U.S. ARMY SOLDIER SYSTEMS COMMAND, ACQUISITION DIRECTORATE, ATTN AMSSC-AD, NATICK MA 01760-5011

A -- SELF-CONTAINED TOXIC ENVIRONMENT PROTECTIVE OUTFIT (STEPO) SOL 032&&&-9712-0001 POC Jeffrey Baldwin (508) 233-5920 (Site Code DAAN02) The U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command (SSCOM) is proposing to use a sole source strategy to award a Firm Fixed Price (FFP), 4 year, contract to GEOMET Technologies, Inc., Germantown, MD, for the following: (1) System integration, management, and production of the Self-Contained Toxic Environment Protective Outfit (STEPO); (2) Maintenance on the STEPO Technical Data Package, evaluation and incorporation of all engineering changes; (3) Integrated Logistic Support Package to include: Operation and maintenance manuals (system, suit, cooling system, breathing system, and communications); training packages to include Instructor and Key Personnel Training (IKPT), New Equipment Training (NET), and New Equipment Train-the- Trainer (NETT); and Provisioning lists, spare and repair parts. The contract will be awarded on the basis of 10 USC 2304 (c)(1) and FAR 6.302-1 (Supplies deemed to be available only from the original source in the case of a follow-on contract for the continued development or production of a major system or highly specialized equipment, including major components thereof, when it is likely that award to any other source would result in substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition.) GEOMET was responsible for development, integration, production, and testing of the STEPO R&D prototypes. During the R&D contract GEOMET wrote the design plan, integrated the components, produced the ILS package (Operation and maintenance manuals, Training packages, provisioning, etc.), performed MANPRINT and system hazard analyses, and participated/performed in all facets of the system testing. During the R&D effort, the prototypes and ILS package provided by GEOMET performed successfully while being tested for compliance to stringent requirements established for the STEPO system. Because of the experience gained by GEOMET during the R&D effort, the Government believes that only GEOMET can produce, train, provision, and deliver a STEPO systemin the quantities necessary to meet user demands. STEPO is a unique life support system that incorporates state-of-the-art technology to provide protection to personnel working in environments that pose an immediate danger to life and health. As such, it is absolutely critical that the system performs properly to ensure that the safety and health of the user is not compromised. The system and ILS products tested and approved at the STEPO Milestone III have demonstrated capabilities that do not require retesting. Conversely, the time and cost associated with bringing a new contractor and/or subcontractors onboard to learn the system and user requirements, produce a system and ILS products, test the system (agent, integration, MANPRINT, Safety, capabilities) is extremely prohibitive. As such, the STEPO system will provide the necessary protection for the user can not be realized by the Government without, once again, conducting the extensive series of tests necessary to ensure proper performance. The Government cannot afford a duplication of work completed under the R&D program. The Standard Industrial Classification for this procurement is 8731. The size standard is 500. No solicitation document is available. See Note 22. (0357)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0012 19971229\A-0012.SOL)