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INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-New Jersey (ACC-NJ), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000, on behalf of the Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A) and the Office of the Project Manager Close Combat Systems (PM-CCS), located at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is issuing this Sources Sought Notification (SSN) as a means of conducting Market Research to identify potential sources having an interest in supporting the Demolitions Modernization effort for the Army of 2030. The result of this Market Research will contribute to determining the scope of further development and the potential method of procurement for the Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) and Production & Deployment (P&D) Phases. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions.

DISCLAIMER

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 52.215-3 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR SOLICITATION FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY COSTS INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS SPECIAL NOTICE, TO INCLUDE ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ATTENDING THE INDUSTRY DAY #1 AS WELL AS ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH A CANCELLATION OF THIS EVENT FOR ANY REASON, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO FUNDING CONSTRAINTS OR CHANGING COVID GUIDANCE. ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS SPECIAL NOTICE OR THE INDUSTRY DAY SHALL BE PROVIDED AT NO COST OR OBLIGATION BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO NOTIFY RESPONDENTS OF ANY RESULTS OF THE INDUSTRY DAY #1. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY AND ANY DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE RETURNED.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

Demolitions play a crucial role in removing obstacles, creating defensive positions, or breaching structures for the US Army operational and special forces. Over the last decade technology has vastly evolved, while most of the Army’s demolitions portfolio has not been modernized to meet these advancements. The Product Director for Demolitions is seeking solutions to upgrade current demolitions capabilities to allow Soldiers to perform missions with lighter, faster, safer and from a greater standoff distance. A series of demolition workshops and summits have been held with representatives from Counter Explosive Hazard Classification (CEHC), PM CCS, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Armaments Center (DEVCOM-AC), Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Capabilities Development Integration Directorate (MSCoE CDID), and the user to discuss opportunities for modernizing demolition and breaching solutions, including the adoption of items in use by other services, improvements to existing items, and new capabilities that require new requirements to be written. It is envisioned that these modernized products will enable improved deployment speed, force protection, safety, and survivability to the Soldier in the Army of 2030 and beyond.

To date, the Demolitions Reformation team has identified, evaluated (based on the factors of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), Cost, and Time), and scored over 50 demolition opportunities that can be modernized. These items were then rank ordered by the stakeholders and broken into short-, mid-, and long-term opportunities.,

Note: Definitions of the different Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) can be found at https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-20-48g.pdf and definitions of the different Manufacturing

TIMELINE

In April of 2023, the Demolitions Reformation team conducted a modernization kickoff meeting at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. This initial meeting was held at the working level to begin identifying and evaluating potential modernization efforts, to support a decision brief to the senior level stakeholders, to include the US Army Engineer Commandant. This decision briefing was held in June of 2023, in which the Commandant issued his guidance, intent, and end state for the Integrated Product Team (IPT). After working through the action items, the team is now prepared to host an Industry Day. The purpose of this Industry Day is to provide Industry an informational brief on modernization efforts, to include energetics and explosives, cold weather operations, improved demolition designs, and determine the scope of further development and pursuit of the top opportunities, as well as open the door to gauge interest and Industry technologies to support the 2030 mission.

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

The Demolitions Modernization group defines and discusses feasibilities of opportunities for modernizing demolition and breaching solutions to improve safety, standoff distance, deployment speed, force protection, and survivability to the Soldier. These ideas were organized and discussed with all stakeholders to identify needs and current challenges, and to determine what the Soldier will need tomorrow. Many of the opportunities and capability upgrades require new requirements to be written and cannot proceed without requirement documents to improve the existing items or adopt items in use by other services.

PURPOSE

The intent of this Sources Sought is to provide Industry partners an overview of the work being completed by DEVCOM-AC, which may or may not transition during the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and/or Production Phases and assess modernized Industry technologies that could be utilized to meet the desired capabilities. Responses to this notice may contribute to the further advancement of Government concepts or may address a completely different concept that meets the required capabilities.

INDUSTRY DAY #1

The office of the PM CCS is hosting an in-person and virtual Industry Day #1 from 23-25 January 2024 for Demolitions Reformation (Tentative Agenda found in Attachment 1). This Industry Day will be held in conjunction with the Product Director Demolition and Countermeasure’s (PD D&CM) XM123 Ground Obstacle Breaching Lane Neutralizer (GOBLN) Industry Day #2 (separate SSN released). The Government team envisions this to be a three-day event. The morning of Day 1 will consist of a classified discussion on mine threats, threat doctrine on breaching, and relevant theater observations. This portion of the event will be for US Citizens with a security clearance, employed by cleared US companies only. All US companies must have an active Facility Clearance issued by the Defense Counterintelligence & Security Agency (DCSA). PM CCS and ACC-NJ will NOT sponsor any company for a Facility Clearance solely for the purpose to attend the classified portion of the Industry Day. Participants interested in attending this portion of the event must indicate in the attached excel file (Attachment 2). Failure to fill out all blocks on the form may result in not being approved to attend the classified briefing portion. The afternoon session will shift to a discussion on current DEVCOM S&T efforts and Demolitions Modernization that could be transitioned to Industry in support of Demolitions Modernization. The morning of Day 2 will be a continuation of Demolitions Modernization, where the team will discuss blast overpressure, user capability gaps and opportunities and improved warhead designs. Day 3 will be reserved for pre-scheduled One-on-Ones. This Industry Day shall not be used to elicit trade secrets. Companies should be prepared to engage in open technical exchanges about Demolitions modernization efforts with the Government. No competition-sensitive or vendor proprietary information/data will be released, though questions of a general nature the Government overlooked in its Industry Day presentation may be shared with all industry participants. All company information will be treated confidentially. The Government will not entertain contractor non-disclosure agreements (NDA).

Industry is cordially invited to attend the Demolitions Reformation Industry Day #1 to be held:

Day 1 - 23 JAN 2024:

• 0830 to 1130 Eastern Standard Time with check-in to begin at 0800.
  
  
  
  • Location: Picatinny Arsenal (Building 93)
  
  
  • ***Classified Briefing Only, US Only
  
  
  
  


• 1200 to ~1700 Eastern Standard Time
  
  
  
  • Location: Picatinny Arsenal (Building 3411, Rooms 101, 103, & 104)
  
  
  
  

Day 2 - 24 JAN 2024:

• 0830 to 1215 Eastern Standard Time with check-in to begin at 0800.
  
  
  
  • Location: Picatinny Arsenal (Building #3411, Rooms 101, 103, & 104)
  
  
  
  

Day 3 - 25 JAN 2024:

• 0900 to 1600 Eastern Standard Time

• Location: Picatinny Arsenal (Building #3411, Rooms 101, 103, & 104)

EVENT ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES

1. MS Teams link will be provided to all attendees after registration closes for our virtual participants and in case of inclement weather. The classified briefing portion will not be projected virtually to external stations.

2. Picatinny Arsenal’s Main Gate will be closed until 26 January 2024 due to canopy replacement. Visitors will have to utilize the Truck Gate Entrance during the event; Visitors are not allowed to use the Mount Hope Gate. Delays are expected on both days, so recommend early arrival, as the event will start on time each day. A strip map to the event locations will be provided upon registration.

3. The team is currently planning to have lunch brought in for the 23rd and 24th of January 2024. Lunch details will be provided upon registration closing.

4. Classified Briefing:

1. No Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) will be allowed into the conference room; this includes, but not limited to tablets Phones, Smart Watches, etc.


2. Individuals with wireless medical devices must indicate that on the registration form, as the team will need additional information about the device to ensure you can participate.


3. US Citizens representing foreign Industry partners will not be able to attend the classified briefing portion of the event.

REGISTRATION

Companies interested in attending Industry Day #1 must complete the following:

1. Attached Excel File (Attachment 2)
   
   
   
   
   1. Must be received by the Registration Point of Contacts below NLT 1600 EST on 04 January 2024 if desiring to attend the Classified Briefing portion. This is to allow for proper vetting and follow-up if required.
   
   
   
   


2. Company Overview/Product Sheet (Max 2 pages)

If not planning to attend the classified briefing portion, these documents must be provided no later than 1600 EST on 10 January 2024. Requests must be addressed to both of the Registration Point of Contacts (POC), Ms. Jean Fortunato at email: jean.m.fortunato.ctr@army.mil and Ms. Diane Fee at email: diane.fee.ctr@army.mil with the Subject Line “Response to Demolitions Reformation Industry Day #1, Company Name.”

Attendee substitutions will be permitted if advance notice and all required documentation is provided at least seven (7) days before Industry Day #1. All other substitutions are prohibited. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.

Additional Requirement for Non-US/ Foreign Contractors:

Non-US and Foreign Contractors are invited to participate and attend the unclassified portion of the event beginning on the afternoon of 23 January. A Letter of Request is required from non-US/ Foreign Contractors for in-person attendance. The Letter of Request and all supporting information must be submitted on company letterhead (Example - Attachment 3) to the attention of the two DEVCOM-AC Foreign Disclosure Office (FDO) POCs at kimberley.r.wilcox.civ@army.mil and megan.l.conrad.civ@army.mil. Letters of Request may be submitted securely through the DoD Safe Access File Exchange (SAFE) website at https://safe.apps.mil. To submit via DoD SAFE, Contractors will have to first obtain a drop-off request from the Government. DoD SAFE proposal drop off link requests for the Letter of Request are due to the DEVCOM-AC FDO POCs, Ms. Kimberly Wilcox and Ms. Megan Conrad No Later Than (NLT) 1600 EST on 22 December 2023. Failure to submit the requested information in time, may result in denial of entry onto Picatinny Arsenal.

PRE-INDUSTRY DAY QUESTIONS

Pre-Industry Day questions can be submitted in advance (before the registration cut-off) of the event. Questions and responses will be presented and addressed with other companies present, in an open forum during the general Q&A session. All information discussed at Industry Day will be unclassified.

Pre-Industry Day questions shall be submitted by 1600 EST on 10 January 2024 to the US Army Contracting Command (ACC-NJ), Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, Building 9, Picatinny Arsenal, NY 07806-5000 to the attention of Contract Specialist, David M. Grimes, in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email david.m.grimes2.civ@army.mil Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.

ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS

In addition to the general Q&A session, One-on-One sessions will be scheduled upon Government acceptance of a company’s written request. The Government will conduct the One-on-One sessions on the 25th of January 2024. A limit of one session per company is permitted. Each session will be limited to approximately 45 minutes in duration. Companies interested in participating in a One-on-One session must indicate their interest during the registration process. Virtual invitations will be sent to registered companies once a timeslot has been scheduled, so that other company teammates may join. The One-on-One sessions will be used to further discuss Demolitions Modernization, answer specific questions pertaining to information provided during Industry Day in a private forum, and discuss Industry proposed solutions. These sessions will be unclassified. The Government will attempt, but cannot guarantee, the accommodation of company requests for specific timeslots. Companies can only be in attendance during their scheduled appointment.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is (332994) with a Small Business Size Standard of (1000). The Product Service Code (PSC) is (1095).

Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database by accessing the SAM web site at http://www.sam.gov to be eligible for contract award.

Attachments/Links