REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - MISSION PAYLOAD MODULE / NON-LEHTAL WEAPONS SYSTEMS THERMOBARIC PAYLOADS

The purpose of this REQUEST FOR INFORMATION is to determine if there are suppliers that can satisfy the governments request as follows. As part of its pre-solicitation effort for an RDT&E contract to develop and test a Mission Payload Model - Non-Lethal Weapons System (MPM-NLWS), the Marine Corps is seeking information on thermobaric payloads for the (non-lethal) incapacitation of targets at ranges of 30 to 150 meters. The Marine Corps has a mission to force belligerent personnel to vacate an area or to temporarily deny their efforts to disrupt friendly operations. Target effect studies have identified the thermobaric payload as the preferred non-lethal stimuli to produce the desired incapacitation effects within the stringent limits of risk of permanent injury to the targets. The Marine Corps is seeking available solutions or design concepts from industry for incorporating a non-lethal thermobaric payload into a tube-launched munitions delivery system that can be mounted on a HMMWV or its replacement vehicle and employed by a rapidly moving security force. The munitions should be fully capable of being stored and operated in hot, basic, and cold temperatures and rugged enough to withstand being used by Marines during the rigors of moving through an urban environment in combat or threatening conditions. It is requested that interested parties provide, at no cost to the Government, sales/marketing literature or test reports of any thermobaric munitions applicable to these requirements or capabilities to design and develop munitions to meet these requirements. The Government is completing its Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase contract that will be released to industry in 2nd Quarter Fiscal Year 2009. Respondents will be invited to a Government Industry Day during 1st Quarter Fiscal Year 09 to discuss the Governments requirements. The Government intends to initiate an acquisition program to select a proposed MPM-NLWS design (launcher and munitions) from industry, to test and evaluate the proposed system, and to initiate a procurement effort. Responses should be submitted no later than 31 August 2008. THIS IS NOT AN INVITATION FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL(RFP). NO PROPOSALS are requested or will be accepted under this RFI and no award will be made for this effort at this time. Therefore, this solicitation for information should not be construed as a commitment to procure the munitions and the Marine Corps does not intend to pay for any product samples or information provided by this announcement. However, information obtained may be used for subsequent requests for proposals. Any data that is of a proprietary nature should be marked as such. Questions and responses should be directed to the contact person listed below at Commanding General, Attn: CTQ-Larry Hubbard, MARCORSYSCOM, 2200 Lester Street, Quantico, VA 22134-5010. Federal Express Address: 2200 Lester Street, Quantico, VA 22134-5010.