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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 (JPEO) Armaments and Ammunition and the Office of ... INTRODUCTION The U.S. Army Contracting Command-New Jersey (ACC-NJ), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000, on behalf of the Joint Program Executive Office (JPEO) Armaments and Ammunition 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 and industry technologies available to support/provide the Next Generation Breaching Technology – Explosive Breacher (NGBT-EB). The result of this Market Research will contribute to determining the scope of further development and method of procurement for the Engineering & Manufacturing Development (EMD) and Production & Deployment (P&D) Phases. Based on the responses to this Sources Sought Notice/Market Research, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses (in full or in part) or procured through full and open competition. Multiple awards may be made. All Small Business Set-Aside categories will be considered. 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 The Army’s current and 2030 maneuver force has a need for a more reliable and effective means to maintain a high operational tempo through the reduction of explosive obstacles. The Army has a need to obtain from industry their current information on potential capabilities to be applied to an emerging program identified as the NGBT-EB, in part or whole. Respondents are requested to provide responses for candidate systems or subsystems which are currently at or approaching Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 5. 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 Readiness Levels (MRL) can be found at https://www.dodmrl.com/MRL_Deskbook_V2.pdf The NGBT-EB will enable improved deployment speed, force protection, and survivability to allow the Army of 2030 execution of penetration, disintegration, and exploitation in the close and deep maneuver areas. TIMELINE The program will be entering the Technology Maturation / Risk Reduction (TMRR) Phase in 4QFY22. A capability demonstration is anticipated to be conducted in 2QFY24, with a Milestone B decision to enter the EMD phase planned for 4QFY24. REQUIRED CAPABILITIES The NGBT-EB is a modular mission payload breaching system intended to modernize current breaching techniques for detecting/locating, neutralizing explosive obstacles, and digitally marking neutralized lanes. The U.S. Government is planning to demonstrate a Government solution during the TMRR phase that can be transitioned to industry for the EMD phase. The leading concept for the EB consists of the following subsystems: 1. A capability to search, detect and report surface and subsurface explosive and non-explosive obstacles at stand-off distance eliminating the need to be conducted by soldiers in the identified obstacle area. a. During the TMRR Phase, the U.S. Government plans to demonstrate a prototype UAS subsystem that has an onboard electro-optical sensor. 2. A fire-control system with digital mapping capability is required to integrate the external detection data, compute neutralization solutions, and provide mission data to higher level Army systems. 3. A neutralizing capability to defeat threats and form breach lanes for the maneuver force at a large stand-off distance. It is anticipated that this capability will be mounted on an autonomous or semi-autonomous platform. The capability should provide for scalable effects to adapt to the specific obstacles detected and/or lane breach size requirements. a. During the TMRR Phase, the U.S. Government plans to demonstrate a subsystem prototype of a neutralization munition. This will include a payload delivered by a modular 81mm mortar system with automatic laying, remote capability, and onboard fire control. PURPOSE The intent of this Sources Sought is to assess the state-of-the art of the technology available that could be utilized to meet this desired capability. The TMRR Phase will allow for the exploration of related technologies to search, detect, and neutralize explosive hazards. The program plans to conduct a capability demonstration in 2QFY24 where foundational technologies and subsystems will be integrated and demonstrated at a system level. For the demonstration, the Program Office plans to utilize a government-developed system architecture that includes high-TRL subsystems that have been previously matured or will be transitioned from Science and Technology (S&T) efforts. Information from this market survey may lead to a further evaluation within the TMRR phase or may be used to develop concepts for the follow-on development activity during the EMD Phase. Responses to this notice may contribute to the further advancement of the Government concept described above or may address a completely different concept that meets the required capabilities. 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 INDUSTRY DAY #1 The office of the PM CCS is hosting a hybrid, in-person and virtual, Industry Day #1 on 18 October 2022 for the NGBT-EB Program. This Industry Day shall not be used to elicit trade secrets. Companies should be prepared to engage in open technical exchanges about the NGBT-EB requirements with the Government and other industry partners. Industry will be afforded time during Industry Day to deliver a short company capabilities overview highlighting their technology. No competition-sensitive or vendor proprietary information/data will be released, though questions of a general nature that 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 NGBT-EB Industry Day #1 to be held: Date: 18 October 2022 Time: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time with registration to begin at 0800 In-Person Location: Rockaway/Dover, NJ – TBD (specific venue information will be provided upon receipt and approval of registration) Virtual Location: Microsoft Teams (IL5) invite will be provided upon receipt and approval of registration. REGISTRATION / PRE-INDUSTRY DAY QUESTIONS Companies interested in attending Industry Day #1 must submit a request in writing no later than 1600 EST on 04 October 2022. Requests must be addressed to the Registration Point of Contact (POC), Ms. Jean Fortunato at email: jean.m.fortunato.ctr@army.mil. Requests must include a brief statement describing the company’s capabilities as a manufacturer of obstacle detection platforms, fire control systems, weapons, or weapon materials. If the interested company does not currently manufacture obstacle detection platforms, fire control systems, weapons, or weapon materials, the request must include a statement describing its rationale underlying its interest in this event. Please title your email as follows: “Response to NGBT-EB Industry Day #1, Sources Sought Announcement Number WQKNXXXXXXXX (Company Name)”. Interested companies must identify the personnel that will be attending Industry Day #1. Companies must provide the name, title, company, and contact information (email and phone) for each attendee. Due to COVID restrictions and venue limitations, companies will be limited to two (2) attendees. There is no limit on the number of personnel attending a virtual session, however all virtual attendees must be identified. 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 Requirements / Requests to be Submitted Contractor POC Information: Attending Contractors are asked to identify a single POC and the phone number to best reach the POC if there are any last-minute updates to the event (i.e. Teams line/call in change, transition to virtual only format due to COVID-19, etc.). Company Capabilities/Fact Sheet Briefing: Each attending Contractor is requested to submit a publicly releasable Company Capabilities/Fact Sheet (1 slide only). Contractors will be asked to brief this slide to all attendees during Industry Day #1. The Company Capabilities/Fact Sheet must be submitted no later than 1600 EST on 04 October 2022 to the Registration POC, Ms. Jean Fortunato at email: jean.m.fortunato.ctr@army.mil. Additional Requirement for Non-US/ Foreign Contractors: 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 (template attached) to the attention of the two JPEO A&A Foreign Disclosure Office (FDO) POCs at emails naomi.j.griggs.civ@mail.mil and Jason.j.hayman.civ@mail.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 JPEO A&A FDO POCs, Ms. Naomi Griggs and Mr. Jason Hayman by 1600 EST on 04 October 2022. PRE-INDUSTRY DAY QUESTIONS Pre-Industry Day questions can be submitted in advance (before the registration cut-off) or on the day 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 technical or other questions regarding this Industry Day #1 shall be submitted by 1600 EST on 04 October 2022 to the US Army Contracting Command (ACC-NJ), Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, Building 9, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000 to the attention of Contract Specialist, Steven Ghazi, in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email steven.s.ghazi.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 (in-person or virtual) will be scheduled upon Government acceptance of a company’s written request. The Government will conduct the One-on-One sessions immediately following the general Q&A session. A limit of one session per company is permitted. Each session will be limited to approximately one (1) hour in duration. Companies interested in participating in a One-on-One session must indicate their interest during the registration process. Invitations will be sent to registered companies once a timeslot has been scheduled. The in-person and virtual One-on-One sessions will be used to inform the Government of the current and developing capabilities of the industrial base and ask questions pertaining to information provided during Industry Day in a private forum. These sessions will be unclassified. The Government will attempt, but cannot guarantee, the accommodation of company requests for different timeslots. Companies can only be in attendance during their scheduled appointment. Companies will be notified by the Registration POC of the location for their One-on-One sessions. Registration Checklist: Registration requests and all required information submitted to Registration POC by 1600 EST 04 October 2022 Pre-Industry Day Questions submitted to Contract Specialist by 1600 EST 04 October 2022 Confirmation of Registration issued by Registration POC COVID CONSIDERATIONS As per Army Regulation 1-50, if the Health Protection Condition (HPCON) changes where the COVID-19 community level is defined as high by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the Government has the right to cancel the in-person portions of the Industry Day and hold the entire event virtually. Companies that registered for the event will be notified as soon as practicable of any such cancellation. Additionally, in-person attendees are required to complete and submit the DD Form 3150 for in-person verification during registration at the event location. By filling out the DD Form 3150 correctly, the attendee will attest to their vaccination status so there is no need to provide further proof of vaccination. If the attendee attests to not being vaccinated or declines to complete the DD Form 3150, they must provide documented results of a negative COVID test that was administered within 72 hours prior to the start of the event (No sooner than 15 October 2022). INFORMATION REQUEST To assess the maturity of industry designs to meet the Explosive Breacher performance characteristics and timelines, respondents shall provide a detailed description for the proposed Explosive Breacher design to include but not limited to expected performance relative to the Explosive Breacher performance characteristics as well as an assessment of technological and manufacturing maturity. Industry responses will be due NLT two (2) weeks after the conclusion of Industry Day. Furthermore, to be considered a capable source for the Explosive Breacher effort, all interested sources must submit the following information: 1. Provide the organization's name, address, point of contact information (title, name, address, phone, email), potential partnering/teaming arrangements, corporate parent organization name, and business size. 2. A summary that includes a brief description of the contractor's capabilities. 3. A description of facilities/equipment, manufacturing processes, inspection capability (including non-destructive inspection methods), personnel, and Quality Management System certifications or standards used. 4. A description of the company’s existing production facility, location, and capacity projected monthly production and delivery capability, and description of facility/location where US-based production may occur (if applicable). 5. Past manufacturing and integration experience with relevant obstacle detection, munition and/or weapon systems. 6. Identify the proposed solution’s current assessed TRL and MRL. Provide evidence for the assessments to include testing or operational use, and evidence to support the TRL and MRL. 7. Provide a detailed description of the technical design(s) for the provided solution which includes but is not limited to: - System and primary sub-system performance characteristics - Specifications - Relevant Interface Control Documents (ICD) - Software interfaces - Hardware interfaces - Electrical interfaces - Fuze, Safe and Arm concept, and design - Product drawings - Solid models - Estimated system weight to include center of gravity of proposed configuration 8. Provide a Risk Assessment for the concept/design for application towards the Explosive Breacher. Identify the top design/performance/potential production risks and possible mitigations. 9. Provide Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) and delivery capability (rate and schedule) for the following production quantities: 1 initial prototype, 5-10 prototypes, 50 production representative units, and 100 production units. In addition, please provide monthly production capacity. 10. Provide feedback to the U.S. Government if a system is currently available for demonstration or when a demonstration system would be available. The U.S. Government is willing to observe demonstrations at no cost to the U.S. Government. INFORMATION REQUEST DETAILS Interested businesses should submit the above requested information in no more than ten 8.5 X 11-inch pages, font no smaller than 10-point demonstrating the ability to provide the required capabilities described. Documentation should be in bullet format. No phone or email solicitations with regards to the status of the Request for Information (RFI) will be accepted prior to its release. Your response to this RFI shall be electronically submitted to the Contract Specialist, Michael J Hunter, in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email michael.j.hunter86.civ@army.mil no later than 1600 EST on 04 November 2022 and reference this synopsis number in subject line of email and on all enclosed documents. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL. All data received in response to this Sources Sought that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government. TECHNICAL DATA REQUEST The Next Generation Breaching Technology - Explosive Breacher Abbreviated Capability Development Document (NGBT-EB A-CDD) is marked Distribution Statement D Distribution authorized to U.S. Government Agencies and their contractors; Critical Technology; Export Control”).) It 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., Appt 2401 et seq), as amended. Violations of these export laws are subject to severe criminal penalties. Disseminate in accordance with provisions of DoD Directive 5230-25. DOD Manual 5200.01 (Volumes 1-4), and DODD 5400.7-R. All respondents to this market survey should show they have certification to receive export-controlled technical data (including drawings restricted by Distribution Statements C and D). To obtain a copy of the NGBT-EB A-CDD all interested parties must submit the following by email: 1. A signed and approved DD Form 2345 Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement. This requires a DUNS number and registration in the System for Award Management (See Attachment 01). 2. A copy of the offeror's applicable license issued by the Department of State if the offeror is a non-U.S. company. Registration is generally a precondition for the issuance of any license or other approval and use of certain exemptions. Detailed information on the registration and exemption process can be accessed through the following link: https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/registration/ For assistance with applying for/obtaining an ITAR Exemption, you may contact: Amit Makhijani, Project Manager Close Combat Systems, amit.j.makhijani.civ@army.mil, 973-724-3986 3. A completed AMSTA-AR Form 1350 Technical Data Questionnaire. (See Attachment 02). 4. A completed and signed Non-Disclosure / Non-Use Agreement (See Attachment 03). 5. All completed forms and requests shall be submitted via email to: Contract Specialist, Steven Ghazi, steven.s.ghazi.civ@army.mil Destruction Notice Export-Controlled Technical Data: For unclassified documents and data subject to controlled or limited distribution, protect IAW DOD-M 5200.01, Vol 4, and destroy by any method that will prevent disclosure of contents or reconstruction of the document. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Any resulting contract is anticipated to have a security classification level of Unclassified. 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).