SPECIAL NOTICE
84 -- Sources Sought for an improved Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) Suspension System. This system provides for proper size, fit, and ventilation.
- Notice Date
- 5/10/2011
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 314999
— All Other Miscellaneous Textile Product Mills
- Contracting Office
- RDECOM Contracting Center - Aberdeen (RDECOM-CC), ATTN: AMSSB-ACC-A, 4118 Susquehanna Avenue, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-3013
- ZIP Code
- 21005-3013
- Solicitation Number
- W91CRB11R0036
- Archive Date
- 5/9/2012
- Point of Contact
- George B. Hubbard, 410-278-2053
- E-Mail Address
-
RDECOM Contracting Center - Aberdeen (RDECOM-CC)
(george.b.hubbard@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE / MARKET RESEARCH for Improved Suspension System for the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) For Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PM SPE) SECTION 1. SUBMITTAL INFORMATION ISSUE DATE: 8 April 2011 DUE DATE FOR RESPONSES: 2 May 2011 SOURCES SOUGHT NO: W91CRB-11-R-0036 SUBMIT RESPONSES TO: George Hubbard - George.b.hubbard@us.army.mil Contract Specialist and Primary Point of Contact SUBMIT QUESTIONS TO: George Hubbard - George.b.hubbard@us.army.mil Contracting Officer and Alternate Point of Contact: Tyrone Knight - Tyrone.m.knight@us.army.mil See below Section 5 entitled "REQUESTED CONTENT OF RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE" for submittal content instructions. SECTION 2. INTRODUCTION REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PM SPE) is seeking information regarding the availability of improved suspension systems for the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH). This notice constitutes a Request for Information/Comment only, THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION; no award will be made for this effort at this time. Pursuant to 48 C.F.R. Part 10, the Government is conducting market research to: Determine what sources exist that are capable of satisfying the Government's requirements as listed below, Determine the capabilities of potential contractors, Determine the size and status of potential sources, and Determine the level of competition. SECTION 3. BACKGROUND PM SPE is conducting a market survey and will be holding an Industry Day to determine the availability of commercial or modified commercial products that can provide improved blunt impact protection and comfort to Soldiers wearing the ACH. After review and evaluation of submissions and the outcome of the PM SPE Industry Day, a request for proposal may be released to procure suspension systems from multiple sources in order to execute more thorough Government testing to determine if a new design exists that would be an improvement to the currently fielded suspension system. DESCRIPTION: The Army seeks information on an improved ACH suspension system that meets or exceeds the following criteria when tested in accordance with AR/PD 10-02: (1) Provide blunt impact protection of the ACH by limiting the peak test headform acceleration to a maximum of 150 G for multiple impacts (at least two (2)) when tested at an impact velocity of 10.0 ft/s and 14.1 ft/sec at all environmental conditions (i.e., Ambient at 77 F (+ 18 F) and a relative humidity of 50 percent (+30 percent), Hot (130 F +5 F), and Cold (14 F +5 F)). (2) Be compatible with the existing ACH shell sizes; fully accommodate the existing anthropometric head sizes of Soldiers; be compatible with the items typically worn under the ACH (i.e., cold weather caps, balaclavas, communication headsets, etc.); as well as work in conjunction with the current Nape pad. (3) Meet other requirements in the ACH specifications pertinent to the suspension systems (i.e., water absorption, durability, etc). (4) Helmets with improved suspension systems shall be comfortable for wear during extended periods of time including factors such as increased weight and altered center of gravity due to helmet mounted devices (i.e., helmet mounted night vision equipment) and provide increased stability of the helmet. (5) An improved suspension system shall not create the need for additional helmet shell sizes. This market survey is for informational purposes only; this is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). All interested firms, regardless of size, are encouraged to respond to this RFI by submitting a product description of the suspension system, technical capabilities, system weight, technical drawings, bill of materials, manufacturing and product maturity, system cost estimate, system availability and schedule, and relevant testing data to support claimed system performance. Responders are encouraged to provide a submission NO LATER THAN 2 May 2011. A respondent may provide production samples, information on improved products, and comments on the blunt impact test procedure (AR/PD 10-02 Advanced Combat Helmet). Any suspension systems provided in response to the Sources Sought announcement must be a production representative product. Products must comply with the Buy American Act and the Berry Amendment. Proprietary information will not be disclosed outside the U.S. Government. The Government will not pay for information and materials in response to the RFI and is in no way obligated by the information received. Inclusion in this RFI or the resulting database does not constitute Department of the Army approval for any product. The AR/PD 10-02 will be provided on FedBizOps as part of this Sources Sought announcement. Responses may be sent via email to george.b.hubbard@us.army.mil or by regular mail to: ACC-APG ATTN: George Hubbard 4118 Susquehanna Ave Aberdeen, MD 21005-3013 Telephone: (410) 278-2053 Industry Day PM SPE will be holding a combat helmet suspension system Industry Day on 10 MAY 2011 from 0900 to 1215. Vendors and interested sources are invited to participate and are requested to submit their intention to attend. The Industry Day will be held at the Waterford at Springfield located at 6715 Commerce Street, Springfield, VA 22150. The purpose of this Industry Day is to collect information and ideas on new suspension system materiel solutions for combat helmets, inform industry of Army plans for an anticipated RFP, discuss test protocols and procedures, and have an informal discussion where ideas, concerns and questions will be addressed. There is no solicitation available at this time. Any information provided during this Industry Day or posted in conjunction with the Industry Day does not constitute a request for proposal, but will be considered an exchange of capabilities and ideas. The government will not reimburse interested sources for any responses to this notice, or for any costs incurred in responding to this notice, or for costs incurred in subsequent exchanges of information. Travel and expenses incurred for attending Industry Day will be at the expense of the interested sources, and not of the Government. The agenda for the Industry Day will be as follows: 0900 - 0915Welcome / Introductory Briefing 0915 - 1000Program Brief / Objectives 1000 - 1100Test Protocols and Test Procedures Overview 1100 - 1115Break 1115 - 1215Informal Discussions with Industry / Question and Answer Period All vendors that plan to attend the Industry Day on 10 MAY 2011 should send confirmation of intent to attend and questions by writing via e-mail to carol.baker@us.army.mil (with a courtesy copy to lois.randall@us.army.mil). Please provide the name and position title of attendees (no more than two representatives per vendor), contact information, and business size. Submission of this information is for planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to procure items, or for the Government to pay for the information or items received. All requests to attend Industry Day should be submitted NO LATER THAN 2 MAY 2011. Unregistered attendees will not be turned away unless space is unavailable. The Berry Amendment will apply to any contractual instruments regarding future procurement actions resulting from this RFI. All questions presented before and during Industry Day will be addressed during the informal discussions portion of the Day's Agenda. After Industry Day all questions, answers, information discussed, test protocol and procedures request procedures, and any other information requests will be posted to the Federal Business Opportunities (https://www.fbo.gov/). Any and all information or products submitted by Industry in response to this Sources Sought announcement will not be returned. Inability to attend this Industry Day will not preclude any interested party from responding to future requests for information or other notices regarding this effort. This is not a solicitation and no solicitation exists at this time. Posting of this notice does not guarantee that any further notices or procurement will be initiated. SECTION 4. DRAFT STATEMENT OF WORK Not applicable as this is not a request for proposals it is a Request for Information only. AR/PD 10-02 is being made available as an attachment to this Announcement in FedBizOps. SECTION 5. REQUESTED CONTENT OF RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to meet the requirements herein are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice. PAGE LIMIT: Responses shall not exceed 25 pages in length double-spaced with font size twelve or larger. Responses shall clearly identify: 1.Name of company, Address, Point of Contact; 2.Size Standard under code 314999 3.Identify all applicable classifications for your organization, such as Small Business; Woman-owned business; 8(a) business; Large business; Small disadvantaged business; HUBZone business; SDVOB business; Non-profit, etc. 4.Description of the suspension system, technical capabilities, system weight, technical drawings, bill of materials, manufacturing and product maturity, system cost estimate, system availability and schedule, and relevant testing data to support claimed system performance. Responses may also contain one example of each proposed suspension system. SECTION 6. NOTES This is NOT a notice of Solicitation. Participation in the Market Research or participation in the planned Industry Day in NO WAY influences the source selection for this requirement. This Sources Sought Notice is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract nor does the Government intend to directly pay for any information or responses submitted as the result of this Sources Sought Notice. This Sources Sought Notice does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) or an Invitation for Bid (IFB), nor does this issuance restrict the Government's acquisition approach.
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