This Request for Information (RFI) is for Charcoal to be used in M18, M83, and AN-M14 grenades. Responses to this RFI are due no later than October 14, 2014. The U.S. Army Contracting Command Center - New Jersey, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000, on behalf of the Army Research Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), is conducting market research to identify potential producers, capable of manufacturing, testing, packaging and shipping Charcoal, for use in ammunition. The North American Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 325194. A. The Charcoal will be used to manufacture the Impregnating Mixture for the Starter Patches in the M18 and M83 Grenades (G940, G945, G950, G955, and G982) and shall meet the following requirement specifications. 1. Specification: A-A-59138; Class D, Granulated. 2. A minimum of ninety eight (98) percent shall pass though a No. 60 sieve. 3. A minimum of eighty (80) percent shall pass though a No. 140 sieve. 4. A minimum of fifty (50) percent and a maximum of eighty (80) percent shall pass though a No. 325 sieve. 5. The ash content shall not exceed ten (10) percent. 6. Possess a manufacturing capability to produce the Charcoal and the ability to package 100lb-175lb drums. 7. Production capacity must be sufficient to provide the U.S. Army a total quantity of Charcoal of approximately 4,000 to 6,000 pounds per year B. The Charcoal will also be used to manufacture the First Fire Mixture for the AN-M14 grenades (G900) and shall meet the following requirements. 1. Specification: A-A-59138; Class D, Granulated. 2. A minimum of ninety eight (98) percent shall pass though a No. 60 sieve. 3. A minimum of eighty (80) percent shall pass though a No. 140 sieve. 4. A minimum of fifty (50) percent and a maximum of eighty (80) percent shall pass though a No. 325 sieve. 5. The ash content shall not exceed five (5) percent. 6. Possess a manufacturing capability to produce the Charcoal and the ability to package 100lb-175lb drums. 7. Production capacity must be sufficient to provide the U.S. Army a total quantity of Charcoal of approximately 400 to 1,000 pounds per year. Interested companies, U.S. or foreign, who consider themselves capable of manufacturing, testing, packaging and shipping Charcoal to the requirements above are invited to indicate their interest by providing the U.S. Government the following information: All responses shall be prepared in English and should be in MS Word or PDF format and shall contain sufficient information to support the company's claim that it presently has the capability to produce and certify the Charcoal. At a minimum, responses shall include: a brief summary of their company's capabilities including, but not limited to, description of facilities, personnel, past production experience and environmental compliance as it relates to the specifications contained in this notice. Responses should also include identification of a corporate point of contact, phone number, email address, website (if available), business size (and any socio-economic considerations), NAICS code, Cage Code, and Duns number. All information is to be submitted either via email (10 MB limit) to the point of contact below or DVD to the address provided below, at no cost or obligation to the Government; information provided will not be returned. Appropriate security markings should be placed on contractor sensitive information. All information submitted will be held in a confidential status. All companies interested in a potential future solicitation for this item will need to be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov. The Government will accept written questions by email to the below point of contact. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Interested companies are encouraged to submit their capabilities/qualification data NO LATER THAN October 14, 2014. Please send all completed responses to: Army Contracting Command - New Jersey Attention: Mr. Timothy Cassidy ACC-NJ-CC Bldg 10, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000 Point of Contact Email:
[email protected] This Request for Information (RFI) is issued for acquisition planning purposes only. This does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP)/Request for Quote. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government. No award will be made as a result of this RFI. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government. The Government is not obligated to notify respondents of the results of this survey. Any documentation will not be returned.