JA_MOLLE_Oct 2025_Redacted.pdf

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

CUI

Source Selection Information – See FAR 2.101 and 3.104

Unit Training (OSUT). It is capable of carrying an 120-pound load and is large enough to accommodate cold weather gear required in its used environments. With its high-capacity capabilities, the Warfighter can execute missions in cold weather environments that they would otherwise not be able to with smaller sized MOLLE Medium Rucksacks and MOLLE 4000 Rucksacks, which are similar items procured from the same PD. This acquisition will ensure that the Warfighter is outfitted and prepared to respond to mission needs in impacted climate zones.

The items are necessary for mission readiness and are not currently under contract. The Large Field Pack Set was placed on a limited buy list by the Army coinciding with the rollout of intended replacement item, the MOLLE 4000 Rucksack. After deployment in the field, the Army determined the MOLLE 4000 Rucksack could not meet the mission requirements for cold weather environments. Specifically, the MOLLE 4000 Rucksack was not large enough to contain cold weather gear. Therefore, the Army has reintroduced the Large Field Pack Set to meet mission needs in impacted climatic zones. Due to this sudden unplanned shift in product deployment, the Large Field Pack Set is immediately required, and is not currently sustained or stocked by DLA. Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC, Propper International Inc., and Federal Prison Industries, Inc.

are known domestic vendors capable of producing MOLLE and actively producing similar MOLLE end items under existing DLA Troop Support contracts. These manufacturers are core suppliers of MOLLE items to the Clothing and Textiles supply chain and have each felt the impacts of DLA’s reduced MOLLE 4000 demand resulting in labor cuts, ceased manufacturing lines, and loss of skilled labor. To mitigate lasting damaging impact to this industrial base, Propper International Inc. was awarded a directed buy in Quater 4 Fiscal Year (FY)25 for Coveralls, Improved Combat Vehicle Crewman pursuant to FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(i), which authorizes maintaining supplier availability for furnishing services to achieve industrial mobilization.

Federal Prison Industries, Inc., while in a similar position, is not at risk of labor impacts due to the composition of their workforce. In summary, the viable commercial industrial base is currently comprised of Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC and Propper International Inc. These two (2) sources are critical to the supply of MOLLE items and must maintain production, even when DLA’s demand is low, to surge when the need arises.

Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC is actively producing similar MOLLE items under an existing DLA Troop Support contract, SPE1C1-23-D-0005, expiring in November 2025. Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC has demonstrated past performance manufacturing rucksacks of similar complexity and scale. The Large Field Pack Set utilizes the same purchase description, identical fabrics, components, and hardware. It also requires the same specialized sewing, assembly, and quality-control processes as the current MOLLE items produced by Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC. Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC possesses the existing tooling, trained workforce, and material supply chain necessary to seamlessly produce the required items without additional ramp-up or risk to production timelines. Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC’s medium and rifleman MOLLE production lines will cease operations in November if additional orders are not received.

Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC’s labor pool for MOLLE items has already been reduced from dedicated employees to dedicated employees in May of 2025. With continued lack of demand, Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC will further reduce their workforce by direct labor employees in should no additional work be received. The agency has validated these reductions in employees, as labor cuts of this scale require public notice in accordance with local and federal law. The agency has also reviewed all federal award actions for similar items to Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC confirming diminished demand. This proposed contract action will support requirements while DLA’s competitive follow-on is awarded (estimated Quarter 4 Fiscal Year (FY) 26). Awarding this requirement to Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC will allow DLA to sustain an active production base and avoid a disruption in supply of an essential soldier system.

The requirement for 30,000 EA Large Field Pack Sets and 10,000 EA Pack Frames is well within Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC’s capabilities. At full-rate production, Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC can produce the aforementioned quantities in just . It is noted that while this requirement is just a fraction of Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC’s production capability, it is sufficient to temporarily maintain their skilled labor and manufacturing lines to coincide with the agency’s timeline for the follow-on competitive procurement.

This action to maintain Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC’s production, also acts as a safety mechanism in the event that the agency experiences a surge in unplanned demand for this critical item. Without Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC’s active production, it is not guaranteed that the remaining industrial base, comprised of small businesses and mandatory sources, will be able to meet demands in the event of a surge go-to-war environment.

This action is for the Army’s one (1) year demand to fulfill Army forecasted requirements until DLA’s competitive acquisition is awarded and in production. Without this action, there will be no contract vehicle in place to fulfill the Army’s current demand for the MOLLE Large Field Pack set and Pack Frame, and the industrial base required to support this item in the event of an unplanned war environment would be diminished, resulting in significant risk to readiness, particularly for operations in extreme environments. Moreover, Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC has indicated that lack of continued work will result in layoffs of skilled labor employees and shutdown of MOLLE production lines that support these items and similar MOLLE items and components, which would jeopardize the agency’s ability to surge production in the event of contingency or mobilization.

External to planned demand, the MOLLE Large Field Pack Set is authorized to be issued through Army’s Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI). RFI’s purpose, as the name implies, is to outfit Warfighters in deployment situations which cannot always be planned for. This potentially translates to spikes in monthly demand for the Large Field Pack Set. As RFI often does not provide sufficient notice of spikes in demand, it is difficult to determine if these increases will materialize and to plan accordingly. Allowing Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC to keep their production lines operational for this item becomes necessary if RFI comes in for monthly demand.

This justification supports an award to Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC to maintain production continuity, meet mission-critical demand, and protect the Government’s ability to respond to emergent operational needs.

6. This requirement will not be synopsized in accordance with FAR 5.202(a)(10) as it is being procured under the authority of FAR 6.302-3, Industrial Mobilization and advance notice is not appropriate or reasonable. Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC indicated that employee layoffs would occur if additional work was not received. Due to laws in Puerto Rico, advanced notice of employee layoffs is required. These notices would be issued at the

. Given that the workforce reduction is taking place immediately, there is not sufficient time to advertise this action without adversely affecting the ability to maintain the industrial base. This justification, however, will be made available for public inspection, after award and redacted as necessary, in accordance with FAR 6.305.

7. As the contracting officer, I hereby determine that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable based on a price analysis technique in FAR 15.404-1, including favorable comparison to previously awarded prices, which were based on adequate price competition. If necessary, certified cost and/or pricing data and/or other than certified cost and/or pricing data will be requested from Point Blank to determine the price to be fair and reasonable.

8.

Currently, Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms, LLC is in active production of MOLLE Rifleman Kits, Medium Rucksacks, and related components. The components, Medium Rucksacks, and Riflemen Kits currently in production are not significant volume to maintain the full production line. This requirement for 30,000 Large Field Pack Sets and 10,000 Pack Frames, combined with current production will allow Point Blank to keep its production line running from November 2025 through July 2026 to ensure a steady flow of the needed items until new award is made in August 2026.

9. The subject procurement is designed to allow the supply chain to continue production for this critical item – which is necessary in the event of unforeseen customer demand increases. By continuing the production of these items it will allow material suppliers to continue production of the components. Without additional orders, these suppliers may repurpose their production lines, which will cause additional delays under the competitive contracts once awarded.

10. Point Blank Protective Apparel & Uniforms has expressed interest in this acquisition.