Sources Sought Notice for the Volcano system (M139) consisting of the Volcano Mine Canisters (M87A1, M88, & M89) and the commercial variant Vehicle Launched Anti-tank System (VLSAS) Canister

Sources Sought Notice for the Volcano system (M139) consisting of the Volcano Mine Canisters (M87A1, M88, & M89) and the commercial variant Vehicle Launched Anti-tank System (VLSAS) Canister

Sources Sought Notice: W15QKN-23-X-0WI4

The United States (U.S.) Army Contracting Command-New Jersey (ACC-NJ) on behalf of the Office of the Project Manager, Close Combat Systems (PM CCS), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ is issuing this Sources Sought Notice as a means of conducting market research. The results of this market research will be used to establish the acquisition strategy and method of procurement for this prospective requirement.

The Government is seeking to identify potential sources within the United States and Canada interested in and possessing the industry technologies to support/provide the production, manufacturing, assembly, inspection, testing, packaging, shipping and delivery of the Volcano system (M139) consisting of the Volcano Mine Canisters (M87A1, M88, & M89) and the commercial variant of the M87A1 Volcano Canister used in the exportable, variant of the Volcano system, the Vehicle Launched Anti-tank System (VLSAS). However, if an interested source would prefer to produce to M87A1, M88, M89, or VLSAS individually, please state so in your response. The Government anticipates meeting this requirement through a five-year, Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (ID/IQ) type contract.

The applicable North American Industry Classification (NAICS) code for this requirement is 325920, Explosives Manufacturing. The Product Service Code (PSC) is 1345, Land Mines.

The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information from potential sources to support an urgent Foreign Military Sales (FMS) requirement for Taiwan with deliveries starting in 4QFY25.

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

The Volcano system (M139) is an automated scatterable mine dispensing system designed to rapidly lay a mine field of up to 960 mines. The Volcano can be employed offensively and defensively to delay enemy movement, isolate the battlefield, and reinforce friendly fires. The system consists of the below items:

Item:         Type                                          Part Number   DODIC or NSN    DESCRIPTION

VLSAS  Commercial Variant of Volcano Mine Canister  N/A     N/A      6 AntiTank Mines

M87A1  Volcano Tactical Mine Canister  12953430     1345-J003        6 AntiTank Mines

M88   Volcano Practice Mine Canister    9385171       1345-K042       Contains Inert Mines

M89   Volcano Training Mine Canister   12927323  NSN 6910-01-333-0298  Inert – Provides Faults to DCU

The VLSAS mine canister is an expendable item consisting of a breech assembly and an aluminum tube. The VLSAS Canister contains six Anti-Tank (AT) mines. The VLSAS mine electronic lens assembly has the Single-Sensor Electronics Package lens assembly.

The M87A1 Mine Canister, Part Number 12953430, is an expendable item consisting of a breech assembly and an aluminum tube. The M87A1 contains six AT mines. The M87A1 mine electronic lens assembly has the Multi-Sensor Electronics Package lens assembly, incorporating a secondary, redundant, electronic safe separation timer.

The M88 Practice Mine Canister, Part Number 9385171, is a practice mine canister assembly that is blue and has one brown and one blue color band near the muzzle. The end cap of the M88 has a brown ring around a blue center dot. An identification label marks each canister in 1/4-inch high black letters. Weight and temperature limitations are the same as the tactical canister. The M88 canister contains six dummy (inert) mines that are dispensed in the same way the tactical canister dispenses six tactical mines. The M88 canister is used for training on the VOLCANO system. All dummy mines are identical to the tactical mines in form and fit.

The M89 Training Mine Canister, Part Number 12927323, is a reusable, inert (does not contain any dummy mines) training mine canister, whose function is to train personnel in the operation and maintenance of the VOLCANO air and ground systems. The M89 canister is blue. The main assemblies of the training canister are the breech, steel tube, end cap, rotary four position slotted selection switch. There are no replaceable or repairable assemblies on the training canister. The training canister conforms to the overall envelope of the tactical Canister Assembly. It connects to the Dispenser Base of the VSLAS, in the same manner as the tactical canister.

 The Government requires the complete Volcano System consisting of the Volcano Mine Canisters (M87A1, M88, & M89) and the VLSAS commercial variant canister as detailed above.  Potential sources must be capable of producing, manufacturing, assembling, inspecting, testing, packaging, shipping and delivery of the Volcano system (M139) consisting of the Volcano Mine Canisters (M87A1, M88, & M89) and the VLSAS commercial variant canister in accordance with applicable drawings and specifications.

RESPONSE SUBMISSION DETAILS

To be considered a qualified source for this requirement, all interested companies shall respond by providing/submitting the following information to the Government:  

1. Brief summary of the company’s capabilities (a description of facilities, personnel, and past manufacturing experience as it relates to the above criteria) and availability.  
2. Technical and manufacturing capability and good past performance in explosives processing industry.  
3. If a respondent does not have the adequate resources (technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, the respondent must describe/demonstrate their ability to obtain these resources in a timely fashion. 
4. If a respondent chooses to utilize the services of sub-tier vendors or subcontractors, those vendors or subcontractors must also meet these criteria.
5. Qualification: The Volcano Mine Canisters must be qualified. Proof of qualification should be addressed in the response.
6. Based on the information provided above describing the Source Sought Notice requirements:
      a) Describe or characterize your ability to meet the identified requirements.
      b) Constraints in meeting the identified requirements
      c) Administrative and Production Lead-time to resolve potential obsolescence issues.
      d) Production lead time transition phase leading to and through a First Article Test (FAT) and to production.  
      e) For each canister type, provide details on the minimum order quantity, range quantity cost, lot sizes, and production rates.  
      f) An assessment of risk identification in the following areas: technical, performance, cost, schedule, material/supply chain management, production, and cost (Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) related)
7. Cost estimate related to all NRE associated with conducting FAT for the items in question and any recurring engineering required meeting the Government’s objectives.
8. Provide evidence that you are ISO9001 or AS 9100 certified.
9. Provide the organization's name, address, technical point of contact, position, phone number, e-mail address, mailing address, Cage Code, Duns Number, and business size. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Provide evidence of having a security classification level of SECRET and facility clearance to handle CLASSIFIED material. This requirement is anticipated to have a security classification level of CLASSIFIED (M87A1) and UNCLASSIFIED (M88 & M89) and shall be compliant with the specialty metals restriction of the Berry Amendment (10 U.S.C. 2533a and 2533b) in accordance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clauses 252.225-7008 “Restriction on Acquisition of Specialty Metals” and DFARS 252.225-7009 “Restriction on Acquisition of Certain Articles Containing Specialty Metals”. Exception(s) to the Berry Amendment exists for qualifying countries. “Qualifying country” means a country with a reciprocal defense procurement memorandum of understanding or international agreement with the United States in which both countries agree to remove barriers to purchases of supplies produced in the other country or services performed by sources of the other country, and the memorandum or agreement complies, where applicable, with the requirements of section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776) and with 10 U.S.C. 2457. Refer to DFARS Part 225 for a list of Qualifying Countries.

RESPONSE SUBMISSION DETAILS

Responses to this Sources Sought Notice must be electronically submitted to the Contract Specialists listed below in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF). Responses must reference the number of this Sources Sought Notice, W15QKN-23-X-0WI4 in the subject line of the e-mail and on all enclosed documents. All responses should include the following: Company name, address, Cage Code, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Point of Contact, Company Ownership (public, private, joint venture), Business Classification, and primary points of contact (POC) with email addresses, fax numbers, and telephone numbers.

All contractors interested in the potential future solicitation for this requirement must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM).   

All submissions, written comments, or questions shall be submitted to the ACC-NJ Contract Specialists, Ms. Melissa Sena, and Mr. Michael Arena no later than 1700 Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 15 June, 2023. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged. No feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions.

Information and materials submitted in response to this Notice WILL NOT be returned. DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL.

All data received in response to this Notice that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government. Additionally, any information submitted by respondents to this Sources Sought Notice is strictly voluntary. Information and materials submitted in response to this notice WILL NOT be returned.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Government will release the respective M139, M87A1, M88, and M89 Technical Data Packages (TDP), drawings, and specifications, if requested. However, the VLSAS commercial variant canister cannot be released. Any interested source must have an approved DD form 2345, Military Critical Technical Data Agreement, on file with the Joint Certification Program (JCP) in order to be granted access to the Technical Information. Restricted technical data will not be available to an interested source who has not been certified through the JCP. If an interested party is not based in the U.S., a copy of their approved Export License issued by the U.S. Department of State must be provided as well.

The TDP, drawings and specifications are marked as Distribution Statement F- Further dissemination only as directed by the controlling DoD office or higher DoD authority.

The TDP, drawings and performance specifications contain technical data whose export is restricted by the Arms Export Control Act (Title 22, U.S.C., Sec 2751, et seq.) or Export Administration Act of 1979 (Title 50, U.S.C., Appt 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. All respondents to this Sources Sought Notice should show they have certification to receive export-controlled technical data (including drawings restricted by Distributions Statement F) and must have facility clearance to handle classified material.

Destruction Notice Export-Controlled Technical Data: For classified documents, follow the procedures in DoD 5220.22-M, Industrial Security Manual, Section 11-19 or DoD 5200.1-R, Information Security Program Regulation, Chapter IX. For unclassified, limited documents, destroy by any method that will prevent disclosure of contents or reconstruction of the document.

To request a copy of the M139, M87A1, M88, and M89 TDPs, drawings, and specifications:

1. Contractors must submit their request for the M139, M87A1, M88, and M89 TDPs, drawings, and specifications on company letterhead addressed to ACC-NJ along with the forms specified below. Submissions should be transmitted via email to the information POC, Mr. Kyle Thalmann at email: kyle.p.thalmann.civ@army.mil and copy primary and secondary ACC-NJ POCs listed below:

2. The subject line of email requests must read as follows: “Volcano Canisters/ VSLAS Sources Sought Notice W15QKN-23-X-0WI4 TDP Request (Company Name)”

3. For US / Canadian contractors the request will be processed as follows:

a. Submit the following:

• DD Form 2345 Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement

•  AMSTA-AR Form 1350 Technical Data Questionnaire

•   Volcano / VSLAS Non-Disclosure / Non-Use Agreement

• Proof of Facility Clearance to Classified materials.

4. When all completed documents are received, the TDP, drawings, and specifications will be sent.

5. The Government will advise regarding any additional requirements related to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) compliance.

DISCLAIMER

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (MARKET SURVEY) IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ)/INVITATION FOR BID (IFB)/REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) OR A PROMISE TO ISSUE AN RFQ, IFB OR RFP IN THE FUTURE.  THIS NOTICE DOES NOT COMMIT THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTRACT FOR ANY SUPPLY OR SERVICE.  FURTHER, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SEEKING QUOTES, BIDS OR PROPOSALS AT THIS TIME AND WILL NOT ACCEPT UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE. NO AWARD WILL BE MADE AS A RESULT OF THIS NOTICE. THE GOVERNMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT, IN WHOLE, OR IN PART, ANY PRIVATE SECTOR INPUT THAT RESULTS FROM THIS NOTICE. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO NOTIFY RESPONDENTS OF THE RESULTS OF THIS NOTICE. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED OR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.