A -- COMMERCIAL 5.56X45MM NATO EXTENDED-LIFE BARRELS (ELB)

Notice Date

February 16, 2001

Contracting Office

Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Code 1162 Bldg 2521, 300 Highway 361, Crane, Indiana 47522-5001

ZIP Code

47522-5001

Solicitation Number

N/A

Response Due

February 28, 2001

Point of Contact

Stacy McAtee, Code 1162, telephone 812-854-1988

E-Mail Address

click here for point of contact (mcatee_s@crane.navy.mil)

Description

The Navy, on behalf of the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Special Operations Peculiar Modification (SOPMOD) Program is issuing this Request for Information (RFI). SOPMOD is presently conducting a market survey. Sources are sought that can provide Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS)/Non Developmental Items (NDI). NDI include items that are developed but not yet in production, but can reasonably be expected to be in the status of production-ready articles for comparative testing on or about February of 2002. COTS/NDI information is sought for extended-life barrels (ELB) to meet the operational requirements of USSOCOM Special Operations combatants. This RFI is to explore industry ability to correct the currently existing operational shortfall of unacceptably short small arms barrel life, resulting in untimely loss of accuracy and high wear rates on other weapon parts, and contributing to loss of weapon reliability. A further operational shortfall is the safety problem associated with cook-offs due to unacceptable barrel heating/cooling characteristics. The SOPMOD Program is not seeking alternate sources for the current U.S. standard barrels found on the SOF weapons, rather is interested in sources of COTS/NDI extended-life, high endurance barrels that show demonstrable improvements over the current standard barrels. Improvements are sought in materials, manufacturing process, high endurance coatings, and other unknown technologies that yield extended accuracy performance, barrel life to a threshold of 10,000 rounds, with an objective of 30,000 rounds, under multiple firing schedules ranging from mid-range precision fire, general purpose combat schedules of semi-automatic and full-automatic fire, as well as light machinegun firing schedules. Also of interest are barrels manufactured by the hammer/cold forging process with heavy/durable chrome or other resistant material plating of the chamber and bore. Of further interest are barrels that are geometrically and materially optimized for rapid cooling and elimination of barrel burst. Additional interest exists in improvements in chamber, bore, and rifling designs that enhance endurance, reliability, and accuracy. While SOF interest exists in enhanced life barrels for several types of rifles, carbines, and machineguns, the anticipated comparative test effort will be base-lined on M4/M16 series weapons. Barrel lengths are sought in three length categories: short (10 to 12 inches), medium (14 to 15.5 inches) and long (16.1 to 18 inches). Barrels shall be 5.56mm NATO caliber, mounting standard M16 type barrel extensions and sight bases. Market survey information must be received NLT 28 February 01. The vendor response to this market survey must include the following information: 1) Technical description of product, to include photographs (electronic photograph preferred). 2) Current users/customers of the product, if any. 3) Contact information for current users/customers, if any. 4) Test qualification history of product, if any. 5) Year 2001 and 2002, cost and delivery schedule for 1, 10, 100, 1000, and 10,000 units. 6) Industry comments on the feasibility of the performance parameters and system description noted above. If item is of foreign origin, vendors must include information on local government plans for procurement and local government/military contract information, if any. The government may be interested in purchasing product samples of certain barrels. This notice is related to SOL N00164-00-R-0135 in that is seeks to compare COTS/NDI solutions to ongoing developmental efforts at some future date. This notice does not constitute an invitation for Bids or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not a commitment by the SOPMOD Program to procure subject equipment. No solicitation document exits at this time. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD ON THE BASIS OF THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR OTHERWISE PAY FOR THE INFORMATION SOLICITED. Technical Point of Contact: Mr. Paul Miller, Code 4081, telephone (812) 854-6654, email miller_p@crane.navy.mil. SOPMOD Program Registration: Ms. Paula Pifer, Code 4081, telephone (812) 854-5686, email pifer_p@crane.navy.mil

Web Link

click here to download solicitation (http://www.crane.navy.mil/supply/announce.htm)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010221/ASOL016.HTM (W-047 SN50D9A0)