Introduction

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armament Center is the primary research and development arm for armaments and munitions, which are used by U.S. service members around the world. The center conducts engineering, research, and development of armament technologies for delivery to the warfighter, with a focus on advanced weapons, ammunition, fire control and associated items.

The DEVCOM Armament Center has recently issued a solicitation for an omnibus contract that will provide research and development engineering and support services in the areas of weapons development, cannon development, system testing, diagnostics, and netcentric support. The solicitation number is W15QKN23X0ULS, the duration of the term is TBD, and the estimated value is $217 million.

This article will provide an overview of the historical background, RFP description, who should participate, and the challenges of this opportunity. It will also explain why GDI Consulting is the best partner to help you win this contract.

Historical Background

The DEVCOM Armament Center has a long history of providing innovative solutions for armaments and munitions. The center was established in 1992 as the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), which was a consolidation of several previous organizations that had been involved in armament research since World War II.

Since then, the center has been involved in numerous projects and programs that have enhanced the lethality, survivability, and effectiveness of U.S. forces. Some of the notable achievements include:

  • Developing the M777 lightweight 155mm howitzer, which reduced the weight by 42% compared to its predecessor.
  • Developing the XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System, which provided a precision airburst capability for engaging targets behind cover.
  • Developing the XM1156 Precision Guidance Kit, which improved the accuracy and reliability of conventional artillery projectiles.
  • Developing the XM982 Excalibur guided artillery projectile, which provided a near-precision capability for long-range fires.
  • Developing the XM1113 Rocket-Assisted Projectile, which extended the range of 155mm artillery by 40%.
  • Developing the XM1299 Extended Range Cannon Artillery system, which increased the range of 155mm artillery by 100%.
  • Developing the XM1158 Advanced Armor Piercing round, which improved the penetration performance of tank ammunition.
  • Developing the XM1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose round, which provided a single round solution for multiple target types.
  • Developing the XM913 50mm cannon, which increased the firepower and lethality of infantry fighting vehicles.
  • Developing the XM806 Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun, which reduced the weight by 40% compared to its predecessor.
  • Developing the XM25 Grenade Launcher Module, which provided a semi-automatic grenade launcher capability for individual soldiers.
  • Developing the M109A7 Paladin Integrated Management program, which upgraded and modernized the self-propelled howitzer fleet.
  • Developing the M992A3 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle program, which improved the mobility and survivability of ammunition resupply vehicles.

The DEVCOM Armament Center has also been involved in several omnibus contracts that have provided research and development engineering and support services for various armament systems. Some of these contracts include:

  • The Armament Research Development Engineering Support Services (ARDESS) contract, which was awarded in 2009 to six contractors for a total value of $500 million over five years. The contract covered services such as systems engineering, test and evaluation, modeling and simulation, software engineering, logistics support, quality assurance, configuration management, data management, and technical writing.
  • The Weapons Systems Engineering Support Services (WSESS) contract, which was awarded in 2015 to four contractors for a total value of $900 million over five years. The contract covered services such as systems engineering, design analysis, integration support, test support, logistics support, quality assurance, configuration management, data management, and technical writing.
  • The Weapons Systems Engineering Support Services II (WSESS II) contract, which was awarded in 2020 to four contractors for a total value of $1.2 billion over five years. The contract covered services such as systems engineering, design analysis, integration support, test support, logistics support, quality assurance, configuration management, data management, and technical writing.

RFP Description

The current solicitation for an omnibus contract is a follow-on to the WSESS II contract. The solicitation aims to provide research and development engineering and support services in the areas of weapons development, cannon development, system testing, diagnostics, and netcentric support for the DEVCOM Armament Center.

The solicitation is divided into five functional areas, each with its own statement of work and evaluation criteria. The functional areas are:

  • Functional Area 1: Weapons Development. This area covers services such as design, development, integration, testing, and evaluation of armament systems and components, including small arms, medium caliber weapons, large caliber weapons, indirect fire weapons, and advanced weapons concepts.
  • Functional Area 2: Cannon Development. This area covers services such as design, development, integration, testing, and evaluation of cannon systems and components, including barrels, breeches, recoil mechanisms, mounts, and ammunition handling systems.
  • Functional Area 3: System Testing. This area covers services such as planning, conducting, analyzing, and reporting of test activities for armament systems and components, including laboratory tests, field tests, live fire tests, environmental tests, and reliability tests.
  • Functional Area 4: Diagnostics. This area covers services such as development and application of diagnostic tools and techniques for armament systems and components, including sensors, data acquisition systems, data analysis methods, and data visualization tools.
  • Functional Area 5: Netcentric Support. This area covers services such as development and integration of netcentric capabilities for armament systems and components, including communication systems, fire control systems, network architectures, data standards, and cyber security measures.

The solicitation is expected to result in multiple award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts with a base period of five years and an option period of five years. The total value of the contracts is estimated to be $217 million.

The solicitation is open to all qualified offerors who can demonstrate their technical capabilities and past performance in the relevant functional areas. The solicitation is expected to be released in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023.

Who Should Participate

The omnibus contract for research and development engineering and support services for the DEVCOM Armament Center is a great opportunity for companies that have experience and expertise in the areas of weapons development, cannon development, system testing, diagnostics, and netcentric support.

The contract will provide a steady stream of task orders for various armament systems and components that are critical for the U.S. Army’s modernization priorities. The contract will also provide access to the DEVCOM Armament Center’s facilities, resources, and personnel, which are among the best in the world for armament research and development.

The contract will require offerors to demonstrate their technical capabilities and past performance in the relevant functional areas. Offerors will also need to show their understanding of the DEVCOM Armament Center’s mission, vision, and objectives, as well as their ability to work collaboratively with the center’s staff and other contractors.

The contract will be highly competitive, as there are many established players in the armament industry that have previous experience with similar omnibus contracts. Offerors will need to differentiate themselves from their competitors by highlighting their unique strengths, innovations, and value propositions.

The Challenges

The omnibus contract for research and development engineering and support services for the DEVCOM Armament Center poses several challenges for potential offerors. Some of these challenges include:

  • Understanding the requirements. The solicitation will contain detailed statements of work for each functional area that will specify the scope, objectives, deliverables, and performance standards for the services. Offerors will need to thoroughly review the requirements and ensure that they can meet or exceed them with their proposed solutions.
  • Developing a winning strategy. The solicitation will use a best value trade-off approach to evaluate the proposals based on technical factors, past performance, and price. Offerors will need to develop a winning strategy that will balance these factors and demonstrate their superior value to the government.
  • Writing a compelling proposal. The solicitation will require offerors to submit a comprehensive proposal that will address all aspects of the requirements and evaluation criteria. Offerors will need to write a compelling proposal that will showcase their technical capabilities, past performance, and price in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.
  • Managing the proposal process. The solicitation will have a tight schedule and strict guidelines for submitting the proposal. Offerors will need to manage the proposal process effectively by allocating sufficient time, resources, and personnel to complete all tasks on time and with high quality.

Conclusion

The omnibus contract for research and development engineering and support services for the DEVCOM Armament Center is a lucrative opportunity for companies that have experience and expertise in the areas of weapons development, cannon development, system testing, diagnostics, and netcentric support.

However, the opportunity also comes with significant challenges that require careful planning, preparation, and execution. Offerors will need to understand the requirements, develop a winning strategy, write a compelling proposal, and manage the proposal process efficiently.

To overcome these challenges and increase their chances of winning this contract, offerors should partner with GDI Consulting, the leading provider of proposal writing and consulting services for government