REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR M81A1 ARMOR PIERCING CARTRIDGE The U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) is the material developer for the M81A1 Modification Program. This program is to place an impact signature into the existing M81A1 AP cartridge. ARDEC is nearing the completion of Phase I of the effort, design alternatives evaluation and down selection to a single concept. After down selection, ARDEC will proceed with testing to allow the modified cartridges to be certified for aircraft firing. As part of the down selection process, the estimated cost of production for each design alternative will be one of the criteria considered. ARDEC is seeking industry input into the cost estimating process for each of the design alternatives. The actual acquisition strategy will be determined immediately after the design down selection but it is anticipated that the windscreen assembly for the two concepts (mod 2 & 3) which replace the entire windscreen will be competitively purchased as a complete component and shipped to McAlester Army Depot for assembly onto the 40mm cartridge. For the third design (mod 1), which inserts the incendiary holder into the cut windscreen, the loaded incendiary holder will be purchased as a final product and shipped to McAlester Army Depot. Drawings of each concept are provided as part of this document. The current material being used is 7075-T6 aluminum. Normal machining tolerances are anticipated. An alternate material for each design should problems arise with the drop testing is a low carbon steel, the exact material to be determined if necessary. ARDEC is looking for interested parties to provide a rough order of magnitude (ROM) for the estimated unit cost for each design. The quantity basis for the estimate would be a delivered quantity of 170,000 units. To simplify the estimating process, first article and lot acceptance testing cost are not being considered at this time. Submitted ROM estimates will be used for concept down select purposes only and will not be used for any further procurement purposes. Participation in this estimating effort does not guarantee any future contract activity. Similarly, non-participation will not result in any limitations on participation in future contract activity. For detailed technical drawings, please click following "Technical Drawing" hyperlink on PROCNET. WEB: US ARMY TACOM-ARDEC Procurement Network, http://procnet.pica.army.mil/procacts.htm. E-MAIL: Theresa J. Niederhaus, tnieder@pica.army.mil.

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