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INNER & OUTER CYLINDRICAL POLYMER CONTAINERS FOR MORTAR AMMUNITION AND ARTILLERY PROPELLING CHARGES This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes. This is n... INNER & OUTER CYLINDRICAL POLYMER CONTAINERS FOR MORTAR AMMUNITION AND ARTILLERY PROPELLING CHARGES This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes. This is not a solicitation. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), the US Government (USG) does not presently intend to award a contract, but wants to obtain price, delivery, other market information, or capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to these notices are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. Based on the results of this RFI, the USG may seek to establish Cooperative Research and Development Agreement(s) (CRADA) and/or Other Transactional Agreements (OTA’s) with potential responder(s). INFORMATION REQUESTED: DEVCOM Armaments Center, Picatinny, NJ is conducting market research to identify domestic products, suppliers, designers and manufacturers of polymer shipping and storage containers for use on 60mm / 81mm / 120mm mortar ammunition and 155mm artillery propelling charges to supplement legacy steel and polylaminated fiber packaging industrial bases. Two polymer container alternatives are desired: inner and outer. The inner polymer container would serve as an alternative to the legacy polylam fiber tubes commonly used with mortar ammunition. It would be stored within a larger outer metal rectangular container (steel outer pack) to meet long-term palletization and worldwide shipping / storage requirements. This inner polymer container (polymer inner pack) is expected to be lightweight, have a closure mechanism, be of similar color/gloss spectrum, provide moisture protection/a waterproof seal, accept marking applications, and be of comparable cost to the legacy polylam fiber tube. In addition, it must be capable of protecting its ammunition over a wide range of extreme temperatures from -60°F to +160°F for storage and air transport, and -50°F to +160°F for rigorous operational handling and ground vehicle transport. In addition, the inner packs must be capable of protecting ammunition for up to 20 years of indoor storage while spending most of that time in the rectangular steel outer pack. When removed from the steel outer pack, the inner packs must be capable of protecting mortar cartridges for up to 1 month of outdoor storage in the harshest environments. The cylindrical outer polymer container would serve as an alternative to the legacy metal container outer packs for mortar ammunition and/or artillery propelling charges. The outer polymer container is expected to meet long-term palletization and worldwide shipping / storage requirements. It is expected to have a closure mechanism, carry handles, be of similar color/gloss spectrum, provide moisture protection/a waterproof seal, accept marking applications, and be of comparable cost to the respective legacy packaging configuration. The polymer outer pack must be capable of protecting ammunition over a wide range of extreme temperatures from -60°F to +160°F (for mortar ammunition) and -65°F to +160°F (for artillery charges) during storage and air transport. In addition, the polymer outer packs must be capable of protecting ammunition from -50F to +160F (for mortar ammunition) and -40°F to +160°F (for artillery charges) during rigorous operational handling and ground vehicle transport. In addition, they must be capable of protecting ammunition for up to 20 years of indoor storage and up to 2 years of outdoor storage in the harshest environments. Approx inner and outer polymer cylindrical container sizes and weights are dependent on the caliber of ammunition (see Table below). Injection molding is preferred; however other manufacturing methods are being considered. MIL-STD-1904C, Test Standards for Level A and Level B Packaging for Conventional Ammunition provide details, design, and test requirements for the packaged ammunition system. MIL-STD-1660B, Department of Defense Design Criteria Standard, Ammunition and Ordnance Unit Loads, provide details of requirements for the palletized ammunition systems. It is critically important that responders to this RFI review and understand the detailed design and test requirements of these Military Standards as they outline the very severe Military environments that the packaging needs to survive, which are significantly different and more severe than the conditions commercial products are designed to withstand. KEY REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY: Temperature Range: Mortar Ammunition: -60°F to +160°F (storage/air transport), -50°F to +160°F (handling/ground transport) Artillery Charges: -65°F to +160°F (storage/air transport), -40°F to +160°F (handling/ground transport) Durability: Inner Polymer Container: 20 years indoor storage, 1-month outdoor storage in any worldwide climate. Outer Polymer Container: 20 years indoor storage, 2 years outdoor storage in any worldwide climate. Features: Lightweight, closure mechanism, carry handle(s), moisture/waterresistant,marking capability, comparable cost to legacy packaging. Manufacturing: Injection molding preferred, but open to other methods. Standard: Should meet requirements of MIL-STD-1904C (Level A Tactical) and MILSTD-1660B (Protection Level A Tactical). Outer Polymer Container must be capable of withstanding a pressure differential of 3 psig with no apparent leakage before, during, and after conditioned sequential rough handling IAW MIL-STD-1904C. Outer Polymer Container must be capable of supporting the weight (up to 4,000lb max), stacking (up to 16ft high), and conditioned sequential rough handling requirements of a full unitized load configuration IAW MIL-STD-1660B. Model 60mm PA189 Fiber Container (contains 1 mortar cartridge) Drawing 13018948 Dimensions 17.73” L x 2.74” Diameter Model 60mm PA191 Metal Container (contains 8 PA189) Drawing 13027662 Dimensions 12.362” x 6.36” x 18.826” Model 81mm PA163 Fiber Container (contains 1 mortar cartridge) Drawing 12993642 Dimensions 21.00” L x 4.00” Diameter Model 81mm PA156 Metal Container (contains 3 PA163) Drawing 12944511 Dimensions 14.34” x 5.72” x 22.90” Model 120mm PA167 Fiber Container(contains 1 mortar cartridge) Drawing 12995106 Dimensions 30.46” L x 5.43” Diameter Model 120mm PA154 Metal Container (contains 2 PA167) Drawing 12577569 Dimensions 12.362” x 6.36” x 31.78” Model 155mm PA103 Metal Container Drawing 9349398 Dimensions 37.99” x 7.49” x 7.49” All drawings in this Table are Distribution Statement A SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: There are no page limitations. Interested sources must respond with: • Company Name and Parent Company (If Applicable) • Business Address: Street, City, State, and Zip Code • Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code • Unique Entity Identifier (ID) • Information on current commercial products(s)/technologies and how they might address this emerging Military requirement. • Information regarding the firm's experience, personnel, and facilities. • Technical information/specifications/qualifications (i.e., technical literature, data, test reports, illustrations, photographs, patents, etc.), level of product maturity (i.e., is the product in the research, development or production phase?), product history (i.e., who is the product used by and in what applications?), relevant company background/experience. • Price list, and/or potential costs, as well as delivery capabilities. • Indicate whether they are a Small Business, Other than Small Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Veteran Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, SBA Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, SBA Certified 8(a) Firm and/or SBA Certified HUBZone Firm. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Test Standards for Level A and Level B Packaging for Conventional Ammunition (MILSTD- 1904C) 2. Department of Defense, Design Criteria Standard, Ammunition and Ordnance Unit Loads (MIL-STD-1660B) 3. Container, Ammunition Fiber, Polylam, PA189 (13018948) 4. Container, Ammunition, Metal, PA191 (13027662) 5. Container, Ammunition Fiber, Polylam, PA163 For Cartridge 81mm (12993642) 6. Container, Ammunition, Metal, PA156 for Cartridge, 81mm (12944511) 7. Container, Ammunition Fiber, Polylam, PA167 (12995106) 8. Container, Metal, Shipping and Storage, Cartridge 120mm Mortar, PA154 (12577569) 9. Container, Ammo, Metal, PA 103 (9349398)