N61331-16-R-KL03 LCAC DEEP SKIRT The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) is soliciting information from potential elastomer, polyurethanes, or wear resistant coating (for rubber) manufacturers to increase the Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) Deep Skirt material life. The material will be used to coat the existing deep skirt material on the LCAC. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. Description: The current deep skirt system's material consists of nylon cloth and an elastomer coating compound in accordance with Amphibious Craft, Air Cushion Project Peculiar Document (PPD) NO. 802-6336529F Skirt Material Characteristics and Requirements dated 19 August 2013. The fingers are made up of Type 1 material and the bag is made up of Type 3. The coating compound used for Types 1 and 6 is a natural rubber/polybutadiene blend and for Types 2-5 is polychloroprene (neoprene). The PPD requires that the skirt bags have an average life of no less than 3,000 hours or five years, and that fingers have an average life of 300 hours or three years, whichever occurs first. An inflated skirt system provides the craft with a cushion of air captured within a bag and finger system. The design and flexibility of the skirt system enables the cushion to be maintained in rough seas and over land. The Deep Skirt provides a cushion height of approximately 7 feet. The skirt's material is worn at inflection points and becomes worn from fretting and fatigue. This fabric material manufacturing process is very similar to that of automotive tires. The deep skirt material experiences significant wear during normal operations, requiring expensive and time-consuming maintenance repairs. Reparability is desired. Material must be able to withstand abrasion over a variety of surfaces. The skirt is a weight critical system and lightweight materials are required (noted in the PPD). Decreases in fretting, abrasion, and friction are goals. Potential sources shall demonstrate that the concept can be readily and cost effectively manufactured. Skirt materials and manufacturing processes must meet the requirements of PPD NO. 802-6336529F and Landing Craft, Air Cushion PPD NO. 802-6336530D Skirt Fabrication Procedures dated 8 August 2013. Materials and processes are subject to approval by the Naval Sea Systems Command Distribution of these documents is limited to the Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. DoD Contractors only and contains data subject to export restrictions. Requests for the Project Peculiar Documents and the LCAC skirt drawings must be submitted via e-mail to
[email protected]. Requests must contain the vendors Contractor and Government Entity (CAGE) Code to be considered as potentially eligible to receive the controlled data. NAICS Code 325212 or 325510. FSC Code 9320. Inquiring Vendor Requirements: In order for a vendor to submit a response to this announcement, the vendor has to be identified as a United States Department of Defense contractor. Inquiring vendors shall check with NSWC PCD Contracts Office prior to preparing a response in order to be cleared as a DoD Contractor for purposes of submitting responses to this announcement. You will be notified that you are eligible to submit a response no later than five days after receipt of your request. Firms should identify/submit literature, brochures, videos, technical specifications to include weight and dimensions, current production status, estimated production capacity, and capabilities summaries directly addressing the ability to meet the aforementioned needs. Specific narrative information that should be provided in the submission includes: (1) skirt manufacturing process description and capabilities; (2) summary of operational commercial or military platforms the proposed system is currently used on, Government program points of contact are desirable; (3) how the skirt meets the material and manufacturing process requirements of the Program Peculiar Documents; (4) logistic supportability and; (5) projected unit cost estimate information. Responses: Interested parties may provide electronic or paper submittals to be received by the Government by 19 August 2016. There is no specific format or outline that submittals must follow. Each response must reference the RFI title. Contractors responding shall indicate whether they are a large or small business and what type of socio economic status their business upholds. Electronic responses to this announcement should be directed to kenneth.longstreet @navy.mil . Paper submittals shall be directed to NSWC PCD, ATTN: Ken Longstreet, Code 023, 110 Vernon Ave, Panama City, FL 32407-7001. THE SUBMISSION OF THIS INFORMATION IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE ANY ITEMS/SERVICES, NOR FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE INFORMATION RECEIVED .