The US Army is requesting industry proposals to build a new explosives research and production hub in Kentucky as global conflicts strain munitions supplies and expose shortages.
A sources sought notice outlines plans for a “comprehensive, modern, and efficient ‘Center of Excellence’” at Blue Grass Army Depot to scale up production of key explosives, including Research Department Explosive (RDX) and High Melting Explosive (HMX).
RDX is a cost-effective organic compound commonly used in explosive mixtures, including plastic explosives such as C-4.
HMX, meanwhile, is a derivative of RDX that offers higher detonation pressure, greater thermal stability, and a higher melting point but involves more complex processing and is often produced as a byproduct of RDX production.
The military said that the future infrastructure must be developed at a rapid pace, favoring a centralized campus but remaining open to “distributed or networked concepts.”
The site should also incorporate research labs, pilot-scale operations, full-rate production lines, testing, packaging, and waste treatment.
Part of the complex is a potential pilot facility for next-generation explosives.
Inaugurated by 2031
Contractors must submit design concepts, cost estimates, and pricing models for RDX and HMX over five and 10-year periods without direct government operating funds.
The notice also requires industry partners to outline private investment and whether existing projects can shift to the new site.
The US Army set a mid-April deadline for responses and plans to have the facility reach operational capability before 2031.
Additionally, the military revealed it may pursue a follow-on “sole-source” contract action tied to replenishments for Ukraine, Taiwan, and Israel, as demand surges from conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East while tensions continue in East Asia.
“The objective of this initiative is to establish and retain a domestic or organic campus for additional explosive production capability,” the service said.
“This [Center of Excellence] would serve as a focal point within the organic industrial base using traditional or non-traditional production processes.”
