COTS Individual Water Purification System

The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) seeks to obtain market research information from sources capable of fully satisfying the requirement for a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) individual water purifiers (IWP) capable of meeting the requirements of NSF Protocol P248. Nephros is one of the manufacturers that comply with the Army Public Health Command (USAPHC) for the NSF P248 Protocol. In-line Filters must fit inside the Hydration Carrier (NSN 8465-01-600-7962) and attach to the hydration pouch (NSN 8465-01-600-7887), the hydration bladder carrier that will be used during patrols. Operating temperatures required are 4 o to 49 o C water and -33 o to 52 o C ambient. The filter must continue to work within the stated operational conditions. Resistance to draw is an indicator of the filter's end of service life and that the United States Marines Corps (USMC) desires a mechanism to show filter integrity before this event to assure the user that the produced water is microbiologically safe. An indicator shows that the system is intact; device performance, not just life. Size requirements for the filter including all ancillary components for water purification must not exceed one (1) pound and must be compatible with the USMC Bladder System, NSN 8465-01-600-7956 which will be contained in the Hydration Pouch, NSN 8465-01-600-7887. The in-line filter configuration is sought for ease of use and compatibility with the current hydration system. Flow rate requirements are a minimum of 200 mL/minute for ease of drinkability. This market research is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a commitment of any kind. Sources capable of fully satisfying the above requirements should submit to the Government an informational document describing their technologies in relation to the guidelines listed above and a catalog price list of the unit. Interested parties should submit a written response on corporate letterhead to the following email address: [email protected] , no later than 19 April 2013. Questions may be submitted in writing via email to the point of contact for this notice, Ms. Arlene Fitzpatrick, Contract Specialist: [email protected] . This sources sought is the initiation of market research under Part 10 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and is not a Request for Proposals (RFP). No solicitation document exists at this time. Issuance of this notice does not constitute any obligation on the part of the Government to procure these items or to issue a solicitation. In addition, the Government is under no obligation to pay for information submitted in response to this Notice, and responses to this notice cannot be accepted as offers. Any information that the vendor considers proprietary should be clearly marked as such. Responses to this Notice that indicate that the information therein is proprietary or represents confidential business information will be received and held in confidence for U.S. Government use only.