Metastable Interstitial Composite Lead-Free Primer for Small Caliber Ammunition

The U.S. Army Contracting Command - New Jersey (ACC-NJ) is conducting market research on behalf of Combat Capabilities Development Command - Armaments Center (DEVCOM-AC), Munitions Engineering Technology Center (METC), Small Caliber Munitions Division FCDD-ACM-MI at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ. This research is to determine the ability for US-based Contractors to manufacture and produce variable quantities of Metastable Interstitial Composite (MIC) Lead Free Primers (LFPs). These primers are intended for further development and testing of small caliber ammunition from 5.56mm up through Caliber.50. 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. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. RESPONSES WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE RESPONDER. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS NOTICE DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ) OR INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) OR RFP, IF ANY ISSUED. IF A SOLICITATION IS RELEASED, IT WILL BE SYNOPSIZED ON THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE POINT OF ENTRY (GPE). IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POTENTIAL OFFERORS TO MONITOR THE GPE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS REQUIREMENT. REQUIREMENT: Use of lead-based primers in military munitions continues to be a leading source of personnel lead exposure and cause of environmental contamination. As such, the US Army is developing a replacement for lead styphnate percussion primer explosives in small caliber munitions with the

objective of further eliminating lead in all caliber cartridges. Research and Development (R/D) efforts involving nanothermite-based primers have demonstrated high potential for a lead-free solution. Advances in water-based mixing and automated loading processes were developed to enable production of metastable interstitial composite (MIC) primers. These processes use a MIC-based material with the addition of sensitizers and gas generating agents to tune the performance characteristics of primers. This technology has high potential for automated manufacturing as opposed to traditional methods of handmade primers that directly expose personnel to explosive materials. The Government is seeking

pricing information for the following small caliber percussion primers for 7.62mm, 5.56mm and Cal.50 ammunition respectively. Interested contractors are requested to provide detailed unit

pricing for quantities ranging from 0 to 50,000 units. To assist in determining the optimal order quantities for the best overall value, contractors are encouraged to provide tiered

pricing structures based on various quantity thresholds. The Contractor will be expected to support various meetings (kickoff, delivery status, recurring technical), and shall be able to handle energetics, and produce and test end item MIC lead free primers that meet the

requirements of MIL-DTL-46610. The Contractor will work with the U.S. Government (USG) on primer variants with improved/refined primer formulations that will streamline the manufacturing process and reduce cost without sacrificing quality or safety. All work shall be performed in the U.S. The Contractor shall be capable of all aspects of producing the lead-free primer including but not limited to: - Material procurement - Material batch tracking/lotting - Handling energetic materials and mixing operations - Manufacturing of primers (dosing of MIC material, consolidating, finish assembly) - In-process and final inspections - Ballistic testing - Failure investigations - Submission of test reports - Shipment of MIC LFPs in suitable containers. The USG will receive unlimited rights to any/all technical data developed or delivered. The contractor shall not use any internally developed technical data or any other pre-existing proprietary information, if such a use would in any way prevent the Government from receiving Unlimited Rights.