The US Army seeks flame resistant and non- melting fabrics for use in next-to skin garments. The Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PM-SCIE) and the US Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Command, (NSRDEC) in Natick, MA are conducting a request for information/market investigation to identify domestic products, suppliers and manufacturers as potential sources of knitted fabrics suitable for use in three next-to-skin garment types. These garment categories include: A. Base layer underwear B. Base layer underwear capable of maintaining a snug fit when soft ballistic protection is added. C. Flame resistant shirts capable of maintaining fit and positioning of integrated ballistic protection. 1. Sleeve and side panel fabric (must have capability to be printed in IR compliant camouflage patterns) 2. Torso fabric Please see the attached Table for the desired Salient Characteristics. Potential sources shall submit: a. Company address, telephone number, primary contact(s) with e-mail address(es) and CAGE code. b. Business size (i.e., small/large/HUB Zone), and DUNS number. (Respondents must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database in order to obtain a DUNS number. Firms may register with CCR at http://www.ccr.gov). c. Brief statement of capability demonstrating background, experience, skills, ability and availability to fulfill the Government's requirements described herein, This can also include current or past performance of providing this or similar products to the Government. d. All assumptions, including any assumed/required Government support. e. A fact sheet or white paper, detailing properties of the submitted fabrics, technical parameters, manufacturing location, relevant company background/experience and documented test/analysis information that would indicate performance properties against the required physical properties listed above. f. Five yards of each submitted fabric. g. Pricing for each submitted fabric in dollars per linear yard. Based on the results of the RFI, the Government may purchase up to 100 yards from one or more respondents for prototype development. The findings from this Market Research effort may impact future solicitations related to this requirement. This Market Research is not a solicitation as defined by FAR 2.101, and the Government is not requesting offers for proposals at this time. This is a Request for Information and does not constitute a solicitation or request for proposal. This is a market survey for planning purposes. If a solicitation is issued, the Government does not guarantee that it will be issued to RFI respondents. The Government is also requesting that restrictive or proprietary markings not be used in response to the RFI. The information received under this announcement may be used for developing acquisition strategy and refining operational requirements. Capability Statements, including attachments, are limited to ten (10) pages. Any Capability Statements, including attachments, that are not submitted in MS WORD and/or MS EXCEL or PDF format will be rejected and considered nonresponsive. Capability Statements should include: a minimum and maximum delivery schedule, business size (i.e. small/large/HUB Zone), CAGE Code and DUNS number, current contract/task order numbers, contract information and any information that can be used to determine contractor capability for providing similar products, the ability to modify existing products and/or develop new products that could meet the requirements described herein. No telephonic submissions will be honored. All product information shall be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government. Interested parties should respond by November 29th, 2013. Address any questions about this request for information to Celia Powell via e-mail at:
[email protected] or the following address: Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center ATTN: Celia Powell 15 Kansas Street, Building 4, D236 Natick, MA 01760