JA-Milliken 20201222_Final Redacted.pdf

Control No: JA-21-Nat-066 Contractor: Milliken

Program/Equipment: Supply Purchase of Garments utilizing Milliken & Company Inc’s Conceal Technology

Version – September 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Conceal®, on one non-flame resistant fabric (IHWCU) and two unique flame-resistant combat fabrics, ResQ® Ripstop and MCCUU 50/50 nyco fabric. ResQ® Ripstop is a 6.5osy ripstop weave fabric, printed in the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), currently utilized in the Flame Resistant Army Combat Uniform (FRACU). MCCUU 50/50 nyco fabric is currently utilized in the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform.

c. Milliken is the only manufacturer of the Conceal® Technology, which is proprietary to Milliken.

6. Efforts to Obtain Competition:

a. The Government posted a Request for Information (RFI) W911QY20RSWIR on February 26, 2020 with responses due March 29, 2020. The RFI requested information and printed/dyed textile materials that address Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) and Near Infrared (NIR) mitigating properties while maintaining acceptable visual signatures. Nine companies provided Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to obtain the SWIR/NIR target values and supporting documentation. Only four companies provided materials to CCDC.

Milliken & Company was the only source to meet most of the NIR/SWIR criteria.

b. The following special notice W911QY21S0027 required by FAR 5.201 was posted to beta.SAM.gov on 10 November 2020 and ended on 25 November 2020. The Government received no inquiries from interested offerors regarding the special notice.

The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground – Natick Contracting Division on behalf of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities and Development Command (CCDC), Soldier Protection Division (SPD) intends to procure on a sole source basis under FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements – Milliken Conceal® FRACU SWIR, Conceal® FR MCCUU SWIR, and Conceal® IHWCU fabrics. The Government has a requirement to procure and evaluate Milliken & Company advanced Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) signature management technology on two unique flame-resistant combat fabrics. The United States Army seeks to expand their current signature management capability from Visual and Near-Infrared (NIR) to include Short Wave Infrared (SWIR).

c. Effective Competition: Because the Conceal® Technology is proprietary to Milliken, effective competition is not applicable.

d. Subcontracting Competition: No Subcontracting Competition.

7. Actions to Increase Competition: The requirement was synopsized in accordance with FAR 5.201. A special notice (W911QY21S0027) was posted to beta.SAM.gov on 10 November 2020 and ended on 25 November 2020. The Government did not receive any inquiries or concerns from interested offerors regarding the special notice. A follow on requirement is not anticipated at this time.

Program/Equipment: Supply Purchase of Garments utilizing Milliken & Company Inc’s Conceal Technology

Version – September 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

8. Market Research: Market Research was conducted by CCDC-SC between February 2020 – May 2020 to see if material providers were able to show their Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) can meet established NIR and SWIR target values. The Government posted a Request for Information (RFI) – W911QY20RSWIR on February 26, 2020 with responses due March 29, 2020. The RFI requested information and printed/dyed textile materials that address Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) and Near Infrared (NIR) mitigating properties while maintaining acceptable visual signatures. Nine companies provided Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to obtain the NIR/SWIR target values and supporting documentation to include Apparent Reflectance Calculator (ARC) and its manual. The ARC is a tool that enables the U.S. Government to quantify the Signature Management performance of the materials. NDAs were required in order for companies to obtain a copy of short wave infrared (SWIR) reflectance requirements for certain fabrics printed with Department of Defense (DoD) camouflage patterns. They included

, Milliken, . To date, Combat Capabilities Development

Command – Soldier Center (CCDC-SC) received formal materials and technical data submissions from and Milliken (SWIR mitigating fabrics), and (baseline materials).

response was not valid. only submitted information papers with no supporting samples for testing and evaluation. The Government does not have an explanation as to why provided materials.

It was determined that only 2 companies, and Milliken, met most of the NIR/SWIR criteria. Since receiving these submissions the government has been informed that will be closing its business, which leaves Milliken as the only company to meet most of the NIR/SWIR criteria.

9. Interested Sources: Paragraph 8 identifies sources that expressed an interest in this acquisition. To date, no other sources have written to express interest in the acquisition.

10. Other Facts: None

a. Procurement History: Not Applicable

Program/Equipment: Supply Purchase of Garments utilizing Milliken & Company Inc’s Conceal Technology

Version – September 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

11. Technical Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Date: 22 Dec 2020 Title: Signature:

12. Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Typed Name: Date: 22 Dec 2020 Title: Signature: