US Army ARDEC, AMSTA-AR-PC, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806-5000

A -- FUTURE DIRECT SUPPORT WEAPON SYSTEM PROGRAM SOL DAAE30-98-Q-B013 DUE 021098 POC Patricia A. Regelski, Contracting Officer, 973-724-3832 WEB: US ARMY TACOM-ARDEC Procurement Network, http://procnet.pica.army.mil/procacts.htm. E-MAIL: Robert McMinn, rmcminn@pica.army.mil. The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM), Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), Fire Support Armaments Center (FSAC), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ is soliciting Industry feedback and comments on a proposed Future Direct Support Weapon System (FDSWS) program. The objective of this announcement is to present Industry with the preliminary performance requirements, schedule and estimated budget. Industry and Other Government Agencies (OGAs) are invited to submit unclassified white papers (limited to 10 pages or less) addressing the technical soundness and realism of the requirements, schedule and estimated budget. The white paper should also include backup analyses covering technical issues, lessons learned on past artillery development programs, current IR&D, etc. The responses should also include a section that summarizes for the Government the results of their analyses in the form of a revised set of requirements, schedule and budget. The Government requests that the respondees use this opportunity to suggest what Government or Commercial data would be necessary to meet the FDSWS program objectives and minimize risk. White papers will be accepted until 10 February 1998 at 1200 hours. Within 3 working days, selected Industry and OGA respondees will be invited to present a summary (60 minutes or less) of their white papers to an invited Panel of Military, University and Industry experts. The purpose of the panel is to assess the schedule and technical risks associated with the FDSWS program. The Governments selection for follow-on briefings should in no way restrict or limit participation in any future procurement. Within one week of receiving an invitation, selected presenters are required to notify the CBD POC if their presentation will contain any classified information and the maximum level of classification. The CBD POC will also provide the selected presenters with a common presentation outline upon notification. The panel will consist of active duty and retired Army officers, University experts, current and former high-level managers of Army Research Development and Engineering Centers and OGAs. All panel participants that are not current Government employees will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement covering any material presented to the panel. It is anticipated that the panel will meet to receive the invited briefings at TACOM-ARDEC, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ during 24-25 February 1998. The information and discussions generated in this forum will help to establish a common understanding of what form the FDSWS material solution may take and contribute to the development of an FDSWS Operational Requirements Document (ORD). It is anticipated that a full FDSWS development BAA will be released during the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2000. On or about 22 January 1998 Draft RFQ DAAE30-98-Q-B013, containing general information and specific program information relevant to the Acquisition will be made available on the Procnet Website (http://procnet.pica.army.mil). (0020)

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