the Technical Data Package be beneficial? If so, please identify the advantages to the Government along with an estimated time frame required to perform the review and a Rough Order of Magnitude for performance of such review.

5) Recommended lead-times for First Article Test (FAT) completion and report submission and for production deliveries to commence.

Recent Department of War (DoW) guidance is pressing programs to increase speed of delivery. Are there any measures you would recommend to enable accelerated deliveries beyond those identified for FAT and start of deliveries above? For example, contract structure, contract terms elimination of CDRLs, design changes, inspection requirements, etc.

6) What is the minimum stand-alone order quantity necessary to go into production of APOBS, initially and for any potential follow-up order?

7) Provide the minimum sustainable, preferred and maximum monthly delivery rates for your company. Are there any measures you would recommend that could increase these rates in support of accelerated deliveries? Identify and describe potential subcontractor capacity restraints that would have a significant impact on production capacity and please identify the impact each restraint has on monthly delivery rates.

- Due to current global supply chain and other factors, respondents are asked to identify any components or materials that may be subject to price volatility or scarcity and address what their firm is doing to mitigate risk related to obtaining materials, price impacts, and production stability.

- Are there any recommendations to address these pricing concerns?

- What is your preferred method to address these concerns?

- What are the advantages and disadvantages to each approach?

- Are there contract structures or terms that would help alleviate any pricing concerns? For example, 3 year vs 5 year duration, cumulative pricing clauses, CFM vs GFM components, etc.

8) Assuming a minimum order quantity of 200 and a maximum order quantity of 4,000 APOBS, what quantity ranges (5 ranges or less) do you estimate would result in meaningful price breaks? Would price curves be preferable to range prices?

9) For planning purposes only, please provide Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) unit prices for each of the below listed item.

APOBS:

FY 27: First Article Test FY27: 4,000ea Inert APOBS FY27: 150 ea.

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

Any interested parties who wish to request a copy of the Specifications must provide a signed and approved DD form 2345 Military Critical Technologies Data Agreement. If an interested party is not based in the U.S., a copy of their approved Export License issued by the U.S. Department of State must be provided as well. After receipt of these documents, the Contract Specialist will provide an AMSTA-AR Form 1350 Technical Data Questionnaire and a completed and signed Non-Disclosure / Non-Use Agreement for completion. When all completed documents are received by the Contract Specialist, the TDP will be sent. Interested parties must e-mail all signed and approved forms to:

United States Army Contracting Command – Rock Island

CCRI-AMK

Bldg. #60 ATTN: Ms. Megan Kirby 3055 Rodman Avenue Rock Island, IL 61299-8000 megan.m.kirby.civ@army.mil

Destruction Notice Export-Controlled Technical Data: For classified documents, follow the procedures in DoD 5220.22-M, Industrial Security Manual, Section 11-19 or DoD 5200.1-R, Information Security Program Regulation, Chapter IX. For unclassified, limited documents, destroy by any method that will prevent disclosure of contents or reconstruction of the document.

ELIGIBILITY

The NAICS code for this contract is 325920 with a business size standard of 750 employees. Respondents should indicate their business size in their response.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Interested businesses should submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than ten 8.5 X 11 inch pages, font no smaller than 10 point) demonstrating ability to provide the products/systems listed in this Technical Description. Documentation should be in bullet format. No phone or email solicitations with regards to the status of the RFP will be accepted prior to its release.

Your response to this Sources Sought, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to the Contract Specialist, Mr. Shawn Kerr, and Contracting Officer, Ms. Megan M. Kirby, in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email: shawn.e.kerr6.civ@army.mil and megan.m.kirby.civ@army.mil by the due date of this Market Survey No Later than 12:00 PM EST. The information must be submitted 14 calendar days from the date of this publication. If a formal Solicitation is generated at a later date, a separate Solicitation Notice will be published. No award will be made as a result of this Market Survey. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government. The information provided will not be returned. TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The Government will accept written questions via e-mail only. All responses shall reference this synopsis number in subject line of e-mail and on all enclosed documents. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL.