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

13 -- COMBUSTIBLE CASE ASSEMBLIES SOL DAAE30-99-R-0550 DUE 052499 POC Marianne Shuster, Contract Specialist, 973-724-4260 WEB: US ARMY TACOM-ARDEC Procurement Network, http://procnet.pica.army.mil/cbd/SRCSgt/050419990/050419990.htm. E-MAIL: Marianne C. Shuster, mshuster@pica.army.mil. The U.S. Army TACOM-ARDEC is conducting a market survey to identify potential sources to manufacture Combustible Cases for the 155mm Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS). MACS is comprised of the XM231 propelling charge and the XM232 propelling charge. The design features allow MACS to be both manually and automatically handled, and to meet future artillery needs. The objective of this action is to procure approximately three hundred eighty thousand (380,000) XM231 and five hundred sixteen thousand (516,000) XM232 combustible case assemblies in support of the Crusader Advanced Artillery System program. Period of performance is two years, which includes the basic contract with one option. Quantities required to be delivered per month are estimated at thirty-six thousand (36,000) starting sixty days after basic contract/option award. The compositions of the combustible case are mainly nitrocellulose and fiber. The manufacturing process involves the processing of energetic materials (class 4.1C flammable solid) on steam heated molding dies. Molding preforms are made from aqueous slurry of fibers and resin using a technique known as the "Beater Additive Process." Potential offerors shall have requisite engineering staff and manufacturing facilities for the production of MACS combustible case components. The contractor's facilities shall include: (1) fully equipped laboratory for chemical analysis and physical property testing and (2) manufacturing facility equipment (slurry tanks, felting tanks, coating application, molding presses, finishing equipment and inspection hardware) and (3) demonstrated quality program fully compliant with MIL-Q-9858 and ISO 9002, with supporting analytical laboratory to support the manufacturing effort. Potential offerors with experience in the areas cited above should provide a summary of the company's capabilities including a description of facilities, personnel, and past experience to meet this requirement by 24 May 1999 via email. The Department of Defense has listed the MACSpropelling charge increments as a Critical Technology Element on the Militarily Critical Technologies List. As a critical technology, MACS technical data is restricted by the Arms Export Control Act. Therefore, all technical data is marked with Limited Distribution Statement F in accordance with DOD Directive 5230.25: Further dissemination only as directed by Production Branch, AMSTA-AR-WEE-B, Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. 07806-5000 (Mar 96) or higher DOD authority. This market survey is for information planning purposes only, does not constitute an RFP, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. See numbered Note 25. Posted 05/04/99 (D-SN327541). (0124)

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