SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS

FOR

Igniter Safe & Arm Device (S&A)

Minuteman III (MMIII) Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)

Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFNWC/NMSP

BACKGROUND:  The Air Force (AF) is evaluating the need to obtain Igniter S&A devices as is currently used on the MMIII, and purchasing them as replenishment spares.  The AF would like to obtain information which would be applicable if it took the replenishment spares approach.  The purpose of this Sources Sought Synopsis is to obtain this information.  

NOTICE: This is not a solicitation but rather a Sources Sought Synopsis.  Neither the release of this sources sought synopsis nor any responses to it guarantee a solicitation will be issued.  Rather, the purpose of this sources sought is to determine potential sources for information and planning purposes only.  A determination by the Government not to compete this solicitation is solely within the discretion of the Government.

The first purpose is to conduct market research to determine if responsible sources exist, to assist in determining if this effort can be a full and open competition and/or a total small business set-aside.  The proposed North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code is 336415 which has a size standard of 1,250 employees.  If an alternate NAICS code is recommended, please provide the recommendation in the response.  The AF will use this information to determine the best acquisition strategy for this procurement.  The AF is interested in all businesses to include Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Hubzone, and Women-Owned small business concerns.  The AF requests that interested parties respond to this notice if applicable and identify your business status to the identified NAICS code (see the Section labeled “Responses” for response requirements).  Additionally, please provide any anticipated teaming arrangements.  Any responses involving teaming agreements should delineate between the work that will be accomplished by the prime and the work accomplished by the teaming partners.

The second purpose of this source sought synopsis is to obtain information about schedule, cost, and other aspects of this potential acquisition.

DESCRIPTION:  The AF is evaluating the need for the procurement of Igniter S&As (Stock Number 1337-01-462-9623, Part Number KR80000-11) used on MMIII ICBM.  The Igniter S&A is a solid rocket motor ordnance component.  The Igniter S&A is a squib activated device that’s function is to interrupt or complete the ignition system firing circuits and prevent inadvertent ignition of the motor. The Igniter S&A replenishment would procure the current Igniter S&A configuration.  The Government’s Technical Data Package consists of the specification and majority of the drawings, but is missing manufacturing processes.  The manufacturing of the Igniter S&A will require obsolescence mitigation. 

The AF estimates the use of 35 Igniter S&As for Qualification testing.  The AF estimates the need for up to 240 Igniter S&As as initial spares.

 CAPABILITIES: 

• Must provide evidence of capability to obtain equipment (if not already possessed), material and to manufacture the Igniter S&A  
  • Demonstrate successful completion of programs similar to the Igniter S&A
• Must demonstrate experience resolving problems revolving around requirements for obsolescence mitigation
  • Must demonstrate capabilities to resolve problems with material and process discrepancies during development and manufacturing of items similar to the Igniter S&A
• Company recommended to have qualifications and employees that have worked with electromechanical and ordnance device manufacturing 
• Must demonstrate a quality management system
• Must demonstrate capability and expertise for schedule adherence while addressing technical challenges
• Must be able to perform testing with AF test sets (Government Furnished Equipment or equivalent) as well as qualification testing, or have a capable source to sub-contract qualification testing
  • Demonstrate successful completion of programs similar to the Igniter S&A
• Provide information on ISO 9001 certification, or equivalent system

RESPONSES:

Responsible and capable sources may identify their interest by providing a white paper capability statement (limited to 10 pages) with sufficient information to substantiate respondents have all of the capabilities listed in Capabilities and answering all of the AF questions.  

ADDITIONAL NOTICES:

Neither the release of this sources sought synopsis nor any responses to it guarantee a solicitation will be issued.  A determination by the AF not to compete this solicitation is solely within the discretion of the AF.  The AF will not pay for either the effort or the associated costs to respond, or for any information provided. 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT:

At this time, specifications/drawings will not be provided for this Sources Sought Synopsis. Moving forward, if the Government releases a Request for Proposal any distribution of the draft specifications and top level drawings will be limited to contractors with a DD 2345 certified by the Defense Logistics Information Service, Joint Certification Program (1-877-352-2255) and who have a legitimate business purpose. As such, the draft specification and top level drawings cannot be provided to a contractor without a certification. Contractors who would like to become certified can find the form and instructions at:

https://public.logisticsinformationservice.dla.mil/PublicHome/jcp/default.aspx.

Interested parties are advised that certification of a DD Form 2345 may take time, so completion and submission of that form as soon as possible is highly recommended.