13--Sources Sought to identify potential sources capable of manufacturing light weight (LW) 30mm M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) cartridges, NSN 1305-01-268-9373, part number 12902728.

The purpose of this sources sought is to identify potential sources capable of manufacturing Light Weight (LW) 30MM M789 High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) cartridge, NSN 1305-01-268-9373, Part No. 12902728. Special equipment is required to produce these cartridges. The manufacturing process encompasses, but is not limited to: (1) machining of projectile body, fuze, and copper liner metal parts, (2) fuze production, (3) production of propellant, (4) cartridge case priming and loading w/propellant and (5) load, assemble, and pack-out (LAP) of the completed cartridges. For each step of the manufacturing process, sophisticated test and measuring equipment is required to ensure the final products comply with Government requirements. Experience in ballistic testing, expertise in the formulation and p roduction of propellant, and process engineering experience relative to the LAP of these cartridges is essential. An approved ballistics test range, M230 MANN barrels and M230 Automatic Gun are required to perform First Article and Lot Acceptance Tests on these cartridges. Production support equipment includes material handling systems, tool room equipment, furnaces for heat treat and annealing, metal forming and machining equipment, anodize and phosphate systems, ultrasonic test equipment and metrology and metallurgy laboratories. Production of the cartridge is very complex and requires sophisticated industrial capabilities. Obtaining the critical skills, (i.e. ammunition process/design engineers, explosive experts, set-up mechanics and operators familiar with the programming and operation of ammunition component sub-assembly production equipment, quality control engineers, ultra sonic technicians, metallurgists, ballistics test personnel, etc) needed to manufacture and provide high quality ammunition in a timely manner may take time. Due to the customers demand for timely deliveries, the producers must be able to successfully conduct/complete a First Article Acceptance Test within eight months after award, with the first production delivery due within ten months after award. A respondents production capacity must be sufficient to manufacture an average of 50,000 per month. Interested U.S./Canadian firms who feel they are capable of manufacturing the M789 cartridge are invited to indicate their interest by providing the Government a brief s ummary of their companys capabilities, facilities, personnel and past manufacturing experience to: HQ, ASC, ATTN: AMSAS-ACA-F/Amy VanSickle, 1 Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, IL 61299-6500, or electronically to [email protected]. Please respond no later than 25 July 2007 and identity the 30MM M 789 Source Sought/Market Research as the subject of your response. This market survey is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this market survey or otherwise pay for information solicited.