The Army Contracting Command-New Jersey, Emerging Technologies Contracting Center, Benet Laboratories (BL), Watervliet Arsenal, NY on behalf of the US Army Armament Research Development & Engineering Command (ARDEC), BL is seeking capability statements from firms that can provide services to use novel and unconventional techniques and processes to rifle both 0.50 cal M2 and M242 25mm weapons. The weapons rifling will be a refractory material consisting of tantalum/10 tungsten (Ta/10W) alloy. Sources are sought that use innovative methods for engraving the grooves of both .50 cal M2 and M242 25mm weapon tubes. The rifling engravings will follow the existing standard patterns stated on the respective weapons production drawing. The desired source shall have an existing apparatus in place to conduct rifling in the stated refractory materials. This is a notice to seek out sources who have demonstrated the ability to produce rifling other than by use of broaches, buttons or single point tooling. The source shall have the ability to:
conduct and record bore measurements for both weapon systems,
measure and report the rifling depth in respect to the lands height,
measure the bore circumferentially at intervals at 0o and 90o and linearly at 1 inch intervals for both .50 cal M2 and M242 25mm weapons and,
be familiar with fabrication and inspection techniques of gun bores.

Requirements:
1. The desired sources shall have the following rifling capabilities to produce
1.1 Rifling engraving of increasing twist throughout the tube length
1.2 Rifling engraving of uniform twist throughout the tube length
1.3 Minimum bore size 0.50 inches
1.4 Maximum bore size 1.00 (25mm)
1.5 Maximum length of tube 85 inches
1.6 Maximum depth of rifling grooves that do not to exceed 0.030 inch from adjacent land height
1.7 Engravement depths in 0.001 inch intervals throughout the length of the tube


2. The desired sources shall have the capabilities to inspect and record finished bore lengths by video bore scoping.

Deliverables:
Interested organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for these requirements that clearly details the ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Responses will be reviewed only by ARDEC personnel and will be held in a confidential manner.

The capability statement shall include process and system specifics including:
Documented past performance history of working with refractory alloys including Tantalum 10 percent Tungsten alloys.
Proposed methods on how the source will accomplish this task including graphical diagram representations.
Rate of rifling by proposed method.
Resolution, accuracy and repeatability of rifling engraving process.

Firms/companies are invited to indicate their capabilities by providing specifications, brochures, manuals, reports, demonstration video and other technical data. All data should be sent at no cost to the US Government by 03 June 2013 to the US Army ATTN: Katelyn Warren email: [email protected]. In addition, please provide the firm's name and address, point of contact with telephone number and email address, and size of business (small/large). The Government will accept written questions by email. Provide Past Performance information or lack thereof showing prior commercial experience and/or prior service for the Government in the service described above. This is a market survey to be used for informational planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal (RFP), nor is the Government obligated to issue an RFP. The US Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this market survey or otherwise pay for information solicited. The government is not obligated to notify respondents of the results of this survey.

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