Pre-Solicitation Notice - ARD-446 & ARD-863 Impulse Cartridges
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of the Air Force (AFLCMC EBHK) has issued a Pre-Solicitation Notice for the anticipated procurement of ARD-446 & ARD-863 Impulse Cartridges. This requirement is for a five-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with a $49 million ceiling. The government anticipates awarding this contract on an other than full and open competition basis to Olin Winchester LLC, citing FAR 6.302-1 due to proprietary technical data. The solicitation is expected to be posted on SAM.gov, with an anticipated response date of April 9, 2026.
Scope of Work
This procurement covers ARD 446-1B & 863-1A1W Impulse Cartridges, identified by NSN 1377014821555 and 1377013692492, respectively. These items fall under Product Service Code (PSC) 1377 (Cartridge And Propellant Actuated Devices And Components) and NAICS 325920 (Explosives Manufacturing).
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)
- Duration: Five (5) years
- Ceiling Value: $49,000,000
- Set-Aside: Other than Full and Open Competition (FAR 6.302-1) with Olin Winchester LLC as the sole responsible source.
- Pre-Solicitation Published: March 16, 2026
- Anticipated Solicitation Response Date: April 9, 2026
- Place of Performance: Nibley, UT
Evaluation
This requirement includes qualification requirements for eligibility for award. While Olin Winchester LLC is identified as the sole responsible source due to owning the technical data package, all responsible sources are invited to submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation for agency consideration. Interested offerors should inquire about qualification requirements with the listed Points of Contact.
Additional Notes
The solicitation will be made available through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) procedures and posted to SAM.gov.
Primary Contact: Ellis Swenson (ellis.swenson@us.af.mil) Secondary Contact: Taylor Dunn (taylor.dunn.6@us.af.mil)