Project Manager, Short and Intermediate Effectors for Layered Defense Maneuve...

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NOTICE ONLY.  THE PURPOSE OF THIS NOTICE IS 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 AND NO CONTRACT SHALL BE AWARDED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.  THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS ISSUED IN SUPPORT OF MARKET RESEARCH, TO GATHER INFORMATION, AND TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SOURCES. This notice is published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10.001 and Subpart 15.101(c) and is an RFI for conducting market research.  All information received will be used for planning purposes only.  This notice does not constitute an invitation for bid, a request for proposal, or a request for quote.  The United States Government (USG) will not award a contract based on this notice and will not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with responses. SYNOPSIS. The U.S. Army Portfolio Acquisition Executive Fires, Capability Program Executive  Defensive Fires, Project Manager, Short and Intermediate Effectors for Layered Defense (SHIELD) is conducting research to identify potential interested sources with the capability to manufacture a new surface-to-air missile system, referred to as Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) Increment (Inc) 3, Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI) to meet increasing demand and growing threat capability. The Army began design, development, and test of a weapon system to replace Stinger in FY23, progressing to the production of 11,000 NGSRI missiles and 2,200 Control Launch Assemblies (CLA) beginning in FY28. ADMINISTRATIVE. Pursuant to FAR 15.101, this notice is being issued as an RFI and in accordance, responses to this notice are not an offer and cannot be accepted by the USG to form a binding contract.  No contract award is intended as a result of this request.  THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY.  This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute an RFP or a promise to issue an RFP in the future.  This RFI does not commit the USG to contract for any supply or service whatsoever.  The USG point of contact will be Mr. Christopher Caputo, Contracting Officer, U.S. Army Contracting Command-Redstone Arsenal, and can be contacted via e-mail at christopher.m.caputo.civ@army.mil.  Email only, no phone calls. Per FAR 15.101, Early exchanges with industry, requests for information:   The USG does not intend to award a contract based on this RFI.   Although “proposed” and “proposal,” may be used in this RFI, your response will              be treated as information only.  It shall not be used as a proposal.   This RFI is issued for the purpose of acquiring information regarding production of a new NGSRI weapon system for the M-SHORAD program. MANEUVER-SHORT RANGE AIR DEFENSE STRATEGY. In 2016, Congress and Joint and Army senior leaders, noting the results of studies and peer threat nations aggressions, provided resources and directed the Army to aggressively pursue air defense capabilities to protect maneuvering forces as soon as feasibly possible. The NGSRI program was initiated as a competitive Middle Tier of Acquisition Rapid Prototype in response to a directed requirement to develop the follow-on system to the FIM-92 Stinger man portable air defense system.  The NGSRI is a high performance, soldier portable, fire and forget, surface to air missile system capable of defeating rotary wing, fixed wing, and Group 2/3 unmanned aircraft system threats.  The NGSRI missile is backwards compatible with the legacy Stinger missile platforms such as SGT STOUT and Marine Corps Air-To-Air Launcher. The competitive prototype effort will culminate in government led developmental testing and operational assessment, which concludes that the system is effective and suitable for operational deployment.  Approximately 96 missiles will be left over from the test campaign and will comprise the residual operational capability of the program, once transferred to operational Army units.  The program will transition to the Major Capability Acquisition pathway at Milestone C as an ACAT II Program and enter Low-Rate Initial Production and Full Rate Production. This RFI solicits industry input for the Low-Rate Initial Production and Full Rate Production of the NGSRI weapon system.  The contract is also expected to cover Total Package Fielding, training, contractor logistics support, test support, and engineering services in addition to manufacturing the missile and launcher. NEXT GENERATION SHORT RANGE INTERCEPTOR PRODUCTION GOALS. Respondents to this RFI will address the following items in their response:   The company’s solution must cover Integrated Logistics Support, training support, new equipment training, techni