Mobile Field Range-Improved (M59-I)

SYNOPSIS: This Sources Sought Announcement is to assist the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Soldier Center (DEVCOM-SC) to identify potential sources to provide an improved M59 Field Range (M59-I) prototype for preparing/cooking food in austere combat feeding environments.  The Government requests responders submit a Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement (BOTAA) preproposal as outlined in DEVCOM-SC BOTAA 22-01 located at: https://sam.gov/opp/126eaf3a78d847f69b7c94b606877f92/view.  Please refer to Topic Area of Interest “A. SOLDIER SUSTAINMENT DIRECTORATE (SSD), COMBAT FEEDING DIVISION” starting on page 19.  Submit the BOTAA preproposals to: Paul Mandile, paul.j.mandile.civ@army.mil, Jean Trumpis, jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil, and Donna Glowka, donna.m.glowka.civ@army.mil no later than Friday 24 January 2025 (3:30 PM EST).

Objective: DEVCOM-SC is seeking information on technologies or capabilities to obtain and improved M59A Field Range to support combat field feeding operations.

Background:  The M59A Field Range was initially developed by the Army in 1959 and used with the M2 pressurized gasoline burner as it’s heat source. The Range was used to heat water and cook food in the field by Soldiers. In the mid 1990’s, the M59A Field Range underwent minor improvements to enhance safety and allow it to utilize the Army’s MBU burner and the Marine Corps Airtronic burner as heat sources. DEVCOM-SC is seeking an improved version of the M59 Field Range for the near future that is smaller, highly mobile, highly durable, reliable, thermostatically controlled, affordable and designed for manufacturability using COT’s components and today’s advanced production methods.

Requirements: Baseline performance testing and reporting on the current M59A Field Range. Redesigning, fabricating, testing and delivering an improved version of the M59 Field Range called the M59 Improved (M59I). The redesigned M59I version will be tested against the baseline and the results reported to the Government. See the attached DRAFT Statement of Work (SOW).

Interested parties are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Announcement. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY

This Sources Sought Announcement is issued solely for information and planning purposes and to identify interested sources. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. This Sources Sought does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. It is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. Further, unsolicited proposals will not be accepted. Funding is not available at this time. The United States Army has not made a commitment to procure any of the items/services discussed, and release of this Sources Sought Announcement should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. Response to this Sources Sought Announcement is voluntary and no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this and any follow-on information requests. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

Not responding to this Sources Sought Announcement does not preclude participation in any future RFP if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the SAM.gov website.  It is the responsibility of the potential responders to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this subject.

RESPONSES:
Interested parties may identify their interest and capability by sending BOTAA preproposals regarding this requirement to DEVCOM-SC via e-mail ONLY to Paul Mandile, paul.j.mandile.civ@army.mil, Jean Trumpis, jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil, and Donna Glowka, donna.m.glowka.civ@army.mil no later than Friday 24 January 2025 (3:30 PM EST). The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this Notice. All costs associated with responding to this Notice will be solely at the expense of the interested party. 

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QUESTIONS:
Any questions for clarification may be emailed to Paul Mandile, paul.j.mandile.civ@army.mil, Jean Trumpis, jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil, and Donna Glowka, donna.m.glowka.civ@army.mil no later than Friday 17 January 2025 (3:30 PM EST). Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. An unattributed list of questions and answers will be published at the same web location of this Sources Sought Announcement.