SOURCES SOUGHT
10 -- Sources Sought Synopsis for fuzes for BLU121AB
- Notice Date
- 7/25/2006
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AAC - Air Armament Center, AAC/PK 205 West D Avenue, Suite 433, Eglin AFB, FL, 32542-6864
- ZIP Code
- 32542-6864
- Solicitation Number
- na
- Response Due
- 8/4/2006
- Archive Date
- 11/3/2006
- Description
- 1. Scope The 685th Armament Systems Squadron (685 ARSS) seeks sources for a multiple delay, hardened fuze for use in the BLU-121A/B General Purpose Bomb and various hard target penetrator bombs. All responsible sources are invited to submit a white paper describing their proposed hard target fuze, their level of expertise in hard target fuze design, and a synopsis of their past performance in bomb fuze production. 2. Background The Air Force Research Laboratory, Munitions Directorate (AFRL/MN) and the 685th ARSS developed a 2000-lb bomb designed to hold tunnel-type targets at risk by skipping into the tunnel entrance and penetrating the blast door prior to exploding. The bomb is designated as the BLU-121A/B General Purpose Bomb. The BLU-121 warhead case is fabricated from ES-1C steel, a very high strength steel, to enable it to survive the skip and penetration. The external appearance and dimensions of the BLU-121A/B are very nearly the same as those of the MK-84 General Purpose Bomb. The improvements over the current MK-84 include the high strength case, the addition of a structural nose cover, a modified aft end similar to that of the BLU-109/B Penetrator, and AFX-757 explosive which is more insensitive and produces more explosive energy than the Tritonal explosive used in the MK-84. Although there are plans to test other guidance kits, the BLU-121A/B is currently employed only with the EGBU-15 guidance kit. The BLU-121 has both front and rear fuze wells, but it is currently fuzed only with an FMU-143N/B Fuze in the rear fuze well. Electrical power for the fuze is provided by the bomb guidance kit. The FMU-143N/B is identical to the FMU-143G/B except for markings and the booster pellet which is pressed from PBXN-11 explosive. PBXN-11, a very high output explosive, is required to reliably initiate the AFX-757 fill in the bomb. The Air Force is beginning to develop the FMU-143P/B and the FMU-143Q/B Fuzes. The P/B will be identical to the N/B except the rotor assembly will be improved for reliability. The Q/B will also be the same except it will have 120 ms delay instead of the 60 ms delay. Because of their improved reliability, once the P/B fuzes are fielded, they will be used (unless a better fuze is identified) instead of the N/B for the BLU-121. The Warfighter has identified a need for the BLU-121 to travel further before detonating. Therefore there is a need for fuzes with longer delays. The Q/B fuze will provide a 120ms delay, but there is also a need for a fuze with a 90 ms delay. A nose fuze for the BLU-121 is needed to further increase reliability and to better shape/focus the blast output of the bomb. The nose fuze in a BLU-121A/B will be encapsulated behind the Structural Nose Cap, 18894-20057703. Therefore the fuze must be capable of being classified as ?SAFE? without visual inspection or a ?REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT? lanyard. 3. Objectives Identify a suitable fuze system for use in the nose and tail of the BLU-121A/B Bomb. If a suitable nose/tail fuze is identified, it will likely be used in hard target penetrator bombs as well as in the BLU-121A/B. The fuze identified may be an existing fuze, a SSS - - FUZE for BLU-121 Page 3 modified version of an existing fuze, or a currently planned new fuze. The fuze must either be capable of being built with 60, 90, and 120 ms delays, or it must have selectable 60, 90, and 120 ms delays. The contractor should provide recommendations to arm/power nose and tail fuzing (i.e. a bomb fuze initiator and cable, or a cable to connect the front and rear fuzes to conduct power from the bomb guidance kit to the front fuze), using current design and plumbing features of the BLU-121A/B. 4. White Papers This is not a Request for Proposal - White Papers only are requested at this time. Interested parties are requested to provide your company name and CAGE code, contact?s phone number, and email address by 4 August 2006 to Grisselle Nusimow, grisselle.nusimow@eglin.af.mil. White papers will be accepted until 4pm CDT on 3 November 2006. FORMAL PROPOSALS ARE NOT BEING REQUESTED AT THIS TIME. 5. Preparation Instructions. Offerors are invited to submit white papers to address their proposal to meet the objectives discussed in paragraph 3, their expertise in hard target fuze design, and a synopsis of their past performance in bomb fuze production. Offerors are requested to submit an electronic copy to both 685th ARSS Technical Focal Points listed below. The white paper should be formatted as follows: Section A: Title, Name of Company, Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number, Technical contact and Contracts contact with appropriate phone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses; Section B: Task Objective with technical summary. If hazardous materials/processes would be required for the technology proposed, so state; Section C: Technical Expertise Summary, and Section D: Past Performance Summary. Please submit white papers in Microsoft Word format, single spaced with a font no smaller than 12 pitch. If the offeror wishes to restrict distribution of its white paper, it must be marked with the restrictive language stated in FAR 15.609(a) and (b). Direct inquiries to the following Technical Focal Points: Mr. Ed Moorman Mr. Barry Cantrell 685th ARSS 685th ARSS (TEAS) (850) 883-3819 (850) 883-3219 Fax: (850) 882-7983 (Fax: (850) 882-7983 edwin.moorman@eglin.af.mil barry.cantrell@eglin.af.mil 6. Committing the Government. Prospective offerors are advised that only Contracting Officers are legally authorized to commit the Government. 7. Funding Restrictions. The cost of preparing white papers/proposals in response to this announcement is not considered an allowable direct charge to any resulting contract or any other contract. 8. Ombudsman. The clause at 5352.201-9101, Ombudsman, is applicable to this request. The AAC Ombudsman is Col Joseph A. Lanni, AAC/CV, 101 West D Avenue, Suite 116, Eglin AFB, FL 32542-5495, (850) 882-0662, joseph.lanni@eglin.af.mil. The Alternate Ombudsman is Lt Col James G. Fulton, AAC/DS, 101 West D Avenue, Suite 116, Eglin AFB, FL 32542-5495, (850) 882-5422, james.fulton@eglin.af.mil.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Contractor facility
- Zip Code: 00000
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Zip Code: 00000
- Record
- SN01097261-W 20060727/060725220622 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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