Industry Technologies to Support /Provide the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW)

The Army Contracting Command - New Jersey (ACC-NJ), on behalf of PM Soldier Lethality is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify potential sources having an interest and industry technologies available to support/provide the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW).

The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement, if a requirement materializes. Based on the responses to this sources sought notice/market research, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses (in full or in part) or procured through 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.

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 RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

The M249 SAW is a gas operated and air cooled 5.56 mm machinegun that can be fed from linked ammunition and STANAG box magazines. It has a quick-change barrel, allowing the gunner to rapidly replace an overheated or jammed barrel. A folding bipod is attached near the front of the gun.

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

The Government requires the fabrication, inspection testing, First Article Testing, ongoing Lot Acceptance Tests and delivery of the weapon system as built to the U.S. Government Technical Data Package. The intent of this Sources Sought is to assess the state-of-the art of the technology available in fabrication/production of the M249 SAW. Should a resulting contract be awarded, the First Article Sample would be submitted to the Government 180 days after contract award, and monthly production deliveries would commence within 75 days after Government approval of the First Article Sample. Production Deliveries would ramp up from 50 per month to 150 per month by the fifth (5) delivery. Depending on the final Government requirement, a final production capacity of 400 M249s per month may be required. A Technical Data Package (TDP) will not be provided with this sources sought notice. Additionally, the Government requires training support (Operator and Maintenance) for Foreign Military Sales customers. 

Responding sources shall provide:

1) A description of the production capability and quality assurance plan including but not limited to:

a) The current monthly sustainable production rate;

b) Production lead time needed to meet First Article Test and the monthly delivery quantity of 150 per month;

c) A description of additional resources needed in order to meet a delivery rate of 400/month if applicable;

d) Key tooling and equipment (i.e. cutting/milling, casting) available to meet the requirement;

e) Production of similar items whether "other Government/Military contracts" or "Non-Governmental" contracts and the monthly production quantities of such; and

f) Description of quality assurance plan, including certification or compliance to ISO 9001:2008 (or equivalent).

 2) A description of training capability including but not limited to:

a)  Operator course that covers the system's capabilities, limitations, interfaces, and operations.  Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services (PMCS), capabilities and function of the system, and operations/operator maintenance.

b) Maintenance course that details appropriate level using the technical manuals, general-purpose test equipment, and all available diagnostics.  This course shall provide students with the knowledge and understanding of the system capabilities, limitations, interfacing, operations, maintenance tasks, and required skill sets.

c) Qualified personnel to provide training programs of instruction, as well as translators.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 332994- Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing with a Small Business Size Standard of 1,000 employees. The Product Service Code (PSC) is 1005-Guns, through 30mm.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Interested businesses should submit a brief no more than 20 pages capabilities statement package 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, Corey Woodson, in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email to: corey.w.woodson.civ@mail.mil no later than 12:00 p.m. EST on 3 October 2024 and 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.

If your organization has the potential capacity to provide the required products/systems, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, primary points of contact (POCs) and their email address, Fax, web site address, telephone number, type of ownership for the organization, CAGE, DUNS, NAICS, location of where primary work will be performed; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the requirements of this notice, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

All data received in response to this Sources Sought that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government.