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

10 -- BREECH ACTUATING MECHANISM DUE 041698 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: Patricia A. Regelski, regelski@pica.army.mil. The Government is seeking potential sources for a product improvement for the M109A6 Paladin that can replace the current "cam and follower design" breech actuating mechanism. The breech actuating mechanism must function similar to the Intertechnik's Block Actuating System (BAS). Intertechnik is an Austrian manufacturer of BAS for the Austrian Army. The Government contemplates purchasing a quantity of two for extensive testing and evaluation. The item must have the following characteristics: Automatic/semi-automatically open and close the Paladin breech with hydraulic assist power; opening of breech must be accomplished automatically when the cannon reaches the battery position after a round is fired; when not in firing mode, opening and closing of the breech must be able to be accomplished with an "open-close" switch; must allow for manual opening; must be in fully developed stage where minimum or no modification is needed to install and must show significant functional and safety improvement over current design. Any contractor interested in partici- pating in this market research must provide response to this data no later than 16 April 98. Technical questions should be directed Yong W. No @ pica.army. mil (0075)

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