155mm Modular Artillery for Combat Effectiveness (MACE)
DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEPT OF THE ARMY.AMC.ACC.ACC-CTRS.ACC RI.W6QK ACC-RI-PICATINNY · Response deadline: Fri, 30 Oct 2026
What the government is buying
The U.S. Army is soliciting bids for the 155mm Modular Artillery for Combat Effectiveness (MACE) program. This is a weapons system development or procurement effort managed by Picatinny Arsenal, the Army's center of excellence for armaments and munitions engineering.
The MACE program appears focused on next-generation 155mm artillery capabilities. The 155mm howitzer is the standard NATO artillery caliber for medium and heavy forces, used in systems like the M777 lightweight towed howitzer and various self-propelled artillery platforms. "Modular Artillery" suggests an emphasis on adaptable, component-based design that may support multiple firing platforms or mission profiles.
NAICS code 332993 covers "Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing," which includes artillery shells, bombs, torpedoes, rockets, and other ordnance. This classification indicates the scope involves manufacturing or major modification of large-caliber ammunition and related systems rather than simple integration services.
See the solicitation for precise technical requirements, deliverables, and any development-phase details.
Key facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of the Army · Army Contracting Command · ACC-RI-Picatinny |
| Notice type | Solicitation |
| Solicitation number | W15QKN26R1C5R |
| NAICS | 332993 (Ammunition Manufacturing) |
| Set-aside | None specified |
| Response deadline | October 30, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET |
| Place of performance | Not specified in metadata |
Who can bid
This is an unrestricted solicitation—no specific small business set-aside applies based on the metadata. All responsible sources may submit proposals, including large defense contractors, small businesses of any size standard, and potentially foreign entities meeting U.S. defense trade requirements.
For NAICS 332993, the Small Business Administration size standard is typically 1,000 employees, though bidders should verify the current standard. Small businesses under this threshold may compete directly against larger firms.
Given the technical nature of 155mm artillery systems, successful bidders will likely need:
- Active Secret or higher facility clearance (typical for Army armaments work)
- Experience with MIL-STD-3222 or other munitions safety and quality standards
- DoD-compliant manufacturing (ISO 9001/AS9100 often expected)
- ITAR registration for defense articles and technical data
See the solicitation for any specific qualifications, past performance requirements, or security clearance levels.
How to put together a competitive bid
For ammunition/armaments manufacturing competitions, focus on:
Technical proposal depth. The Army's Picatinny Arsenal evaluates armaments bids rigorously on engineering maturity. Provide detailed manufacturing plans, quality assurance protocols, and any novel modular design approaches that reduce logistics burden or improve field maintainability.
Cost realism. Ordnance programs face intense congressional scrutiny on unit production costs. Support your price with actual manufacturing data, supplier quotes, and learning curve analysis if multi-year production is anticipated.
Past performance alignment. Highlight relevant 155mm or comparable large-caliber programs. Similar Picatinny-managed efforts—EXCALIBUR precision guidance kits, M795 projectile production, or Modular Artillery Charge System (MACS) work—carry particular weight.
Compliance documentation. Prepare your ITAR registration, DDTC agreements, and OPSEC plan early. Army ammunition solicitations often require submission of these with the proposal rather than after award.
Small business positioning. Without a set-aside, consider subcontracting to gain scale or teaming with a large prime if you lack full-spectrum 155mm experience. Conversely, if you hold unique modular artillery intellectual property, emphasize this discriminators.
See the solicitation for evaluation factors—likely best-value tradeoff with technical superiority heavily weighted—and any oral presentation or prototype demonstration requirements.
Next steps
- Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number W15QKN26R1C5R
- Confirm your SAM registration and size status are active and accurate
- Note the deadline: October 30, 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time—allow margin for system submission delays
Contact the contracting office listed in the full solicitation with questions; amendments are common in complex armaments procurements, so monitor SAM.gov for updates.
View the official notice on SAM.gov →