SOURCES SOUGHT
84 -- Cold Water Immersion Protection Zipper Performance Requirements
- Notice Date
- 1/20/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 315999
— Other Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing
- 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
- WNUK-12-008-3
- Point of Contact
- Mandy L. Garner, Phone: 9379048573, Ryan Meritt, Phone: 9379048581
- E-Mail Address
-
mandy.garner@wpafb.af.mil, Ryan.Meritt@wpafb.af.mil
(mandy.garner@wpafb.af.mil, Ryan.Meritt@wpafb.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Cold Water Immersion Protection Zipper Performance Requirements Request for Information (RFI): #WNUK-12-008 General Introduction: 1. The Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) Human Systems Division (ASC/WNU) is conducting market research to identify, as potential sources, companies that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to respond to the requirements listed in this document. ASC is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to explore cost effective options to provide this capability. This is an RFI only in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.215-3 - Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997). This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. 2. ASC is not at this time seeking proposals, and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this RFI. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the responding party's expense. 3. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. Small Businesses are encouraged to provide responses to this RFI in order to assist ASC in determining potential levels of competition available in the industry, as well as helping to establish a basis for developing any subsequent potential subcontract plan goal percentages. 4. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor the FedBizOpps site for additional information pertaining to this RFI. 5. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this inquiry. This announcement is not to be construed as a formal solicitation. It does not commit the government to reply to the information received, or to later publish a solicitation, or to award a contract based on this information. Purpose: The intent of this RFI is to gather information from industry in order to gauge the market place, state of technology, and availability of a Cold Water Immersion Protection Zipper (CWIPZ). The CWIPZ is a critical system component and will be integrated into an Environmental Protection Layer (EPL) to support aircrew across multiple missions. Specifically, the EPL shall provide cold-water immersion protection solutions to enable the aircrew to survive exposure for up to six hours in water temperatures down to 32°F (0°C). Cold Water Immersion Protection Zipper (CWIPZ) Performance Requirements: A.) WEIGHT: Shall provide at least 25% reduction in weight to the baseline currently employed in military legacy immersion suits (CWU-86/P, CWU-74/P). B.) BULK: Shall provide at least 25% reduction in cross-sectional profile to the baseline currently employed in military legacy immersion suits (CWU-86/P, CWU-74/P). It should be low profile in nature in order to prevent hot spots/pain/pressure points that could potentially degrade performance of the wearer. C.) BENDING RADIUS: Shall not degrade conformity of garment fit, garment movement, or mobility of wearer by exhibiting a minimum bending radius of 15 mm (0.59 in) when tested IAW ASTM E290, continuous contact procedure. D.) WATERPROOF: Shall exhibit the hydrostatic resistance equivalent to a depth greater than or equal to 10 m (32.8 ft) for a duration of 2 minutes, and 1.5 m (4.9 ft) for a duration of 48 hours. E.) BREAKING STRENGTH: When closed, shall have a cross breaking strength greater than or equal to 100 N/cm (57.2 lbf/in) when tested IAW ASTM D2061. F.) ENDURANCE: Shall show no evidence of damage or failure upon visual inspection subsequent to 1,000 open/close cycles when tested in accordance with A-A-55634. G.) FASTENER ENGAGEMENT: Shall require less than or equal to 60 N (13.5 lbf) to engage when operated unassisted, one handed, either hand when tested IAW ASTM D2062-03. H.) FASTENER DISENGAGEMENT: Shall require less than or equal to 75 N (16.9 lbf) to disengage when operated unassisted, one handed, either hand when tested IAW ASTM D2062-03. I.) FASTENER OPERATING FORCE: Shall have an operating force less than or equal to 25 N (5.6 lbf) when operated unassisted, one handed, either hand when tested IAW ASTM S2062-03. J.) TEMPERATURE: Shall remain structurally intact and meet all performance requirements after being exposed to storage temperatures from -51ºC (-60ºF) to 71ºC (160ºF) and operating temperature from -51ºC (-60ºF) to 52ºC (125ºF). K.) HAZARD: Shall not exhibit any characteristic that could snag or entangle the wearer with aircraft protrusions or feature; or could inadvertently affect flight or other critical equipment controls. L.) MAINTENANCE: Shall not require preventative maintenance for oxidation, galvanic and other corrosion resistance. M.) PROTECTION: Shall provide protection and remain operable after exposure to: 1. Bodily fluids (e.g. sweat and urine) 2. Blowing sand and dust 3. Aviation petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POLs): a. MIL-PRF-83282, Hydraulic Fluid, Petroleum Base, Aircraft Missile and Ordnance b. MIL-PRF-87257, Hydraulic Fluid c. A-A-52557, Fuel Oil, Diesel d. MIL-H-87257, MIL-PRF-5624, Turbine Fuel, Aviation Grades JP-4, JP-5 e. MIL-DTL-83133, Turbine Fuel; Aviation, Kerosene Types, NATO F-34 (JP-8), NATO F-35 f. A-A-52557, Fuel Oil, Diesel g. Aircraft de-icer AMS-1424 4. Aviation corrosion preventative compounds, lubricants, greases: a. MIL-PRF-7808, Lubricating Oil, Aircraft Turbine Engine Synthetic Base, NATO Code 0-148 b. GAU-16 machine gun grease (TW-25B, NSN9150-01-439-0857 or approved equivalent) c. Gun lubricant: MIL-L-19701 5. Aviation cleaners and solvents: a. Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) b. Varsol Naphtha c. Engine Waterwash Solution R-MC-G-21-Premix, (P/N 4070) 6. Other: a. M291Decon Kit, Skin/ M295 Decon Kit, Individual Equipment b. Permethrin [Insecticide] MIL-DTL-44410 (not required for Nomex or Kevlar fabric components c. Ozone Questions: Responses from U.S. and non-U.S. firms will be accepted to this CWIPZ RFI. Responses to questions from interested parties will be promptly answered and posted on this FedBizOps (FBO) website, unless some release of proprietary information is involved or the answer addresses a question specific to a Company or that Company's response. Post submittal, one-on-one information sessions with respondents are not contemplated; however, they may be offered to responders to clarify the government's understanding of their submittal, the capability ramifications, or to discuss their business approach. Information feedback sessions may be offered to respondents after the RFI assessments are completed. AF Points of Contact (POC) for this RFI: Mandy Garner, Contract Negotiator Mandy.Garner@wpafb.af.mil Carl Medeiros, Program Manager Carl.Medeiros@wpafb.af.mil Ryan Meritt, Lead Engineer Ryan.Meritt@wpafb.af.mil Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. All questions will be answered via posting answers to this FBO website; except as provided above. Additionally, questions must NOT contain trade secrets or classified information. The Government reserves the right to not address questions received after 10 Feb 2012. RFI Responses 1. Please provide your RFI responses to Mandy.Garner@wpafb.af.mil and Ryan.Meritt@wpafb.af.mil by 11:59PM EST on 21 Feb 2012. Title e-mail responses in the subject line of the e-mail as follows: "Response to Cold Water Immersion Protection Zipper RFI" 2. Please answer the following questions in your response: a. What tests were conducted to satisfy the listed Performance Requirements? i. Describe US/International standard tests or equivalent tests that were conducted to verify compliance for each requirement. ii. For specific requirement not tested to the specified test procedures, show with convincing and supporting evidence why the requirement will still be compliant. iii. Clearly indicate test results and conclusions. iv. If your product does not meet one or more of the performance requirements, then address to the degree to which your product complies. b. What is your production capability? c. Is the zipper Berry Amendment compliant? 3. Please limit your responses to no more than 25 pages, to include product sheets, answers to the technical questions above, and identify a representative to support further Government inquiries and requests for clarification of the information provided, if needed. Marketing materials are considered an insufficient response to this RFI. 4. Respondents should indicate which portions of their responses are proprietary and should mark them accordingly. All information received in response to this RFI that is properly marked as "proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Proprietary information must be clearly marked on the outside container and on the materials inside. The Government shall not be liable for, or suffer any consequential damages, for any proprietary information not properly identified. Additional Information Responses shall include the following information: 1. Company/Institute name 2. Address 3. Point of Contact 4. Cage Code 5. DUNS Number 6. Phone Number 7. E-mail Address 8. Web page URL 9. Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes 424310, 339993, and 315999. Based on the NAICS Code, state whether your company qualifies as a: a. Small Business (Yes/No) b. Woman Owned Small Business (Yes/No) c. Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes/No) d. 8(a) Certified (Yes/No) e. HUB Zone Certified (Yes/No) f. Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes/No) g. Service Disabled Small Business (Yes/No) h. Central Contractor Registration (Yes/No) i. Statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign owned, please indicate country of ownership). j. For small business consideration, would your firm be able to compete under NAICS 424310, 339993, and 315999? If not, why? Please provide your recommendations concerning the proposed NAICS.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/ASC/WNUK-12-008-3/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02658452-W 20120122/120120234723-daebfd5523a4cc5e41a39ead2d05dcea (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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