M240 Series Machine Gun (MMG) Including Coax, B, C, D, H and Spare Receivers

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – New Jersey, Soldier Lethality on behalf of Project Manager Soldier Lethality (PM SL), intends to solicit, negotiate, and award a sole source contract to FN America, LLC (FN) pursuant to the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. This contemplated sole source contract will include fabrication and delivery of 7.62mm M240 B, C, D, and H model Machine Guns (MG) and spare receivers, to the U. S. Government (USG) Technical Data Package (TDP).  The contemplated effort will be a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract.

The M240 B, C, D, H Machine Guns (MGs), and spare receivers are to be manufactured, inspected, assembled, packaged, and shipped in accordance with the Government TDP and tested in accordance with the M240 Weapon Specification. The M240 series MG are a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed 7.62mm weapons that fire North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standard ammunition from an open bolt position. The M240 has various features depending on application: spade grip trigger assembly for helicopter application, folding bipod, collapsible buttstock, quick change barrel assembly with integral carrying handle gas system for ground use, feed cover, bolt assembly (which allows closing of the cover regardless of bolt position), integral optical sight rail, and forward rails.

The acquisition of production from sources other than FN will not meet schedule requirements for the M240 Variant MGs. FN is the only source able to meet the Government's M240 Variant MG requirements within the necessary timelines.  The USG does not have the licensing right to provide the M240 MG series technical data package to any offeror outside of the U.S. and Canada, resulting in the substantial duplication costs and unacceptable delays associated with competing the M240 MG Series. Award to any source other than FN would result in unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency’s requirements. A new source would have to develop, test, and qualify a second machine gun system. Qualification includes all testing listed in the MIL-DTL-63314 such as reliability and durability, accuracy and dispersion, environmental, and live fire testing. Any anomalies during testing would require new hardware samples and additional testing. This process would take, at a minimum 2 years. This is an unacceptable delay and will interfere with the Army’s and other Customers’ ability to meet mission requirements, while the first delivery of M240 MG Series are required by 2021.

Please note this notice DOES NOT constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP). A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.