Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and Plastic-Bonded Explosive N-9 (PBXN-9) Supplementary Charges

Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and Plastic-Bonded Explosive N-9 (PBXN-9) Supplementary Charges Market Survey:

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Rock Island, Rock Island, IL on behalf of the Office of the Project Manager Combat Ammunition Systems, is conducting market research to identify potential sources capable of producing, manufacturing, assembling, inspecting, testing, packaging, and shipping TNT (NSN: 1320-00-824-0811) and PBXN-9 (NSN: 1320-01-583-1139) Supplementary Charges during the Fiscal Years (FY) FY2024-FY2028 timeframe at a minimum rate of 25,000 charges per month. This requirement for TNT and PBXN-9 is restricted to the industrial mobilization base in accordance with 10 USC 2304(C)(3). The NAICS code is 332993.

The TNT and PBXN-9 Supplementary Charges are used in the explosive train of artillery projectiles as a booster between the fuze and main charge. The Supplementary Charges are critical components to the entire family of 105mm and 155mm ammunition that support training and operation requirements in theater. Supplementary Charges are placed in the fuze well of all high explosive deep cavity rounds. Without Supplementary Charges, TNT, and Insensitive Munitions eXplosive (IMX) loaded projectiles would not detonate high order.

The TNT Supplementary Charges, inserted in the 105mm M1 and 155mm M795 projectiles, consist of approximately 0.33 lbs of pressed TNT pellets in an aluminum body cup and aid in the detonation of TNT explosive filler in an artillery round upon activation by a fuze. The PBXN-9 Supplementary Charges, inserted in the 105mm M1 IM and 155mm M1122 IM projectiles, consist of approximately 0.33 lbs of pressed PBXN-9 pellets in an aluminum body cup and aid in the detonation of the IMX filler in an artillery round upon activation by a fuze.

Respondents will be required to produce both TNT and PBXN-9 Supplementary Charges. Additionally, respondents should show adequate technical and manufacturing capability in both the TNT and PBXN-9 Supplementary Charge manufacturing industry to allow the U.S. Government (USG) to make a reasonable assessment of the respondent's capability to produce these items. If a respondent does not have adequate resources (technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, the respondent must be able to demonstrate that they can obtain such, necessary to fabricate, assemble and inspect the required quantities of Supplementary Charges and obtain the necessary equipment, facilities and tooling required to fabricate and deliver at a high rate of production. This may include an indication of willingness to invest in setting up a required production line.

Interested sources should submit the following information:

a) Name of company, address, and CAGE code;

b) Point(s) of Contact, name, telephone number, and email address;

c) Business size information under NAICS 332993 (please specify as either a Large Business, Foreign-Owned Business; Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business,8(a) Concern, Woman-Owned Small Business, Historically Underutilized Business Zone concern, Veteran-Owned Small Business, or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business);

d) Location of the facility or proposed facility;

e) A summary of the company's capabilities as they relate to the manufacture of the TNT and PBXN-9 Supplementary Charges, or similar items, within the last 10 years, including parent organizations, name/address/point of contact identification/email address;

f) Information relative to proven monthly production at a minimum rate of 25,000 per month for TNT and PBXN-9 Supplementary Charges, and the maximum monthly production rate capability;

g) A description of facilities/equipment, manufacturing processes, inspection capability, personnel and how they directly relate to the TNT and PBXN-9 Supplementary Charges;

h) The ability to acquire facilities with sufficient safety clearance to handle, store, and transport energetic materials; and

i) A description of the existing production Quality Assurance System.

The Government Technical Data Packages (TDPs) associated with the TNT and PBXN-9 Supplementary Charges are classified as Distribution Statement D, Distribution authorized to the Department of Defense (DoD) and US DoD Contractors Only. These documents contain technical data whose EXPORT is restricted by the Arms Export Control Act -Title 22, U.S.C., SEC 2751, ET SEQ or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as Amended, titled, 50 U.S.C. App 2240 Et Seq. Violations of these export laws are subject to severe penalties. Dissemination shall be in accordance with provisions of DoD Directive 5230.25.

A TDP will be made available to interested parties for this announcement. If interested sources want to become certified in order to receive the Technical Information for this market research notice, they must fill out a registration form to become Data Custodians for their Company. This information can be found at:
https://www.dla.mil/HQ/LogisticsOperations/Services/JCP/DD2345Instructions/

and

https://public.logisticsinformationservice.dla.mil/PublicHome/jcp/default.aspx#
To obtain the Technical Information for this market research notice, the interested source must request explicit access through the "attachments/links" tab in SAM.gov under sources sought Notice ID W519TC-23-R-0756. When requesting access, please ensure to put the appropriate cage code in the "Reason for Request" block. An interested source must have an approved DD form 2345, Military Critical Technical Data Agreement, on file with the Joint Certification Program (JCP) in order to be granted access to the Technical Information. Restricted technical data will not be available to an interested source who has not been certified.

This market research is for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a request for proposal or an obligation on the part of the USG. The USG does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this market research or otherwise pay for the information provided. Participation in this effort is strictly voluntary and at no cost to the USG. Please identify any proprietary information submitted. Proprietary responses will be protected in accordance with the markings.

TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The USG will accept written questions by email. Email your questions to POC: Lisa Digney, Amy Nissen, and Alexander Wilcox. The USG will not consider marketing brochures adequate information in response to this notice and reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any private sector input as a result of the sources sought notice. All information provided will not be returned and will be held as contractor confidential information. The requested information should be sent via email to Lisa Digney at lisa.m.digney.civ@army.mil, Amy Nissen at amy.l.nissen.civ@army.mil and Alexander Wilcox at alexander.m.wilcox2.civ@army.mil no later than 1600 Central Time 16 December 2022. The email should contain a subject line of, W519TC-23-R-0756 TNT & PBXN-9 Supp Charges Sources Sought Notice Response . No solicitation exists; therefore, do not request a copy of a solicitation. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, a solicitation notice will be published. All companies interested in a future solicitation must be registered in the System for Award Management.