The U.S. Army TACOM-ARDEC is conducting a Market Survey to identify potential sources for supplying the U.S. Army with a low hydrolyzed Vinyl Alcohol Acetate Resin (VAAR) for use in munitions. Respondents should be currently capable of manufacturing VAAR, designated as BAKELITE Resin MA-28-18 and defined by Mil-V- 50433. VAAR was last produced by Union Carbide (UC) in the mid-1990s. VAAR produced by UC and meeting Mil-V-50433 is characterized in the table below: Material Color %by % by weight Brookfield DSC Thermal Molecular (cpu) weight Resin Solids Viscosity Stability Weight(Mn/Mw) Cobalt Dry Resin MIL-V- (cps) ASTM D-3418 GPC (Gel Platinum Basis 50433-4.3.3 per ASTM Permetion Method Alcohol D-2196 Chromatography) per MIL- Content V- per MIL- 50433- V-50433- 4.3.1 4.3.2 Type 1 300 max. 16-19 26-29 400-800 On Set Mn 58600 VAARs (at 20 101degrees Mw 151800 DegreesC) C Peak at 104Degrees C It is the U.S. Army’s desire to obtain VAAR produced using the UC manufacturing process with the same starting materials and solvents, and the VAAR produced by this process having essentially the same polymer structure and physical and chemical properties. However, if the if a modified process to achieve the characteristics identified in the above table, then the process variants shall be clearly identified in the respondent’s submission to this market Survey. Respondents should have sufficient production capacity to supply the U.S. Army a total quantity of 500 – 1,000 pounds of VAAR (dry resin) Interested companies that believe they can meet the VAAR requirements specific above shall provide the U.S. Army a detail description (chemical and physical properties) of their VAAR including product cost, and a brief summary of their company’s capabilities including description of facilities, personnel, past production experience and environmental compliance as it relates to the product (s). Companies that are currently producing low hydrolyzed VAAR products (solvent base, up to 32 weight-percent) for commercial applications are also invited to respond with the requested information. A follow-up detailed questionnaire may be provided to survey respondents and on-site visits may be performed as a result of further analysis. Samples from respondents may be purchased for in-house preliminary testing. Also, interested firms should provide the manufacture’s name, address, point-of-contact with telephone number and e-mail address, size of business (small/large) and country where the facility is located. The information must be submitted within 30 calendar days from the date of this publication to: U.S. Army TACOM-ARDEC AMSTA-AR-WEA, ATTN: Mr. Peter Bonnett or Mr. Richard Ames Armament Systems Process Division, Bldg. 321 Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07850 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] If there are any technical questions, please contact Mr. Peter Bonnett @ (973) 724-3747 or Mr. Richard Ames @ (973) 724-4284. This Market Survey is for planning purpose only and should not be construed as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this Market Survey or otherwise pay for information solicited. The information you provide will only be used by the U.S. Army in developing its acquisition approach for future VAAR requirements. See Numbered Note 25.

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