Airborne Mine Neutralization System - Archerfish (AMNS-AF) Full-Rate Production 3 (FRP3)

This Request for Information/Sources Sought notice is for market research purposes only and does NOT constitute an invitation for bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or any obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), this notice shall not be construed as a contract, a promise to contract, or as a commitment of any kind by the Government. The Government is NOT seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals. This notice is a market research tool being used to determine overall market developments, capabilities, and adequacy of the industrial base capable of providing the supplies/services described herein prior to determining requirements and the method of acquisition. Any information submitted by respondents to this technical description is strictly voluntary.

This notice is issued by the Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), on behalf of the Program Executive Office (PEO) Undermanned and Small Combatants (USC), Mine Warfare Program Office (PMS 495). The Navy is conducting market research in accordance with FAR Part 10 to determine whether industry possesses the requisite capabilities to successfully design, manufacture, assemble, and test a system for neutralizing bottom and moored mines using an expendable mine neutralization device that is deployed from the MH-60S helicopter and integrated with the Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS). In addition, this notice requests industry comment on how the Government can best satisfy its needs, alternative approaches, technology availability and risk, the identification of cost drivers, and suggestions on ways to enhance or sustain competition.

Combatant Commanders require a wide-area neutralization system capable of neutralizing

bottom, close-tethered, and moored maritime mines.  This capability is particularly important in the littoral zones, confined straits, choke points, and the amphibious objective area.

The objective of this notice is to help the Government determine the existing capabilities to neutralize bottom, close-tethered, and moored maritime mines for the self-protection of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) assets in the shortest practical timeline.  

The Destructors must be managed by the AMNS-AF during helicopter transit and launch phases.

The Destructors must be integrated on a MH-60S helicopter and have to deploy either as part of a Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Mission Package (MP) onboard a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) or as expeditionary from a vessel of opportunity or from ashore.

The Destructors shall be of a size that allows 4 Destructors to be loaded in the AMNS-AF Launch and Handling System (LHS) at one time.

The Destructors shall use explosive means as the neutralization solution.

The Destructors shall meet requirements of the Navy Weapon System Safety Program as determined by the Weapon System Explosive Safety Review Board (WSESRB).

The Destructors will use lithium batteries only when it is established that no other safe, environmentally improved battery will provide adequate performance.

The Destructors shall have both a visual and acoustic means of being located should the communications link to the Common Console be lost.  The Destructors shall have the capability to broadcast their location for a minimum of thirty (30) days after the loss of communication or until the Destructor self-destructs or sterilizes.

Request For Information/Sources Sought Document Access:

Respondents are required to have Defense Security Service (DSS) issued SECRET facility clearance, SECRET personnel clearances, and SECRET safeguarding capability to gain access to the classified attributes.

Companies must fill out and return the Terms of Use (TOU) agreement (Attachment A) via electronic mail to:

TO: Mr. Christopher Venturino, christopher.t.venturino.civ@us.navy.mil

CC: Mr. Davd Kinney, david.g.kinney4.civ@us.navy.mil

SUBJECT LINE: Archerfish Full-Rate Production 3 (insert company name) N00024-25-R-6403 TOU

Upon receipt and approval of the TOU agreement by the contracting officer, the classified attributes will be made available in a secure manner to the respondents so long as the respondent has met the security requirements detailed.

Responses:

Interested parties must demonstrate their capability of providing the above-mentioned services and meet SECRET clearance requirements are invited to indicate their interest by providing:

• Company name
• Company address
• Overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address),
• CAGE code
• Point of Contact, to include
  • E-mail address,
  • Telephone number
• Facility clearance
• Business Size Status (i.e. Large, SB, VOSB, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.)
• Number of Employees

Interested parties are requested to respond to this notice in PDF or Microsoft Word Office 2010-compatible format.  Please limit responses to 25 pages or less (including cover, administrative pages, and descriptive literature); 1-inch margins; and 12 point font (or larger).

Response Deadline and Submissions:

Responses are requested no later than 13 December 2024 at 5:00 PM EST.  Responses shall be submitted via e-mail only to the PCO, Mr. Christopher Venturino at christopher.t.venturino.civ@us.navy.mil in PDF or Microsoft Word Format, with a CC to david.g.kinney4.civ@us.navy.mil.  

Proprietary information, if any, must be clearly marked.  The subject line of the email should read " Archerfish Full-Rate Production Sources Sought."  To aid the Government in its review and evaluation, please segregate proprietary information.  Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.  It should be noted that telephone replies will not be accepted.

DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTES:

This notice is not a request for proposals and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation.  This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response.  Sources choosing to respond to this notice are wholly responsible for any costs/expenses associated with submitting a response.  Therefore, any cost associated with the market survey submission is solely at the interested vendor's expense.  The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate.  Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work.  Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.  Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice.  The information obtained from submitted responses may be used in development of an acquisition strategy and a future solicitation.  Submissions will not be returned.

Respondents are advised that Andrea Dougherty, Sam West, Gabriel Garcia, Astrid Macri, and Adrienne Washington from Booze Allen Hamilton are third party support contractors providing support to PMS 495 may assist the Government in its review of responses received under this notice and therefore may have access to the submitted material. These contractors have executed Non-Disclosure Agreements with the Department of Navy. Respondent shall provide notification on its cover page if the Respondent does not consent to the use of the aforementioned contractors. Unless otherwise stated by the Respondent, a submission received in response to this notice constitutes consent that the above-mentioned contractors may have access to all information provided in the Respondent’s submission. Unless otherwise stated by the Respondent, a submission received in response to this notice constitutes a Respondent’s consent for the Government to disclose all information provided in the Respondent’s submission to the abovementioned third party support contractors, for the purposes of the Trade Secrets Act.