U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command, Acquisition Directorate, Attn: AMSSC-AD, Natick, MA 01760-5011

84 -- CLOTHING, INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT AND INSIGNIA SOL DAAD16-99-T-1006 DUE 031715 POC Contract Specialist, Tammy Taylor, 508-233-4123 E-MAIL: Tammy Taylor, ttaylor@natick-amed02.army.mil. GRAPPLING HOOK, COLLAPSIBLE (GHC) REQUEST FOR QUOTATION DAAD16-99-T-1006. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a commercial off-the-shelf Grappling Hook, Collapsible (GHC). This synopsis/solicitation is prepared in accordance with the format in FAR subpart 12.6 and supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation: quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Quotations may be in the vendors' format, but must address all requirements herein. The applicable SIC Code for this acquisition is 3499 with a size standard of 500 employees. This is a 100% set-aside for Small Business Concerns. In order to be eligible for award, contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (http://edi.disa.mil/). This RFQ incorporates clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-10 and Defense Acquisition Circular 91-13. The proposed procurement represents Part II of a two-part acquisition program. Part I determined that a commercial item could meet the Government's strength requirement for this item. The GHC shall be a lightweight, portable, and reusable device that can be used by the individual Soldier for entry into and exit from buildings (or other structures) during Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) missions and for the clearing of trip-wire (anti-personnel) and tilt-rod type mines. The U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center, Natick, MA intends to make multiple awards under CLIN 0001 to purchase seven (7) GHCs. These GHCs will undergo tensile tests on an Instron machine to ascertain if the GHCs can meet the Government's strength requirement of one thousand six hundred and eight (1,608) lbs. with "no modification". Average yield point of the GHCs will be calculated. If the average yield point is greater than or equal to one thousand six hundred and eight (1,608) lbs., the Government reserves the right to exercise an option to up to three (3) vendors to purchase an additional twenty-five (25) to thirty-five (35) GHCs (CLIN 0002). GHC's will then be evaluated for down-selection to a single contractor for purchase (based on requirements and availability of funds) of up to an additional three-thousand-eight-hundred (3,800) GHCs (CLIN 0003). The down-selection evaluation will consist of tests conducted by military users to determine which GHC best meets the requirement. User tests will consist of attaching the GHC to a scaling rope and throwing it onto a second or third story roof (or inside a window). Soldiers will then attempt to climb up the rope onto the roof (or through a window). The mine breaching tests will consist of soldiers tying a rope to the shackle of the GHC then throwing and dragging it over a mine to snag its trip wire or tilt rod. Data generated for the final down-selection will consist of interviews and questionnaires completed by the test participants at the end of the testing period to determine which GHC best meets the requirement. Questionnaire forms will seek subjectiveand objective opinions from the user troops by utilizing a combination of items that will elicit open-ended comments, written by soldiers, as well as responses to yes, no, and multiple-choice type questions. The GHC shall meet the following performance requirements: The GHC shall be compatible with the standard clothing and individual equipment (CIE) normally worn, carried, or used by the Soldier. No interference with other standard CIE items is acceptable. The GHC shall be usable by the 1st to 99th percentile male soldier. Appropriate dimensions include, but are not limited to weight, height, width at chest. These dimensions can be found in the 1988 Anthropometric Survey of U.S. Army Personnel: Methods and Statistics, which is available at http://www-sscom.army.mil/busops . The objective is for the GHC to support the weight of a 99th percentile male Soldier (238 pounds) with his fighting load (25 -30 pounds) clearing the assault lead during MOUT operations. The GHC must have a built-in safety factor of no less than 6.0 (which means it supports 268 lbs. x 6.0 = 1608 lbs. without bending) to ensure the GHC does not deform when supporting the weight of the Soldier with fighting load. The GHC shall be capable of being collapsed, folded or retracted into a compact, flat shape. The desired weight of the GHC is 1.5 lbs or less. The GHC shall have a 1 inch opening in the shaft to allow for the attachment of ropes up to 1 inch in diameter. The GHC shall not require any undue logistical considerations. Manpower, personnel, and training shall not be impacted by the use of this item. The GHC shall be capable of being set-up and ready for operation by an individual Soldier from its collapsed state within 30 seconds. Conversely, the time it takes an individual Soldier to reconfigure the GHC into its collapsed state shall be 30 seconds or less. These tasks shall be accomplished without the use of tools. The GHC design and construction shall enable it to withstand rigorous usage including, but not limited to cross-country transportation, operation in extreme environments and at high altitudes, operation and storage in the open air, and exposure to the elements for extended periods of time. The GHC shall be resistant to wear, abuse, rust, decay, and corrosion in operational climates. The GHC shall operate and function in all climatic types and at all altitudes with temperatures that fall within the range of -35 deg F to +120 deg F. The GHC shall also be capable of operating during adverse weather and conditions such as falling snow, sleet, rain, freezing rain, and blowing dirt/sand. The GHC shall not introduce any unique requirements for maintenance support such as maintenance facilities, tools, or Test, Measurement, and Diagnostic Equipment (TMDE). No special or new Military Occupational Specialty/Additional Skill Identifier/Specialty Skill Identifier shall be required. Operator maintenance shall be limited to inspecting, cleaning, and lubrication. MANPRINT: (MANpower and PeRsonnel INTegration) considerations (encompassing the seven domains of manpower, personnel, training, human factors, system safety, health hazards and Soldier survivability) shall be integrated into the design of the GHC so as to allow its safe and efficient operation and maintenance by the Soldier in all specified operational and environmental conditions. System Safety and Health: The GHC shall have no uncontrolled safety or health hazards and shall conform to best commercial practices and military standards when applicable. No part of the GHC shall introduce safety or health hazards to the Soldiers when properly used, transported, and maintained. Personnel operating the GHC will be able to refer to the operator's instructions on the packaging. The items shall be preserved, packaged and packed for domestic shipment in accordance with best commercial practice. Shipping containers marking shall be durable and legible and shall include the National Stock Number (if applicable), item nomenclature, quantity, weight and cube, contract number, and contractor name and address. Delivery of CLIN 0001 shall be 30 days following issuance of a purchase order; CLIN 0002 shall be 30 days following exercise of CLIN 0002 option. Delivery of CLIN 0003 shall be 90 days following exercise of CLIN 0003 option. Delivery of CLIN 0001 shall be FOB Destination to the U.S. Army Soldier Biological & Chemical Command, Natick, MA. Delivery of CLINs 0002 and 0003 shall be FOB Destination to continental U.S. locations. Delivery addresses for CLINs 0002 and 0003 will be included in orders resulting from exercise of options. The FAR Provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, applies to this solicitation as do the following clauses: 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items is applicable to this solicitation. FAR Clauses 51.217-5 (30 days), and 52.217-7 (30 days) apply to this solicitation. The following factors shall be utilized to evaluate offers: 1) Technical: The written offer and GHC sample's capability of meeting the performance requirements stated herein. 2) Price: The proposedprices per GHC for CLINs 0001, 0002, and 0003 shall be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness. 3) Past Performance: The offeror's past performance in manufacturing and delivering GHC's or similar items shall be evaluated. The Technical factor is the most important factor. Price and Past Performance are equal in importance and slightly less important than Technical factor. Offerors should submit a Technical Proposal not exceeding three (3) pages, which describes how their item meets the performance requirements stated herein. Product literature and commercial warranty terms proposed should also be included. Offerors should also send one (1) proposal sample of the item offered. The Past Performance Proposal shall be no longer than three pages and shall contain the names of three references who have purchased the GHC, or similar item, from the offeror, current reference points of contact and current phone numbers/fax numbers. Response time is 3:00 P.M., March 17, 1999. Offerors shall include a completed copyof the provision at FAR 52.212-3 with offer. All proposal submission shall be sent to: U.S. Army Materiel Command Acquisition Center, ATTN: Tammy Taylor, Building #1, Kansas St., Natick, MA 01760-5011. Following evaluation of all proposals and samples, the Government will select the proposal(s) in accordance with the evaluation criteria detailed above. FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items, and FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items apply to this acquisition. FAR 52.212-5 includes the following additional FAR Clauses: 52.203-6; 52.203-10; 52.219-8; 52.222-26; 52.222-35; 52.222-36; 52.222-37; 52.233-3. The following DFARS clauses stated at 252-212-7001 apply: 252.225-7001; 252.247-7024. FAR Clauses 52.217-5, 52.217-7 (within six months following delivery of CLINs 0001 and 0002, if exercised), and 52.217-9 apply to this solicitation. All clauses applicable to this acquisition may be accessed electronically at these addresses: http://www.arnet.gov/far; http://farsite.hill.af.mil; http://www.dtic.mil/dfars. If offerors wish to receive amendments to this solicitation, they must contact Tammy Taylor by email at "ttaylor@natick-amed-02.army.mil" Any questions regarding this solicitation should be addressed via email to Miss Taylor or by datafax to 508-233-5286 to Miss Taylor's attention. See Numbered Note(s) 1.***** Posted 02/12/99 (W-SN297849). (0043)

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