BLU-129 Case Assembly

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Rock Island, on behalf of the Project Lead Joint Ammunition and Weapon Systems (PL-JAWS), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, is issuing a sources sought announcement in an effort to identify capable sources for the production and delivery of the Bomb Live Unit (BLU)-129/B 500 lb. Low Collateral Bomb Case (NSN: 1325-01-662-0361). The U.S. Government’s anticipated yearly production would be up to approximately 200-400 units for Fiscal Years (FY) 25-29. Any resulting contract will also contain First Article Test (FAT) requirements.

Requirements include the following item(s):

BOMB ASSEMBLY, EMPTY, NSN: 1325-01-662-0361

ITEM DESCRIPTION: The empty bomb assembly is the bomb body of the BLU-129/B, a 500 lb. low collateral damage weapon, made from a carbon-fiber composite for low fragmentation, with a Multi-Phase Blast Explosive fill. The BLU-129/B bomb has the outer mold line and mass properties equivalent to a standard MK-82 General Purpose Bomb and is compatible with inventory laser/Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS) guidance fuzes.

CRITICAL SKILLS/PROCESSES:  Manufacture of the BLU-129/B Low Collateral Bomb Body requires special processes, equipment, facilities and skills. Critical processes include carbon fiber helical winding with resin application system, composite curing treatments, composite machining to include Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) vertical mills/machining centers, pressure washing, coating/painting, and testing and assembly of the bomb bodies. Critical skills needed for the production of these bomb bodies include composite material setup personnel; inspection and testing technicians; maintenance, and quality control engineers.

For different stages of the manufacturing process, special inspection and test equipment is required to ensure that the final products comply with U.S Government requirements. The Contractor will be required to successfully complete First Article Acceptance, and Lot Acceptance tests on the Bomb Bodies. The BLU 129/B 500lb Low Collateral Bomb is procured to a U.S Government Technical Data Package (TDP).

TECHNICAL DATA PACKAGES: The Technical Data Packages (TDPs) associated with the BLU-129/B are classified as Distribution D – limited distribution authorized to the Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. DoD Contractors Only. These documents 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 (Title 50, U.S.C., APP 2401 et seq.), as Amended. Violations of these export laws are subject to severe criminal penalties. Disseminate in accordance with provisions of DoD Directive 5230.25.

Interested vendors must be registered with the U.S./Canada Joint Certification Program (JCP) to gain access to the TDPs (see www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp/ for instruction and information). Each individual requiring access to the TDPs must have a SAM.gov 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 DD Form 2345, Military Critical Technical Data Requirement, which was required to be registered within the JCP. The Data Custodian is the sole representative identified to receive export controlled TDPs and drawings. To obtain the top-level drawings, interested vendors with the proper certification in JCP, may request explicit access through the “attachments/links” tab in SAM.gov under this posting. In addition to making the request by the JCP Data Custodian in SAM.gov, interested vendors should also send a copy of their approved DD2345 to the points of contact specified below.

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 U.S. Government. The U.S. Government 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 U.S. Government cannot accept an industry response to form a binding contract. The U.S. Government intends to use any information submitted in response to this request to develop an acquisition strategy for future requirements of this item.

RESPONSES: Interested companies who consider themselves capable of manufacturing the BLU-129/B Low Collateral Bomb Case are invited to indicate their interest by providing the U.S. Government with the following information:

1. 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/specific resources (facilities, technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, then they should demonstrate their ability to obtain those resources and should identify the amount of time and costs associated / required for facilitation and to obtain the necessary resources. Any potential key subcontractors should also be addressed, by indicating which key components or processes would be subcontracted and provide a brief summary of potential key component and/or process subcontractors. Current major manufacturing processes and associated critical skills and equipment should also be provided.
2. Please provide the timeline on how long it will take to be at Full Operational Capability (FOC). Provide each step and how long each step will take to reach FOC.
3. Provide Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) prices for FY25-29 for the estimated quantities listed above. Respondents are also encouraged to propose economic ordering quantities and provide the schedule(s) to support it. In addition, respondents should provide a ROM on associated FAT(s).
4. Identify minimum and maximum monthly production quantities and identify the available capacity. Intended line capacities (existing or planned) for the bomb case assemblies should be defined.
5. Provide information about your facilities (size, age, condition, location and historical uses) and equipment (age, condition, efficiency and tooling).
6. Identify if your company has ever produced the BLU-129/B bomb case. If so, please state when it was last produced, who the customer was, the production rate under that contract, and the contract number.
7. The NAICS code for these items is 332993 with a business size standard of 1,500 employees. Please indicate your business size for the identified NAICS code in your response. Also be sure to provide the company name, address, point of contact, phone number, e-mail address, CAGE Code, and DUNS number.

In order to be eligible for contracts with the U.S. Government, 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.acquisition.gov. All interested companies are highly encouraged to get registered in SAM immediately.  The U.S. Government will hold all information submitted in a confidential status.

For additional information regarding this announcement, please contact the Contract Specialists via email at nicholas.j.brown91.civ@army.mil.

Industry responses are requested electronically no later than 12:00PM CT, 7 August 2024 to be considered in the development of the acquisition strategy for this item. Send all responses to Mr. Nicholas Brown at nicholas.j.brown91.civ@army.mil. All responses to this sources sought announcement should reference in the subject: Sources Sought Response for BLU-129/B 500 lb. Low Collateral Bomb Body.