*** NOTE *** This posting is hereby modified to change the Class Code from: A - Research and Development to 84 - Clothing, Individual Equipment, and Insignia quote mark . All other informamtion and instructions are unchanged. ********** *** NOTE *** This posting is hereby modified to extend the registration deadline to May 16, 2014. Point of Contact for questions is Henry Girolamo at
[email protected] or 508.233-5483. These updates are reflected below. ********* The US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), Natick, MA, will host a Textile S&T Industry Day on June 24 and 25, 2014 at Lord Community Center located at the Natick Soldier Systems Center (NSSC), Kansas Street, Natick, MA ,01760-5000. The event will run from 9:00 AM EDT to 3:00 PM EDT each day. The focus of the event will be on the Poster Booths manned with NSRDEC Textile Subject Matter Experts intended to facilitate focused professional exchanges amongst attendees. The proposed event is being held in a government facility; involves no travel of DoD personnel or other Army costs; involves employee poster sessions, optional Lab tours and face to face discussions between attending Army, academic and industry representatives. This announcement is not a formal solicitation and is not a request for proposals. This event is open to all US industry and academia representatives and will present an opportunity to interact with NSRDEC Soldier Textile Technologists. The purpose of the Textile Industry Day is to describe NSRDEC's textile technology S&T programs and focus areas and its specific/unique expertise, facilities, and capabilities and to provide a forum to exchange information and ideas on how Academia and Industry might partner with NSRDEC in addressing Army specific textile challenges and to provide information and assistance regarding the mechanisms and tools available for doing business with NSRDEC, including BAA, SBIR, CRADA, and others. This exchange of information will improve academia's and industry's understanding of unique textile related S&T challenges faced by the NSRDEC in fulfilling its mission to maximize the Warrior's survivability, sustainability, mobility, combat effectiveness and quality of life by treating the Soldier as a System. In turn, this enhanced understanding will allow potential partners to make more informed judgments on whether or how they can participate with the NSRDEC in addressing these S&T needs, and provide an opportunity for face to face exchanges amongst NSRDEC, academic and industry based experts in the Textile S&T community. Some examples of unique NSRDEC textile S&T facing challenges are: * Next generation shelter/tent skin textiles - reduced weight, nonwovens, flame resistance * Insulating textiles for shelters * Targeted antimicrobial textiles * New and Advanced Closure Systems * Smart Textiles for Parachute applications: sensing, power transport, actuation, service life monitoring, active temperature control for parachutist clothing * Future Textiles for Parachutes: dissolving, quote mark green quote mark disposable, reduced bulk/reduced weight, degradation indicating The event consists of discussions and displays from Army attendees/NSRDEC employees and other federal employees working on the installation. There will be no official travel of Army employees for purposes of attending the event. Target audience is interested participants from public and private universities, not-for-profits, and commercial businesses interested in the area of textiles. Due to security protocols for entrance onto the NSSC, the event is open only to US Citizens/resident aliens with Permanent Resident Card as valid identification. There will be a registration process, but no registration fee for attendees. In order to facilitate entry onto the NSSC, an Unescorted Visitor Request Security form is on the registration WEB site below and needs to be filled out as part of the registration process. This is required for access to the NSSC. A brochure describing Textile S&T Posters and unique textile testing laboratories will be sent to registrants prior to the event. Federal Acquisition Regulation Section 35.004 requires agencies to continually search for and develop information on a broad base of the best contractor sources from the scientific and industrial community, (including small business concerns) competent to perform R&D work. The proposed event is one part of NSRDEC's total effort to meet this requirement. The proposed event is S&T mission related meetings directly linked to NSRDEC's regulatory responsibility to identify, encourage and develop the best available sources of S&T capabilities. In that context it is a mission essential event that enhances and complements NSRDEC operational capabilities and business processes. Both days will comprise identical sessions and will cover textile technology S&T Problem/Need; Approach; Progress; Challenges and disucssions regarding where industry/academia participation is needed. There will be poster sessions combined with (optional) tours. Additionally personal meetings can be arranged. Both days have the same layout. Although the scope of the topics under these focus areas will be limited, the broader intent of Industry Day is to facilitate communication of textile science and technology needs and discussions on potential provider solutions. Organizations interested in attending the NSRDEC Textile Industry Day should register for one day only either 24or 25 June 2014 by 2:00 pm (EDT, 16 MAY, 2014 via the URL below. Companies are limited to two (2) representatives each as space is limited. All attendees are required to present Government-issued photo identification upon entry to the event. The limit of attendees per day is 150 people. Lunch options will be available at attendee expense. Registration badges will be provided as you enter the Lord Community Center. The URL below has TWO selections, ONE for each day for Registration. Once the limit of 150 has reached on either 24 or 25 JUN 2014 day you will be notified to register for the alternate day. The URL also contains directions for registration, and directions to offsite parking and as part of the registration at the Lord Community Center. THE UNESCORTED VISITOR REQUEST FORM MUST BE FILLED OUT BE FILLED OUT TO ENTER THE DoD FACILITY. If you plan on attending, you MUST fill out and submit the quote mark Unescorted Visitor quote mark PDF Form quote mark available at the URL below. Registrants will be notified by e-mail and you will receive a Poster/Lab Brochure. Questions must be sent to the NSRDEC Business Development Office at:
[email protected] Government Point of Contact is Henry Girolamo at
[email protected] or 508.233.5483. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. Dress code for Textile Industry Day will be a business casual. The URL provides registration information, the Unescorted Visitor Request Form and Visitor Information. See the Visitor Information for Driving Directions from Logan Airport (Boston), Directions to the attendee parking location for the event, which will be at 15 Blandin Ave, Framingham, MA where shuttle busses will transport attendees to NSSC. Additionally there is also information for local Hotels and Taxi Service. There will be no on-site parking for this event. This announcement is for informational planning purposes, does not constitute a formal solicitation or request for proposal and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Attendance at the Industry Day and any discussion/release of information is strictly voluntary. The Government reserves the right to cancel this requirement at any time. The Government will not be responsible for any associated costs as a result of prospective offerors interest and/or response to this notice or future solicitations.