International Fuze Seminar

1.1 Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e), this notice is being issued as a Request For Information (RFI). The U.S. Department of Defense Fuze Integrated Product Team (DoD Fuze IPT) and associated Joint Fuze Technology Program (JFTP), established by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (OUSD), Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L), Strategic and Tactical Systems (S&TS) is seeking information to ascertain the level of interest from the international community in participating in an International Fuze Seminar (herein referred to as Seminar) tentatively to be held in conjunction with the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) 2014 Annual Fuze Conference. The responses to this request will be used to determine the level of interest within the international fuze community to engage the DoD Fuze IPT and to establish a list of potential participants in the proposed one-on-one sessions as part of this Seminar. The NDIA Fuze Conference is scheduled for July 29 - 31, 2014. Additional information about the NDIA Fuze Conference can be found on the NDIA website: www.ndia.org/meetings/4560 . The meeting website is functional at this time and contains basic information on the Fuze Conference. Details of the Seminar will be incorporated on the website as they become available. Registration for the NDIA Annual Fuze Conference and Seminar (if held synergistically with the Fuze Conference) will be opened on the website approximately three months in advance of the conference. 1.2 The DoD Fuze IPT which is led by the Office of Land Warfare and Munitions (OUSD(AT&L)/S&TS/LW&M) updated its Strategic Plan in 2012 and has placed an increased emphasis on engaging the fuze industrial base community. The DoD Fuze IPT and JFTP have been engaging the U.S. fuze industrial base through the National Armaments Consortium (NAC). The proposed forum will enable the DoD Fuze IPT/JFTP to initiate engagement with the broader international fuze community. To reduce the logistics associated with a large number of one-on-one sessions, the DoD Fuze IPT/JFTP will be offering the U.S. fuze industrial base NAC members an opportunity to participate in a one-on-one session with the DoD Fuze IPT members at its upcoming April 2014 meeting. Therefore, first priority for the one-on-one sessions at the Seminar to be held in conjunction with the NDIA 2014 Annual Fuze Conference will be reserved for international fuze producers and weapon system primes. 1.3 The intent of this Seminar is to address the IPT's Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives that relate to the international fuze industrial base's potential to assist the DoD in providing the U.S. warfighter the best fuzing technologies/capabilities available. In particular, the IPT desires to engage the international fuze industrial community to: 1.3.1 Identify and maintain awareness of the international fuze industrial base capabilities for potential leveraging opportunities. 1.3.2 Evaluate the capability and capacity offered by the international fuze community and determine its potential benefit to U.S. warfighter readiness and impact to the National Technology and Industrial Base. 1.3.3 Identify and maintain awareness of international fuze industrial base's cutting-edge fuze research and technologies and identify potential areas for leverage. 1.4 THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Furthermore, neither the DoD Fuze IPT nor the JFTP is seeking proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Respondees are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. In addition, all costs associated with attending the Seminar will be solely at the interested party's expense. •2.0 Background 2.1 The proposed Seminar will include a set of overview presentations by the DoD Fuze IPT and JFTP in a forum open to all registered participants. The presentation material will include general information regarding the IPT and JFTP structure and their current thrusts. The information will include public-releasable information only. The balance of the Seminar agenda will include one-on-one sessions with the DoD Fuze IPT. The primary purpose of these sessions is to give the international fuze producers an opportunity to present their capabilities, production capacities, and cutting-edge technologies to the DoD Fuze IPT members. 2.2 To facilitate attendance of the international fuze producers, the proposed Seminar is targeting the 2014 NDIA Fuze Conference as the best opportunity to engage the international fuze community. If held synergistically with the NDIA Annual Fuze Conference, registration details for the Seminar will be available on the NDIA registration website. 2.3 Respondees to this RFI, who indicate an interest in participating (in their Section 1 response), will be offered an opportunity to meet in a one-on-one session with the DoD Fuze IPT members based on the following criteria. Note, within each criterion, sessions will be offered on a first-come first-served basis. 2.3.1 First priority for the one-on-one sessions will be reserved for international fuze producers (i.e., non-U.S. based companies who manufacture fuzes). 2.3.2 Second priority for the one-on-one sessions will be reserved for international weapon system prime contractors (i.e., non-U.S. based companies who integrate fuzes/fuze components into weapon systems). 2.3.3 Third priority for the one-on-one sessions will be reserved for U.S. fuze producers who are not members of the NAC (since NAC members are being offered an opportunity for one-on-one sessions in conjunction with the April 2014 DoD Fuze IPT meeting). 2.3.4 Fourth priority for the one-on-one sessions will be reserved for U.S. weapon system prime contractors who are not members of the NAC (since NAC members are being offered an opportunity for one-on-one sessions in conjunction with the April 2014 DoD Fuze IPT meeting). 2.3.5 Fifth priority for the one-on-one sessions will be reserved for international and U.S. fuze component vendors who are not members of the NAC (since NAC members are being offered an opportunity for one-on-one sessions in conjunction with the April 2014 DoD Fuze IPT meeting). 2.3.6 Remaining sessions, if any, will be offered on a first-come first-served basis to other respondees of this RFI who indicate a desire to participate in the forum's one-on-one sessions with the DoD Fuze IPT. 2.4 The DoD Fuze IPT will attempt to accommodate all respondees who indicate a desire to participate in the forum's one-on-one sessions with the IPT members. Each session will be a minimum of 30 minutes. Thus, depending on the number of positive responses received, the number of available sessions may not accommodate all respondees who indicate a desire to participate in these sessions. In this case, the DoD Fuze IPT will make an effort to accommodate these positive respondees in an alternative one-on-one session at a future forum. Once the list of one-on-ones has been solidified, the respondees will be contacted to confirm their session and will be provided additional details concerning the sessions (e.g., exact time for their individual one-on-one session; compatibility and submission requirements for electronic presentation material; etc.). Please be advised that all submissions will be retained by the U.S. Government and will not be returned. •3.0 Requested Information This RFI requests information from interested parties about their fuze industrial base capabilities (e.g., unique fuze experimentation facilities and/or unique fuze test methodologies); production capabilities and capacity; and cutting-edge research and technologies for potential future leveraging opportunities by the United States Department of Defense. In addition, the respondees must indicate whether they desire to participate in the forum's one-on-one sessions with the DoD Fuze IPT. For this request, a list of fuze capabilities, production capacities, and cutting-edge technologies with an indication of level of interest in participating in this Seminar is sufficient. The one-on-one sessions will provide interested respondees with an opportunity to present details about their fuze technologies and capabilities. The DoD Fuze IPT membership includes DoD personnel, DOE personnel, and DoD dedicated support contractor personnel . As such, NO PROPRIETARY information shall be conveyed in either the response to this RFI or during the one-on-one sessions. 4.0 Responses 4.1 Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper. The level of response to this RFI will determine whether the DoD Fuze IPT pursues an international Seminar in conjunction with the 2014 NDIA Annual Fuze Conference. 4.2 White papers in Microsoft Word for Office 2003 (.doc) compatible format are due no later than 30 May 2014, 12:00 EDT . Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Technology Division personnel will collect the responses on behalf of the DoD Fuze IPT. Thus, responses shall be submitted via e-mail only to [email protected] , Lawrence Fan (Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Technology Division). Responses should be properly p ackaged, labeled, handled and submitted in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). Proprietary information SHALL NOT be included in your white paper. Please be advised that all submissions will be retained by the U.S. Government and will not be returned, and that your material will be reviewed by the entire DoD Fuze IPT membership, which includes DoD personnel, DOE personnel, and DoD dedicated support contractor personnel . 4.3 Section 1 of the white paper shall provide administrative information, and shall include the following as a minimum: 4.3.1 Name, mailing address, overnight delivery address (if different from mailing address), phone number, fax number, and e-mail of designated point of contact. 4.3.2 An indication of whether the respondee is interested in participating in the proposed one-on-one sessions with the DoD Fuze IPT members. Please note, these sessions will be offered to the respondees based on the priorities listed above. 4.4 Section 2 of the white paper shall include information on the fuze producer's fuze technologies and industrial base capabilities. This may take the form of a technologies/capabilities list or an abstract of the briefing to be presented during the one-on-one session. Section 2 shall be limited to 1000 words. 4.5 The total number of white paper pages shall not exceed three, for Section 1 and Section 2 combined. 5.0 Questions Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to: [email protected] , Lawrence Fan (Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Technology Division). Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. 6.0 Summary THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY for the DoD Fuze IPT to assess the international fuze industrial base's capabilities and technologies for potential future leveraging opportunities by the United States Department of Defense. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Department of Defense has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions will be retained by the Government and will not be returned.