Production of sUAS lethality payloads at Pine Bluff Arsenal for US Army

30 OCT 2026

The response due date is 4:00 PM CST on 14 DEC 2026. Submit responses to this request for partnership solutions to debby.c.broyles.civ@army.mil and heather.b.johns.civ@army.mil with subject line: PSO Response Production of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Lethality Payloads at Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA).

Partnership Solutions Opening – Request for Whitepapers

Agency: Department of War (DoW) / Army Materiel Command (AMC) Notice Type: Partnership Solutions Opening (PSO)

Title: Production of sUAS Lethality Payloads at PBA.

1.0 introduction & authority

The U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) is issuing this request for partnership solutions via white paper submission solely for market research, planning, and concept exploration regarding a potential Public-Private Partnership (P3) under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 7544.

The Government is requesting specific conceptual solutions on how to optimally structure and execute P3 Cooperative Arrangements. The core objective is to leverage private investment to modernize Government facilities to Industry 4.0 and 5.0 automation standards. Industry 4.0 is defined as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is characterized by the "Smart Factory." It aims to create highly efficient, autonomous production lines by integrating cyber-physical systems with the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing. Industry 5.0 is not meant to replace Industry 4.0 but to refine it. It recognizes that pure automation can overlook human creativity and environmental impact. It places the well-being of the worker and the planet at the center of the industrial process. This modernization will enable authorized co-production and facility-use activities that mutually benefit the Government's national security mission and the private partner's commercial enterprise.

Disclaimer: This PSO does not constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP), nor is it a procurement action governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The Government is not obligated to enter into any cooperative arrangement or agreement because of this PSO and will not reimburse respondents for any costs associated with submitting a response.

2.0 problem statement

PBA is requesting a commercial partnership to support the development and production of lethal energetic payloads for sUAS and Electronic Safe & Arming Devices (ESAD). These efforts include scaling low-cost, modernized sUAS lethality and energetic payload manufacturing. PBA intends for flexible production lines with ability to accommodate modular manufacturing capabilities for differing explosives, varying payload sizes, explosive safe and arming devices, energetic airframes, etc.

PBA can provide both logistical and facility support, including approximately 100,000 square feet of storage and production capacity. The government has various 1 or 2 story buildings available in area 34-000 ranging in size from 396 sq ft to 13,551 sq ft with various existing capabilities to include electricity, water, air sewer, Natural Gas, and/or steam. Additional building details provided in Attachment 1.

The production facilities were constructed in 1941-42 for the war effort to handle highly volatile chemical, pyrotechnic, and incendiary compounds. Structurally and architecturally, these buildings reflect a combination of standardized strict hazard segmentation, and fortified safety engineering. Buildings are constructed with heavy, reinforced concrete interior blast walls and thick foundations, but with deliberately weak, lightweight exterior walls and roofs.

PBA can provide the following support:

• Direct labor

• Engineering

• Base operations

• Logistical support

• Environmental and safety support, including leveraging PBA's existing Explosive Site Safety Plans to expedite the mandatory joint site-licensing updates required for the partner's specific energetic footprint and, as applicable, for any non-Department of Defense owned toxic or hazardous materials, supporting Government coordination and processing of a 10 U.S.C. 2692 exception request; the contractor remains responsible for providing the technical, environmental, safety, and operational information required to support that request.

• Utilities: Existing utility systems vary by facility as shown in Attachment 1. The contractor is responsible for any necessary capital investments required to utilize these utilities, including the procurement and installation of utility meters, sub-meters, service hookups, and distribution lines.

3.0 financial & investment requirements (capital expenditures)

To accelerate modernization without requiring upfront Government funding, the selected industry partner(s) must meet the following financial parameters:

Private Equity Financed Capital Expenditures (CapEx): An industry partner(s) must utilize private equity or internal corporate capital to fund 100% of the modernization CapEx for the targeted building(s).

Scope of CapEx: This investment must cover all necessary facility upgrades,…