83 -- WATERPROOF, BREATHABLE FABRICS FOR COLD AND WET WEATHER GARMENTS

Notice Date

October 6, 2000

Contracting Office

U.S. Army Materiel Command, Natick Contracting Division, Attn: AMSSB-ACN, Natick, MA 01760-5011

ZIP Code

01760-5011

Solicitation Number

N/A

Response Due

October 25, 2000

Point of Contact

Neil Smedstad 508-233-4032

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact Mr. Smedstad via email (Neil.Smedstad@natick.army.mil)

Description

The U. S. Army Soldier & Biological Chemical Command, Soldier Systems Center is conducting market research to identify potential commercial sources for waterproof breathable fabrics for potential use in rain suits and extended cold weather clothing systems. The fabrics must meet the following requirements: The basic specification is MIL-PRF-31011A with the following changes. The government is seeking fabrics that are more robust than Type II and less robust than Type III. More robust is defined as less durable than Type III (ECWCS) and more durable than Type II (IRS), while retaining a suitable waterproofness and breathability to provide comfort to the soldier and acceptability of the garments by the soldier. All other requirements of MIL-PRF-31011A remain unchanged. The program goals are to replace the current rain suit fabric with a fabric that will meet the goals of 85% of the Army's wet, cold wet, and basic cold requirements and reserve the Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) for those extreme cold weather environments remaining. Interested sources are required to respond to this Sources Sought Market Research no later than October 25, 2000 with information on their product(s). No solicitation document is available. Firms should submit cost information on each product, item(s) literature, and a sample of each item is desired. If a firm chooses to submit a sample, the Government will make no payment for such samples. Because U. S. Federal Law (specifically, the Berry Amendment) prohibits the Department of Defense from spending any part of any appropriation over the Simplified Acquisition threshold on any item containing textiles, synthetics, coated fabrics (see DFARS Clause 252.225-7012 at website cited below, interested firms who offer items (and samples) currently produced offshore should also submit a plan of action for transitioning production of the item to the United States if adopted by the U. S. Army. All information submitted shall be considered confidential. Interested firms should indicate in their response whether or not they are a small or large business. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 314999, the size standard for which is 500 employees or less to be considered a small business (formerly the SIC Code). Interested firms should submit the requested information and sample(s) to: U. S. Army Soldier & Biological Chemical Command, ATTN: AMSSB-PM-RST-E(N), Mr. Neil Smedstad, 50 Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5019. See Note 25.

Web Link

Click here to link to the Hill Air Force Base FAR and (http://farsite.hill.af.mil)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001011/83SOL001.HTM (W-280 SN503897)