U.S. ARMY SOLDIER SYSTEMS COMMAND, ACQUISITION DIRECTORATE, ATTN AMSSC-AD, NATICK MA 01760-5011

A -- BLAST PROTECTIVE COMBAT BOOT SOL 032&&&-9707-0006 POC Jay F. Britton (508)233-4018 (Site Code DAAK60) The U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command (U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center) intends to negotiate and award a contract with R0-search, Inc., Post Office Box 188, Waynesville, North Carolina 28786 on the basis of FAR 6.302-1, (Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements) by other than full and open competition. The Government intends to negotiate with Ro-search to procure Blast Protective Combat Boots as they are the only responsible source available. Antipersonnel mines are a prevalent threat on today's battlefields. As a result, soldiers engaged in operations where blast type antipersonnel mines cause casualties through an explosive blast effect, will require blast protective footwear to minimize leg and foot injuries. Ro-Search is an established footwear manufacturer with unique capabilities for designing and producing blast resistant footwear. The company has manufactured blast resistant footwear utilizing a honeycomb metal deflective device, fabric composites, and rubber components that are designed to deflect and absorb an explosive blast. Specifically, the Blast Protective Combat Boots integrate the upper section from the standard issue Combat Boot and the blast resistant sole components from the Blast Overboots which were manufactured by Ro-Search. The company has documented procedures to ensure compliance of the unique blast resistant materials/design, specialized blast footwear equipment/molds, and trained personnel capable of fabricating quality footwear. Through previous blast footwear contracts, the company has demonstrated its ability to meet the requirements as scheduled. No solicitation document is available. See Note (0248)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0006 19970909\A-0006.SOL)