83--Generation III (GEN III) Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)

The U.S. Army RDECOM Acquisition Center  Natick Contracting Division, in support of the U.S. Army PM-CIE, has a requirement for updated Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) in the new universal camouflage pattern (UCP). The GEN III ECWCS w ill maintain the level of cold weather protection while reducing weight, compression, and improving functionality and versatility over a wider range of conditions, and therefore increasing user acceptance. The GEN III ECWCS will be compatible with all ind ividual Soldier tactics, techniques, procedures, and individual equipment and will be durable enough to withstand foreseeable use and misuse in diverse military operational environments. This acquisition is subject to the Berry Amendment, 10 USC 2241, an d Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Clause 252.225-7012 Preference for Certain domestic Commodities. The items, which are part of the new Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS), consists of the following: 1) W ind shirt; 2) Soft Shell Top and Bottom; 3) Hard Shell Top and Bottom; and 4) Loft Jacket and Trousers. There will be 7 commercial item Purchase Descriptions and 5 Mandatory NISH item Purchase Descriptions. The Government has not made the determination f or a small business set-aside or Full and Open Competitive Acquisition. This is not a request for proposals. The Government will award one (1) Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract as a result of the Request for Proposals (RFP). The Government anticipates a one-year Base Ordering Period, with four, one-year Options. The anticipated minimum requirement is 10,000 Top Kits and 10,000 Bottom Kits for all years. The DRAFT solicitation and applicable documents are av ailable in electronic medium at the US Army RDECOM  Natick Contracting website at https://www3.natick.army.mil. Comments relating to the draft solicitation documents should be submitted via email to either Michelle Miller, Contract Specialist at Michelle [email protected] or Darlene Rideout, Contracting Officer at Darlene.Rideout @natick.army.mil no later than 16 Dec 2005. The NAICS code for these items is 315228, and the business size standard is 500 employees. The Government anticipates releasing the RFP by 13 Jan 2005.