6-Axis Robotic Arm Manufacturing Cell

1. INTRODUCTION

The US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Armaments Center (DEVCOM-AC) is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify potential sources having an interest and industry technologies available to provide a 6-Axis Robotic Arm Manufacturing Cell.

The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement, if a requirement materializes. Based on the responses to this sources sought notice/market research, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses (in full or in part) or procured through full and open competition. All small business set-aside categories will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions.

2. DISCLAIMER

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

3. PROGRAM BACKGROUND

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Armaments Center (DEVCOM-AC) maintains several laboratories for ammunition safety and energetics safe life assessment.  The R&D and Pilot Plant Branch of the Pyrotechnics Technology Division of DEVCOM-AC primarily performs research on pyrotechnic technologies and components to solidify next generation munition systems for lethality overmatch. To achieve increased safety, performance, precision, and quality of advanced pyrotechnic formulations, the R&D and Pilot Plant Branch requires a turn-key 6-axis Robotic Arm Manufacturing Cell to automate pilot-scale production operations and remove man-in-loop.

4. REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

4.1 The Government requires the design, delivery, and installation of a 6-axis Robotic Arm Manufacturing work cell (10 ft. by 8 ft. footprint) that meets the following criteria:

   4.1.1 Robot Arm (~36 in. reach/~10kg capacity) and Controller

   4.1.2 1/2 Ton press with I/O for Robot Arm or PLC communication

   4.1.3 Interchangeable dies for pressing various sized munitions, drawings available upon request

   4.1.4 Standalone workstation with capability to run, edit, and view any required software, codes, and scripts or upload software to any hardware

    4.1.5 End of Arm tooling to manipulate munitions (roughly 1 in. x 1 in. x 3 in., 75 grams)

    4.1.6 Weighing station with data logging

    4.1.7 Depth measuring station with data logging

    4.1.8 Integration of press, robot arm, weight station, and depth station via hardware and    software

    4.1.9 Database for logging measurements

    4.1.10 Custom mobile stand for robot arm

    4.1.11 Custom digitally traceable trays within cell for equipment and munitions

    4.1.12 Safety and Explosion Proof (XP) capabilities

    4.1.13 Auxiliary equipment for cell observation and operation

    4.1.14 12 Month Warranty

    4.1.15 Training and Support

4.2 The Contractor shall demonstrate a viable design that includes the equipment specified in section 4.1. 

4.3 Delivery and Installation

     4.3.1 Delivery shall be 12 weeks after contract award to the following address:

ATTN: Marcin Rosol

U.S. Army DEVCOM-AC, FCDD-ACM-ET

Building 526

Picatinny, NJ 07806

    4.3.2 The contractor shall perform on-site Installation in inert lab for equipment described above

    4.3.3 Relocation and redeployment in energetic lab

4.4 Training

    4.4.1 The contractor shall provide training for four (4) persons.  The training shall include:

             Basic programming of robot

             PLC Training

             System Usage

    4.4.2 The contractor shall develop training instruction (e.g. manuals), training criterial (e.g., desired learning outcomes and performance goals), and evaluation methods and metrics to verify training effectiveness in accordance with criterial (e.g., performance measurements such as number of tasks correctly completed within a prescribed time).  The contractor may use MIL-HBK-29612-2A – Department of Defense Handbook, Instructional Systems Development/Systems Approach to Training and Education (Part 2 of 5), 31 August 2001 as guidance.

5. ELIGIBILITY
The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 333999 with a Small Business Size Standard of 500 employees. The Product Service Code (PSC) is 3695.

6. SUBMISSION DETAILS
This is a market survey for information only, and shall not be construed as a request for a proposal or as an obligation on the part of the US Government.  The US Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this market survey or otherwise pay for information solicited.

Interested respondents may obtain drawings of munitions mentioned in Section 4.1.3 upon request and coordination with POC listed below. A Non-Disclosure Agreement, DD2345- Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement, and a Form 1350 – Technical Data Questionnaire must be submitted prior to receiving the drawings.

If your organization has the potential capacity to provide the required products/systems, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, primary points of contact and their email addresses, Web site address, telephone number, CAGE Code and DUNS number, and size of business (i.e. large, small, disadvantaged, veteran owned, woman owned, etc.); and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the requirements of this notice (e.g., product brochure, catalog, spec sheet, etc). If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, please identify your major partners or suppliers.

(NOTE:  In accordance with FAR 10.001(b), agencies should not request potential sources to submit more than the minimum information necessary.)

Your response to this Sources Sought, including any capabilities statement, shall be submitted via email to Jessica Gondela, Jessica.m.gondela.civ@army.mil, in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), no later than 3:00pm EDT on the closing date of this notice. Please reference the Notice ID number in subject line of e-mail and on all enclosed documents. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL.

All data received in response to this Sources Sought that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government.