84 -- IMPROVED TOXICOLOGICAL AGENT PROTECTIVE APRON, GLOVES, AND BOOTS

Notice Date

January 16, 2001

Contracting Office

U.S. Army Robert Morris Acquisition Center Natick, ATTN: AMSSB-ACN, Natick, MA 01760-5011

ZIP Code

01760-5011

Response Due

February 17, 2001

Point of Contact

Ms. Marie Jean-Pierre, E-MAIL: 'marie.jean-pierre@natick.army.mil

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact Ms Jean-Pierre via email. (marie.jean-pierre@natick.army.mil)

Description

The U. S. Army Soldier & Biological Chemical Command, Soldier Systems Center is conducting market research and investigation seeking product information and product samples of aprons, gloves, and boots which provide protection from chemical/biological warfare agents; toxicological industrial chemicals (TICs); missile/rocket fuels; and petroleum, oil and lubricants (POLs). Any information and/or product samples submitted will not be returned. If a firm chooses to submit product samples, the Government will make no payment for such samples. This market investigation is seeking innovative commercial off-the-shelf or non-developmental solutions for evaluation in the 2001-2002 timeframe as potential replacements to the following standard military items: Apron, Toxicological Agent Protective (TAP), M2, MIL-A-2334J; Boots, Toxicological Agent Protective (TAP), M2A1, MIL-C-51176F; and Gloves, Toxicological Agent Protective (TAP), M3, MIL-G-12223J (specifications may be obtained at 'http://stinet.dtic.mil/'). Each of the sought items' performance should exceed that of the current military item it replaces. The required apron, boots, and gloves will be worn in Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) and non-IDLH toxic environments in peacetime and wartime by Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD), Technical Escort Unit, and Chemical Surety Activity personnel engaged in routine and emergency response operations. Each item sought must be capable of being worn with the currently fielded Toxicological Agent Protective (TAP) Coveralls (MIL-C-2181M, available from 'http://stinet.dtic.mil/'). Each item sought must be compatible with the Self-contained Environment Protective Outfit (STEPO) and the Improved Toxicological Agent Protective Ensemble (ITAP) (fact sheet for STEPO may be obtained at the web site 'http://www.sbccom.army.mil/products/cie/stepo.htm'); fact sheet for ITAP may be obtained at 'http://www.sbccom.army.mil/products/cie/itap.htm'). The objective apron will be constructed from one piece of impermeable, flame-resistant material that will completely cover the wearer's torso from below the neck to below the top of the boots with an adjustable waist strap with quick-release at the rear; and completely cover the arms with cinches provided at the wrist. Abrasion resistance will be greater than the M2 TAP apron when tested in accordance with ASTM-D-4157. The objective boots will protect the wearer's feet and lower legs; have an improved tread design that increases stability, traction and comfort while minimizing unwanted collection. The objective gloves will protect the wearer's hands and forearm area; offer improved tactility and dexterity; meet the air-tight and liquid integrity requirements of NFPA; posses an inner material that will not adhere to itself when wet and collapsed. The objective apron will provide at least two hours of protection against a 10 g/m2 challenge by liquid CW agents (H, HD, HT, GB, VX, L, QL and DF). The objective boots, and gloves will provide at least four hours of protection against a 12 g/m2 challenge by liquid CW agents (H, HD, HT, GB, VX, L, QL and DF) and industrial chemicals (specified in NFPA 1991 Standard on Vapor Protective Suits for Hazardous Chemical Emergencies, 1994 Ed. Sec 7-1.1, Requirements for combined Chemical Flash Fire and Liquefied Gas Protection; Product Labeling Requirements). All items will be capable of being decontaminated and reused for a minimum of five cycles after 100g/m3 vapor contamination with GB; provide 500 hours of wear time under usual conditions; have a minimum 5-year shelf life; be constructed of self-extinguishing materials 1991 Vapor Protective Suits for Hazardous Chemical Emergencies, 1994 Ed., section 5-2.1 and 5-2.2, and tested in accordance with section 9-7, Flammability Resistance, and section 9-28, Thermal Protective Performance Test; be capable of storage environments from -25 F to 160 F; be flexible at -25 F; meet the rate of static electric discharge design and performance requirements of NFPA 1991 Vapor Protective Suits for Hazardous Chemical Emergencies, 1994 Ed., section 5-2.4, and tested in accordance with section 9-29, Material Static Charge Accumulation Resistance Test; be light in color to reduce heat stress induced by solar loading; not be made of sulfur cured compounds; and be resistant to acid, decontamination solution No.2 (DS2), and super tropical bleach (STB) resistant, high-test hypochloride, and caustic soda. All items will be available in sizes to adequately accommodate 90% of the US Army population from 5th-95th percentiles inclusive based on data from 1995 "Anthropometric Survey of Civilian Army Personnel for Design of the ITAP Suit" (available from 'http://www3.Natick.army.mil/', and the 1988 "Anthropometric Survey of US Army Personnel: Methods and Summary." In addition to all performance characteristics, the objective items, compared to existing standard military items, should be easier to don/doff; provide greater mobility, tactility, and dexterity; be lighter; induce less heat stress on the wearer; and cost less. In order to gain a uniform comparison of commercially available products, the Government requests each interested manufacturer, importer, or vendor to go to 'http://www3.Natick.army.mil/' to obtain survey forms on which to submit data about their product(s). The surveys seek to collect physical and performance characteristics about the products and detailed point-of-contact information for future communications, if required. All respondents must complete Part 1 of the survey. In addition, respondents must complete Part 2 for aprons; Part 3 for Boots; and/or Part 4 for Gloves. Respondents are encouraged to complete the surveys fully to the extent applicable to their products. Except for Part 1, which should only be submitted once, a separate survey should be submitted for each qualifying product (except multiple sizes of the same basic model). Respondents should NOT submit proprietary information in response to this survey. In addition to the survey, manufacturers, importers, and vendors may also submit information and/or product samples. Information may be in the form of commercial product literature (catalogs, product cut sheets), technical specifications, material specifications, and test data. Samples (not required, but desired) may be in the form of (commercial aprons, boots, and/or gloves; examples of modified commercial aprons, boots, and/or gloves). Information submitted will be used to evaluate the state of the market for the items sought for the purpose of determining if suitable candidates currently exist. Please submit information and samples to US Army Soldier & Biological Chemical Command, ATTN: Marie Jean-Pierre AMSSB-PM-RST-E (B), Room D225, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760. Any questions can be directed to Ms. Marie Jean-Pierre at 'marie-jean-pierre@Natick.army.mil'. This Request For Information (RFI) does not constitute a Request For Proposal (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment from the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice, nor otherwise pay for information/items solicited. Data, Samples, and Materials will not be returned. Interested sources must, within thirty (30) days following the publication of this synopsis, respond with information on their product(s). Interested sources shall include information detailed in the CBD Note 25 regarding a firm's experience, personnel, and facilities. Information should include product cost, literature and illustrations, relevant company background/experience, and a sample. Firms responding shall indicate whether or not they are a small business. The NAIC code for this industry is 339113 (formerly SIC 3842) and the size standard for a small business is 500 employees or less.

Web Link

Click here to access FAR and DFARS (http://farsite.hill.af.mil)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010118/84SOL004.HTM (W-016 SN50A9R4)