Lightweight Machine

Gun-Medium (LMG-M)

March 2021

Purpose

SOFWERX, in concert with USSOCOM PEO-SOF Warrior (PEO-SW), will host a series of events to identify manufacturers for the Lightweight Machine Gun-Medium (LMG-M) and the .338 ammunition.

Why You Should Participate
USSOCOM seeks to enter into non-FAR or FAR agreements with potential offerors whose solutions are favorably evaluated by USSOCOM PEO-SW subject matter experts. As such, the follow-on events are considered competitive in the same manner as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) or Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), and solutions will be evaluated independently of one another primarily for technical merit. This serves dually as notification of the intent to research the feasibility of an agreement under 10 U. S. Code, Section 2371b and/or Section 2371b(f), and as notice of pre-solicitation activities IAW FAR 5.204.

Event Overview

Completed Phase 1 – 19 January 2021 to 11 February 2021 Request to Attend Virtual Industry Day: Interested respondents who desire to participate are encouraged to request to attend per the instructions below NLT 11 February. Notifications regarding attendance at the virtual event will be sent o/a 12 February.

Completed Phase 2 – 18 February 2021 Virtual Industry Day: SOFWERX will conduct a Virtual Industry Day focused on the new ammunition for the future LMG-M. During this event, Warfighters and Program Managers will interact and inform Machine Gun Industry partners to further communicate ammunition specifications and/or desirements. Industry is encouraged to provide feedback during the event. Potential offerors will also be afforded an opportunity to have a one-on-one discussion with the Government Stakeholders.

18 February Tentative Agenda
0900–0910: SOFWERX Welcome
0910–1000: Stakeholder Welcome Remarks, Introductions, & Overview
1000–1015: Break for Questions via Slido
1015–1100: USSOCOM Answers Questions Aloud
1100–1115: Wrap Up Group Session
1115–1130: Government Only Discussion
1130–1300: Lunch
1300–1700: One-on-One Breakout Sessions
1700–1715: Government Only Session

Phase 3 – March 2021 Submissions Open for Ammunition Manufacturer: Interested respondents who could potentially provide solutions that meet the needs of the Government Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their solutions per the instructions below, which will be posted o/a mid to late March 2021.

Phase 4 – April 2021 Downselects: USSOCOM will downselect those respondents/submissions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their technology needs. Companies with favorably evaluated submissions will receive an invitation o/a April 2021.

Phase 5 – June 2021 Contracts Awarded/Follow-On Production for Ammunition Manufacturer: The successfully negotiated .338 Ammunition contract award will be the following:

BASIS FOR CONTRACT AWARD: The requirement will be evaluated using the Lowest Priced, Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection method. LPTA is a simplified best value strategy that permits award to the lowest priced proposal that is acceptable in the technical requirements, and otherwise conforms to all other solicitation requirements. Only those offerors determined technically acceptable with prices that are fair, reasonable, and balanced, will be considered for award. The Government will award a single award contract to the contractor whose written response is technically acceptable and the lowest price. Tradeoffs are not permitted and no evaluation credit is given to aspects of an offeror’s proposal that exceed acceptability standards. This acquisition will result in a firm fixed price contract. The Government intends to list the proposals by price and only evaluate the three lowest priced proposals for this requirement, in addition to any proposals within 10% of the average of the two (2) lowest priced proposals. Offerors outside the evaluation pool will not be evaluated, unless necessary to obtain the desired effective competition of two (2) technically acceptable offers.

Phase 6 – June 2021 to November 2021 Ammunition Production: The selected ammunition manufacturer will produce a specified quantity (TBD) of ammunition NLT November 2021.

Phase 7 – June 2021 Submissions Open for LMG-M Manufacturer: Interested respondents who could potentially provide solutions that meet the needs of the Government Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their solutions per the instructions below, which will be posted o/a June 2021.

Phase 8 – November 2021 Downselects: USSOCOM will downselect those respondents/submissions they feel have the highest potential to satisfy their capability needs. Companies with favorably evaluated submissions will receive an invitation o/a TBD.

Phase 9 – June 2022 LMG-M Weapon Assessment Event (AE): During the event, invited participants will be allotted a one-on-one session with the Government evaluation panel to pitch, demonstrate, and/or discuss their solutions. The forum will include a Q&A portion and discussions may continue outside of the event to determine who (if anyone) proceeds to Phase 10 follow-on efforts.

Phase 10 – July 2022 to September 2022 Contracts Awarded/Follow-On Production (FAR-based or OTA): Selected Vendor produces 10x Weapons ISO DT/OT. The successfully negotiated award will be the following:

Other Transaction Agreements under 10 U.S. Code, Section 2371 or 2371b* (prototyping/production follow-on) *An award under 10 U. S. Code, Section 2371b may result in the further award of a follow-on production agreement without additional competition based on successful prototype completion. The Government may make this follow-on production award even if all successful prototype criteria are not fully met during the prototype project.

Phase 11 – September 2022 to January 2023 Developmental Testing: The selected LMG-M manufacturer will be afforded the opportunity to participate in development testing of their LMG-M capability to the USSOCOM evaluation panel at TBD (location).

Resources
1. 18 February Industry Day Q&A Transcript: Click Here to Review
2. 18 February Industry Day USSOCOM Overview Brief: Click Here Review

Questions?

For event-related questions, please contact Kinsey Crim, kinsey.crim@sofwerx.org
For technical questions, please contact Greg Metty, gregory.metty@socom.mil