Request for Information (RFI) for the Crew Blower used on the M109A6 Paladin

1. Background:

The M109A6 Paladin Self-propelled Howitzer is a military tracked vehicle used for ranged artillery support. The vehicle includes a complement of four crew members: a driver, a gunner, a loader, and a commander. Due to the ambient and induced environmental extremes encountered, Microclimate Conditioning System (MCS) has been incorporated to alleviate thermal stresses of the crew members. The MCS also filters Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) contaminants from the crew members breathing air by passing it through a military NBC filter. The MCS assemblies include a DC-powered Crew Blower that houses an electric motor and fan to circulate conditioned air to the crew.

2. Requirements:

2.1 The contractor is requested to respond with evidence of engineering experience, capabilities and infrastructure necessary to build initial and production quantities of Crew Blowers in accordance with:

o Drawing 12553832, Crew Blower
o Quality Assurance Provision, QAP12553832

2.2 The contractor is requested to provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost estimate and lead time to fabricate initial prototype Crew Blowers per the requirements in RFI section 2.1 for initial quantity of 3.

2.3 The contractor is requested to provide a ROM cost estimate and lead time to fabricate Crew Blowers per the requirements in RFI section 2.1 for production quantities of: 10, 20, and 50.

3. Applicable documents: Drawing 12553832, Crew Blower & Quality Assurance Provision, QAP12553832 are attached below.

4. Deliverables: The Contractor is requested to provide a written response to the Requirements stated in section 2 of this RFI that is limited to 10 total pages. Additionally, please list available existing contracts (GSA, etc.), or any additional relevant information not listed above.

Responses are requested to include:

Business name and address;
Name of company representative and their business title;
Type of Business;
Cage Code;

5. This Request for Information is for informational and planning purposes only; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), and is not to be construed as a commitment by the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government implies no intention or opportunity to acquire funding to support current or future efforts. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, a solicitation notice will be published. No award will be made as a result of this market survey. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any private sector input as a result of this market survey. The Government is not obligated to notify respondents of the results of this survey.

6. The information is requested to be submitted within 45 calendar days from the date of this publication to: U.S. Army Contracting Command New Jersey, ACC-NJ-JA, ATTN: Nadine Schneider, Building 9, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806. Electronic submittals are preferred and should be sent to Email: nadine.k.schneider.civ@mail.mil. Subject line of the email must include "Crew Blower for M109A6 Paladin". Phone inquiries will not be addressed; all requests should be submitted in writing via email.