To promote early exchanges of information with Industry in accordance with FAR Subpart 15.2, the Naval Air Systems Command, Aircrew Systems (NAVAIR-4.6.7.2) of Patuxent River, Maryland is conducting market research by issuing this Request for Information (RFI). NAVAIR is requesting information to identify qualified sources to provide commercially available, non-developmental flame resistant gloves that provide protection from inclement weather conditions and provide warmth in intermediate cold conditions. The gloves shall provide the dexterity and tactility required to operate Navy and Marine Corps aircraft. The identified gloves will be an alternative to the HAU-15/P cold weather flight glove (MIL-DTL-32173) currently used by Navy and Marine Corps aviators as well as other aviators and personnel throughout the military services. Potential offerors are invited to describe their capabilities and to provide a sample product as described herein. The Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) gloves submitted in response to this RFI shall meet as many of the following requirements as possible. Capabilities noted with an asterisk are required. 1. * The glove's materials shall provide flame resistance, both initially, and after 25 launderings (laundered using AATCC - 135, 3 Cycles, (1), III, (A), ii) to meet the following: Char length < 3.5 inches; after flame < 2.0 seconds; afterglow < 14 second; and no melt and no drip. 2. * The gloves shall not have a snag hazard. 3. * The gloves shall not have any hardware that could become loose and fall off creating a FOD (foreign object debris) hazard. 4. * The gloves shall provide protection from precipitation. It is desired that the glove be water resistant with a rating of 80 or better when tested in accordance with AATCC 22 after 25 laundering cycles using AATCC - 135, 3 Cycles, (1), III, (A), ii. A fully waterproof glove that provides dexterity and tactility to perform tasks required by aircrew is an objective. 5. * The gloves shall provide protection from wind with an air permeability of < 2.0 (ft3/min/ft2) when tested in accordance with ASTM D737. 6. * The gloves shall provide dexterity and flexibility to allow aircrew on all Navy and Marine Corps aircraft to perform tasks including, but not limited to: a. Operating aircraft controls such as pressure switches, controls, and buttons, knobs. b. Operate communication systems. c. Writing while in flight. d. Perform tasks that may require identification of an object by feel without visual confirmation (reaching into spaces and feeling for a part but unable to see). e. Perform all emergency egress tasks. f. Integrate and operate all aircrew life support survival equipment (parachutes, radios, strobe lights, etc.) without removal of glove. g. Operation of weaponry. 7. * The gloves shall provide protection to the hand when operating in temperatures of 15°F or warmer for a minimum of 2 hours. The estimated required CLO value is 0.80 when measured in accordance with ASTM F1291. 8. * The gloves shall be provided in sizes to fit the 5th percentile female through the 95 percentile male. 9. * The materials shall remain flexible and durable if exposed to petroleum, oils and/or lubricant products. Following such exposure, the glove shall be washable without loss of flame resistant properties. 10. The glove shall have a gauntlet that extends at least 2-1/2 inches beyond the wrist. 11. The preferred color for the glove is coyote brown or sage green. 12. The gloves shall be durable through a minimum of 5 cycles when tested in accordance with AATCC 135, cycle 3, II, Drying Procedure A iii. 13. The glove shall provide the capability to operate touchscreen devices using a durable conductive and capacitive material. Potential offerors are invited to describe their capabilities, as well as provide a sample of the product, as described herein. In response to this RFI, please provide specification sheets showing the compliance with the above listed requirements. RFI responses are limited to 25 pages. The product sample, specification sheets, and any additional product information shall be submitted at no expense to the Government. The sample product and corresponding information will not be returned. It is also requested that pricing be included with the submitted product and information. Proprietary data MUST be marked on a page-by-page basis, and will be kept confidential and protected in accordance with the Uniform Trades Secret Act. Interested sources shall state whether their product is available commercially, and made domestically of domestic textiles (must be Berry Amendment compliant - manufacturers must list the origin and place of manufacturing operations for all components). The samples will be evaluated based on its demonstrated ability to meet performance requirements listed above. The samples will be verified for conformance to their applicable specification. Provide CLO data if available, material property sheets, and fire resistant test data. The samples with touchscreen capability will be tested by operating tablet devices including but not limited to iPad, Android, and/or Microsoft Surface Pro. Testing will include using a map application; actions will include tap-to-select, drag, and multi-touch input such as pinch to zoom, turning pages and operating applications necessary for military operations. The samples will be washed and tested again for touchscreen performance and durability. The samples will also be evaluated for the capability to operate aircrew equipment and aircraft systems while wearing the glove. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes for this acquisition are 339920 - Sporting Goods, 339999-Other Misc., 424320 - Men's and Boy's Clothing and Furnishings Merchant Wholesalers, 424330 - Women's, Children's, and Infants Clothing and Accessories Merchant Wholesalers, 315210 - Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors, 315211 Men's and Boy's Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors, 315990 - Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing, 315999 - General. Interested companies shall send all contractual questions to the Contract Specialist at the following email address
[email protected]. Please address all technical questions to Tara Capecci, Code 4.6.7.2 at (610) 746-3599. Please submit all RFI responses and samples to Naval Air Warfare Center, AIR Code 4.6.7.2, Attn: Tara Capecci, 48110 Shaw Road, Bldg 2187, Suite 1240, Patuxent River, MD 20670. All submissions shall reference the synopsis number N00421-15-RFI-1001 on the mailing container and all enclosed documents. Proprietary information MUST be marked as such, on a page-by-page basis. The deadline for responses is 6 July 2015, which is 17 days after RFI release. All Companies should indicate whether they are a small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), or large business. Respondents must clarify if their firm can provide commercial or non-developmental items that could be modified, or the technology and expertise for development, to meet the Government's needs. This announcement is NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted in response to this synopsis. This synopsis does not commit the Government to award a contract. This synopsis is for market research only and any procurement resulting from this announcement will be synopsized separately.