Caisson Wagon - DRAFT RPP - Review and Feedback Request

The Department of the Army's Mission & Installation Contracting Command is seeking prototype proposals for the design and development of modernized Caisson Wagons for ceremonial use by The Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery under Other Transaction Authority (10 U.S.C. 4022). The procurement seeks to preserve the historical aesthetic of the original 1917 design while integrating modern suspension, braking systems, lightweight materials, and contemporary technology that reduces adverse physical impacts on military working equids and improves sustainability. Key requirements include maintaining the wagon's 320-inch length with brass adornments, incorporating adjustable limber height for horse pairs ranging from 15.3 to 17.3 hands high, achieving a maximum weight of 2,000 pounds, and sustaining a minimum of 10 miles daily at 10 mph on 10 percent grade hills while carrying an 800-pound casket. Evaluation will prioritize technical approach, integrated logistics and sustainability planning emphasizing commercially available parts, management and lifecycle approach including production schedules for 6-8 follow-on wagons, past performance with similar engineered prototypes, and cost/price. Feedback on draft solicitation documents is due April 29, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET, the formal RPP is anticipated for release May 11, 2026, and prototype proposals are due July 13, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET.

This is a non-competitive pre-solicitation notice with no set-aside designations, and no incumbent contractor is identified in the materials provided. The government intends to award a single prototype agreement with firm fixed-price compensation for prototype design, development, and delivery to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, along with per-unit pricing estimates for potential follow-on production of 6-8 wagons and pricing for unlimited use rights to the prototype design. Specific budget values are not disclosed in the pre-solicitation notice; financial obligations will be limited to the amount specified in the final award document. The prototype phase is anticipated to lead to non-competitive follow-on production contracts if successful, with a required five-year warranty covering manufacturer deficiencies and a written maintenance program designed to support a 40-year lifespan. Interested parties must submit all feedback, questions, and comments via email to usarmy.jbsa.acc-micc.mbx.tsc-div1@army.mil using the provided Question & Answer template for tracking purposes.