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SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS: MJU-76/B Countermeasure Flare Solicitation Number: Notice Type: FA8213-21-R-3023 Sources Sought Synopsis: 1. NOTICE: This is not a solicitation but rather a Sources Sought Syn... SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS: MJU-76/B Countermeasure Flare Solicitation Number: Notice Type: FA8213-21-R-3023 Sources Sought Synopsis: 1. NOTICE: This is not a solicitation but rather a Sources Sought Synopsis to determine potential sources for information and planning purposes only. 1.1 The purpose of this Sources Sought is to conduct market research to determine if responsible sources exist, to assist in determining if this effort can be competitive and/or a total Small Business Set-Aside. The proposed North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code is 325920, Explosives Manufacturing which has a corresponding Size Standard of 750 employees. The Government will use this information to determine the best acquisition strategy for this procurement. The Government is interested in all small businesses to include 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Hubzone, and Women-Owned small business concerns. The government requests that interested parties respond to this notice if applicable and identify your small business status to the identified NAICS code. Additionally, please provide any anticipated teaming arrangements, along with a description of similar services offered to the Government and to commercial customers for the past three years. Any responses involving teaming agreements should delineate between the work that will be accomplished by the prime and the work accomplished by the teaming partners. 1.2 In addition, interested parties are encouraged to comment on the ability to manufacture the proposed design and make suggestions on simple changes that would aid in production reliability and simplicity while maintaining the performance aspects of the design. 2. Program Details: This program is being established to procure at least 50,000 expendable countermeasure flare units per year. AFLCMC/EBHCC is seeking sources desiring to become qualified for the manufacture of MJU-76/B Countermeasure Flare, NSN: 1370-TBD (DODAC LA88). Prospective sources must demonstrate that they possess the experience and capability to manufacture expendable countermeasure flares. The MJU-76/B is similar to an MJU-75/B but is a kinematic (thrusted) type infrared flare and is based on a 1 X 1 X 8 inch platform. The Government does own rights to the MJU-76 drawings, therefore the drawings are available upon request. Prospective sources must demonstrate they have the understanding of the MJU-76/B conceptual design and functionality. This announcement is an expression of interest and does not commit the Government to pay for proposal preparation costs. Potential vendor and all subvendors must have an approved Form DD 2345 and a Joint Certification Program certification number to receive the current MJU-76/B documentation. For prospective vendors without current approval, Form DD 2345 is available at https://www.dla.mil/HQ/InformationOperations/Offers/Products/LogisticsApplications/JCP/. Form processing requires approximately 5 business days. Questions regarding completion of Form DD 2345 may be referred to the contact information below. To receive a copy of the MJU-76/B documentation, submit a request to the address below and include your Joint Certification Program certification number: Contracting Officer Lauren Johnston Email:Lauren.johnston.4@us.af.mil RFI Response Part 1 – Contractor Description Overview 1. Name of Company 2. Point of Contact with phone number and e-mail address 3. Size of Business according to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 325920, Explosives Manufacturing – 750 employees. Other suggested NAICS codes for this program and your size classification based on those codes 4. Company certifications (e.g., ISO-9001, ASI-9100, CMMI) 5. How would you intend to propose on this effort? (As a prime or subcontractor?) RFI Response Part II – Market Survey Questions 1. Briefly describe your company’s experience providing these types of products identified in the program description to include identification of major program risks and techniques to be employed to mitigate these risks. (Maximum Page Limit: Four pages – please do not include business brochures [Title page containing, as a minimum, program title, date, and name and phone number of submitting activity Point of Contact does not count against page maximum]) 2. Teaming arrangements or methodology to be employed to ensure requirements of the program description can be satisfied. (Maximum Page Limit: One page) 3. List of possible manufacturability concerns and proposed mitigation to those concerns. RFI Response Part III – Manufacturing Concerns with Mitigations (Optional) 1. Briefly describe projected manufacturing difficulties or concerns (if any) along with proposed minor changes that may reduce the projected manufacturing issue. The following questions may be used as a guide on areas to address, but is not intended to include all areas: a. Are there any general comments on the TDP? b. Does the design look feasible for high rate manufacturing? c. Does the offeror have the capability to test the flare both statically and in range flight? d. Does the offeror have suggestions that could improve this design for manufacturability? e. If the Government were to provide the offeror with a 3D digital model of the flare, would that be beneficial compared to only 2D technical drawings? SPECIAL NOTE: This Sources Sought Synopsis is part of the acquisition market research analysis and will be used solely to determine the basis for any competitive aspects of the acquisition. Qualification Requirements That Must be Satisfied to Become a Qualified Source and Qualification Waiver Requirements. 1. Prequalification Notice. The offeror shall notify AFLCMC / EBHCC or, if responding to a solicitation, the contracting officer of intent to qualify as a source for these countermeasure flares. 2. Facilities. The offeror must certify to the design control activity (EBHCC) that the offeror has the required facilities and equipment within the United States to manufacture, inspect, test, and package the item, or provisions for their acquisition or utilization from another source. When the offeror proposes to acquire these items, the offeror shall provide documented equipment orders or similar documentation for government inspection. The offeror shall make facilities, equipment, tooling, and personnel available for evaluation and inspection by the government. The government is expecting the flare will be produced within the United States of America boarders. 3. Data Verification. The offeror shall verify possession of a complete data package by providing a list of applicable drawings, procedures, and specifications currently in his possession related to the manufacture of an expendable countermeasure flare. This package must be sufficient to show in thorough technical detail how the flares shall be manufactured and tested. In addition the package must contain a qualification test procedure designed to be a final functional checkout of manufactured devices sufficient in detail to ensure all operational functions meet specification. When the offeror proposes to use industry standards during manufacture of an expendable countermeasure flare, the offeror shall document the differences between the industry standard and the military standard, and state why those differences do not adversely affect the ability of the flares to pass the final functional checkout. The design control activity shall determine if the industry standard is acceptable for use in the manufacture of the flares. 4. Process Verification. The offeror shall identify sources for materials and standards for internally used processes. The offeror shall further define/provide written procedures for the utilization of any special test or inspection facilities and/or equipment. This documentation shall also include a diagnostic procedure showing the process the flares being produced would undergo. The production process shall show how the offeror shall test, inspect, diagnose, produce and perform a final functional checkout. Development of special test procedures not available from the government is required. The offeror shall develop those procedures for review and approval by the design control activity. The contractor must be capable of locating alternative components to minimize any diminishing manufacturing source and material shortage (DMSMS) problems. 5. Test and Evaluation or Verification. The offeror shall submit to the design control activity an explanation of how they will certify that the test methods and production procedures meet the specifications for an expendable countermeasure flare. The government retains the option to inspect the offeror’s production and testing facilities. To allow accomplishing this, the offeror’s facilities shall be made available to government inspection during the qualification effort upon ten days written notice of intent to inspect. A qualification test procedure per DI-NDTI-80604 and a qualification test report per DI-NDTI-80604 shall be provided to the contracting officer. Qualification testing must be accomplished IAW SPC-001, current revision, paragraph 3.2. 6. Qualification Article. Upon satisfactory compliance with the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 5 above, the offeror shall build and test production expendable countermeasure flare IAW a proposed expendable countermeasure flare item specification to demonstrate production capability. This production and testing shall be done at the offeror’s expense. Estimated likely costs for government-unique testing and evaluation which will be incurred by the potential offeror to become qualified: $125,000. 7. Sensitive Military Technology. Portions of the Technical Data Package for the MJU-76/B IRCM Flares are classified. Offeror must meet all requirements for the generation of classified data from testing well as handling and storage of classified data related to the flares. 8. Testing and Production Evaluation. The offeror shall be required to submit a complete test report for the production capability demonstration verifying compliance with all performance, environmental, mechanical, and quality assurance requirements identified by the Technical Data Package. In addition the test report shall contain detailed documentation describing the testing procedures during production. This data shall describe in detail the point(s) in the production process that testing occurred, and if failures were noted, the corrective action taken and the results of the retest. The government retains the option to inspect the production and testing process, including on-site witnessing of any or all production and testing activities. The offeror will provide notification to the government of testing and evaluation 30 days in advance so that the government can witness, if needed, coordinate needed activities, support, etc. 9. Time Completion Estimate. It is the estimate of the design control activity that completion of this qualification effort should require 360 days. This is based on complexity and hazards associated with the flare and other factors. This is not a deadline but a notification to a potential offeror of the time we believe will be required. Events that occur during the qualification process may cause this time requirement to increase or perhaps decrease, depending on individual circumstances. 10. Time Limitation. An offeror may not be denied the opportunity to submit and have considered, an offer for a contract if the offeror can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the contracting officer and cognizant engineering activity that the offeror (or its product) meets these standards for qualification or can meet them before the date specified for award of the contract. The award will not be delayed to provide the contractor with an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to meet the standard specified in this source qualification statement. 11. Evaluation of Proposals Not Previously Qualified. The offeror must be fully qualified in order to be eligible for a contract award. Therefore, the offeror must fulfill all of the requirements stated, in writing, in this Justification for Qualification Requirements before the date specified for award of the contract. The government reserves the right to award a contract at the time specified for award, to a qualified source even though other sources may not have finished qualifying. 12. Waiver. A waiver to qualification procedures is not anticipated due to lack of similarity with any other flare. Any offeror who has had previous experience in the production of other flares may apply to the design control activity for a reduction or change to some of the above requirements; paragraphs 1 through 5 will not be waived or changed. A waiver will be granted only if the design control activity can establish the qualification of the offeror from previous knowledge interface or from written inputs from the offeror. 13. Approval. Once the qualification requirements are met, the offeror will be listed as an approved source for this Flare. Approval, however, does not guarantee subsequent award. Technical POC: Bret Burgon Program Engineer, Expendable Countermeasures AFLCMC/EBH 801-777-7803 bret.burgon.1@us.af.mil Contracting POC: Lauren Johnston Contracting Officer AFLCMC/EBHKC 801-586-6015 laure.johnston.4@us.af.mil