Blasting grit (sources sought)

The Department of the Army, specifically the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground's Tobyhanna Division, is seeking vendors capable of providing 50,000 pounds of Alumina Zirconia Blasting Grit, with a specific requirement for Norton/Saint-Gobain brand materials. The procurement is classified under NAICS code 327910 for Abrasive Product Manufacturing, with a size standard of 900 employees. The blasting grit must meet precise specifications, including 60 grit size, blocky shape, 25% grade, and a true specific gravity of 4.3 grams/cc. Interested vendors are required to submit their capabilities and business information to megan.jones5.civ@army.mil by January 23, 2025, at 4:00 PM EST. The submission must include company name/address, UEID, CAGE code, point of contact details, and business size, with the understanding that this is a market research exercise and does not guarantee a future contract.

There is no specific set-aside designation for this procurement, and the government intends to award a firm-fixed-price purchase order. Saint-Gobain Ceramics Materials is the only identified manufacturer that can meet the stringent requirements, having been selected based on testing that demonstrated superior recycling efficiency for processing base metal parts. The brand name justification document highlights the proprietary fused alumina-zirconia grain's extreme wear resistance and anti-friable properties, which result in reduced material consumption and dust generation. The purchase request number is W25G1V433800R7, with PAN 004316, and the justification was approved on January 15, 2025, by both a Chemical Engineer and Contracting Officer. While a specific award value is not explicitly stated, the procurement involves 50,000 pounds of specialized blasting grit, indicating a potentially significant contract value.