A -- SOURCES SOUGHT FOR ALTERNATIVE INFANTRY HELMET SUSPENSION AND RETENTION SYSTEM

Notice Date

May 8, 2001

Contracting Office

Director, USAMRAA, 820 Chandler St, Fort Detrick, MD 21702-5014

ZIP Code

21702-5014

Response Due

June 4, 2001

Point of Contact

Patricia K. Nelson, Contracting Officer, 301-619-2702, e-mail: patricia.nelson@amedd.army.mil

E-Mail Address

patricia.nelson@amedd.army.mil (joe.mcentire@se.amedd.army.mil)

Description

ALTERNATIVE INFANTRY HELMET SUSPENSION AND RETENTION SYSTEMS: This is a market survey to support the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL)review of helmet fitting and retention systems that are compatible with the standard U.S. Army infantry ballistic helmet known as the Personnel Armor System Ground Troops (PASGT) helmet. Specifically, USAARL is seeking commercial off the shelf (COTS) and non-developmental item (NDI) alternatives to replace the helmet's current web (sometimes called "cradle") suspension assembly, headband, chinstrap, parachutist pad (rear), and parachutist retention strap. Conceptual and developmental designs are welcomed for submission. Candidate materials must be fully compatible with the existing helmet shell and hole pattern and must not require the use of additional shell sizes. Submitted material configurations that require helmet shell modification will not receive consideration for follow-on procurement. Items that are fully compatible may be considered for purchase in small quantities (10 to 20 units) for laboratory assessment. These laboratory assessments will include blunt impact protection, chin strap strength, and dynamic retention/stability. Comparative laboratory performance assessments will be made against the standard PASGT helmet in the parachutist's airborne configuration (parachutists impact liner and retention strap). Additional consideration factors include ease of retrofit and use, cleanliness and sanitation, user comfort and heat retention, durability, and cost. The laboratory data and consideration of these other factors will be used to down select to one or two configurations for inclusion in a field study being conducted by the USAARL. To support this field study, approximately 500 units of the selected item may be procured. Samples and 3-D models are encouraged. Proprietary information MUST be marked as such, on a page-by-page basis. This Request For Information (RFI) does not, in any way constitutes a Request For Proposal (RFP) and as such, is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice, nor otherwise pay for information / items solicited. Data, samples, and 3-D models will not be returned. To be of maximum benefit to the program, responses must be received by 1 June 2001. Interested sources should electronically submit literature/brochures describing their concepts using either MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, or Adobe Acrobat compatible formats to Joe McEntire, email address joe.mcentire@se.amedd.army.mil NLT 30 days after the posted date. POC for this action is Joe McEntire, Principal Investigator, telephone number (334) 255-6896. This is a market survey requesting information only. No solicitation will be issued against this notice. If a formal solicitation is generated at a later date, a solicitation notice will be published. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any private sector input as a result of this market survey. Telephone requests are not acceptable.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010510/ASOL008.HTM (W-128 SN50L571)