Solicitation Number:

N00019-08-P7-ZD231

Notice Type:

Sources Sought

Synopsis:

The Naval Air Systems Command, Aircrew Endurance Program seeks interested vendors to support production of a new man mounted survival item/body armor carrier. This carrier will be a replacement for the currently fielded survival vest and body armor worn by USN and USMC operators of H-46, H-53, UH-1, H-60, V-22, and AH-1 aircraft. Competitive production contract(s) to a Navy specification may occur in the 2010 timeframe. This notice is to announce an industry day to be held 19 June 2008 so that potential suppliers (more specifically defined below) may be prepared to present webbings, hardware components, harness components, and fabrics that may be incorporated into the manufacturing specification to enhance the capability of the system. The USN intends to present design and integration requirements as well as system design concepts during this Industry Day. Participation in this Industry Day is not mandatory and will not preclude any interested vendors (as defined below) from participation in the subsequent procurement. This notice is intended for component manufacturers, such as weavers/knitters/spinners of fabric, fabric netting, fabric mesh, webbing, tapes, bindings, and/or sewing threads; and formers of textile, metal, plastic, and/or composite fasteners, closures, connectors, adjusters, and pulls. This announcement is NOT intended for vendors or manufacturers of pocketry, flotation, gear carriage vests, hydration, cooling/heating technologies, armor carriers, armor hard plate, fragmentation soft plate, harnesses, webgear, cushion covers, other man-mounted clothing, or any other prime vendors outsourcing to the aforementioned component manufacturers. Specific hardware components sought include but are not limited to: webbing closures, pocket attachment hardware, pocket closures, garment closures, rip-cords, and friction adjusters that can be blind-operated with a wetted, gloved, hand; that will operate in the sandy conditions of the Middle East as well as wet rainy conditions; that are durable in extreme heat and cold, that have a matte finish; that have a 66 lb hardware retention strength, are snag resistant; that exhibit salt-fog corrosion resistance, high heat resistance, flame resistance; are lightweight, low bulk, consistent multiple use, easily replaceable, and that have no parts or components that can accidentally detach or shed under rotor wash, high wind, or light impact. Specific fabrics and tapes/ webbings sought include but are not limited to those appropriate for load-carrying (e.g., 7-lb hard armor plate, 10-lb soft armor, 40 pounds of survival items). Such fabrics must be flame and high-heat resistant, and ideally, highly air permeable. A fabric that can provide a slick yet durable lining for the hard armor plate to allow it to slip in and out of a durable outer pocket is also desired. Specific harness components sought include but are not limited to webbings, fasteners, friction adjusters, and closures that comply with ANSI Z359 for fall protection, and are flame resistant, high heat resistant. Webbing fasteners shall meet not only all requirements of the hardware components above but in addition, be able to be quickly disconnected under tension, e.g., an aviator whose harness is snagged in an underwater emergency. Interested component manufacturers (as described above) may be prepared to present product samples of soft and hard components that may enhance the capability of an integrated gear carriage /ballistic/fragmentation hoist/ fall arrest system currently in development. These soft and hard components have the potential to be incorporated into a Dept of Navy system detail specification. Vendors may prepare a list of concerns and questions they may have regarding the requirements for this industry day. No written responses will be provided from the Government. Vendors are encouraged to bring product samples, test results, and evidence of Berry amendment compliance. Vendors are strongly encouraged to avoid the use of presentation software, and to avoid marketing and advertising content. Vendors are requested to provide the name of their company, organization, and/or division group. Vendor participation is limited to no more than 2 people per company. Vendors will have the opportunity to schedule an individual appointment for that day beginning May 27, 2008. Each appointment will be no longer than 20 minutes in duration. The purpose of the appointment is to allow vendors to ask and answer questions in a closed forum. All questions and answers will be recorded and released to the general public. This is not a notice of formal solicitation. Potential requirements for delivery schedules, quantities, and qualification of units have not been established. However suggestions that may assist the Navy in preparing a potential solicitation are welcome. In order to request an appointment for participation in this Industry Day, interested parties shall contact Ms. Marseglia by electronic mail at mary.marseglia@stvinc.com only; no phone calls or other forms of contact shall be used. Industry Day will start at 830 a.m. and end no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, the 19th of June 2008. The interested vendors will be requested to reconfirm the appointment by a given date, and provide the names and titles of the parties who will be attending. The Navy will not pay for product research, development, qualification testing, re-packaging, re-design and/or information received in response to this announcement. Further, travel expenses will not be reimbursed by the Government for attendance at this event. The Navy may use support contractor employees from LME Incorporated, STV Inc, CSC, and KR Systems Inc to assist in reviewing any responses, product samples, or data received under this announcement and at the Industry Day. In lieu of attendance at the Industry Day, component manufacturers may submit products samples and technical data to the Contracting Office address, NAVAIRSYSCOM, 47123 Buse Road, Bldg 2272 Suite 353, Patuxent River, MD 20670, to the attention of R. Wathen, Code AIR-2.4.2.2. Directions to the Industry Day location are attached to this announcement. This announcement will also be listed under Classification Codes: 16 - Aircraft Components and Accessories and Classification Code 83 - Textiles / Leather / Furs / Apparel / Shoes / Tents / Flags

Contracting Office Address:

Building 2272 47123 Buse Road Unit IPT
Patuxent River, Maryland 20670

Place of Performance:

Hollywood, MD
Patuxent River, Maryland 20670
United States

Primary Point of Contact.:

Secondary Point of Contact: