HSC/YAK, 8107 13th St, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5218

84 -- COMMERCIAL OFF-THE-SHELF (COTS) SECONDARY RESTRAINT DEVICE FOR THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ANTI-G SUIT DUE 060697 POC Ms. Susie Madrid, Contract Specialist, HSC/YAK, (210) 536-6337 The Life Support Division at the Human Systems Program Office, Brooks AFB, TX is contemplating the acquisition of a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) device to use as a secondary restraint for a lower body pressure garment (anti-G suit) for wear by aircrews of high performance aircraft. This announcement is not a formal solicitation and is not a request for proposal. Any formal solicitation will be announced separately. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The intended operating environment for the anti-G suit is in high performance aircraft such as the F-15, F-16, and F-22. The anti-G suit pressurizes up to 12 psig under the effects of high positive acceleration (G) in the Z axis to prevent vascular pooling of blood in the lower body. The suit consists of a continuous bladder contained inside layers of fabric. The primary restraints for the pressurized bladder are full length zippers which run from the upper thigh to ankle level on the inside of each leg. The purpose of the secondary restraint is to contain the bladder in the event of failure of the primary restraint, since unconstrained expansion of the bladder could result in interference with aircraft flight controls and/or other aircrew functions. The secondary restraint device would be attached to the exterior fabric of the suit. The current design of the suit uses plastic, squeeze-to-release buckles (like those used on backpacks/luggage) as the secondary restraint device, with three buckles on the inside of each leg (two on the thigh, one on the calf). The buckles in the current design attach to the suit with cloth straps underneath the primary restraint zipper. These buckles exhibit most of the required attributes, but do not have sufficient tensile strength. The required attributes of the secondary restraint device (not necessarily a buckle) are as follows: small size (approximately 1" wide by 2 and 1/2" long by 1/4" deep); lightweight (maximum of 180 grams total for the suit); capable of withstanding at least 500 pounds of tension for 15 seconds; will not inadvertently open; durable (will withstand 6000 inflation cycles of the suit to 12 psig); must withstand 3000 connections/disconnections; shelf life of 10 years; must not degrade compatibility with the cockpit or with other aircrew personal equipment; must fit the full range of the male/female aircrew population; must not inhibit aircrew movement in and out of the cockpit; must not inhibit emergency egress from the aircraft; must be ejection compatible (withstand a 600 knot windblast); comfortable for long duration wear; quick/easy to don and doff without assistance; must function without interfering with the pockets on each lower leg; must be non-corrosive; must be capable of field level replacement in 30 minutes or less without requiring the use of special tools; must be launderable; must be decontaminable; and must operate at temperatures of -40 to +125 F after storage between -60 to +160 F at up to 100% humidity.Technical discussions on secondary restraint systems submitted for consideration should include technical specifications, operating instructions, a drawing(s), and test documentation supporting the performance of the item with regard to the desired attributes listed. Information on past or current users of the item (customer list, points of contact and phone numbers) should be presented, along with the application(s) the item was used for. Price information to include current catalog prices should be provided, and should be based on the quantity of secondary restraint devices required to equip 50 suits for testing, as well as production lots to equip 1,000 suits; 2,000 suits; and 5,000 suits. The response time (delivery date) for sufficient devices to equip the 50 test suits should be stated. Written responses and hardware samples, if available, sufficient to equip one anti-G suit are due not later than 3 June 1997. Telephone responses will not be honored. There is no specific format for responses; however, information submitted should be relevant to the contemplated acquisition. Hardware samples submitted to the Government will not be returned. Firms responding should indicate whether they are a small disadvantaged business (SDB), 8(a), small business, or large business. Responses should be addressed to Human Systems Center (HSC/YAK); Attn: Mrs. Susan M. Madrid, 8107 13th Street, Brooks AFB, TX, 78235-5218. (0141)

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