US Army ARDEC, AMSTA-AR-PC, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806-5000

13 -- EXPLOSIVE AND PYROTECHNIC INITIATORS AND ACTUATORS SOL DAAE30-98-R-0525 DUE 033198 POC John M. Eilenberger Jr, Contracting Officer, 973-724-5522 WEB: US ARMY TACOM-ARDEC Procurement Network, http://procnet.pica.army.mil/procacts.htm. E-MAIL: John M. Eilenberger Jr., jeilen@pica.army.mil. The Army Fuze Management Office (AFMO) and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Industrial Readiness, Industrial Operations Command (DCSIR-IOC) are conducting a market survey of industry to identify potential sources for explosive and pyrotechnic initiators and actuators. The components of the highest priority are those which use a bridgewire for initiation. This includes both primary explosive devices such as the M100 electric micro-detonator, as well as actuating devices such as miniature piston actuators and bellows actuators. Additional components of concern are: carbon bridge detonators, pyrotechnic delay detonators, pyrotechnic delay elements,and stab/flash/percussion- initiated detonators. Systems contractors and fuze prime contractors continue to experience problems obtaining consistent, high quality, on-time delivery of these components. Over the next 5 years it is anticipated that Department of Defense ammunition requirements will result in the need for the following quantities and types of components*: 2,212,000 -- Electric Detonators,138,000 -- Bellows Actuators,375,000 -- Miniature Piston Actuators, 65,800,000 -- Pyro Delay Elements, Delay Detonators and Stab/Flash/Percussion Initiated Detonators * These quantities are based on support of U.S. fuze and S&A applications only. Foreign Military Sales and munitions and demolitions applications outside of fuzes and S&A's have not been included. Additionally, the related DoD field of impulse cartridges has not been considered in these projections. These are strictly rough-order-of-magnitude projections, which are subject to change as a result of national and global events, and technological developments. These estimated quantities should in no way be construed as procurement quantities guaranteed by the Government. It should be further noted that these are "rolled-up" quantities grouping anticipated procurements by a variety of system and fuze contractors. It is anticipated that the contract orders will be for a widely diversified set of component types, requirements, applications, and contract quantities. Single contract quantities could vary from hundreds to possibly millions of devices, and most likely will be awarded by a fuze or system prime contractor in lieu of a direct Government contract. In addition to the above concern for having on-time fuze and ammunition deliveries, the Government is interested in maintaining a production base adequate to support ammunition replenishment needs. There is potential for limited Government investment of resources, which may include both equipment (e.g. 6 Iowa Loaders) and capital, to improve the capability of this sector of the industrial base. It is desired that respondents to this market survey have the skills, equipment, facilities, and licenses/permits to produce and test the components of interest, or the wherewithal to obtain them. It should be noted that in order to produce the full complement of devices, the ability to handle energetic materials including, but not limited to, Lead Styphnate, Lead Azide, HMX, NOL 130, RDX, PETN, LMNR and KDNBF is required. Interested respondents should include in their response: 1.) A synopsis describing the company. 2.) A list of the components of stated interest, which have been produced in the past 10 years, with an estimated quantity of each component produced. Include any related military or commercial components. 3.) Details on the bridgewire capability currently possessed -- automated (describe) or hand-line and the maximum quantity of acceptable bridged header assemblies that could be produced in a four week period on a 1-8-5 shift basis. 4.) A description of manufacturing/engineering experience working specifically with bridgewire components and also with the other components of stated interest. 5.) Details on the loading equipment at the facility. Specify the type of equipment, number of each type, age, and whether owned, GFE or CFE 6.) Explosive handling and storage capability/limits. 7.) A description of any RDT&E capability related to the components of stated interest. 8.) Identification of the quality system currently employed. 9.) A list of system or fuze contractors which have been your customers. 10.) A description of current capacity/capability and any future investment plans within this technology. 11.) Willingness to co-invest with the Government to achieve the stated objective. 12.) Any proposed alternative solution to achieve the stated objective. Firms are invited to express their interest by providing a response addressing the above criteria to the Army Fuze Management Office ATTN: AMSTA-AR-FZ, Building 1 Floor 3, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07801-5000 within 15 days from the date of this publication. This is a market survey for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract solely on the basis of this market survey, or otherwise pay for the information solicited. The Government reserves the right to share the responses to this market survey with the fuze industrial base. See number Note 25. (0075)

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