M548 Metal Ammunition Containers Bridge Contract

The Government intends to award a 12 month bridge contract to Conco, Inc., under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This action is for the production and delivery of approximately 9,000 M548 Metal Ammunition Containers, a critical packaging component for small and medium caliber ammunition used in training and combat operations.

The bridge contract is necessary to ensure continued production and delivery of these containers until the anticipated follow-on contract is fully implemented. The proposed contract will be a firm-fixed-price 12 month bridge contract that mirrors the scope of work previously performed under the expired Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract W52P1J-20-D-0033 with Conco, Inc. The estimated value of this effort is $616,964.60.

The follow-on M548 Metal Ammunition Containers contract was awarded on September 25, 2025, with First Article Testing (FAT) due by June 23, 2026, and deliveries commencing in September 2026. However, immediate container deliveries are required in November 2025, January 2026, and April 2026. Extensive market research conducted on February 22, 2024, identified other potential vendors, but only Conco, Inc. can meet November 2025, January 2026, and April 2026 delivery timelines without unacceptable delays.

Other vendors would require FAT and tooling modifications, resulting in a minimum delivery timeline of 12 months. Given Conco, Inc's long history of successful M548 Metal Ammunition Containers production and the Government's agreement to waive FAT due to historically low risk of failure, it is determined that posting an additional Request for Information (RFI) or sources sought notice would not benefit the Government and would duplicate previous efforts.