A01_-_Sources_Sought.doc

(1) Action Code :

SOURCES SOUGHT

This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources. This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is it a guarantee of a forthcoming solicitation or contract. It is for market research purposes only. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.

The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry, to include the Small Business Community: Small Business, Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Small business, Section 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, & EDWOSB businesses are highly encouraged to participate.

(2) Date :

13 March 2018

(3) Classification Code : 66

(4) NAICS Code: 334519

(5) NAICS Size Standard: 500 employees

(6) Contracting Office Address:

2800 Powder Mill Road Bldg. 601 Adelphi, Maryland 20783

(7) Subject: Sources Sought for Gas and Powder Guns and Catch Tank

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number: W911QX-18-R-0014

(9) Sources Sought Closing Response Date: 03/20/2018

(10) Contact Point: Aaron Sabino, Contract Specialist, aaron.c.sabino.civ@mail.mil and Nathaniel Drake, nathaniel.s.drake.ctr@mail.mil

(11)

A. Objective:

To find sources that are qualified to meet the supplies/services as listed in section 11B. Note that the specific requirements in section C are subject to change prior to the release of any solicitation.

B. Salient Characteristics The Lethal Mechanisms Branch, Weapons and Materials Research Directorate (WMRD) of The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) requires one (1) ballistic testing assembly (BTA) that meets the follows minimum specifications:

1. ARL has provided below general specifications; however, equipment source must have background expertise in projectile package design, gas/powder launcher design/manufacturing/performance, ballistic test tank design, facility operation and planning, integration of diagnostic instrumentation and analysis. The contractor shall provide static testing data at the maximum design pressures operation with appropriate safety factors and shall provide this test data to the government. The contractor shall provide additional certification data on the high pressure gas gun firing system components and instructions for periodic inspection required for continued operation.

2. The BTA shall consist of a minimum of a fixed target, mobile catch tank, gas gun system, powder gun firing system, gas gun barrel(s) and all required mounting and hardware for the guns. The overall length of the system shall be less than 209” (inches) which allows this system to fit in a 281” x 301” long room with a 36” egress space around all sides.

a. Target chamber specifications

i. The target chamber shall be 24-28 inches (”) in diameter with an inlet port for the gas/powder guns and up to 15 removable ports for external high rate diagnostics including flash X-ray sources, flash X-ray detectors and high speed cameras.

ii. The target tank shall include a mounting plate that allows for positioning of flash X-ray sources at a distance of up to two (2) feet from the barrel axis. The mounting plate shall allow rigid mounting and precise alignment of the flash X-ray heads at a common distance from the axis of the gun barrel.

iii. The removable ports shall have a rectangular cross-section with mounting hardware and the contractor shall supply two (2) sets of removable plates for each target tank port.

iv. The target tank shall be 28” to 32” in length.

v. The target tank shall include provisions to mount an aluminum bread board on the muzzle end of the target tank with a uniform ½” thickness and ¼-20 tapped holes spaced on a ½” uniform spacing.

vi. The target tank shall operate at 0.1 millitorr (mTorr) of vacuum

vii. The target tank shall be attached to rail assembly and mounts for easy installation and alignment of the gas or powder guns on the center axis of the target tank.

b. Catch Tank specifications

i. The catch tank shall be removable from the target tank and shall be sized appropriately to ensure safe operation during dynamic firing.

ii. The catch tank shall include steel plate(s) to catch and stop the residual projectiles fired directly along the axis of the gun. These plates shall be capable of stopping a 50 caliber armor piercing round fired at one (1) kilometer per second (km/s).

iii. The catch tank shall include a control system and all hardware for remote evacuation and ventilation to the outside. The contractor shall provide specifications for the roof or wall ventilation ports for the associated laboratory.

iv. The catch tank shall be set on a roller or guide set-up that allows for easy alignment with the target tank described in Section 2.

3. The contractor shall supply two (2) each of Gas Gun Firing Systems meeting the following specifications:

a. Gas booster system shall deliver gas at up to ten (10) thousand pounds per square inch (ksi) to a gas gun barrel

b. Each gas gun firing system shall be provided with a gas accumulator and fast acting valve rated and certified for operation at up to ten (10) ksi.

c. Gas handling/control system shall remotely fill, fire and vent the gas gun and tank assemblies.

d. System shall be designed to launch an eight (8) gram (g)ull bore projectile from a 0.300” barrel at a velocity range of from a 0.1-1 km/s.

4. The contractor shall supply gas gun barrels meeting the following specifications:

a. The gas gun barrels shall be compatible with the gas gun firing system described in Section 3 above.

b. Gas gun barrels shall include muzzle end velocity measurement using laser interrupt. The laser interrupt system shall include four (4) each clear through holes through the muzzle or through a muzzle extension that are drill normal to the axis of the gun.

c. The contractor shall supply one (1) each of a 0.300” bore single stage gas gun barrel designed for an eight (8)g full bore projectile to be fired at a velocity of up to one (1) km/s

d. The contractor shall supply one (1) each of 0.500" bore single-stage gas barrel gun with an equivalent design length as found in Section 4c designed to operate at an eight (8) ksi peak pressure.

e. The contractor shall provide an option for one (1) each of 0.170" bore single-stage gas barrel gun designed to operate at a 10 ksi peak pressure

f. The contract shall provide an option for one (1) each of 0.220" bore single-stage gas barrel gun designed to operate at a ten (10) ksi peak pressure.

5. The contractor shall supply powder systems consisting of the barrel, a screw on breech assembly, firing solenoid and hardware for remote firing meeting the following specifications:

a. The powder gun barrels shall include muzzle end velocity measurement using laser interrupt. The laser interrupt system shall include four (4) each clear through holes through the muzzle or through a muzzle extension that are drill normal to the axis of the gun. Propellant guns shall be three (3) each of in-bore optical triggering ports.

b. The powder gun breech assembly shall screw onto the powder gun assembly and shall be fitted with a port for pressure measurement at the cartridge case or case mouth.

c. The contractor shall supply one 0.300” smooth bore gun that is six (6) feet (ft) long that is capable of firing an eight (8)g full bore projectile at two (2) km/s.

d. The contractor shall supply one (1) 0.500” smooth bore gun that is six (6) feet (ft) long that is capable of firing an 20 g full bore projectile at 1.9 km/s.

6. One (1) each of target alignment assembly for shock Hugoniot measurements

7. On-site installation, demonstration and training.

C. Responses:

All interested parties should notify this office in writing, via e-mail to the listed Contact Points, within the posted date. Responses shall include:

(I) To what extent each of the specifications can be met. NOTE: When the Salient Characteristics indicates an option in Sections 4 (e) and (f), please indicate whether your business can meet both or just one (1) of the two (2) options, and specify which option(s) can be met.

(II) Include your type of business (i.e. commercial, academia), whether your organization is classified as a large or small business based on the 500 employees standard that accompanies NAICS code 334519. If a small business, you must also list any small disadvantaged status you hold [HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), etc.].

(III) Past experience/ performance through the description of completed projects.

(12) Responses to this sources sought are due no later than 11:59am eastern standard time on 20 March 2018. Submissions should be emailed to Aaron Sabino (aaron.c.sabino.civ@mail.mil) and Nathaniel Drake (nathaniel.s.drake.ctr@mail.mil).

Questions concerning this sources sought may be directed to Aaron Sabino and Nathaniel Drake at aaron.c.sabino.civ@mail.mil and nathaniel.s.drake.ctr@mail.mil. Please be advised that .zip and .exe files cannot be accepted.

(13) Place of Contract Performance: US Army Research Laboratory

6375 Johnson Road

Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD 21005

(14) Estimated Delivery Timeframe or Period of Performance: 60 Days ARO

Last updated 2/13/2017