Training Ammunition for 9mm and 5.56

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document provides "Proposal Instructions" for the acquisition of ammunition for the U.S. Secret Service. The contract will cover a base period and four option years.

• Ammunition Types: The solicitation details requirements for various types of ammunition, including:

  • 9MM Blank (UTM compatible)
  • 5.56 Blank (UTM compatible)
  • 5.56 Blank Loud (UTM compatible)
  • 9MM Marking Round (various colors, UTM compatible)
  • 5.56 Marking Round (various colors, UTM compatible)
  • 9MM Non-Marking Round (UTM compatible)
  • 5.56 Non-Marking Round (UTM compatible)

• Associated Items: Also includes requirements for SR conversion bolts, firing pins, and SR Blue 30 Rd Magazines, as well as Glock barrels (blank and marking) for various models.

• Quality Management: Manufacturers must have a Quality Management System in place and provide a current QC/QA process synopsis or a copy of their Quality Manual/ISO certification.

• Product Sample: An initial sample of 1000 rounds of each ammunition type must be submitted for testing.

• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS): Required for all ammunition submitted, detailing non-toxic components and by-products.

• Shell Casing: Must be brass or higher quality, virgin condition.

• Primers & Propellant: Must be newly manufactured within 12 months, and all cartridges within a lot must use the same propellant and primer lot.

• Ammunition Age: Must be no older than two years from the date of manufacture.

• Packing & Marking: Specific requirements for packing, marking (Federal Standard 123), and packing lists are detailed.

• Period of Performance: Base period and four option years.

• Award: Award will be made by Best Value comparison, prioritizing technical criteria, then price, then past performance.

• Number of Awards: Up to two (2) products may be awarded for each CLIN.

• Proposal Submission: Proposals must be submitted in writing, in two sections: Technical Proposal and Price Proposal. Two (2) copies of the technical proposal are required, one with the sample rounds and one with the price proposal.

• Technical Proposal Content: Must include a full description of the ammunition, specifications, performance characteristics, Quality Management System details, QC/QA synopsis, and any commercial warranty offered.

• Testing Criteria: Ammunition will be tested for accuracy (using SAAMI specified test barrels and Universal Receivers) and function in designated weapons. Failure to pass any specification aspect will result in technical unacceptability.

• Not explicitly stated in this document.

• The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to use an outside testing facility at government expense.

• Final inspection, acceptance, and testing will be performed at the James J. Rowley Training Center, Laurel, Maryland.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI is issued by the United States Secret Service (USSS) J. Rowley Training Center for market research and planning purposes regarding Training Ammunition, specifically 9mm and 5.56 caliber. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals or quotations, and no contract will be awarded based on this RFI. The government is seeking information to potentially inform future solicitations.

Respondents are asked to submit capability statements (max 20 pages, excluding cover and company info pages) addressing:

• Relevant Experience: Delivering large quantities of ammunition to federal or similar workforces.
• Quality Management System: Overview of proposed QMS.
• Past Performance: Examples and references (if available).
• Innovative Practices: Any recommendations or innovative practices relevant to the RFI objectives.

Additionally, companies must provide:

• Company Name

• SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

• Contact Information (address, phone, email, website)

• Business Size and socioeconomic designations (if applicable)

• Information on participation in DHS Strategic Sourcing approved vehicles or DHS Joint Ventures.

• Format: Eight by eleven inches (8”x11”), minimum one (1) inch margins, Times New Roman 12pt font (excluding cover page), single or multiple line spacing (1.0-1.5).

• Content: Address the task areas identified. Only one submission per vendor will be reviewed.

• Delivery: Electronic submissions only via email to John.akin@usss.dhs.gov.

• Attachments: Emails with attachments >5MB must be broken down. Hyperlinks are prohibited.

• Subject Line: Reference RFI # 70US0926R70093723.

• Deadline: March 13, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern Time.

• Proprietary Information: Must be clearly marked and segregated.

• Responses may be reviewed by government technical experts and support contractors.

• Information gathered may be used to develop requirements for future acquisitions.

• No marketing material is requested. Phone calls will not be accepted.