TurnoutGear SOW-Revised 7-5-24.pdf

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Statement of Work/Requirements

BACKGROUND: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Fire Department is tasked with Fire Prevention and Emergency Response on the NIST Gaithersburg, MD facility. The NIST Fire Department has 15 personnel that require Structural Firefighting gear that follows the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards. The NFPA 1851 standard, establishes requirements for the selection, care, and maintenance of structural firefighting protective clothing and equipment, dictates gear that is 10 years past its manufacture date should be retired. Some of the department’s gear is reaching the 10-year age limit, and therefore needs to be replaced.

PURPOSE: Replace the NIST Fire Departments 15 personnel equipment with new standardized structural firefighting garments. The contractor shall assistance with onsite sizing of firefighters using individual sizing samples to properly fit firefighters and delivery the gear to the NIST Fire Department.

REQUIREMENTS:

Garments and accessories shall be compliant per NFPA 1971-2018. All garments are 3rd party tested by U.L. Underwriters Laboratory and the manufacturer.

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS PROTECTIVE JACKET AND PANTS FOR STRUCTURAL FIRE

FIGHTING

Structural Gear will be based on Brand name Globe G-Extreme 3.0 or equal.

CONTRACTOR MINIMUM CRITERIA

The contractor shall have an office within a 50-mile radius of the NIST-Gaithersburg Site.

SCOPE

This specification details design and materials criteria to afford protection to the upper and lower body, excluding head, hands, feet, against adverse environmental effects during structural firefighting. All materials and construction shall meet or exceed NFPA Standard #1971 2018 version or greater and OSHA for structural fire fighters protective clothing.

OUTER SHELL MATERIAL -JACKETS AND PANTS

The "PBI GEMINI® MATRIX™" outer shell shall be TENCATE GEMINI® constructed of 60/40 Kevlar®/PBI™ modified plain weave outer shell fabric reinforced with a network of yarns each containing one ply of 400 denier Kevlar® filament and one pl y of 60/40 Kevlar®/PBI™ spun yarn in a “Matrix Technology” with an approximate weight of 7.5 oz. per square yard. The shell material must be treated with SST (SUPER SHELLTITE) which is a durable water-repellent finish that also enhances abrasion resistance. Color of garments to be natural/gold, Bids offering a 600 denier Matrix product and/or the Matrix shell without the SST will not be considered.

The PBI™ outer shell shall be TENCATE KOMBAT™750 PBI™/Kevlar® blend with an approximate weight of 7

THERMAL INSULATING LINER -JACKET AND PANTS

The thermal liner shall be constructed of 7.8 oz. per square yard TENCATE “DEFENDER M SL2”;

consisting of two layers of E-89™ spun laced aramid blend, quilt stitched to a camouflage printed 65%

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Lenzing FR Rayon, 25% Para-Aramid, and 10% Nylon (spun yarn) blended face cloth. A 7 inch by 9 i inch pocket, constructed of self-material and lined with moisture barrier material, shall be affixed to the inside of the jacket thermal liner on the left side by means of a lock stitch. The thermal liner shall be sewn to the moisture barrier and bound around its perimeter with bias-cut Neoprene coated cotton/polyester binding. Further mention of “Thermal Liner” in this specification shall refer to this section.

MOISTURE BARRIER -JACKETS AND PANTS

The moisture barrier material shall be W.L. GORE CROSSTECH® black moisture barrier -Type 2F, which is comprised of a CROSSTECH® membrane laminated to a 3.3 ounce per square yard Nomex® IIIA woven pajama check substrate. The CROSSTECH® membrane is an enhanced bicomponent membrane comprised of an expanded PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, for example Teflon®) matrix having a continuous hydrophilic (i.e., water-loving) and oleophobic (i.e., oil-hating) coating that is impregnated into the matrix. CROSSTECH® moisture barrier seams shall be sealed with GORE-SEAM® tape using a Series 6000 (or higher) GORE-SEAM™ sealing machine to afford comparable bacteriophage penetration.

resistance performance. Further mention of “Specified Moisture Barrier” in this specification shall refer to this section.

The moisture barrier material shall be W.L. GORE CROSSTECH® 3-layer moisture barrier – Type 4A, SEALED MOISTURE BARRIER SEAMS

All moisture barrier seams shall be sealed with a minimum 1-inch-wide sealing tape. One side of the tape shall be coated with a heat activated glue adhesive. The adhesive side of the tape shall be oriented toward the moisture barrier seam. The adhesive shall be activated by heat and the sealing tape shall be applied to the moisture barrier seams by means of pressure exerted by rollers for that purpose.

METHOD OF THERMAL LINER/MOISTURE BARRIER ATTACHMENT FOR JACKETS

AND PANTS

The thermal liner and moisture barrier shall be completely removable from the jacket shell. Using NFPA approved system shall secure the thermal liner/moisture barrier to the outer shell along the length of the neckline under the collar (see Collar section). The remainder of the thermal liner/moisture barrier shall be secured with a minimum of four fasteners appropriately spaced on each jacket facing and four snap fasteners at each sleeve end.

The thermal liner and moisture barrier shall be completely removable from the pant shell. Nine snap fasteners shall be s paced along the waistband to secure the thermal liner to the shell. The legs of the thermal liner/moisture barrier shall be secured to the shell by means of two Ara-Shield® snap fasteners per leg. One of the Ara-shield® snap tabs shall be color coded to a corresponding snap tab in the liner for ease of matching the liner system to the outer shell after inspection or cleaning is completed.

THERMAL PROTECTIVE PERFORMANCE

The assembled garment, consisting of an outer shell, moisture barrier, and thermal liner, shall exhibit a TPP (Thermal Protective Performance) rating of not less than 35.

STITCHING to spec or NFPA

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The outer shell shall be as assembled using stitch type #301, #401, #514 and #516. The thermal liners and moisture barriers shall be assembled using stitch type #301, #401, #504, #514, and #516. Stitching in all seams shall be continuous. Major A outer shell structural seams, major B structural liner seams and shall have a minimum of 8 to 10 stitches per inch.

JACKET CONSTRUCTION

BODY

The body of the shell and liner system shall be constructed of three separate panels consisting of two front panels and one back panel. The body panels shall be shaped so as to provide a tailored fit thereby enhancing body movement and shall be joined together by double stitching with Nomex® thread. One-piece outer shells shall not be acceptable.

SIZING

The jacket length shall be measured from the juncture of the collar and back panels to the hem of the jacket and shall measure.

27 inches in the front/31 inches long in the back. (ladies) 29 inches in the front/33 inches long in the back.

(standard) 32 inches in the front/36 inches long in the back.

The jacket shall be a viable in male and female patterns in even size chest measurements of two inch increments and shall range from a small size of 30 to a large size of 68. Generalized sizing, such as small, medium, large, etc., will not be considered acceptable.

DRAG RESCUE DEVICE (DRD)

A Firefighter Drag Rescue Device shall be installed in each jacket. The ends of a 1½ inch wide strap, constructed of black Kevlar® with a red Nomex® center stripe, will be sewn together to form a continuous loop. The strap will be installed in the jacket between the liner system and outer shell such that when properly installed will loop around each arm. The strap will be accessed through a portal between the shoulders on the upper back where it is secured in place by a hook and loop strap. The access port will be covered by an outside flap with beveled corners designed to fit between the shoulder straps of an SCBA.

The flap will have a NFPA-compliant 3M Scotchlite™ reflective logo patch sewn to the outside to clearly identify the feature as the DRD (Drag Rescue Device). The DRD shall not extend beyond the outside flap.

This device provides a quickly deployed means of rescuing a downed firefighter. Flimsy, rope-style DRD straps will not be considered.

LINER ACCESS OPENING -JACKET

The liner system of the jacket shall incorporate an opening at each of the leading edges of the left and right front panels. This opening shall run a minimum of 12 inches along the perimeters for the purpose of inspecting the integrity of the jacket liner system. When installed into the outer shell the Liner Access Opening will be covered and protected by the overlap of the outer shell facing.

RETROREFLECTIVE FLUORESCENT TRIM

The retro reflective fluorescent trim shall be lime/yellow 3M Scotchlite™Triple Trim (Each jacket shall have an adequate amount of retro reflective fluorescent trim affixed to the outside of the outer shell to meet the requirements of NFPA #1971 (2007 edition) and OSHA. The trim shall be in the following

4 | P a g e widths and shall be NYC style; 3 inch wide stripes - around each sleeve below the elbow, around each sleeve above the elbow, around the bottom of the jacket within approximately 1 inch of the hem, around the back and chest area approximately 3 inches below the armpit.

*NOTE: Any trim installed on the sleeve shall be backed by a layer of neoprene stitched to the inside of the outer shell to comply with the NFPA 2012 Stored Energy Test. NFPA 1971 does not require an upper sleeve trim band, it is optional to delete this band completely or delete the underside of the upper sleeve trim band.

REINFORCED TRIM STITCHING

Two rows of stitching used to attach the trim in place be considered an unacceptable alternative, since it has been proven that the two rows of stitching have insignificant impact on wear life. All trim ends shall be securely sewn into a seam for a clean finished appearance.

SEWN ON RETROREFLECTIVE LETTERING

Each jacket shall have 3” lime/yellow 3M Scotchlite™ lettering on Row _A__ reading: N I S T

COLLAR & FREE HANGING THROAT TAB

The collar shall consist of a four-layer construction and be of two-piece design. The outer layers shall consist of outer shell material on outside and a layer of PCA black Advance™ on the inside, there shall be a layer of specified moisture barrier and a layer of aramid pajama check material sandwiched in between (see Moisture Barrier section). The rear inside ply of aramid pajama check shall be sewn to the collar’s back layer of outer shell at the edges only. The forward inside ply of moisture barrier shall be sewn to the inside of the collar at the edges only. The multi-layered configuration shall provide protection from water and to her hazardous elements. The collar shall be a minimum of 3 inches high and graded to size. The leading edges of the collar shall extend up evenly from the leading edges of the jacket front body panels so that no gap occurs at the throat area. The collar’s back layers of outer shell and moisture barrier shall be joined to the body panels with two rows of stitching. Inside the collar, above the rear seam where it is joined to the shell shall be a strip of ⅝ inch wide FR Velcro® loop fastener tape running the full length of the collar. The collar’s front layers of moisture barrier and outer shell shall have an additional strip of ⅝ inch wide FR Velcro® hook fastener tape stitched to the inside lower edge and running the full length of the collar. These two inside strips of ⅝ inch wide FR Velcro® fastener tape sewn to the underside of the collar shall engage corresponding pieces of FR Velcro® fastener tape on the neck extension of the liner system. A self-material fabric hanger loop shall be sewn at the top of collar.

The throat tab shall be a s coop type design and constructed of two plies of outer shell material with two center plies of moisture barrier material. The throat tab shall measure not less than 2½ inches wide at the center tapering to 2 inches at each end with a total length of approximately 7½ inches. The throat tab will be attached to the right side of the collar by a 1 inch wide by 1½ inch long piece of Nomex® twill webbing. The throat tab shall be secured in the closed and stowed position with FR Velcro® hook and loop fastener tape. The FR Velcro® hook and loop fastener tape shall be oriented to prevent exposure to the environment when the throat tab is in the closed position. A 1½ inch by 3-inch piece of FR Velcro® loop fastener tape shall be sewn horizontally to the inside leading end of the throat tab and a 1½ inch by 3-inch piece of FR Velcro® hook fastener tape shall be sewn horizontally to the opposite end of the throat tab. A corresponding piece of FR Velcro® hook fastener tape measuring 1½ inches by 3 inches shall be sewn horizontally to the leading outside edge of the collar on the left side, for attachment and adjustment

5 | P a g e when in the closed position and wearing a breathing apparatus mask. The collar closure strap shall fold in half for storage with the FR Velcro® loop fastener tape engaging the FR Velcro® hook fastener tape.

JACKET FRONT

The jacket shall incorporate separate facings to ensure there is no interruption in thermal or moisture protection in the front closure area. The facings shall measure 2½ inches wide, extend from collar to hem, and be double stitched to the underside of the outer shell at the leading edges of the front body panels. A breathable moisture barrier material shall be sewn to the jacket facings and configured such that it is sandwiched between the jacket facing and the inside of the respective body panel. The breathable film side shall face inward to protect it. Jackets that use “false facings” shall be considered unacceptable. The thermal liner and moisture barrier assembly shall be attached to the jacket facings by means of snap fasteners.

STORM FLAP

A rectangular storm flap measuring 3¼ inches (6 inches for hook and dee inside/FR Velcro® outside closure; aka #7C) wide and 24 inches long shall be centered over the left and right body panels to ensure there is no interruption in thermal or moisture protection in the front of the jacket. The outside storm flap shall be constructed of two plies of outer shell material with a center ply of breathable moisture barrier material. The outside storm flap shall be double stitched to the right-side body panel and shall be reinforced at the top and bottom with backtacks.

STORM FLAP AND JACKET FRONT CLOSURE SYSTEM

The jacket shall be closed by means of (hook and dee rings and FR Velcro® tape; aka #7C) (requires 6-inch-wide storm flap) four non-ferrous inward facing hook and dee rings plus FR Velcro® fastener tape on the storm flap. The inner closure hook and dee rings shall be riveted to the leading edges of the left and right jacket body panels. The rivets shall be reinforced on the inside of the respective body panels with leather. The inward facing hooks shall be installed on the right front body panel and the dee rings shall be installed on the left front body panel. The storm flap shall close over the left and right jacket body panels and shall be secured with FR Velcro® fastener tape. A 1½ inch piece of FR Velcro® loop fastener tape shall be sewn with four rows of stitching along the leading edge of the storm flap on the underside. A corresponding 1½ inch piece of FR Velcro® hook fastener tape shall be sewn with four rows of stitching to the left front body panel and positioned to engage the loop fastener tape when the storm flap is closed over the front of the jacket.

SEMI-EXPANSION (BELLOWS) POCKETS

Each coat front body panel shall have an 8-inch wide by 8-inch-high semi-expansion pocket double stitched to it and shall be located to provide accessibility. The leading edge of the pockets shall be sewn flush with the coat. The rear of the pockets shall expand to a depth of 2 inches. The lower half of each semi-expansion pocket shall be reinforced with a layer of Kevlar® on the inside. Two rust resistant metal drain eyelets shall be installed in the bottom of each semi-expansion pocket to facilitate drainage of water.

The pocket flaps shall be constructed of two layers of outer shell material and shall measure 3 inches deeper than the pocket expansion and ½ inch wider than the pocket. The pocket flaps shall be angled with the front edge 1” shorter than the back edge, the upper pocket corners shall be reinforced with proven

6 | P a g e backtacks, and pocket flaps shall be reinforced with backtacks. The pocket flaps shall be closed by means of FR Velcro® hook and loop fastener tape. Two pieces of 1½ inch by 3-inch FR Velcro® hook fastener tape shall be installed vertically on the inside of each pocket flap (one piece on each end). Two corresponding pieces of 1½ inch by 3-inch FR Velcro® loop fastener tape shall be installed horizontally on the outside of each pocket near the top (one piece on each end) and positioned to engage the hook fastener tape.

Additionally, a separate hand w armer pocket compartment will be provided under the expandable cargo pocket. This compartment will be accessed from the rear of the pocket and shall be lined with Nomex® fleece for warmth and comfort.

SLEEVES

The sleeves shall be of two-piece construction, having an upper and a lower sleeve. The sleeve seams shall be 514 stitch type, with a double top stitch, seam width shall not exceed 1/8 inch and shall be contoured to follow the natural flex of the arm at rest. Both the under and upper sleeve shall be graded in proportion to the chest size. For unrestricted movement, on the underside of each sleeve there shall be two outward facing pleats located on the front and back portion of the sleeve on the shell and thermal liner.

On the moisture barrier, the system will consist of two darts, rather than pleats, to allow added length in the under-sleeve. The moisture barrier darts will be seam sealed to assure liquid resistance integrity.

The pleats shall expand in response to upper arm movement, and shall fold in on themselves when the arms are at rest. This expansion shall allow for greater multi-directional mobility and flexibility in the shoulder and arm areas, with little restriction or coat rise. Neither stovepipe nor raglan-style sleeve designs will be considered acceptable.

SLEEVE CUFF REINFORCEMENTS

The sleeve cuffs shall be reinforced with gray suede leather. The cuff reinforcements shall not be less than 1 inches in width and folded in half, approximately one half inside and one half outside the sleeve end for greater strength and abrasion resistance. The cuff reinforcement shall be double stitched to the sleeve end for a total of four rows of stitching. This independent cuff provides an additional layer of protection over a turned and stitched cuff. Jackets finished with a turned and stitched cuff do not provide the same level of abrasion resistance and will be considered unacceptable.

WRISTLETS / SLEEVE WELLS

Each jacket shall be equipped with Nomex® hand and wrist guards (over the hand) not less than 7 inches in length and of double thickness. A separate thumbhole with an approximate diameter of 2 inches shall be recessed approximately 1 inch from the leading edge.

LINER SHOULDER THERMAL ENHANCEMENT

An additional layer of thermal liner material shall be used to increase thermal insulation in the shoulder area of the liner system. This thermal enhancement layer shall drape over the top of each shoulder extending from the collar to the sleeve/shoulder seam, and 2” to the front, 2” to the back of the shoulder cap. The shoulder thermal enhancement layers shall be sandwiched between the thermal liner and moisture barrier layers of the liner system and shall be stitched to the thermal liner layer only.

RADIO POCKET

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Each jacket shall have a pocket designed for the storage of a portable radio. This pocket shall be of box type construction, double stitched to the coat and shall have one drainage eyelet in the bottom of the pocket. The pocket flap shall be constructed of two layers of outer shell material measuring approximately 5 inches deep and ¼ inch wider than the pocket. The pocket flap shall be closed by means of FR Velcro® fastener tape. A 1½ inch by 3-inch piece of FR Velcro® hook fastener tape shall be installed vertically on the inside of the pocket flap beginning at the center of the bottom of the flap. A 1½ inch by 3-inch piece of FR Velcro® loop fastener tape shall be installed horizontally on the outside of the pocket near the top center and positioned to engage the hook fastener tape. I n addition, the entire inside of the pocket shall be lined with neoprene coated cotton/polyester impermeable barrier material to ensure that the radio is protected from the elements. The impermeable barrier material shall also be sandwiched between the two layers of outer shell material in the pocket flap for added protection. The radio pocket size is to be determined. left chest. right chest.

Note: (radio pocket 6-inch and over in height requires trim) left sleeve. right sleeve.

Note: Radio pockets on the sleeves will be fully lined with neoprene to comply with the NFPA 2012 Stored Energy Test.

NOTCHED RADIO POCKET FLAP

The radio pocket flap shall be notched to accommodate the radio antenna on the left side as worn.

MICROPHONE STRAP

A strap shall be constructed to hold a microphone for a portable radio. It shall be sewn to the coat at the ends only. The size of the microphone strap shall be 1 inch x 3 inches ½ inch x 3 inches.

The microphone strap shall be mounted above the radio pocket and shall be constructed of double layer outer shell material.

"SURVIVOR" FLASHLIGHT HOLDER

Each jacket shall be equipped with a “Survivor” flashlight holder. An inward facing metal safety coat hook shall be triple riveted in a vertical position to the upper chest. The inward facing coat hook will accommodate the clip portion of the flashlight. Below the coat hook will be a s trap constructed of outer shell material measuring approximately 2½ inches high and 9 inches wide and will hold the barrel of the flashlight. The lower strap will be equipped with a 1½ inch by 2½ inch FR Velcro® closure at the front of the strap to facilitate easy removal of the flashlight. There shall be approximately 3 inches between the upper coat hook and lower strap. The "Survivor" flashlight holder shall be sewn to the jacket on the right chest.

EMBROIDERED AMERICAN FLAG

Each jacket shall have a Nomex® embroidered American flag that measures approximately 2½ inches by 3½ inches installed on the (placement to be determined)

PANT CONSTRUCTION

BODY

The body of the shell shall be constructed of four separate body panels consisting of two front panels and two back panels. The body panels shall be shaped to provide a tailored fit, thereby enhancing body.

8 | P a g e movement, and shall be joined together by double stitching with Nomex® thread. The body panels and seam lengths shall be graded to size to assure accurate fit in a broad range of sizes.

LINER ACCESS OPENING (PANT)

The combined moisture barrier and the thermal liner shall be completely removable for the pant. The thermal liner and moisture barrier layers of the liner system shall be stitched together and bound around the cuffs, but each layer will be individually bound at the top of the waist. The binding shall be of Bias- Cut Neoprene coated cotton/polyester material for a finished appearance that prevents fraying and wicking of contaminants. The thermal liner and moisture barrier layers are attached at the waist band with a snap one either side and one center snap. Additionally, there shall be four independent snap tabs that secure the moisture barrier layer to the shell to prevent any gapping. The bottom of the liner fly opening shall have a reinforcement of black Nomex® Twill which serves to prevent the liner from tearing in this area which is highly stressed because of the constant donning and doffing of the pants.

The construction of the liner system layers of the pant at the waist will provide a means of thoroughly inspecting the integrity of the pant inner liner system. When installed into the outer shell, the Liner Access Opening will be covered and protected by the overlap of the waist band facing.

SIZING

The pant shall be available in even size waist measurements of two-inch increments and shall be available in a range of sizes from 24 to 68. The pant inseam measurement shall be available in two-inch increments.

Generalized sizing, such as small, medium, large, etc., will not be considered acceptable. Sizing specifically for women shall also be available.

RETROREFLECTIVE FLUORESCENT TRIM

The pant shall have a stripe of retro reflective fluorescent trim encircling each leg below the knee to comply with the requirements of NFPA #1971 (2007 revision) in 3-inch lime/yellow 3M Scotch lite™ Triple Trim (L/Y borders with silver center). Bottom of trim band shall be located approximately 3” above cuff.

REINFORCED TRIM STITCHING

Two rows of stitching used to attach the trim in place of the shall be considered an unacceptable alternative, since it has been proven that the two rows of stitching has insignificant impact on wear life.

All trim ends shall be securely sewn into a seam for a clean finished appearance.

WAISTBAND

The waist area of the pants shall be reinforced on the inside with a separate piece of black aramid outer shell material not less than two inches in width. Neoprene coated cotton/polyester shall be sewn to the back of the waistband as a reinforcement to create a three-layer protection. The top edge of the waistband reinforcement shall be double stitched to the outer shell at the top of the pants. The lower edge of the waistband shall be serged and unattached to the shell to accept the thermal liner and moisture barrier. The top of the thermal liner and moisture barrier shall be secured to the underside of the waistband reinforcement so as to be sandwiched between the waistband reinforcement and outer shell to reduce the possibility of liner detachment while donning and to avoid pass through of snaps from the outer shell to the inner liner. The independent waistband construction affords greater comfort and fit than a turned and

9 | P a g e stitched method. Pants that do not include an independent waistband only serve to save the manufacturer both money and labor and shall be considered unacceptable.

PANT CLOSURE SYSTEM

The exterior primary positive locking closure shall be an inward facing metal safety hook and dee ring.

The safety hook shall be attached to a leather strap that is triple riveted to the right front body panel in the waist area A leather backed dee ring shall be riveted to the leading edge of the fly flap near the top. The snap hook shall engage the dee ring located on the fly flap when in the closed position.

EXTERNAL / INTERNAL FLY FLAP

The pants will have a vertical outside fly flap constructed of two layers of outer shell material, with a layer of moisture barrier material sandwiched between. The fly flap shall be double stitched to the left front body panel and shall measure approximately 2 ½ inches wide by 9½ inches long and reinforced with backtacks at the base. An internal fly flap constructed of one layer of outer shell material, thermal liner, and specified moisture barrier, measuring approximately 2 inches wide by 9½ inches long, shall be sewn to the leading edge of the right front body panel. The inside of the right front body panel shall be thermally enhanced directly under the outside fly with a layer of moisture barrier and thermal liner material.

The underside of the outside fly flap shall have a 1½ inch wide piece of FR Velcro® loop fastener tape quadruple stitched along the full length and through the shell material only; stitching shall not penetrate the moisture barrier insert between the two layers to insure greater thermal protection and reduced water penetration. A corresponding strip of 1½ inch wide by 8-inch-long FR Velcro® hook fastener tape shall be quadruple stitched to the outside right front body panel securing the fly in a closed position.

Appropriate male and female snap fastener halves shall be installed at the leading edge of the waistband for the purpose of further securing the pants in the closed position.

KNEE

The outer shell of the pant legs shall be constructed with horizontal expansion pleats in the knee area.

with corresponding darts in the liner to provide added fullness for increased freedom of movement and maximum flexibility. Two expansion pleats measuring approximately 1½ inches deep, shall be installed along both the inseam and out seam on each leg in the knee area. The pleats shall be folded to open outwardly towards the side seams to insure no restriction of movement. The knee will be installed proportionate to the pant inseam, in such a manner that it falls in an anatomically correct knee location.

The liner system shall be constructed with four darts per leg in the front of the knee. Two will be located above the knee (one on each side) and two will be located below the knee (one on each side). Each dart will be approximately 2 inches long. The darts in the liner provide a natural bend at the knee. The darts in the liner work in conjunction with the expansion panels in the outer shell to increase freedom of movement when kneeling, crawling, climbing stairs or ladders, etc.

LINER KNEE THERMAL ENHANCEMENT

An additional layer of specified thermal liner and neoprene coated impermeable barrier material will be sewn to the knee area of the liner system for added protection and increased thermal insulation at contact points. The knee thermal enhancement layers shall be sandwiched between the thermal liner and moisture barrier layers of the liner system and shall be stitched to the thermal liner layer only.

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KNEE REINFORCEMENTS

The knee area shall be reinforced with a layer of black synthetic material that is NFPA approved.

The knee reinforcement shall be slightly offset to the outside of the leg to ensure proper coverage when bending, kneeling and crawling. The knee reinforcements shall measure 9 inches wide by 12 inches high and shall be double stitched to the outside of the outer shell in the knee area for greater strength and abrasion resistance. Knee reinforcements of a smaller size do not provide the same protective coverage and shall be considered unacceptable.

PADDING UNDER KNEE REINFORCEMENTS

Padding for the knees shall be accomplished with one layer of approved NFPA foam sandwiched between the shell and the knee reinforcement layers.

EXPANSION POCKETS

An expansion pocket, measuring approximately 2 inches deep by 10 inches wide by 10 inches high shall be double stitched to the side of each leg straddling the out seam above the knee and positioned to provide accessibility. The lower half of each expansion pocket shall be reinforced with a layer of Kevlar® material on the inside. Two rust resistant metal drain eyelets shall be installed on the underside of each expansion pocket to facilitate drainage of water. The pocket flaps shall be rectangular in shape, constructed of two layers of outer shell material and shall measure 3 inches deeper than the pocket.

expansion and ½ inch wider than the pocket. The pocket flaps shall be closed by means of FR Velcro® hook and loop fastener tape. Two pieces of 1½ inch by 3-inch FR Velcro® hook fastener tape shall be installed vertically on the inside of each pocket flap (one piece on each end). Two corresponding pieces of 1½ inch by 3-inch FR Velcro® loop fastener tape shall be installed horizontally on the outside of each pocket near the top (one piece on each end) and positioned to engage the hook fastener tape.

PANT CUFF REINFORCEMENTS

The cuff area of the pants shall be reinforced with gray suede leather. The cuff reinforcements shall not be less than 2 inches in width (3 inches for self-material, Millenia™, or Dragonhide™) and folded in half, approximately one half inside and one half outside the leg cuff for greater strength and abrasion resistance. The cuff reinforcement shall be double stitched to the end of the leg for a total of four rows of stitching. This independent cuff provides an additional layer of protection over a hemmed cuff. Pants that are turned and stitched at the cuff, as opposed to an independent cuff reinforcement, do not provide the same level of abrasion resistance, and shall be considered unacceptable.

PADDED RIP-CORD SUSPENDERS & ATTACHMENT

On the inside waistband shall be attachments for the standard "H" style "Padded Rip-Cord" suspenders.

There will be four attachments total – 2 front, 2 back. The suspender attachments shall be constructed of a double layer of black Nomex® measuring approximately ½ inch wide by 3 inches long. They shall be sewn in a horizontal position on the ends only to form a loop. The appearance will be much like a horizontal belt loop to capture the suspender ends.

A pair of "H" style "Padded Rip-Cord" suspenders shall be specially configured for use with the pants.

The main body of the suspenders shall be constructed of 2-inch-wide black strap webbing. The suspenders shall run over each shoulder to a point approximately shoulder blade high on the back, where they shall be joined by a 2-inch-wide horizontal piece of webbing measuring approximately 8-inches

11 | P a g e long, forming the “H”. This shall prevent the suspenders from slipping off the shoulders. The shoulder area of the suspenders will be padded for comfort by fully encasing the webbing with aramid batting and wrap-around black Nomex®.

The rear ends of the suspenders will be sewn to 2-inch-wide elasticized webbing extensions measuring approximately 8-inches in length and terminating with thermoplastic loops. The forward ends of the suspender straps shall be equipped with specially configured black powder coat non-slip metal slides.

Through the metal slides will be the 9-inch lengths of strap webbing "Rip-Cords" terminating with thermoplastic loops on each end. Pulling on the "Rip-Cords" shall allow for quick adjustment of the suspenders.

Threaded through and attached to the thermoplastic loops on the forward and rear ends of the suspenders will be b ack Nomex® suspender attachments incorporating two snap fasteners. The Nomex® suspender attachments are to be threaded through the suspender attachment loops on the inside waistband of the pants. The Nomex® suspender attachments will then fold over and at tach to themselves securing the suspender to the pants.

SEAT CONSTRUCTION

The rise of the rear pant center back seam, from the top back of the waistband to where it intersects the inside leg seams at the crotch, shall exceed the rise at the front of the pant by 2½ inches. The longer rear center back seam provides added fullness to the seat area for extreme mobility without restriction when stepping up or crouching and will be graded to size. This feature in combination with other design elements will maintain alignment of the knee directly over the knee pads when kneeling and crawling.

TAKE UP STRAPS

The pants shall be equipped with two take up straps. The straps shall be constructed of 1-inch-wide black Aramid twill and be positioned in the waist area on the outside of the garment; one on each side. Each take up strap shall be comprised of two sub-component straps. The rear strap component shall be constructed of black twill Nomex®. The rear strap shall measure 1 inch wide and 4 inches long, folded back to form a loop, and shall be back tacked to the pants. The loop shall hold a high temp thermoplastic buckle. The buckle shall point toward the front. The front strap component shall measure 1 inch wide by approximately 9 inches long (finished dimension). One end shall be folded back on itself to form a loop.

A high temp thermoplastic slide fastener shall be captured within the loop. The front strap component shall be inserted through the buckle on the rear strap component, back through the slide fastener, and the end shall be back tacked to the pants. A pull-tab of 1-inch black Aramid twill shall be affixed to the slide fastener. The take up strap pull-tabs shall pull toward the front to tighten. This shall allow for approximately 4 inches of adjustment per strap (8 inches overall).

REVERSE BOOT CUT

The outer shell pant leg cuffs will be constructed such that the back of the leg is approximately 1 inch shorter than the front. The liner will also have a reverse boot cut at the rear of the cuff and a concave cut at the front to keep the liner from hanging below the shell. This construction feature will minimize the chance of premature wear of the cuffs and injuries due to falls as a result of "walking" on the pant cuffs.

Pants that have “cut-outs” in the back panel rather than a contoured boot cut shall be considered unacceptable.

THIRD PARTY TESTING AND LISTING PROGRAM

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All components used in the construction of these garments shall be tested for compliance to NFPA Standard #1971 (2007 revision) by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Underwriters Laboratories shall certify and list compliance to that standard. Such certification shall be denoted by the Underwriters Laboratories certification label.

LABELS

Appropriate warning label(s) shall be permanently affixed to each garment. Additionally, the label(s) shall include the following information.

Compliance to NFPA Standard #1971 -2007 edition Underwriters Laboratories classified mark Manufacturer's name Manufacturer's address Manufacturer's garment identification number Date of manufacture.

Size Fiber contents

ISO CERTIFICATION / REGISTRATION

The protective clothing manufacturer shall be certified and registered to ISO Standard 9001 to assure a satisfactory level of quality. Indicate below whether the manufacturer is so certified and registered by checking either "Yes" or "No" in the space provided.

BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU:

The manufacturer is accredited by the Better Business Bureau, showing a commitment to ethical and principled business practices.

WARRANTY

The manufacturer shall warrant these jackets and pants to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for their serviceable life when properly used and cared for.

EXCEPTIONS TO SPECIFICATIONS

All exceptions to the above specifications must be clearly stated for each heading. Use additional pages for exceptions, if necessary.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

Jackets and Pants shall be manufactured in the United States.

MEASUREMENTS:

The contractor shall assist with onsite sizing of firefighters using individual sizing samples to properly fit firefighters and delivery the gear to the NIST Fire Department. This may take 2-3 visits to the NIST Gaithersburg campus to size all employees.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE:

All merchandise shall be inspected before acceptance by an authorized representative of the NIST Fire Department for workmanship, appearance and proper functioning of all components, and conformance to all requirements of these specifications. Failure in compliance will be cause for the purchaser to reject all or part of the order. Should deficiencies be found, it shall be the responsibility of the supplier to pack and

13 | P a g e return the product in question, make necessary corrections or replacements, and return them to the NIST Fire Department for re-inspection and acceptance.

REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT:

Evaluation of turnaround time for repairs/replacement shall be a factor in vendor selection. Should repairs or alterations need be made product should be returned from time reported in no less than 30 days.

WARRANTY:

The manufacturer shall warrant these jackets and pants to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for their serviceable life when properly used and cared for. The warranty shall cover all parts from defects, labor, and shipment of equipment for repair. The warranty shall commence upon the acceptance of the gear.

DELIVERY TERMS:

Delivery will be to Building 318, NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Normal duty hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, apart from Federal holidays.

TRAVEL:

Travel to the NIST in Gaithersburg, Maryland, will be in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

SAFETY:

The Contractor employee shall be responsible for knowing and complying with all installation safety prevention regulations. Such regulations include, but are not limited to, general safety, fire prevention, and waste disposal.

SECURITY:

NIST is a restricted campus. An identification badge is required for access for entry into buildings and is shown to the armed Security Police when entering the campus.

REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS:

Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time, apart from Federal holidays.

IDENTIFICATION BADGES:

Contractor employees shall comply with NIST identification and access requirements. Each Contractor employee shall wear a visible identification badge provided by the NIST Security Office.

VEHICLE REGISTRATION:

All Contractor employees must register their vehicles with the NIST Security Office to gain access to the campus. A valid driver’s license, Government-furnished civilian ID, proof of insurance and current registration must be presented to the NIST Security Office, at which time a NIST vehicle pass will be issued. The pass shall be displayed on the vehicle in accordance with NIST Security Office instructions.