Manufacture of M284A2 155mm and other MTC Cannon Tubes

Purpose: The Army Contracting Command - Rock Island (ACC-RI) at Picatinny, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000 is conducting a Market Survey on behalf of the Project Manager Howitzer Systems (PM-HS).  PM-HS has a need to identify potential sources capable of manufacturing the M284A2 155mm, and other 155mm cannon tubes domestically in specific quantities and lead time annotated below.  The purpose of this market research is to obtain current information on the capability of additional sources to manufacture 155mm Cannon Tubes up to 30-foot length. No other data or drawings will be provided with this Market Survey.

Description: The .39 caliber, 155-mm M776 and M284A2 cannon tubes are components of the M777A2 and M109A6/A7 Howitzers respectively.  155-mm cannons are direct support cannon fire support system for the U.S. Army and must be built to the United States Government technical data specifications.  This Sources Sought is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or an obligation on the part of the US Government.

All interested respondents are requested to provide a written response summarizing the following capabilities and organizational details.  Manufacturers with domestic capacity in the works are also encouraged submit their response along with their prospective production timetables. Please clarify if respondent’s capabilities apply to one or all the cannon tube models.

REQUESTED:

1. Name of company, address, telephone number, email address, technical point of contact, CAGE code, UEI, and business size information (please specify as either a Large Business, Foreign-Owned Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, 8(a) concern, Woman-Owned Small Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone concern, Veteran-Owned Small Business, or Service-Disabled Small Business).

2. Experience: A description of the respondent’s manufacturing experience of the   155-mm Cannon Tubes, or similar products, within the last five (5) years to include past performance.  Include applicable description of experience with each cannon tube. 

3. Production Process: A description of the respondent’s existing 155-mm cannon production process to include all major manufacturing stages and the operations/equipment utilized for each, as well as all supporting subcontractors. The description must detail the entire production lifecycle, including, but not limited to:

               3.1. A detailed description of the respondents bore and outside diameter cold working capabilities to include autofrettage.

               3.2. A detailed description of the respondent’s boring and milling capabilities along with the capacity or each (length, weight, outer/inner diameters).

               3.3. A detailed description of the respondent's rifling capabilities, including methods (e.g., swage, broach, or single-point machining) and general experience with standard 155-mm rifling configurations (lands, grooves, and twist rates).

               3.4. A detailed description of the respondent or subcontractor coating capabilities for chrome bore coatings on a steel tube up to 30 ft long and up to 7,500 pounds in weight.  Provide the maximum length and weight of tube that can be coated by respondent.

               3.5. A detailed description of the respondent’s   protective coating and painting capabilities.

               3.6. Detailed description of the respondent’s   advanced manufacturing capabilities and growth areas.

4. Production Capacity: A description of the respondent’s current maximum monthly capacity to produce 155-mm cannon tubes.  Please specify separate production rate capacity for each and if different manufacturing lines, tooling, or subcontractors are utilized.

5. Production Availability: A description of the respondent’s maximum caliber capability and projected available capacity to produce 155-mm cannon tubes within 18 months from the date of these sources sought.

6. Optimization opportunity: A description of the domestic facilities, equipment, machines and tooling required to increase the available capacity to produce 155-mm cannon tubes up to ten (10) tubes per month, regardless of caliber, within 36 months from the date of this source sought. Specify whether the projected production capacity for each tube type is dedicated or shared across multiple lines.    Provide an NTE ROM cost estimate for an initial production quantity of forty (40) cannon tubes (broken down by caliber or indicating pricing for a combined/flexible mix).

7. Material: A detailed description of the respondent’s cannon tube source material grade, respondent(s) and processing.  Such as, but not limited to, steel preform production, forging, guide bore, and heat treatment.

All companies interested in this notice must be registered and valid in System for Award Management (SAM). This market survey is for informational and planning purposes and shall NOT be construed as a Request for Proposal (RFP).

All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government.  If a future formal Government requirement is generated, a solicitation notice will be published.  Please identify, with markings, proprietary information submitted.  All respondents’ information provided will not be returned, will hold in confidential status, and destruction notice shall be provided.

All market information sought in this notification must be provided within 30 days of this notice by electronic mail only at no cost to the Government.