The Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), Program Manager for Ammunition, desires the acquisition and qualification of non-development improvements to the existing 155mm White Phosphorus Smoke projectile. The improved projectile must contain energetic components that meet U.S. environmental standards both before and after initiation of the smoke projectile as well as producing visual and Infrared (IR) screening capability. The developed 155mm projectile shall have the capability of being loaded and fired from the standard U.S. Medium Towed M198 and Lightweight Towed M777 Howitzers. It is desired that the contractor have a non-developmental 155mm Smoke Projectile designed to demonstrate and produce a marking, screening and obscuring capability from visual threat and IR optics. The 155mm Smoke Projectile must have the capability to function with no degradation in performance under environmental conditions of hot, cold, and ambient temperatures when fired; must meet or exceed range of current 155mm Smoke Projectile; must have the capability of being fired from the 39 Caliber, U.S. Medium Towed M198 and Lightweight Towed M777 Howitzers; must be compatible with existing standard NATO fuzes (PD/M739, ET/M767, MOFA/M782) and U.S. propellant charges (M3, M4, M119, M203 and Modular Artillery Charge System M231/M232); must have the capability to meet all U. S. Government and Military storage requirements / restrictions normally imposed on storage of similar munitions; must have existing production tooling / line capable of producing Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) quantities of improved 155mm Smoke projectiles; must have the technical expertise and facilities to conduct standard NATO safety, Insensitive Munitions (IM), transportation, hazard classification, environmental and HERO/ESD tests prior to delivery of qualification samples. If not located in CONUS, the Contractor must be willing to move Load, Assembly and Pack (LAP) the improved 155mm Smoke Projectile to the United States and provide a summary plan for U.S. based production. Interested Parties should reply by submitting a written proposal no later than 06 January 2005 to Commanding General, Marine Corps Systems Command, Attn: Code 204, 2200 Lester Street, Quantico, VA. 22134. Interested Parties who are willing to provide test assets of a proposed design, at no cost to the USMC for testing should so indicate in the submitted white paper. Questions may be submitted in writing to the above address, or email to
[email protected]. No further information is available from the Procuring Office.