Impulse Cartridge MD65 & MD66

The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island, on behalf of PM-CCS (Project Manager, Close Combat Systems), is issuing a sources sought notice to identify capable sources for the production and delivery of the following items:

        Item                                     NSN                   Model       DODIC
Impulse Cartridge    1377-01-063-3162    CCU-45/B    MD65
Impulse Cartridge    1377-01-063-3165    CCU-44/B    MD66

ITEM DESCRIPTIONS: The above parts are used as a power source for the ejection of stores from aircraft missile launchers and bomb racks. The Impulse Cartridges MD65 and MD66 are categorized as critical safety items (CSI) and are critical components for both routine and emergency operations in military aviation. They are considered life-limited energetic devices, and their propellants are subject to stability testing programs to ensure their reliability. If contractors propose an alternate data package, the U.S. Government will require the use of Propellant-HES 5250.207, NSN 1376012215664, and NOSOL 318, NSN 1376011643489 (provided as GFP). The impulse cartridge shall conform to the dimensions shown in the Technical Data Package (TDP). Please see the attached TDP to adhere to all the figures and specifications located within.

The purpose of this Sources Sought is to conduct market research to determine if responsible sources exist, to assist in determining if this effort can be competitive and/or a total Small Business Set-Aside.  The proposed North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code is 325920/Explosive Manufacturing, which has a corresponding Size standard of 750.  The Government will use this information to determine the best acquisition strategy for this procurement.  The Government is interested in all small businesses to include 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, HUBZone, and Women-Owned small business concerns.  The government requests that interested parties respond to this notice if applicable and identify your small business status to the identified NAICS code.  Additionally, please provide any anticipated teaming arrangements, along with a description of similar services offered to the Government and to commercial customers for the past three years.  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.

CRITICAL PROCESSES/SKILLS: The manufacture of this item requires skills, which include, but are not limited to:

Experience with propellant manufacturing and casting, energetic material and/or explosive handling and loading, welding, machining, bridge wire and electrical circuitry, and shock wave propagation.

An acceptable vendor must be able to display the skills of its employees and established expertise in completing essential operations of manufacturing Impulse Cartridges (MD65 and MD66). Respondents to this Sources Sought must have or have the ability to obtain the available skills required to perform all production and testing operations necessary to deliver conforming end items to the U.S. Government.  These skills must be available with sufficient experience and proficiency to produce these items in a timely and efficient manner.  A respondent must also have or have the ability to obtain the appropriate equipment and skills required to support quality production limitations. Any significant lead times with equipment or materials associated with production of these items should also be noted.

RESPONSES: Interested companies who consider themselves capable of manufacturing the Impulse Cartridges MD65 and MD66, are invited to indicate their interest by providing the U.S. Government with the following information:

1. A brief summary of the company’s capabilities (a description of the facilities, personnel experience, quality system, and past manufacturing experience) and capacity. If a respondent does not have adequate resources (facilities, technical, manufacturing, personnel, etc.) available, then it must be able to demonstrate its ability to obtain those resources without significant delay.
2. Identify and include a brief summary of any potential key sub-tier vendors or subcontractors and identify key components or processes that would be subcontracted.
3. Identify minimum and maximum monthly production quantities and identify the available capacity considering any other known production.
4. Identify your company’s size status for the identified NAICS code in the response.
5. Due to the current global supply chain and other factors, respondents are asked to identify any components or materials that may be subject to price volatility or scarcity and address what their firm is doing to mitigate risk related to obtaining materials, price impacts, and production stability.

Technical Data Packages: The Technical Data Packages (TDPs) associated with this requirement are classified as Distribution C – limited distribution authorized to the U.S. Government agencies and their U.S. Contractors Only.

The NAICS code for these items is 325920 with a business size standard of 750 employees. As noted above, please indicate your business size and socio-economic status in your response. Also be sure to provide the company name, address, point of contact, phone number, e-mail address, taxpayer identification number, DUNS number, and CAGE Code. This sources sought announcement is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a Request for Proposal or as an obligation on the part of the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this sources sought announcement or otherwise pay for information solicited. Industry responses to this sources sought will not represent binding offers, and the U.S. Government cannot accept an industry response to form a binding contract. The U.S. Government intends to use any information submitted in response to this request to develop an acquisition strategy for future requirements of this item.

To be eligible for contracts with the U.S. Government, Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract resulting from a planned solicitation for these items. Contractors may obtain information on SAM registration by visiting: https://www.acquisition.gov. All interested companies are highly encouraged to get registered in SAM immediately.  The U.S. Government will hold all information submitted in a confidential status.

All submissions are requested electronically no later than 15 May 2026 in order to be considered in the development of the acquisition strategy for these items.  Send all responses to Ms. Aly Bigham at alyson.m.bigham.civ@army.mil, Ms. Caitlyn Smith at caitlyn.l.smith3.civ@army.mil, and Ms. Emily Kundel at emily.a.kundel.civ@army.mil.  Responses to this sources sought announcement should reference in the subject: Sources Sought Response for the W519TC-26 NB032-MD65-MD66 Impulse Cartridge.

Points of Contact:

Aly Bigham, Contract Specialist

Phone: (520) 692-4171

Email: alyson.m.bigham.civ@army.mil  

Army Contracting Command – Rock Island

Rock Island, IL 61299-8000

Caitlyn Smith, Contract Specialist

Phone: (520) 693-0085

Email: caitlyn.l.smith3.civ@army.mil

Army Contracting Command – Rock Island

Rock Island, IL 61299-8000

Emily Kundel, Contracting Officer

Phone: (571) 588-8585

Email: emily.a.kundel.civ@army.mil

Army Contracting Command – Rock Island

Rock Island, IL 61299-8000