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

84 -- MILITARY EYE PROTECTION SYSTEM (MEPS) SOL W13118-8154-3001 POC Contract Specialist AUDRA EARLE (508) 233-5917 aearle@natick-amed02.army.mil (Site Code DAAN02) The US Army Soldier Systems Command, Project Manager-Soldier, and the US Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center (NRDEC) has a requirement for the design, development and initial production of the Military Eye Protection System (MEPS). The MEPS will provide the eye with ballistic (fragmentation) protection and laser (multiple wavelength) protection, as well as shield the eye from bright sunlight. This will be accomplished without interfering with normal daytime/nighttime vision. The system will consist of modular components, which can be combined in multiple configurations, to achieve the desired levels of ballistic, laser and sunlight protection (i.e., sunglasses). Additionally, the system design shall be capable of accommodating prescription lenses, and come with a carrying case and Use and Care Manuals. MEPS will be available in two forms: spectacles and goggles. It is desired that the spectacles and goggles share the same set of lenses (for example, laser lenses for the spectacles will also fit the goggles). It is the intent of the Government to award one or more multi-phased MEPS development and integration contracts, as described below, based on best value decisions and funding limitations. The Government reserves the right to award on a CLIN by CLIN basis. The Government anticipates a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract for the design and development phases, with Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) options for the pre-production quantities and production quantities with Value Engineering incentives. Note: Down-selection may occur at any phase. A final down selection to the overall best design will occur before conducting DT and OT. The contract phases are as follows: PHASE I (one or more contractors; 9 month effort): This phase will focus on general system design and ballistic protection. In addition, the contractor shall provide a detailed description of the type of laser protection technology to be used and how it will be incorporated into the manufacturing process of the proposed design. One or more competing designs will enter this phase. The contractor(s) shall build up to one hundred (100) prototypes each of spectacles and 100 prototypes each of goggles for the proposed design (with ballistic protection; without laser protection, sun protection, carrying case, or Use and Care Manual), as well as up to fifty (50) prescription lens carriers (if separate/removable from the spectacles/goggles design). Items will be used to support a laboratory/user evaluation and Design Review. Options to procure additional items (up to 200 each of spectacles and/or 200 each of goggles, and up to 200 prescription lens carriers [if separate/removable from the spectacles/goggles design]) are included. The 200 spectacles/goggles are with ballistic protection, but without laser protection, sun protection, carrying case, or Use and Care Manual. PHASE II (one or more contractors; 10 month effort): The MEPS design will be refined during this phase and laser protection and sun protection will be integrated into the system. A Draft Use and Care manual will also be required. Phase II prototypes will be produced in the following quantities: 100 prototypes each of spectacles and 100 prototypes each of goggles (with ballistic protection, sun protection, carrying case, and Use and Care Manual; without laser protection); seventy (70) prototypes each of spectacles and 70 prototypes each of goggles (with ballistic protection, laser protection, carrying case, and Draft Use and Care Manual; without sun protection); up to fifty (50) prescription lens carriers (if separate/removable from the spectacles/goggles design). More extensive laboratory and user testing will be conducted. At this point in the program, a best value decision will be made and funding limitations will also be considered. One or more competing industry designs will make final design modifications based on testing results, and the Government may exercise its option to procure additional items (up to 200 each complete systems [includes ballistic/laser/sun protection, carrying case, and Draft Use and Care Manuals] of spectacles and 200 each complete systems of goggles; and up to 200 prescription lens carriers [if separate/removable from the spectacles/goggles design]). PHASE III (one contractor; 12 month effort): one-hundred (100) each complete systems (includes ballistic/laser/sun protection, carrying case, and Use and Care Manual) of spectacles and 100 each complete systems of goggles, up to fifty (50) prescription lens carriers (if separate/removable from the spectacles/goggles). These items will be used in the Developmental Test (DT) and Operational Test (OT). This phase will also allow for validation of the performance specification and producibility. The Government anticipates one contractor will proceed to Phase III. Options to procure additional items (up to 500 each spectacles and 500 each of goggles, and up to 500 prescription lens carriers [if separate/removable from the spectacles/goggles design]) are also included in this phase. PHASE IV (one contractor; 30 montheffort): This phase will consist of an initial production option for up to 64,000 complete systems of the spectacles and/or up to 58,000 complete systems of the goggles, and up to 60,000 prescription lens carriers [if separate/removable from the spectacles/goggles design]). The Government may choose to have the contractor make minor feature changes (those that do not affect the overall design) before proceeding to this phase. This acquisition will be conducted under full and open competition. The selection process will be based on technical/functional performance and best value considerations. The Government reserves the right to obtain rights in data and computer software for any design or design component, as necessary, to satisfy subsequent acquisitions. Contractors will be required to have or obtain, and maintain, a DoD Facility Security Clearance (FSC) and Personnel Security Clearances (PSC) up to the Secret level. Foreign contractor participation must be submitted through the foreign country's embassy in Washington DC. Classified portions of the MEPS program effort are limited to US firms only with a Secret Level Clearance. The classified Appendix for the MEPS Performance Specification will be available only to those firms with approved facility and safeguarding clearances and must be requested in writing and submitted to Ms. Audra Earle, Contract Specialist, at facsimile (508) 233-5286. Written requests for the classified Appendix must be received within 15 calendar days of the issue date of the final RFP and must include the firm's classified mailing address as well as Federal Supply Code (FSC), Contractor Establishment Code (CEC) and Commercial and Government Entity Code (CAGE). The applicable SIC code for this effort is 3827. For the purpose of this requirement, any concern employing 500 or fewer employees is considered a small business. To be eligible for award, all offerors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). Information on the CCR may be obtained at "http://ccr.edi.disa.mil/." The formal Request for Proposal (RFP) for the MEPS will be released on or about July 15, 1998 on the world wide web at "http://209.74.59.34/ssbusop.htm." No hard copies of the MEPS RFP will be mailed. If an offeror would like to be notified of the issuance of amendments (if needed), they must send their request to "aearle@natick-amed02.army.mil." No other form of notification of issuance of amendments will occur. Any questions or concerns regarding this acquisition should be addressed to Ms. Audra Earle at "aearle@natick- amed02.army.mil." Posted 06/29/98 (0180)

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