CPE CBRND Seeking Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) on Aluminum Flakes for Screening Obscuration Module - Multispectral (SOM-M)

1.0 Disclaimer

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the U.S. Government (USG) to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Furthermore, the USG will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this RFI. Responders are advised that the USG will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. The information gathered by this RFI will be shared with relevant interested USG parties to help inform future development and procurement efforts.

2.0 Background

The Joint Product Manager for CBRN Layered Effects is responsible for enabling and enhancing the survivability of our Joint Warfighters so they can fight and win across all domains in a CBRN-contested environment. As the acquisition leader in mobile analytics, our portfolio provides transformative solutions – including advanced reconnaissance systems, sensors, and mobile analytical laboratories – that ensure our military is safeguarded against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.

To support this mission, the USG is pursuing the Screening Obscuration Module - Multispectral (SOM-M) program, which is envisioned as a modular, man-portable, ground-emplaced obscuration and screening system designed to produce a multispectral obscurant cloud for both mounted and dismounted use. In support of the SOM-M program, the USG is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to identify alternative, cost-effective commercial manufacturing options for critical, novel bispectral obscurant material. The technical requirements for this capability are detailed in Section 4.0 of this document.

3.0 Purpose

The purpose of this RFI is to survey industry capabilities and identify alternative commercial manufacturing options for a novel bispectral obscurant material. Specifically, the USG seeks to identify manufacturers capable of performing high-volume Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) onto Aluminum Flakes at a commercial scale, and to assess industry readiness to support a potential Army-funded manufacturing maturation project aimed at reducing sustainment costs.

4.0 Technical Requirements

Interested parties must demonstrate capabilities or conceptual pathways to meet the following production and material requirements:

• Base Material & Size: Aluminum Flake sized at 2 – 4 microns.
• Coating Process & Material: Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) onto the aluminum flakes.
• Target Production Volume: Scalable to large commercial quantities, ranging from hundreds of pounds (lbs) to tons.
• Cost Efficiency: Proposed alternative manufacturing options must significantly reduce current manufacturing protocol costs to ensure long-term sustainment capability for the military services.

5.0 Requested Information

Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI providing a white paper including technical insights on the manufacturing feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and scalability of the proposed Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) process. Ideal responses will include the following elements:

• Manufacturing/Production Approach: A comprehensive overview of the proposed methodology to achieve the PVD coating of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) on Aluminum Flakes (2 – 4 microns). This should include details on the facility scale, equipment, and proposed lead times based on the scale of material produced.
• Cost Projections & Scale: Estimated cost profiles and projected cost-reduction curves when scaling production from hundreds of pounds to tons, demonstrating how the approach achieves a sustainable cost profile for long term acquisition.
• Maturity, Capacity, & Risks: An assessment of current facility readiness, current and potential production capacity, and identified technical and manufacturing challenges or risk factors associated with scaling this specific PVD coating process.
• Company Information & Past Performance: A brief summary of relevant company experience, facility capabilities, or prior similar material coating efforts.

6.0 Submission Requirements

All submissions must be electronic and adhere to the following formatting and content rules:

• Page Limit: All responses shall be no longer than five (5) pages.
• Formatting: Standard 8.5 x 11-inch pages, with font size no smaller than 10-point.
• Company Information: Include official company name, address, telephone number, website, and business type (large/small business classification), CAGE Code.
• Point of Contact: Provide the name, title, telephone number, and email address of the authorized company representative.

7.0 Submission Guidance

• Submission Deadline: Responses are requested no later than 5 PM EST Friday, 13 November 2026.
• Submissions and/or questions should be emailed directly to the following point of contact:
  • Emily McGill, Contract Specialist, emily.c.mcgill.civ@army.mil
  • Samantha Degele, Contracting Officer, samantha.l.degele.civ@army.mil