84 -- NFPA 1977 COMPLIANT CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT ISO 9001 REGISTRATION REQUIRED

NOTICE: MANUFACTURERS OF NFPA 1977 COMPLIANT CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT ISO 9001 REGISTRATION REQUIRED. This is a notification to all current and potential bidders/offerors on GSA contracts for personal protective clothing for Wildland Firefighting. Certification to NFPA 1977, Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Firefighting will be required effective March 2004. Certification to NFPA 1977 (2004) edition states that manufacturers shall be registered to ISO 9001, Quality Management Systems. The NFPA 1977 Standard has required ISO registration since 1998 as cited in Section 2.6 on page 10. However, ISO requirement has been waived for certain items. The Wildland Fire Community has determined that there will be no exceptions after issuance of the new NFPA standard to be published in March 2004. To participate in future GSA solicitations for NFPA 1977 compliant clothing and equipment, all manufacturers shall be registered to ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems. The following items will be affected: Face & Neck Shroud, Firefighter Shirts, Firefighter Pants, and Work Gloves. Additional items may be added in the future.