Contracts Group, Bldg 588, Mail Stop 32, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, MD 20670-5304

84 -- ANTI-EXPOSURE ASSEMBLIES (DRY SUITS) DUE 030499 POC Susan Cusic, Contract Specialist, (301) 342-1825 ext. 151, Fax (301) 342-1864, Patricia Cornett, Contracting Officer, (301) 342-1825 ext. 116 E-MAIL: CusicSM@navair.navy.mil, CusicSM@navair.navy.mil. This is a sources sought notice for the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) of Patuxent River, MD who is seeking potential sources and no cost product samples of commercially available, non-developmental anti-exposure assemblies for military and civilian passengers transported to and from US Navy ships via helicopter (H-60, H-53, H-46) and other fixed-wing, non-ejection seat aircraft (C-2). "Anti-exposure" refers to protection of the wearer from hypothermia due to immersion in cold, open seas with wind. The minimum US Navy requirements for such passenger anti-exposure assemblies include (but are not limited to) the following: a. Sized and adjustable so that as few sizes as possible can provide a safe fit for the central 90% of the user population ( military and civilian men and women, ages 18-45, in various states of physical fitness) b. Can be donned and doffed below decks in a very confined space. c. Durable to withstand the Naval aviation environment, requiring little or no maintenance, and repairable with commercially available materials d. Compatible with standard US Navy passenger life preserver units and head protection e. Does not pose a snag or visibility hazard to the passenger or aircraft f. Low inherent buoyancy to allow unimpeded escape from a submerged helicopter g. Protection of the wearer from hypothermia due to immersion in cold (28-50 degrees Fahrenheit), open seas (sea state 2-3), and to exposure to still air temperatures of 0-40 degrees Fahrenheit with up to 40 mph winds. h. Compatible with US Navy search and rescue equipment and practices Two product samples and related information will be required from all interested sources at no cost to the government. One product sample shall fit a "95th percentile" Hybrid II or III manikin. The other shall be of a smaller size in the mid-size region of the sources sizing scheme. If only one size is available, two units of that size are required. The product samples will be assessed to ensure that the design satisfies the US Navy minimum requirements. Responses shall include a measure of the item's thermal insulation value expressed in units of "Clo", as well as the estimated survival time for a water temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, a sea state of 3 foot waves, whitecaps, 11-16 knot winds), and an air temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Responses shall also include cost, maintenance and repair methods, sizing chart, fiber content, weight, packed volume, instructions for use, and buoyancy data (with test method). Proprietary data MUST be marked as such, on a page-by-page basis and will be kept confidential and protected where so designated. Evaluation of product samples will take approximately 8 months. Product samples will be returned at the sources request and expense unless destroyed during evaluation. This announcement IS NOT a Request For Proposal nor does the Government intend to pay for any information/items submitted in response to this synopsis. It is anticipated that a solicitation for a firm fixed price contract with a base quantity of approximately 1000 units will be released in FY00. This synopsis does not commit the government to awarding a contract. Product samples and related information are to be shipped to NAWCAD Contracts office by 4 March 1999. Interested sources should send the product samples and information to Contracts, Code 254222, Bldg. 588, Suite 2, NAWCAD, 47253 Whalen Road, Unit 588, Patuxent River, MD 20670-1463. All technical questions must be submitted in writing and mailed to the above address, emailed to CusicSM@navair.navy.mil or faxed to (301) 342-1864 or 1847 in the attention of Susan Cusic. Interested sources should clarify if their product is commercially available or if the product would be a non-developmental item that could be modified to meet the governments needs. Interested sources should also indicate whether or not they are a small, small disadvantaged, 8 (a), or large business. All responsible sources may submit product samples and information which will be considered by this agency. NOTE: Contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database to be eligible for contract award or payment from any DOD activity. Information on registration and annual confirmation requirements may be obtained by calling 1-888-227-2423, or by assessing the CCR web site at http://ccr.edi.disa.mil/. Posted 02/01/99 (W-SN293144). (0032)

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