SOLICITATION NOTICE
42 -- RFI: Commercial off the shelf (COTS) or modified-COTS components for fire resistant extreme cold weather (FR-ECW) wear
- Notice Date
- 8/7/2009
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 314999
— All Other Miscellaneous Textile Product Mills
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, ASC - Aeronautical Systems Center, 2275 D Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, 45433-7218
- ZIP Code
- 45433-7218
- Solicitation Number
- 648AESS-TAC-09-02
- Archive Date
- 9/22/2009
- Point of Contact
- Arthur B Beasley, Phone: 937-255-2198
- E-Mail Address
-
arthur.beasley@wpafb.af.mil
(arthur.beasley@wpafb.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICITATION ISSUANCE. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. Any formal solicitations will be announced separately. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information provided in response to this RFI. 1. PURPOSE/GENERAL INFORMATION: The 77th Aeronautical Systems Group at Brooks City-Base, TX is seeking information from sources that are capable of providing commercial off the shelf (COTS) or modified-COTS components for fire resistant extreme cold weather (FR-ECW) wear. The purpose of collecting this information is preparation for an FR-ECW industry day that will take place on 18-19 November 2009. No end item products will be evaluated at this time and and material samples are not requested. AF is looking for expressions of interest and capability statements. Only Berry compliant materials/capabilities or Berry waivered materials and information should be submitted. 2. BACKGROUND/DESCRIPTION: The Fire Resistant Air Force Equipment (FIRESAFE) project team, Brooks City-Base, TX is an integrated product team within the 77th Aeronautical Systems Group with responsibility for the design, development and test and sustainment of AF fire resistant equipment. FIRESAFE is conducting market research seeking information from Industry on end products that can be integrated into existing fire resistant equipment to provide FR-ECW protection for users. The goal is to provide the user with versatile environmental protection and fire resistance that will be used with existing fire resistant AF equipment which will expand the operating range and effectiveness of cold weather gear. The FR-ECW system will include a parka with removable liner, outer pants, gloves, balaclava, and a boot/sock system to be worn over current fire resistant equipment. It is understood that the entire FR-ECW system will likely not be provided by one source. 3. RESPONSE GUIDANCE: Please provide a white paper describing your capabilities and your product's extreme cold weather and fire resistance performance attributes. Please include technical data sheets for each item and any additional supporting documentation as applicable, along with pricing data and a sample production schedule. If responding with a Berry waived material, please supply the waiver documentation. Description of cost trade-offs would be helpful. The paper should not exceed 10 pages (not to include waiver information or technical data sheets). Parties interested in attending or in more information regarding the 18-19 November 2009 industry day should indicate so in their RFI response. Key factors for end items are: Outershell materials, with the exception of gloves and boots should have the capability of being printed with the Air Force digitized tiger stripe (AFDTS). All AFDTS prints should be a close match to the current shade standard which is printed on 50/50 Nylon/Cotton twill. Spectral reflectance will be relevant in final determination of fabric use. All materials, with the exception of boots, should be launderable. All other components that are visible (including linings) will be preferred in AF Sage Green 1641 (comparable to Army's foliage green). All material components should be inherently fire resistant and be no melt/no drip. Items to be considered for a FR-ECW Parka should be both highly water/wind resistant and fire resistant. Parka should have removable fleece lining (attached to parka with slide fastener). When worn with lining and current Airmen Battle System, Ground (ABS-G) the parka will provide maximum warmth and have a temperature rating of at least -30F for up to ten hours with minimal activity. Ideally, the parka will have several large pockets that can be easily accessed while wearing extreme cold weather gloves. The parka should have breathability attributes that will provide comfort and allow moisture to escape, preventing the insulating material from getting wet from sweat and lead to a faster drying time if it does become wet. The parka should allow for a full range of motion and balance bulk and functionality. The parka will be worn over the Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) and be compatible with gear to include a rifle or crew served weapon (CWS). Items to be considered for FR-ECW Pants should be both highly water/wind resistant and fire resistant. When worn with the current Airmen Battle System, Ground (ABS-G) the pants will provide maximum warmth and have a temperature rating of at least -30F for up to ten hours with minimal activity. Ideally, the pants will have several large pockets that can be easily accessed while wearing extreme cold weather gloves. The pants should have breathability attributes that will provide comfort and allow moisture to escape, preventing the insulating material from getting wet from sweat and lead to a faster drying time if it does become wet. The pants should allow for a full range of motion and balance bulk and functionality. The pants will be worn over the boots. Items to be considered for FR-ECW Gloves should be both water/wind resistant and fire resistant. The gloves will provide maximum warmth and have a temperature rating of at least -30F when worn for up to ten hours with minimal activity. The gloves should have breathability attributes that will provide comfort and allow moisture to escape, preventing the insulating material from getting wet from sweat and lead to a faster drying time if it does become wet. The gloves should allow for a full range of motion and balance bulk and functionality. Items to be considered for a FR-ECW Balaclava should be both water/wind resistant and fire resistant. The balaclava will provide maximum warmth and have a temperature rating of at least -30F when worn for up to ten hours with minimal activity. The balaclava should have breathability attributes that will provide comfort and allow moisture to escape. The balaclava should allow for a full range of motion and balance bulk and functionality. The balaclava should have anti-microbial properties, ideally with at least 99% bacteria reduction. Items to be considered for FR-ECW Boots/socks should be both water/wind resistant and fire resistant. The boot/sock system should provide maximum warmth and have a temperature rating of at least -30F when worn for up to ten hours with minimal activity. The boot/sock system should have breathability attributes that will provide comfort and allow moisture to escape. The boot/sock system should have anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties, ideally with at least 99% bacteria/fungi reduction. Please provide the following (or similar) technical information for all applicable items, if available: - Thermal Insulation (clo) - Moisture Vapor Transport Rate (ASTM E 96 preferred) - Hydrostatic Resistance (ASTM D 751 preferred) - Liquid Penetration Resistance Before and After launderings (ASTM F 903, Fuel C, preferred, and AATCC 135, 1, III, Aii) - Water Spray Rating Before and After 5 launderings (AATCC 22 and AATCC 135, 1, III, Aii preferred) - Air Permeability (AATCC 73 preferred) - Abrasion Resistance (ASTM D 3884 preferred) - Pilling Resistance on face (ASTM D 3512 preferred) - Compressed Volume or similar - Static Dissipation (ASTM 5931 preferred) - Vertical flame test, after flame, after glow (ASTM D 6413) - Melt/drip characteristics - Instrumented manikin test data (ASTM F 1930) - Anti-microbial/anti-fungal properties Other material factors not required but of interest are: - POL Contamination Resistance - Anti- Stat Respondents should also include a description of their background/experience, and any other information that the respondent believes demonstrates the value, performance, capabilities, and interest in the 18-19 November 2009 industry day. As papers are received and reviewed, additional materials, and/or information may be requested for inclusion in the market survey. Please submit responses by 07 Sep 2009 to point of contact identified in para. 5. Telephonic responses will not be accepted. This RFI is solely for information and does not constitute a solicitation or the issuance thereof. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Any information or samples submitted will not be returned, and no payment will be made by the government for such information. Please see paragraph 5 for POCs. This notice is for market survey only. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document exists. 4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A. What is your business size? If you are a small business, do you also qualify under any of the sub-categories (8(a), small disadvantaged business, woman owned small business, veteran owned small business, HUB zone small business, service disabled veteran owned small business, and HBCU/MI)? B. If you are a small business, would you consider submitting a proposal as a prime contractor? C. In what socio-economic programs do you now participate? (E.g. Mentor, Protégé, Indian Incentive, etc.) What is the extent of your participation in these programs? D. For small business consideration, would your firm be able to compete under NAICS 314999? If not, why? Please provide your recommendations concerning the proposed NAICS. E. Should it be determined that a total set-aside for 8(a) small business or other small business subcategories is not feasible, the AFOU requires feedback on small business goals pertaining to large business. Please provide your thoughts on whether the following subcontracting goals, calculated on the basis of total subcontracting dollars, would be realistic: -Small Business 37% -Small Disadvantaged Business 5% -Woman Owned Small Business 5% -Hubzone Small Business 5% -Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business 3% -Veteran Owned Small Business 3% 5. POINT OF CONTACT: POCs for this request are Capt Jiajia Lee (210) 536-8614, Email: Jiajia.Lee@brooks.af.mil or Arthur Beasley (937) 255-2198, Email: Arthur.Beasley@wpafb.af.mil. Annotate on the subject line of the emailed response as "FR-ECW for the FIRESAFE Program RFI Response".
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/ASC/648AESS-TAC-09-02/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 77 AESG/TAC, 1901 10th Street, Bkdg 63, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, 45433-7249, United States
- Zip Code: 45433-7249
- Zip Code: 45433-7249
- Record
- SN01903711-W 20090809/090808000638-9b0721959a547cbc02c70e32a71d7d72 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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