SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Sources Sought for Research, Development and Testing of Solid Rocket Propulsion Technology for Application in US Army Missile Systems
- Notice Date
- 10/24/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- ACC-RSA - (Missile), ATTN: CCAM, Building 5303, Martin Road, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898-5280
- ZIP Code
- 35898-5280
- Solicitation Number
- W31P4Q-14-R-0029
- Response Due
- 11/25/2013
- Archive Date
- 12/23/2013
- Point of Contact
- Tammy Benson, 256-842-5811
- E-Mail Address
-
ACC-RSA - (Missile)
(tammy.j.benson@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR SOLICITATION FOR PLANNING PURPOSES (a) The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. (b) Although quote mark proposal quote mark and quote mark offeror quote mark are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. (c) This solicitation is issued for the purpose of obtaining information to serve as a market survey to assist in the development of a procurement strategy. Note: This sources sought notice is an updated version of the previous sources sought notice posted under W31P4Q-12-R-0106 on 2 April 2012 for 'Sources Sought for Research, Development and Testing of Solid, Gel, Hybrid Rocket Propulsion Technology for Application in US Army Missile Systems (follow on to W31P4Q-08-D-0025 with Aerojet and W31P4Q-08-D-0026 with ATK) quote mark. The Government seeks potential sources having the experience and facilities capabilities to perform full-rate production of tactical missile propulsion systems encompassing small diameter aviation rockets/missiles up to 18-inch diameter deep strike/air defense missiles. The Government requests information on the potential source's knowledge, skill and experiences in research, development, and testing of solid rocket propulsion technology for application in US Army missile systems. This is a Request for Information (RFI) issued pursuant to FAR 15.2. The US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Redstone Arsenal, AL, on behalf of the US Army, desires to obtain information to serve as a market survey to aid in development of procurement strategy for research, development, and testing of propulsion technology for application in US Army missile systems. As a result of issuing this RFI, the Government expects to receive information from potential offerors to assist in determination of the ability of potential offerors to develop and transition propulsion technology into tactical propulsion systems production operations. No award is intended as a result of this sources sought notice nor does the Government intend to pay for information received. Responses to this notice are not an offer and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. For questions regarding this RFI, please contact the Government contracting POC, Ms. Tammy Benson, via email at tammy.j.benson.civ@mail.mil. The AMRDEC has requirements for research, development, and testing of solid rocket propulsion technology for application in US Army missile systems. Central to these requirements is a focus on controllable thrust, enhanced performance, reduced sensitivity, and safety/environmental compliance. Therefore, as part of these efforts, all technology development should address the specific issues of the goal at hand, whether that goal is controllable thrust, performance, reduced sensitivity, or safety/environmental compliance without neglecting any of the other goals central to this requirement. Due to technology transition objectives, the Government seeks to identify companies that have capabilities in research, development, and testing of solid rocket propulsion technology and the having the experience and facilities capabilities to perform full-rate production of tactical missile propulsion systems for Aviation, Close Combat, Precision Fires, and Air/Missile Defense. Size ranges encompass propulsion systems for small diameter aviation rockets/missiles up to 18-inch diameter deep strike/air defense missiles. The purpose of this RFI is to gather information about the research, development, and production capabilities of potential offerors in the following technology areas: (1) New Ingredients and Materials: Propellant ingredients that are stable, compatible, processable, and cost effective for Army missile propulsion are among the ingredients to be developed, synthesized, and evaluated. These include high energy-density oxidizers, fuels, polymers, ballistic modifiers, processing additives, bonding agents, and plasticizers. In addition, new materials for composite cases, to include fibers, resins, insulators, and nozzle components that can enhance motor performance may be evaluated. Novel and/or improved processing techniques for propulsion system structural components may be employed to enhance performance, integration, and cost effectiveness. New ingredients must be characterized for heat of formation, density, purity, elemental analysis, stability, hazards properties, and if pertinent, crystal structure, molecular weight, equivalent weight, functionality, viscosity, and reactivity. Hazards associated with the preparation, analysis, and use of solid propellant ingredients and of those materials employed in the manufacture of rocket motor components or propellant are to be identified. Samples of promising new materials may be obtained or prepared and analyzed to deliver to the AMRDEC for verification. (2) Rocket Propulsion Technology: (a) Minimum Signature Propellants: Less sensitive high performance minimum signature propellants with an objective theoretical impulse density greater than 14.0 lb-sec/cu. in. that maximize producibility and minimize cost. (b) Reduced Smoke Propellant: High performance, reduced smoke composite propellants with an objective theoretical impulse density greater than 16.0 lb-sec/cu. in. that maximize producibility and minimize cost. (c) Composite (Smoky) Propellant: High performance composite propellants with an objective theoretical impulse density greater than 17.5 lb-sec/cu. in. that maximize producibility and minimize cost. (d) Rocket Propulsion Inert Components: Design, development, analysis and test of rocket cases, nozzles, insulators, and combustion chambers tankages for solid propulsion systems, to include controllable thrust devices/components may be conducted. Integration methods and processing techniques that enhance propulsion system performance, survivability and Insensitive Munitions characteristics may be designed, developed and evaluated. (3) Controllable Thrust Propulsion (CTP): Experimental and analytical investigations of approaches to provide a variety of thrust time profiles from a single motor design may be conducted. Approaches to be examined include barrier type pulse motors, bulkhead type pulse motors, and variable area nozzles. Aviation and Close Combat applications for this technology also require minimum signature, and therefore concept implementation must not preclude meeting this requirement or the requirement for Insensitive Munitions. Development and testing of structural and control components, propellants, or materials for CTP to validate the component performance and assumptions and to address the critical design issues may be performed. Specialized propulsion system testing may be conducted to verify the predicted effects of each developed component on the system performance described in this effort. As previously stated, the purpose of this RFI is to gather information about the research, development, and production capabilities of potential offerors in the Technology Areas identified. Responses: To assist in market research associated with the research, development, and testing of propulsion technology, the Government is requesting information from industry. Interested parties should submit white papers not to exceed 15 pages and no smaller than 12pt Times New Roman font. The white paper should include the following: (1) a brief description of any projects that the respondent's company is or has been involved in that are similar in concept to what is described in this RFI, which should include any relevant lessons learned; (2) any additional materials that are deemed appropriate by the respondent. The objective of this process is to assess potential offerors capable of achieving the stated objectives. All questions must reference RFI number W31P4Q-14-R-0029 and be submitted in writing no later than 3:00 PM Central Standard Time (CST) on 4 November 2013 to the contractual point of contact Ms. Tammy Benson at tammy.j.benson.civ@mail.mil; telephone requests for addition information will not be honored. Question submittals must also include: Company name, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code, and appropriate point of contact information. All RFI responses must be submitted to the contractual point of contact, Ms. Tammy Benson at tammy.j.benson.civ@mail.mil no later than 3:00 PM CST on 25 November 2013. The Government requests that the respondents deliver one electronic copy in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. In addition to the information provided above, all responses to this RFI must include RFI number W31P4Q-14-R-0029, company or institution name, CAGE code, and point of contact information. NO FOREIGN PARTICIPATION IS AUTHORIZED. Acknowledgement of receipt will only be issued if a return receipt is requested with the submission. Please do not submit any classified information. All information submitted shall be adequately safeguarded from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with FAR Part 15.207. The Government reserves the right to request further clarification or request presentations to enhance the Government's understanding of the respondent's submittal. White papers that fail to comply with the above instructions or present ideas that are not pertinent to the subject may not be reviewed. This is a request for information purposes only. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the US Army to procure products or services. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR OTHERWISE PAY FOR THE INFORMATION SOLICITED. No award is intended as a result of the RFI. Information submitted in response to this RFI is submitted at no cost to the Government and will not be returned. Any exchange of information shall be consistent with procurement integrity requirements, and all appropriate proprietary claims will be protected to prevent improper disclosure. In the event you have difficulty reading this RFI, please contact Ms. Tammy Benson via email at tammy.j.benson.civ@mail.mil for a copy of this notice.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/4a6f9c706476bac7aa863322ecb9a370)
- Place of Performance
- Address: ACC-RSA - (Missile) ATTN: CCAM-RDB, Building 5400, Fowler Road Redstone Arsenal AL
- Zip Code: 35898-5280
- Zip Code: 35898-5280
- Record
- SN03221640-W 20131026/131024234034-4a6f9c706476bac7aa863322ecb9a370 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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