10--40mm M320_M320A1 Grenade Launcher

This is a second follow up to notification for the Special Notice Posting dated 05_27-2014 for the Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP) W15QKN-14-R-0067 for acquisition of M320_M320A1 Grenade Launchers. This follow-up to the posting includes the industry questions submitted on Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP) W15QKN-14-R-0067 and the Government answers to these questions: W15QKN-14-R-0067 Draft M320_M320A1 Grenade Launcher Industry Questions and Government Answers as of 10_14_2014: 1. Question: If the TDP is awarded, what restrictions are implied regarding US domestic, US government agency, foreign military and/or global sales? Answer: The M320 Grenade Launcher (M320 GL) Technical Data Package (TDP) is licensed for United States Government (USG) Department of Defense (DoD) government purpose use only. 2. Question: If the government chooses an enhancement option for follow on weapon systems after award, who will own the data rights tied to those enhancements? Answer: At this time, the Government doesn't anticipate enhancement options on this effort. 3. Question: Will the government furnish 40mm ammunition for testing, and if so what class of ammunition will be furnished? Answer: It is planned that the USG will furnish M781 Low Velocity 40mm Target Practice ammunition for testing. 4. Question: Will the contractor be liable for providing a suitable range that will allow high explosive ammunition testing? Answer: M781 Low Velocity 40mm Target Practice ammunition is the only ammunition required for contract performance. 5. Question: If the government owns the TDP, would they own the tooling as well, and if so will the successful offeror have access to the tooling? Answer: Tooling is not owned by the USG and will not be provided. 6. Question: How shall the inert training aid weapon be distinguished from a non-training weapon from the perspective of operators and trainees? Is there a requirement for the color? Answer: The M320 IPT does not have specific requirements regarding color or distinguishing features of the inert training aids, however, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms may request certain features be present prior to approving the design. 7. Questions: Verification for dispersion and targeting according to the draft release of MIL-DTL-32492 is required for First Article and Lot Conformance inspection at 200 meters. Can the requirements be scaled accordingly to accommodate ranges less than 200 meters in length? Answer: While a contract modification would be required, the Government will consider alternate test procedures proposed by the contractor. The test procedures stated in the detail specification are to be tested as stated in section 4 unless an alternate procedure is approved by the Government. Submission of an alternate test procedure does not guarantee Government approval. 8. Questions: A significant portion of the TDP requires hardness checks using the Vickers scale. According to MIL-W-13855, hardness requirements shall be checked by using the hardness scale specified on the component drawing or assembly drawing. Can an alternate scale be allowed? If an alternate scale is not permitted, can approval to convert hardness scales to Vickers be provided as another option? Answer: After contract award the contractor, under paragraph C.3.10 of the Statement of Work, may prepare ECPs and Value Engineering Change Proposals (VECPs), with NORs and RFVs, which detail the exact change being proposed for the documents in the TDP. All ECPs submitted by the manufacturing contractor will be reviewed by the Government. Submission of an ECP does not guarantee Government approval. At this time, only requirements as stated within the Statement of Work (SOW), Detail Specification, and TDP are approved. 9. Question: Has this contract been set aside for small business or not? Answer: The Government does not anticipate restricting the M320 GL competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) W15QKN-14-R-0067 to small business. 10. Questions: At this time, are there any specific objectives that the government is trying to meet regarding future procurement of this item? Answer: The Government cannot anticipate specific objectives for future procurement of this item 11. Question: Multiple steel components in this TDP have a material callout of SAE 5115 with no alternates listed. No domestic (US) suppliers produce this steel in anything less than mill-run quantities. Can alternate materials such as 4140, 4340, or 1095 be added? Parts affected by this requirement include: 13051122 Pin, Hook 13051121 Hook 13019469 Latch 13041737 Bushing, Trigger 13041738 Trigger Bar 13041740 Hammer 13041744 Pin, Barrel Stop 13041713 Pin, Grooved 13059446 Latch Buttstock Answer: The USG is currently reviewing the above and a determination has not been made. 12. Question: 13051121 Hook - 1. Forging Alternative: This part would be a good candidate for a forging. Can USG add note: PART MAY BE FORGED PER AMS6400? Answer: The USG is currently reviewing the above and a determination has not been made. 13. Question: 13051120 Latch a. Material Sourcing: This is a bent sheet metal part. Thickness of material is 1mm .04 (.039 quote mark .0016 quote mark ). Can USG allow a standard US gauge material? Metric material is very difficult to source within US without purchasing mill-run quantities. This will add significant costs to program. Can USG allow US gauge steel 19ga (.042 quote mark 1.067mm) or 20ga (.036 quote mark .914mm). Can USG allow alternate materials such as SAE1008/SAE1010? These are more common steels. b.2. Drawing Data: Part width (M104) is 4 +.03mm - 0mm. This is a total tolerance of .0006 quote mark . Holding this tolerance would require contractor to grind or machine this feature post forming. Can USG open tolerance? Something like 4mm + .5 (+.020 quote mark ) is appropriate for a bent part. Answer: The USG is currently reviewing the above and a determination has not been made. 14. Question:13057919 Frame, Buttstock a. Drawing Data: Drawing calls for Weld filler to be ER69-1 (100 ksi filler wire). One of the parts is Mild Steel (DS type B). Using high strength wire to weld very low strength base material seems to serve no purpose. Can USG allow ER70S-6 - ER70S-2 filler rod to be used? Answer: The USG is currently reviewing the above and a determination has not been made. 15. 13047922 Plate, Buttstock a.. Drawing Data: This is a formed sheet metal part. Flatness callout after bending .02mm (flat within .0004 quote mark ). This tolerance would require Contractor to grind or machine post bending. Can USG open tolerance? 1.) The Symmetry callout for the (M101) 11 +.2 -0 dimension is .02mm ( .0004 quote mark ) this would require an EDM step to accomplish. Can USG use more appropriate tolerance? 2.) There are no MMC (max material condition) allowances, which would require each part to be located in the EDM and probed for center. Can USG replace symmetry callout with something appropriate? b. Material Sourcing: Can USG change material thickness to allow domestic (US) 11ga (.1196 quote mark 3.038mm)? Answer: The USG is currently reviewing the above and a determination has not been made. 16. Question: 13057921 Eyebolt a. Material Sourcing: No material callout. b. Drawing Data: M102 diameter 5 +0-.008 ( .00015 quote mark ) Can USG specify more appropriate tolerance? Answer: The USG is currently reviewing the above and a determination has not been made. 17. Question: 13059446 Latch Buttstock a. Casting alternatives: Can USG allow a casting for this part? Answer: The USG is currently reviewing the above and a determination has not been made. 18. Question:13041697 Receiver a. Drawing Data: 1) Unable to find Datum D. 2) Unable to find callout for threads shown in section F-F, Sheet3 Zone G1. Answer: The USG is currently reviewing the above and a determination has not been made. 19. Question: 13041704 Barrel a. Drawing Data: Note 10, specifies special testing requirement for destructive cross sectioning. The QAP symbol does not include a verification level to determine sampling frequency. Contactor will need Sampling frequency in order to provide an accurate bid. Answer: The USG is currently reviewing the above and a determination has not been made. END OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - NO OTHER QUESTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON THE DRAFT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (DRFP) W15QKN-14-R-0067. This is a follow up notification for the Special Notice Posting dated 05_27-2014 for the Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP) W15QKN-14-R-0067 for acquisition of M320_M320A1 Grenade Launchers. The DRFP W15QKN-14-R-0067 comprises the previous Special Notice posted 05_27_2014 and the attached documents and the M320_M320A1 Grenade Launcher (M320 GL) Technical Data Package (TDP). The M320 GL TDP will be released to your company once the attached NDA, DD Form 2345 and AMSTA-AR Form 1350 have been fully completed by your authorized representative and returned to Catherine John-Angle via email address [email protected]. The estimated release date of the TDP is 25 Jun 2014 and the response date for comments on the draft RFP is 25 Jul 2014. Previous Special Notice posted 05_27_2014: This is a synopsis notice for the DRAFT Request for Proposal (RFP) W15QKN-14-R-0067 (DRAFT RFP) for the M320 40mm Grenade Launcher, National Stock Number 1010-01-566-9083(M320 GL) and M320A1 40mm Grenade Launcher, National Stock Number 1010-01-557-2542 (M320 GL). This announcement is issued for planning purposes only and constitutes a request for exchange of information pursuant to FAR 5.205 Special Situations (c) Special notices and FAR 15.201 Exchanges With Industry Before Receipt of Proposals. The purpose of exchanging information is to both improve the understanding of United States Government (USG) requirements by industry and knowledge of industry capabilities by the USG. Potential offerors are directed to NOT submit proposals at this time. The Army Contracting Command - New Jersey (ACC-NJ), on behalf of Project Manager Soldier Weapons (PM SW), intends to award this requirement as a Single Award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with Firm Fixed Price (FFP) delivery orders. The contract will include five ordering periods to cover FY15- FY19 United States Army (US Army) M320 GL requirements and supplemental requirements for Other Agencies. As future needs for the M320 GL are identified during the life of the contract, FFP delivery orders will be awarded to the IDIQ base contract. It is anticipated that delivery orders will generally be placed annually. However, delivery orders may be placed more or less often to accommodate changing needs of the USG Department of Defense. A minimum of 7,200 M320 GLs and a maximum of 32,413 M320 GLs will be included in the planned IDIQ contract. The M320 GL is a 40mm, single shot, grenade launcher that can deliver aimed fire to area targets at a distance of up to 350 meters. The M320 GL is capable of being utilized in both standalone and M4/M16 mounted configurations. The M320 GL module (M320 GLM) system consists of a grenade launcher, buttstock, leaf sight, M4/M16 mounting hardware, sling, Laser Range Finder (LRF) and Grenadier Sighting System (GSS), when a GSS configuration is determined and GSS are produced. The M320 GL features an aluminum side-pivoting barrel assembly, aluminum receiver, removable buttstock and mounting brackets, along with a polymer pistol grip/trigger guard assembly. The M320 GL will be produced to a USG M320 GL Technical Data Package (TDP). Any offeror(s) awarded a contract resulting from the formal RFP shall be required to conduct First Article Test(s) and Lot Acceptance Test(s). Awardees will be required to safely and securely store Government furnished rifles, carbines, grenade launchers, 5.56 and 40mm ammunition, and equipment to be considered for award and will have to receive a quote mark complete award quote mark rating from their cognizant Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) under pre-award surveys and be approved by the Defense Security Service to physical security level(s) designated for the weapons and ammunitions manufactured by the contractor or provided by the USG. Potential Offerors are invited to submit questions and/or comments to DRAFT RFP prior to the release of a final RFP. Offerors shall submit questions electronically no later than July 24, 2014, to Therese Grimm at [email protected] and Catherine John- Angle at [email protected]. It is anticipated that interested parties questions submitted in response to this synopsis notice will be posted on Federal Business Opportunities (www.fbo.gov) along with corresponding USG answers. Note: No information exchanged with industry will be considered in the evaluation process. The only time that an Offeror's information is evaluated for award will be during the pre-award evaluation phase(s) of proposals submitted under the final RFP W15QKN-14-R-0067. Potential offerors are directed not to submit proposals at this time. The USG has acquired the rights to use the TDP for competitive procurements under a negotiated Special License Agreement (SLA). Therefore, this TDP is categorized as Distribution D and is restricted to the terms of the SLA. This TDP contains technical data whose export is restricted by the Arms Export Control Act (Title 22, U.S.C., Sec 2751, et seq.) or Export Administration Act of 1979 (Title 50, U.S.C., App 2401, et seq.), as amended. Violations of these export laws are subject to severe criminal penalties. This restriction also applies to distribution of the TDP to all subcontractors at every level. When the planned draft RFP and the planned formal RFP are released, only respondents who have a completed and signed AMSTA-AR Form 1350 Technical Data Request Questionnaire, Non-Disclosure Non-Use Agreement (NDA), to be executed by an authorized representative of the respondent's firm that respond to this notification or the notice for the final RFP, and DD Form 2345 Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement will be granted access to the TDP. Draft drawings will be available on or about June 15, 2014 and provided to a respondent after the respondent meets the requirements set forth in this Synopsis Notice. At the conclusion of the Final RFP process and upon notification from the USG Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO), all respondents in receipt of data covered under the NDA, except to an offeror that may be awarded a contract under the final RFP, will be required to complete the supplied Certificate of Destruction notifying the USG that all licensed data received in response to the solicitation have been destroyed. If an offeror is awarded a contract under the final RFP they will be required to complete the supplied Certificate of Destruction notifying the USG that all licensed data received in response to the solicitation have been destroyed at the completion or termination of the contract. Release of a Draft TDP presents the opportunity for industry to provide any comments or concerns identified within the Draft TDP. Specific items for thought are availability of TDP materials, familiarity of processes, and overall TDP completeness. Items which are unclear to industry can be addressed prior to final RFP release. This opportunity will aid in providing industry a more clear understanding of the TDP, along with solicitation requirements, prior to release of the final RFP. This is a special notice only and is for planning purposes only. THIS IS NOT A FINAL RFP AND DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A FINAL RFP. The points of contact for this action are: Catherine Johnangle, Contract Specialist, Email: [email protected] and Therese Grimm, Contract Officer, Email: [email protected]. NO TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. The Government will accept written questions by Email to [email protected] and [email protected].