About this archived opportunity

AMENDMENT 0001 This amendment is hereby issued to attach all answers to questions posed. Due date for white papers remains unchanged. PROBLEM STATEMENT USSOCOM through NSWC Crane is seeking a light weight, man portable, belt-fed weapon chambered in 5.56x45mm to act as the life cycle replacement for the aging MK46 series of weapons. The goal is to replace the weapon while integrating advancements in material, manufacturing, and technology to provide the operators with a technically superior weapon. This weapon system will allow an operator to effectively shoot, maneuver, and lay down suppressive fire. Improved recoil of the weapon system will allow the operator to effectively engage targets at all distance within its effective range. The system will be interoperable with USSOCOM’s suite of Visual Augmentation Systems and Weapon Accessories (VASWA). PROPOSED SOLUTION A successful solution will be contingent on the completion of a virtual pitch day, Limited Safety, User Evaluation, Product Verification Testing (PVT), and Operational Testing (OT). Some of the technical attributes are listed below. A solution brief’s Technical Merit and Relevance will be based on the ability to meet the primary attributes and the cumulative evaluation of the secondary solution attributes/capabilities: Primary Attributes (KPP): The FAMG maximum weight with standard rail interface, carry handle, bipod attached, buttstock, and barrel shall be less than or equal to 11.5 lbs with a goal weight of 10 lbs. Sights and other accessories will not be included in the weight requirement. The FAMG shall have a maximum length of 39 inches, with a goal of reducing to 35 inches. Measurement will be taken with buttstock collapsed (not folded), to the muzzle device. The FAMG safety selector shall have firing mode of Safe/Automatic preferred, or Safe/Automatic/Semi-Automatic is acceptable. The FAMG shall have a Class I Mean Round Between Stoppages (MRBS) of 1,400 rounds, with a goal of increasing that to 2,000+ rounds. The FAMG shall have a Class I Mean Round Between Essential Function Failure (MRBF) of no less than 1,800 rounds. The FAMG shall have a Class II or III Mean Round Between Essential Function Failure (MRBF) of no less than 15,000 rounds. The FAMG shall have an effective range of no less than 500m for area targets. Secondary Attributes (KSA): The FAMG should have a single-shot dispersion Average Extreme Spread (AES) not to exceed 10 Minute Of Angle (MOA) at 100m. The FAMG should have a burst dispersion Average Extreme Spread (AES) not to exceed 11 MOA at 100m. The FAMG should have zero stoppages when weapon and ammunition are exposed to extreme temperatures ranging from -20°F to +165°F upon completion of TOP 3-2-045 Extreme Temperatures. The FAMG should be capable of safely firing 5.56x45mm linked ammunition DODICS, and 5.56mmx45 high pressure ammunition. The FAMG should have a quick-change barrel with the ability to swap the barrel in 30 seconds or less. Manual of arms and barrel changes should not be significantly impeded by DVO-clip-on interface manipulation (T), should not be impeded (O). The FAMG should have 15 inches of total MIL-STD 1913 picatinny rail at the 12 o’clock position (T). The FAMG should have 7 inches of total MIL-STD 1913 picatinny rail at the 6 o’clock position (T). The FAMG should have no less than 4 useable M-LOK slots at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions of the handguard to allow for mounting of enablers and accessories (O). The FAMG should be capable of functioning with MAS Optics, Clip-on night vision devices, aiming lasers, and/or fire control systems in accordance with appropriate eye relief standards (T). The FAMG should demonstrate in Developmental Testing 100,000 mean round receiver life (T), 200,000 (O). The FAMG should demonstrate in Developmental Testing 15,000 mean round barrel life (T), 20,000 (O). The FAMG recoil impulse should be sufficiently low as to facilitate effective employment of the FAMG to its max effective range day or night (T). The FAMG bipod should be capable of being rapidly deployed and stowed, adjustable for height and stable enough to permit delivery of the firing rate throughout the effective range. Bipod should lock upon loading to eliminate pan and tilt (T). FAMG should be supplied with a training conversion kit to utilize the suite of 5.56mm training munitions (T). The FAMG should be capable of functioning while pulling the equivalent weight of 100 linked rounds of the selected caliber cartridge weight. The FAMG should include an ammunition storage mounting point (equivalent to MK46) and ammunition storage system that can secure a minimum of 100 linked 5.56mm rounds. The FAMG should have a minimum cyclic rate of 400 rpm and a maximum cyclic rate of 650 rpm. The FAMG should support left-hand feeding of belted ammunition. The FAMG receiver should display identification markings addressing weapon nomenclature and serial number. The FAMG should not present a safety hazard to the operator