Request for Information (RFI) - Vehicle Base Kit (VBK)

The Department of the Army is conducting market research for a Vehicle Protection System (VPS) Base Kit (VBK), an Acquisition Category (ACAT) II program designed as an Active Protection System (APS) controller for ground combat vehicles. The procurement will focus on a system comprising a Modular Active Controller (MAC), User Interface Control Panel (UICP), and a Power Distribution Management System (PMDS). Technical Data Packages (TDP) will be provided to prospective vendors, with a specific requirement to utilize the Lockheed Martin Motherboard in the MAC. The government seeks detailed information from potential vendors about manufacturing capabilities, security clearances, production capacity, integrated product support, quality processes, and potential technical challenges. Responses must be submitted via unclassified email by 1700 EST on March 21, 2025, with vendors understanding that participation is voluntary and incurs no cost or obligation to the government.

The pre-solicitation notice indicates no specific set-aside designations, and the potential contract could exceed procurement of up to 4,000 kits with an anticipated award in fiscal year 2026. The government has not identified specific incumbent contractors in the documentation. While precise budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the scale of the procurement suggests a significant potential contract value for the selected vendor(s). The Army's market research is strategically timed to inform a production contract, with the RFI serving as a critical intelligence-gathering phase to assess industry capabilities and readiness. The program's focus on ground combat vehicle protection systems indicates a robust defense technology procurement with potential long-term strategic implications for military vehicle safety and technological advancement.