Shaped Charges - M2A1 15lb & M3A1 40lb

2025MARCH11    Providing additional drawings as attached.

The purpose of this Sources Sought announcement is to identify interested sources for Shaped Demolition Charges.  This announcement is in support of Market Research performed by the United States Army Contracting Command - Rock Island, to determine interest in a planned Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 procurement for the 15 lb and 40 lb Shaped Charges.  The U.S. Government (USG) anticipates a total contract length of 5 years.

Item Description:

Shaped Demolition Charge’s primary use is for boring holes in earth, metal, masonry, concrete, and paved and unpaved roads.  When the charge is detonated, the explosive is converted to a compressed gas.  The gas exerts pressure in the form of a shockwave.  The main charge converts the shaped liner into a high speed jet charge, which penetrates the target. The M2A4, 15 lb Shaped Charge penetrates reinforced concrete to a depth of about 3 feet, with the diameter of a hole tapering from about 2.75 in at the mouth. The M3A1, 40 lb Shaped Charge penetrates reinforced concrete to a depth of about 5 feet, with the diameter of a hole tapering from 3.5 inches at the mouth.

M2A4, 15 lb Shaped Demolition Charge (NSN: 1375-01-023-7994)

The M2A1 consists of 10 lb minimum Composition B, which is loaded using a melt-pour process. It also contains a 48 gram Composition A-3 booster charge.  The explosive charge is enclosed in a molded fiberglass container with a glass cone liner and a tin plated steel closing cap. The shaped charge assembly also has a carrying strap made of cotton webbing and a detachable molded fiberglass 6 inches standoff. Each charge with the standoff is packed in a fiberboard box with foam cushions. Then the fiberboard box is put in a barrier bag. 4 charges are packed in a wooden box per drawing 9281170.

M3A1, 40 lb Shaped Demolition Charge (NSN: 1375-00-088-6691)

The M3A1 consists of approximately 30.5 ± 1.5 pounds of Composition B, which is loaded using a melt-pour process. It also contains a 48 gram Composition A-3 booster charge. The explosive charge is enclosed in a seam welded or drawn sheet steel container along with a formed 10” diameter steel conical shaped charge liner.  The liner is assembled using a crimp in conjunction with an adhesive/sealant.  Brackets for which to affix the cotton webbing carrying strap are spot welded to the container.  A drawn brass detonator well is soldered to a tin-coated steel closing cap which is press fit into the container after loading. The shaped charge assembly includes a detachable welded three-legged steel stand.  Finished assemblies are covered in a barrier material and packed in wooden boxes per drawing 7549165.  

The Composition B and A-3 will be provided as Government Furnished Material (GFM). 

The manufacture of these shape charges requires special skills and facilities. Melt pour loading of high explosives is a critical technology.  Critical skills include laboratory personnel, explosive operators, quality assurance, environmental, and research and development. Critical facilities include temperature controlled cooling bays, melt pour systems, real time x-rays/x-ray technicians. X-rays are important to determine whether the melt-pour casting contains cracks, voids, porosity, or separation.  Defects can cause malfunctioning of the charge. 

The Contractor will be required to successfully conduct First Article Acceptance and Lot Acceptance tests on these items.  The shaped charges are procured to USG Technical Data Packages (TDP).  The entire USG TDPs will not be provided in support of this market research; however top-level drawings and packaging drawings identified below are available for interested sources to review.  The drawings are Distribution Statement A, which means distribution is authorized for public release; distribution is unlimited.  Interested contractors that would like to obtain the top-level and packaging drawings must submit a written request to the POC identified below.

Drawings to be provided:

Item                             Top Drawing                           Packaging Drawing

M2A4                          8861565                                  9281170

M3A1                          8858390                                  7549165

It is anticipated that a Request for Proposal would solicit for the following anticipated requirements, with a resultant Contract award for USG FY 26 requirements as a base quantity, and options included for USG FYs 27-30 anticipated and possible unplanned requirements.  USG currently anticipated requirements for USG FYs 25-30 are as follows by each:

 FY                  40 lb shaped charge                15lb shaped charge

USG FY25:     872                                                         0

USG FY26:     1,034                                                   1,208

USG FY27:     829                                                      1,164

USG FY28:     1,021                                                   1,188

USG FY29:     693                                                      1,117

USG FY30:     574                                                      1,086

Responses:

Interested companies are invited to indicate their interest by providing the USG the following information: a brief summary of the company's capabilities (a description of the facilities, personnel experience, quality system, and past relevant manufacturing experience).  If a respondent does not have adequate resources (facilities, technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, then they must be able to demonstrate their ability to obtain those resources without significant delay.  Any potential key subcontractors should also be addressed, by indicating which key components or processes would be subcontracted and providing a brief summary of potential key component and/or process subcontractors.  Industry respondents are also invited to indicate to the Government whether the shape charge requirements can be met by available commercial or non-developmental items.  Respondents are encouraged to address the feasibility of or alternatives to the USG’s preferred lead-time of 390 days after award for First Article Test (FAT) completion and report submission, and 450 days after award for production deliveries to commence.  Additionally, respondents should indicate a Minimum Procurement Quantity (MPQ) for each item and indicate whether the USG’s planned quantities as stated within this announcement meet or exceed the MPQ. 

Interested companies are requested to provide Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) prices for FAT for each item and the anticipated FY24 production quantities of 0 each 15 lb shaped charges and  872 each 40 lb shaped charges.  Respondents are requested to provide minimum and maximum monthly production quantities and identify the available capacity (if manufacturing resources are shared with other items/production lines).   

The NAICS code for this item is 325920 with a business size standard of 750 employees.  Please indicate your business size in your response.  Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to submitting an invoice and through final payment of any contract resulting from a planned solicitation for the items.  Contractors may obtain information on SAM registration by visiting:  https://www.acquisition.gov. 

This sources sought announcement is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as an official Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the USG.  Industry responses to this sources sought announcement will not represent binding offers, and the USG cannot accept an industry response to form a binding contract.  The USG intends to use any information submitted in response to this request to develop an acquisition strategy for future requirements of these items.  The USG will hold all information submitted in a confidential status.

Interested parties must submit a response no later than 5:00pm (CST) on April 7, 2025  in order to be considered in the development of acquisition strategy for these items.  Please submit all submissions via email to Mr. David Shaffer and Ms. Megan Kirby david.v.shaffer.civ@army.mil and megan.m.kirby.civ@army.mil. All submissions shall be in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF). Address all responses to:  U.S. Army Contracting Command – Rock Island; ATTN: 

CCRC-AMK Megan Kirby  

Bldg. #60

3055 Rodman Avenue

Rock Island, IL  61299-8000

 Please direct all drawing requests and any other questions pertaining to this announcement to the POC identified herein.  All responses to this sources sought must reference the solicitation number and subject “15 lb and 40 lb Shaped Charges”.

Please see attached Sources Sought document.

The purpose of this Sources Sought announcement is to identify interested sources for Shaped Demolition Charges.  This announcement is in support of Market Research performed by the United States Army Contracting Command - Rock Island, to determine interest in a planned Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 procurement for the 15 lb and 40 lb Shaped Charges.  The U.S. Government (USG) anticipates a total contract length of 5 years.

Item Description:

Shaped Demolition Charge’s primary use is for boring holes in earth, metal, masonry, concrete, and paved and unpaved roads.  When the charge is detonated, the explosive is converted to a compressed gas.  The gas exerts pressure in the form of a shockwave.  The main charge converts the shaped liner into a high speed jet charge, which penetrates the target. The M2A4, 15 lb Shaped Charge penetrates reinforced concrete to a depth of about 3 feet, with the diameter of a hole tapering from about 2.75 in at the mouth. The M3A1, 40 lb Shaped Charge penetrates reinforced concrete to a depth of about 5 feet, with the diameter of a hole tapering from 3.5 inches at the mouth.

M2A4, 15 lb Shaped Demolition Charge (NSN: 1375-01-023-7994)

The M2A1 consists of 10 lb minimum Composition B, which is loaded using a melt-pour process. It also contains a 48 gram Composition A-3 booster charge.  The explosive charge is enclosed in a molded fiberglass container with a glass cone liner and a tin plated steel closing cap. The shaped charge assembly also has a carrying strap made of cotton webbing and a detachable molded fiberglass 6 inches standoff. Each charge with the standoff is packed in a fiberboard box with foam cushions. Then the fiberboard box is put in a barrier bag. 4 charges are packed in a wooden box per drawing 9281170.

M3A1, 40 lb Shaped Demolition Charge (NSN: 1375-00-088-6691)

The M3A1 consists of approximately 30.5 ± 1.5 pounds of Composition B, which is loaded using a melt-pour process. It also contains a 48 gram Composition A-3 booster charge. The explosive charge is enclosed in a seam welded or drawn sheet steel container along with a formed 10” diameter steel conical shaped charge liner.  The liner is assembled using a crimp in conjunction with an adhesive/sealant.  Brackets for which to affix the cotton webbing carrying strap are spot welded to the container.  A drawn brass detonator well is soldered to a tin-coated steel closing cap which is press fit into the container after loading. The shaped charge assembly includes a detachable welded three-legged steel stand.  Finished assemblies are covered in a barrier material and packed in wooden boxes per drawing 7549165.  

The Composition B and A-3 will be provided as Government Furnished Material (GFM). 

The manufacture of these shape charges requires special skills and facilities. Melt pour loading of high explosives is a critical technology.  Critical skills include laboratory personnel, explosive operators, quality assurance, environmental, and research and development. Critical facilities include temperature controlled cooling bays, melt pour systems, real time x-rays/x-ray technicians. X-rays are important to determine whether the melt-pour casting contains cracks, voids, porosity, or separation.  Defects can cause malfunctioning of the charge. 

The Contractor will be required to successfully conduct First Article Acceptance and Lot Acceptance tests on these items.  The shaped charges are procured to USG Technical Data Packages (TDP).  The entire USG TDPs will not be provided in support of this market research; however top-level drawings and packaging drawings identified below are available for interested sources to review.  The drawings are Distribution Statement A, which means distribution is authorized for public release; distribution is unlimited.  Interested contractors that would like to obtain the top-level and packaging drawings must submit a written request to the POC identified below.

Drawings to be provided:

Item                             Top Drawing                           Packaging Drawing

M2A4                          8861565                                  9281170

M3A1                          8858390                                  7549165

It is anticipated that a Request for Proposal would solicit for the following anticipated requirements, with a resultant Contract award for USG FY 26 requirements as a base quantity, and options included for USG FYs 27-30 anticipated and possible unplanned requirements.  USG currently anticipated requirements for USG FYs 25-30 are as follows by each:

 FY                  40 lb shaped charge                15lb shaped charge

USG FY25:     872                                                         0

USG FY26:     1,034                                                   1,208

USG FY27:     829                                                      1,164

USG FY28:     1,021                                                   1,188

USG FY29:     693                                                      1,117

USG FY30:     574                                                      1,086

Responses:

Interested companies are invited to indicate their interest by providing the USG the following information: a brief summary of the company's capabilities (a description of the facilities, personnel experience, quality system, and past relevant manufacturing experience).  If a respondent does not have adequate resources (facilities, technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, then they must be able to demonstrate their ability to obtain those resources without significant delay.  Any potential key subcontractors should also be addressed, by indicating which key components or processes would be subcontracted and providing a brief summary of potential key component and/or process subcontractors.  Industry respondents are also invited to indicate to the Government whether the shape charge requirements can be met by available commercial or non-developmental items.  Respondents are encouraged to address the feasibility of or alternatives to the USG’s preferred lead-time of 390 days after award for First Article Test (FAT) completion and report submission, and 450 days after award for production deliveries to commence.  Additionally, respondents should indicate a Minimum Procurement Quantity (MPQ) for each item and indicate whether the USG’s planned quantities as stated within this announcement meet or exceed the MPQ. 

Interested companies are requested to provide Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) prices for FAT for each item and the anticipated FY24 production quantities of 0 each 15 lb shaped charges and  872 each 40 lb shaped charges.  Respondents are requested to provide minimum and maximum monthly production quantities and identify the available capacity (if manufacturing resources are shared with other items/production lines).   

The NAICS code for this item is 325920 with a business size standard of 750 employees.  Please indicate your business size in your response.  Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to submitting an invoice and through final payment of any contract resulting from a planned solicitation for the items.  Contractors may obtain information on SAM registration by visiting:  https://www.acquisition.gov. 

This sources sought announcement is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as an official Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the USG.  Industry responses to this sources sought announcement will not represent binding offers, and the USG cannot accept an industry response to form a binding contract.  The USG intends to use any information submitted in response to this request to develop an acquisition strategy for future requirements of these items.  The USG will hold all information submitted in a confidential status.

Interested parties must submit a response no later than 5:00pm (CST) on April 7, 2025  in order to be considered in the development of acquisition strategy for these items.  Please submit all submissions via email to Mr. David Shaffer and Ms. Megan Kirby david.v.shaffer.civ@army.mil and megan.m.kirby.civ@army.mil. All submissions shall be in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF). Address all responses to:  U.S. Army Contracting Command – Rock Island; ATTN: 

CCRC-AMK Megan Kirby  

Bldg. #60

3055 Rodman Avenue

Rock Island, IL  61299-8000

 Please direct all drawing requests and any other questions pertaining to this announcement to the POC identified herein.  All responses to this sources sought must reference the solicitation number and subject “15 lb and 40 lb Shaped Charges”.

Please see attached Sources Sought document.