SOURCES SOUGHT
84 -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: STAIN RELIEF ON AIR FORCE DIGITIZED TIGER STRIPE (AFDTS) CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN (update)
- Notice Date
- 7/5/2007
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541490
— Other Specialized Design Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, HQ HSG - Human Systems Group, HQ HSG/YASK 7980 Lindbergh Landing, Brooks City-Base, TX, 78235-5119, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-SSAFCO1001
- Response Due
- 10/1/2007
- Archive Date
- 10/16/2007
- Description
- The current woodland Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) is used by the AF as a working & field uniform. The Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) is replacing the BDU. The lighter color way of the ABU camouflage print (AFDTS) will not hide many potential stains. Air Force Clothing Office (AFCO) compiled data on stains that are of the biggest concern. As a result AFCO is seeking information regarding industry available, stain repel-and-release finishes. This is not a solicitation, and no award will be made for this effort at this time. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only, and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. The Government holds the right to test any of the fabrics. All submissions must be Berry Amendment compliant. Proposed solutions shall be currently available technologies. New technologies shall be compatible with all salient characteristics and testing requirements of the base cloth as specified in the purchase description (PD) YACL-05-1 CLOTH TWILL AIR FORCE DIGITAL TIGER STRIPE PRINT CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN, 25 July 2005, plus amendments. FUNCTIONAL CONCERNS Types of stains encountered by the Airmen have a correlation to their functional daily tasks & responsibilities. In Maintenance functions typical stain types include engine exhaust soot, tire break grime, fuel, deicing fluid, hydraulic fuel, mineral vegetable and ester based oils, and liquid oxygen. In Field use Airmen reported blood, grass stains, dirt stain, red clay, flare (orange/red), and muddy water as typical. General staining in everyday ?life? tasks such as eating and drinking are tomato, coffee, soda and juices. TECHNICAL INFORMATION AF requests testing results for each product. For required tests please reference PD and amendments listed above. Other requirements include effectiveness after exposure to high temperatures in theater, and under rigorous laundering conditions. Finish should not cause changes in shade, or spectral values a result of application. Use of Nano technology and other state of the art technologies encouraged. Any available Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) sheets should also be forwarded. Since this product will come in close proximity to the skin while in use, proof is required that no potential health issues are posed by the proposed remedy. If this fabrication is currently in use please note current applicable industry or military end uses as well as any known positive or negative feedback from current end uses. The USAF would like to keep all current processing the same for the ABU, so that the only changing variable is the addition of stain assistance technology. This means that we will continue to use the garment dipped process. As there is some processing that occurs in garment form, this should be taken into consideration when implementing new processes to ensure overall compatibility. The salient testing characteristics that currently stand should not be reduced by the addition of the new stain process. We encourage industry partnerships. If a copy of the cloth or the end item purchase descriptions are needed please e-mail request. If needed, request material(s) from a licensed vendor. Air Force Digitized Tiger Stripe printed on NYCO Twill IAW PD - YACL-05-1CLOTH, TWILL AIR FORCE DIGITAL TIGER STRIPE PRINT CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN, dtd , 16 May 2006 and 2007 amendments Licensed vendors with DSCP contracts as of 1 June 2007 Bradford Dyeing ASSOC. (copyright holder) Carlisle Finishing LLC - NYCO Twill Diversitex Inc. Raytex Britany Dyeing and Printing Corporation National Industries for the Blind (NIB) National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (NISH) American Apparel Propper International TAMA Manufacturing. Co. Inc., Allentown, PA Bethel Industries, Inc., Jersey City, NJ Warmkraft, Taylorsville MS Propper International, Mayaguez PR Excel Manufacturing, El Paso TX The Government WILL NOT provide materials. RESPONSE GUIDANCE Interested parties must submit at least one sample of treated fabric and marketing literature if applicable for potential solutions to this problem. Include in key points any additional benefits or risks, manufacturing constraints, effect of finishes on specified salient characteristics, any known health concerns, and associated MSDS information. All boxes/packages submitted in response to this solicitation should be clearly marked with the following information. The company name or identifier, the solicitation number, the number of the box per total boxes/packages shipped (such as 1 of 8), the type of product contained within, and proof material was purchased from a licensed vendor with DSCP contracts as of 1 June 2007. The Government will return responses after evaluated. Address samples to: 1Lt Gail Hammer Air Force Clothing Office 1901 10th St., Area B, Bldg 63 Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7605 INFORMATION APPROACH When the responses to this RFI are received, they will be evaluated and analyzed by the Government. The information received will be considered in the development of the acquisition strategy and may serve as input to a business case. In all cases pertaining to this RFI, the Government will take absolute care not to present information outside of the Government in a way that clearly identifies individual vendors or products. CONTACT INFORMATION Responses should include the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with us. The following are the Government Point of Contacts (POCs) for this RFI: Moseley Soule, Major, PSK Al Belin, Capt, USAF Contracting Officer Contracts Manager 77 Aeronautical Systems Group 7980 Lindbergh Landing 7980 Lindbergh Landing 77 Aeronautical Systems Group Brooks City-Base TX 78235 Brooks City-Base TX 78235 moseley.soule@brooks.af.mil alfort.belin@brooks.af.mil Susan English Katie Leahy Textile Technologist Clothing Designer Battelle Memorial Institute Air Force Clothing Office 313 Speen St. 1901 10th St., Area B, Bldg 63 Natick, MA 01760 Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7605 englishs@batelle.org katie.leahy@wpafb.af.mil Questions regarding this RFI can be directed to Susan English at englishs@batelle.org or Katie Leahy at katie.leahy@wpafb.af.mil *Please include all parties listed above during e-mail correspondence.
- Place of Performance
- Address: 7980 Lindbergh Landing, Brooks City-Base TX
- Zip Code: 78235
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Zip Code: 78235
- Record
- SN01335188-W 20070707/070705221120 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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