RFI for G-1 Leather Source.docx

RFI FOR LEATHER SOURCES FOR THE G-1 LEATHER JACKET

FOR NAVY AND MARINE CORPS AIRCREW

1.0 Summary

To promote early exchanges of information with Industry in accordance with FAR Subpart 15.2, Naval Air Systems Command, Aircrew Systems (NAVAIR PMA202) of Patuxent River, Maryland is issuing this Request for Information (RFI). NAVAIR is requesting information to identify qualified sources to provide leather for use in manufacturing the G-1 Intermediate Flyer’s Jacket, made in accordance with MIL-DTL-7823F. The requirements for the leather are provided below. The leather shall be either full grain cattlehide with a goatskin grain finish or goatskin leather. Interested parties are invited to describe their capabilities to provide the product as described herein. The leather submitted in response to this RFI will be evaluated for the capability to meet the performance requirements listed below and the required brown Navy Shade 3756. A sample piece of leather for shade matching will be provided to interested parties upon request.

The Navy plans to approve and certify suppliers as sources for procurements of the G-1 jacket by DLA Troop Support. Hides of samples meeting the shade standard will also be purchased to provide leather for future shade reference. Multiple sources could be approved if found to be acceptable.

2.0 Requirements

The leather shall be full grain cattlehide or goatskin. The flesh side of the leather shall be smooth and free of loose flesh. The leather shall meet the following requirements listed in the table when tested in accordance with the listed test method.

Cattlehide leather shall have a goatskin finish.

Visual.

Finish stability

The finish shall not crack, flake, part from the leather or become tacky and shall be free from surface adhesion (blocking).

Either (a) or (b) in addition to testing for blocking.

(a) ASTM D6182 (the grain surface of the folded specimen shall be rubbed together under moderate pressure. The duration of the rubbing shall be 30 seconds.

(b) One (1) 4 by 1-inches test specimen shall be used. The test specimen shall be placed in a circulating air oven set at 110ºF ± 5ºF for a period of 24 hours. After 24 hours, remove the specimen from the oven and place in desiccator at room temperature containing calcium chloride for 2 hours. After removing from desiccator, fold the specimen sharply by hand at an 180º angle with the finish side on the inside of the bend, pressing tightly together with the fingers and rolling back and forth for three (3) complete cycles. The bend shall be visually examined and the presence of finish cracking, flaking and looseness or parting of finish from the leather shall be reported.

ASTM D6116

Colorfastness to crocking (min) Dry Wet

3.5 ASTM D5053; Evaluated using AATCC EP8 – Evaluation Procedure for AATCC 9-Step Chromatic Transference Scale

Fungicide: Treated with one of the following present within the given range:

TCMTB

OPP

DIMPTS

100 – 400 ppm 540 – 2580 ppm 300 – 2000 ppm ISO 13365-1 When testing DIMPTS use and HPLC analytical standard to measure the concentration of DIMPTS in accordance with ISO 13365-1.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes for request for this request for information are 316110, 315240, and 315280.

3.0 Content of RFI Response

Interested parties are invited to describe their capabilities as well as provide samples as described herein. In response to this RFI, please provide specification sheets showing the compliance with the above listed requirements, which will be at no cost to the Government. RFI responses are limited to 25 pages. The product sample as well as product information shall be submitted at no expense to the Government. The samples and corresponding information will not be returned. It is also requested that pricing be included with the submitted product and information. Proprietary data MUST be marked on a page-by-page basis, and will be kept confidential and protected in accordance with the Uniform Trades Secret Act. Interested sources shall state whether their product is available commercially, made domestically of domestic textiles (must be Berry compliant – manufacturers must list the origin and place of manufacturing operations of all components).

4.0 Response Submittal Instructions

Interested companies shall send questions to the Contract Specialist at the following email address: tyesha.m.parker.civ@us.navy.mil.

Please address all RFI responses and submission of samples to:

Tara Capecci, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, 48110 Shaw Road, Building 2187, Patuxent River, MD 20670.

Please address all technical questions to: Tara Capecci, email: tara.m.capecci.civ@us.navy.mil and LCDR William F. Baca, email: william.f.baca.mil@us.navy.mil.

All correspondence shall reference the RFI number (N00421-21-RFPREQ-PMA-202-XXG1) on the mailing container and all enclosed documents. Proprietary information MUST be marked as such, on a page-by-page basis.

The deadline for responses is 16 September 2021.

All Companies shall provide their cage code and business size under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). If the business is a small business per the parameters of NAICS Code, indicate whether the business qualifies under any of the sub-categories: 8(a), Small Disadvantaged Business, HUB Zone, etc. Respondents must clarify if their firm can provide commercial or non-developmental items that could be modified, or the technology and expertise for development, to meet the Government’s needs.

This announcement is NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, BUT RATHER A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI), nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted in response to this RFI. This RFI does not commit the Government to award a contract. This RFI is for market research only, and any procurement resulting from this announcement, will be synopsized separately.