SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO INTEGRATE THE IDENTIFICATION OF FRIEND OR FOE (IFF) APPLICATIONS
- Notice Date
- 9/21/2015
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- ACC-APG - Natick (SPS), ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5011
- ZIP Code
- 01760-5011
- Solicitation Number
- W911QY15XXX62
- Response Due
- 10/13/2015
- Archive Date
- 11/20/2015
- Point of Contact
- Darlene Rideout, (508) 233-4112
- E-Mail Address
-
ACC-APG - Natick (SPS)
(darlene.l.rideout.civ@mail.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The U. S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), Natick, MA is conducting a market investigation to identify domestic products, suppliers, and manufacturers of tunable optical materials, novel fibers, novel fabrics, textile coatings, or other technologies which could be integrated into the Combat Uniform or Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for identification of friend or foe (IFF) applications. Current infrared (IR) patches are suffering layer delamination and in turn a decrease in operational effectiveness as a result of laundering and abrasive field conditions. The abrasive field conditions are also causing the gloss finish of the patches to become scratched and matte, which hinders their retroreflective response. The U.S. Army is interested in identifying potential solutions to integrate the IFF capability directly into the uniform or PPE, eliminating the potential for thin film degradation. The U.S. Army is interested in identifying firms with products, technologies and capabilities to provide an integrated textile based IFF solution. The optical material/technology shall be capable of being incorporated directly into fibers or textiles, or applied to a textile in the form of a coating. These materials will function by either a) absorbing and emitting/reflecting a signal in a single wavelength, or b) of being activated by a signal in one wavelength to emit a glow in another wavelength. All emitted signals must be detectable by Night Vision Goggles (NVGs). The resultant fiber or textile must meet the launderability and abrasion resistance requirements as described by purchase description Patch and Brassard, Identification, Infrared Retroreflective (CO/PD-05-06A, attached). The finished end item shall not present a health hazard to the user. The U.S. Army is specifically interested in information pertaining to one or more of the following and will consider all potential solutions for the incorporation of one or more solutions: 1) Materials, such as silicon (Si) nano rods, cadmium sulphide (CdS) quantum dots, and nano phosphor taggants as melt extrusion or coating additives. 2) Materials, such as silicon (Si) nano rods, cadmium sulphide (CdS) quantum dots, and nano phosphor taggants for the synthesis of quantum textile dyes or inks. 3) Other quantum materials that can be integrated into a textile via the melt extrusion process, or as a coating, dye or ink. 4) Any other novel technologies that will enable a tunable and textile integrated IFF solution. The findings from this Market Research effort may impact future solicitations related to this requirement. This Market Research is not a solicitation as defined by FAR 2.101, and the Government is not requesting offers for proposals at this time. This is a Request for Information and does not constitute a solicitation or request for proposal. This is a market survey for planning purposes. If a solicitation is issued, the Government does not guarantee that it will be issued to RFI respondents. The Government is also requesting that restrictive or proprietary markings NOT be used in response to the RFI. The information received under this announcement may be used for developing acquisition strategy and refining operational requirements. Capability Statements, including attachments, are limited to ten (10) pages. Responses should be submitted in MS WORD and/or MS Excel or PDF, including attachments. Interested sources shall include information regarding a firm's experience, personnel, and facilities. Information should include product cost, technical information (i.e., technical literature, data and illustrations, photographs, patents), relevant company background/experience, and a sample (optional). Firms responding shall indicate whether or not they are a small business. Any information/samples submitted will not be returned. If a firm chooses to submit samples, no payment will be made by the Government for such samples. Interested parties shall also supply the following information: name of company and point of contact, telephone number, address and email of POC, business size (i.e. large business, small business, SBA certified HUBZone Business, Economically Disadvantaged Small Business, Woman-Owned Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) and proposed NAICS code. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. No telephonic submissions will be honored. All product information shall be submitted at no cost or obligation to the Government. Interested parties should respond by October 13th, 2015. Questions and responses to this notice are to be sent to Ms. Megan Hoey at megan.l.hoey.civ@mail.mil or mail to Megan Hoey, Natick Soldier RD&E Center, 10 General Greene Avenue, Natick, M A01760.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/465588fe797a4e4548044735a00fca0f)
- Place of Performance
- Address: ACC-APG - Natick (SPS) ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street Natick MA
- Zip Code: 01760-5011
- Zip Code: 01760-5011
- Record
- SN03897147-W 20150923/150922000456-465588fe797a4e4548044735a00fca0f (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |