The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Rock Island, on behalf of the Project Director for Joint Bombs, is issuing a revised sources sought announcement in an effort to identify capable sources for the production and delivery of the F562 Signal Cartridge MK4-3 (flame/hot) for the Fiscal Years (FY) 20-24. The Government's interest would be approximately 75,000-125,000 per year from FY20-24. Any resulting contract will also contain First Article Test (FAT) requirements.

F562 MK4-3 CART SIG/NAVY 1325-01-323-9921 (w/ metal pallet)

ITEM DESCRIPTION: These requirements are required to support the United States Air Force and the United States Navy bombing missions.

The F562 Signal Cartridge MK4-3 (flame/hot) uses red phosphorus to provide a signal of white smoke and a fire flame. The Signal Cartridges can be deployed during day or night exercises to mark the point of impact. It is used with practice bombs (PB) to mark the impact location of the practice bomb. The MK 4 MOD 3 Signal Cartridge is a day or night use signal cartridge. Contained within an aluminum case, the rim end has a percussion primer and the opposite end is sealed with an aluminum disk. The Signal Cartridge contains an expelling charge (smokeless powder) initiated by the primer and red phosphorus. Upon impact, the cartridge is driven forward against the firing pin, initiating the primer at the base of the cartridge. This action fires the three grams of expelling charge and propels it from the open end of the PB. The red phosphorus is a toxic powder that produces a bright flash (for night use) when ignited. The Signal Cartridge will detonate upon impact releasing a large volume of white smoke. Drops of 18 inches or more can cause signal to function. The smoke is produced by the combination of red phosphorus and heat exceeding 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Bomb Configuration. The Signal Cartridge is used in the nose of the MK 76, BDU-33, MK 106, BDU-48, and the LGTR. With the Spotting Charge Adapter MK 89 MOD 0, the Signal Cartridge is used in the tail fuzewell of inert GP Bombs MK 80 Series, and BDU-45 without an electrical fuze.

• Components. The Signal Cartridge is ignited by a firing pin. A safety pin is used to hold the firing pin in place in the nose of the PB. A Spotting Charge Adapter is used to adapt the Signal Cartridge to the PB for tail installations.

 

CRITICAL PROCESSES/SKILLS: Manufacture of the F562 MK4-3 Signal Cartridge requires specialized equipment and facilities. Critical equipment and facilities may include: metal stamping and bending, metal crimping, extrusion, heat treatment, material handling systems, metal plating and passivation, hazardous material storage and handling, conventional machining equipment, Computer Numerically Controlled machining, coordinate measuring machines, gage calibration equipment, and coating/painting equipment. Critical skills needed for production of signal cartridges include component assembly and hazardous material handling, setup personnel, inspection and testing technicians, quality control engineers, and machinists.

RESPONSES: Interested companies who consider themselves capable of manufacturing the F562 Signal Cartridge MK4-3 (flame/hot) are invited to indicate their interest by providing the USG with the following information:
a. Provide a brief summary of the company's capabilities (a description of the facilities, personnel experience, quality system, and past/current relevant manufacturing experience and processes), and their availability. If a respondent does not have adequate resources (facilities, technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, then they should 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. Current major manufacturing processes and associated critical skill and equipment should also be provided.

b. Respondents should also include information about their facilities (size, age, condition, location and historical uses) and equipment (age, condition, efficiency and tooling).

c. Interested companies should provide any minimum production requirements and any production limitations; to include whether the USG's planned quantities as state within this announcement meet or exceed minimum production requirements. Respondents should also note any significant lead times with equipment or materials associated with production of the F562 Signal Cartridge MK4-3 (flame/hot). Respondents are requested to identify whether the F562 Signal Cartridge MK4-3 (flame/hot) can be tested, produced, and delivered concurrently, or whether consecutive schedules are requested based upon current capabilities.

d. Respondents are requested to provide a Rough Order Magnitude (ROM) price for FY20-24 in accordance with the estimated quantities listed above. Respondents are also encouraged to provide a ROM on associated FAT(s).

The NAICS code for this item is 325998. Please indicate your business size and socio-economic status in your response. Also be sure to provide the company name, address, point of contact, phone number, e-mail address, taxpayer identification number, DUNS number, and CAGE Code. Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract resulting from a planned solicitation for these items. Contractors may obtain information on SAM registration by visiting: https://www.acquistion.gov.

TECHNICAL DATA PACKAGES: The Technical Data Packages (TDP's) associated with the F562 Signal Cartridge MK4-3 (flame/hot) are classified as Distribution D, limited distribution. The TDP's contain technical data whose export is restricted by the arms export control act, (Title 22, U.S.C., SEC 2751 ET SEQ.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended titled, 50 U.S.C. APP 2240, ET SEQ. Violations of these export laws are subject to severe criminal penalties. Disseminate IAW provision of DOD Directive 5230.25. Offerors must be registered with the U.S./Canada Joint Certification Office to access the Technical Data Package linked with this sources sought notice (see www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp/ for instructions and information).

Each individual requiring access to the TDPs must have a FedBizOpps account prior to accessing the TDPs. Access to the TDP will only be granted to those individuals who are listed as the Data Custodian (block 3) on the DDForm 2345, Military Critical Technical Data Requirement, which is required to be registered within the JCP. The Data Custodian is the sole representative identified to receive export controlled TDP's and drawings. For purposes of this Sources Sought, the TDP will be provided for the F562 Signal Cartridge MK4-3 (flame/hot).
Interested vendors may request access to the TDP at the following link: https://www.fbo.gov/fedteds/W52P1J19R0092

This sources sought announcement is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the USG. The USG does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this sources sought announcement or otherwise pay for information solicited. Industry responses to this sources sought 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 this item. The USG will hold all information submitted in a confidential status.

For additional information regarding this announcement, please contact the Contract Specialist via email at [email protected].

Industry responses are requested electronically no later than 22 July 19 in order to be considered in the development of the acquisition strategy for these items. Send all responses to Ms. Taylor Seaba at [email protected]. All responses to this sources sought announcement should reference in the subject: Sources Sought Response for F562 Signal Cartridge MK4-3 (flame/hot) - W52P1J-19-R-0092.