Description: The Army Contracting Command- New Jersey (ACC-NJ) and the office of the Project Manager for Maneuver Ammunition Systems (PM-MAS) are seeking offerors who possess the ability to provide a small caliber propellant loader, conduct a prove-out at the offeror's facility, deliver to Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, install the propellant loader, conduct a final prove-out at Picatinny Arsenal, provide full maintenance guides, and conduct training to Government personnel. Sources must be capable of delivering a small caliber ammunition propellant loading machine suitable for loading small batches of ammunition in a low rate production/prototyping environment. The propellant loader must have the capability to load caliber 7.62mm ammunition. The same machine must also possess and include the ability to load calibers 5.56mm and .50 caliber ammunition through the use of conversion kits, tooling changes, or similar.
Specifications: The following requirements must be achieved by the propellant loader:
Respondents need to have the ability to supply a propellant loader that has the capability to load caliber 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50 caliber cartridges.
Requirements:
o System Speed: 30 parts per minute (1800 parts per hour) minimum, 60ppm (3600pph) preferred
o Size
Maximum Footprint: 12 feet x 10 feet (smaller preferred)
Maximum Height: 8 feet
o Feed Systems required:
Primed cases (5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50 caliber)
Bullets (5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50 caliber)
Propellant
o Propellant Types:
Must be able to handle all types of commercially available propellant (e.g. flake, spheroidal (e.g. Ball Powder ), extruded rod, etc)
o Crimping Requirement
Must be able to apply taper-style crimp and roll-style crimp
o Inline 100% inspection of cartridges, including at minimum:
Cartridge Weight and/or Powder Height Check
Cartridge Overall Length
Primer Presence
o Propellant Charge Weight
Propellant charge weight should be easily variable
Accuracy: +/- 0.5 grains maximum
It is expected that the propellant loader will have Programmable Logic Control (PLC)-based Human-Machine Interface (HMI) controls, safety guarding, safety shutdowns, and a 2 year warranty.
A full maintenance guide, including pictures and diagrams, shall be provided depicting how to fully disassemble and then reassemble all components of the loader system. Included with the documentation should be electrical schematics, an electronic backup of parameters, logic documentation, bill of materials, lubrication matrix, and preventative maintenance procedures.
The Government will conduct a prove-out of the loader at both the contractor's facility prior to shipping and at the Government's facility after installation, prior to final acceptance. Each prove-out will consist of loading 5,000-10,000 cartridges.
After delivery, installation, and prove-out, the Government requests a 5 day training course to cover machine operation and maintenance.
Planned Acquisition: A Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract is contemplated.
Submission Information: Interested companies capable of supplying the item described above are invited to indicate their interest by providing the Government a brief summary of its company's capabilities, including a description of the loader and its ability to meet the above-mentioned requirements. In addition, information about the proposed machine is requested regarding the following topics:
Footprint (i.e. length, width, and height)
Maximum operating rate for each caliber
Concept for modularity between 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and .50 caliber setups
Estimated caliber conversion time
Cartridge inspection capabilities
Utilities required
Feeder bowl capacity
Propellant geometries handled (i.e. spherical, flake, stick/rod, etc.)
PLC controls
Safety features
Price or Estimated Price
The conversion time between calibers

The Government is not obligated to notify respondents of the results of this survey. Submittal of information is requested via electronic mail only to Ms. Kristina Lukin, Contract Specialist U.S. Army Contracting Command-New Jersey, ACC-NJ-MA, Picatinny Arsenal; voice 973-724-4562; email at [email protected] Please respond NO LATER THAN 30 Days after issuance of this notice and identify quote mark Small Caliber Ammunition Loader Sources Sought/Market Survey Research quote mark as the subject of your response. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government.
*Please note: This is a market survey for planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on this market survey or otherwise pay for information solicited. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION AND DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A SOLICITATION. The information you provide may be utilized to develop the acquisition approach for future requirements.

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