ULCANS INC 1 RFI - 26I5406.docx

M67854-26-I-5406

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Program Manager, Combat Support Systems (PM CSS) Combat Service Support Equipment (CSSE) Individual Armor (IA) Team

INDUSTRY MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY FOR THE

ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT CAMOUFLAGE NETTING SYSTEM INCREMENT 1 (ULCANS INC 1)

1) GENERAL INFORMATION.

This Request for Information (RFI) initiates market research under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 and is not a Request for Proposal. The information herein only initiates communication with the industry in order to assess market potential. No solicitation document exists at this time. This RFI constitutes no Government obligation to procure these items or issue a solicitation. The Government does not have an obligation to pay for information responding to this RFI and will not accept any responses as offers. Vendors should mark any proprietary information clearly and appropriately.

2) PURPOSE.

This is a Sources Sought Notice / Request for Information (RFI) for the Program Manager, Combat Service Systems (PM CSS), Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Virginia, for the Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Netting System Increment 1 (ULCANS INC 1). The purpose of this sources sought is to gain knowledge of the interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry (NAICS code 315990 and PSC code 1080 apply).

PM CSS is conducting Market Research regarding the industry's interest and capability to manufacture the eight variants of the next-generation ULCANS INC 1 screen system with support apparatus. The eight variants are the following:

• Radar Scattering (R/S) Woodland Screen System

• Radar Transparent (R/T) Woodland Screen System

• Radar Scattering (R/S) Desert Screen System

• Radar Transparent (R/T) Desert Screen System

• Radar Scattering (R/S) Arctic Screen System

• Radar Transparent (R/T) Arctic Screen System

• Radar Scattering (R/S) Urban Screen System

• Radar Transparent (R/T) Urban Screen System

These systems are used to conceal large military vehicles, shelters, and other critical assets.

The Government is requesting information from each vendor in the following areas:

• Research and Development (R&D) and Technical Capability, in terms of being able to develop an item with optimized signature management performance

• Production & Manufacturing Capacity

• Approach to an on-demand, battlefield-specific camouflage solution

White papers discussing technical approaches to the development and production of camouflage screen and support systems will be considered and compared with the currently-issued systems for factors including but not limited to multispectral concealment performance, modularity (ease of use), physical performance, perceived user acceptability, logistical requirements, and cost. PM CSS is currently looking for information and proposed solutions for any or all of the camouflage variants described above, as well as a support system. PM CSS will also consider papers that include reversible screen systems where two different multispectral camouflage patterns are used on opposing sides of the screen.

R&D and Technical Capability

· The vendor shall explain how their design maximizes the amount of passive spectral breakup in as many of the following spectral regions as possible, including ultraviolet (UV), visible (Vis), near infrared (NIR), short/mid/long wave infrared (SWIR/MWIR/LWIR), thermal-infrared (TIR), and radar spectral ranges to protect assets from detection by ground-based, airborne, and satellite sensors.

· Background matching capability, where if the vendor were supplied with grid reference and/or spectrometer data from a location of interest, describe the steps that would be taken to design a system that was custom-built for that specific region.

· Previous experience in the fields of Camouflage, Concealment, Deception (CC&D) or Signature Management. These may include a list of publications in the study where the author(s) or co-author(s) are employed by the vendor, or areas of research where the vendor contributed to an effort. This would include acting as a sub-contractor to a prime on a Government signature management effort.

· Examples of produced or marketed items created by the vendor that can demonstrate the multispectral performance and manufacturability of large screen systems

· Previous government or contractor test data, as appropriate and relevant to multispectral performance, demonstrating sensor defeat, material, and performance durability, and related characteristics.

· The vendor's technical approach to prototype, test, evaluate, refine, and manufacture the ULCANS INC 1 screen systems.

Production and Manufacturing Capacity

· Approach to an on-demand, Battlefield-Specific Camouflage Screen Solution

· The vendor shall provide a description of the current manufacturing capability, including but not limited to manufacturing facility size, equipment, personnel, Berry Amendment compliance, supply chain limitations (minimum purchase/yardage, etc.), and other pertinent information. PM CSS desires information on current production capacity as well as projected future production capacity.

Production and Manufacturing Capacity

· Describe current R&D capability, including design of multispectral fabrics, in-house testing of spectral measurements and material properties, and evaluation capability, etc.

· The vendor shall provide a description of the manufacturing capability to accommodate a surge in demand in the event of a conflict.

· The Government is interested in understanding the firm's ability to transition production from a minimum sustaining rate to a "surge" status where up to 10,000 units per month would be required. The following details should be considered:

· Production facility size

· Equipment required

· Personnel required

· Raw materials and lead times for those materials

· The vendor shall provide manufacturing capability and capacity, listing the path forward, timeline, and resources that would be required for the firm to be able to scale up to the following quantities per month in the event of a conflict:

· 1000 systems/month sustained production

· 2500 systems/month surge capability for 6 months

· 5000 systems/month surge capability for 6 months

· 10,000 systems/month surge capability for 12 months

· The government is considering a course of action that would include an on-demand, battlefield-specific camouflage screen solution that could be ramped up on an as-required basis. This would allow a custom-tailored solution to defeat new and specific threats, the camouflage appearance for which would be a tailored multispectral match to a specific area, as opposed to a wide-area, generic camouflage solution.

· Assuming a warm production line, the vendor shall propose a solution and step-by-step timeline where this approach would be achievable, starting from notification by the government that a site-specific solution would be required. Please consider the following:

· Data that would be required to be supplied from the government to the vendor in order to make the best possible multi-spectral solution. (threshold and objective)

· The amount of perceived flexibility in adjusting the multispectral performance of the camouflage solution to the identified location

· Timeframe from notification to production of tailored camouflage solutions

· Ability to produce up to 5,000 systems/month under this battlefield specific construct

The system should adhere to the following requirements:

Physical/Logistical System Requirements

The combined weight and cube (volume) of the camouflage screen system and the support structure must not exceed 105 lbs (47 kg) and 10.0 cubic feet (0.28 m3) when dry and packaged. Logistical details for a currently-issued system are provided below for reference.

Physical/Logistical System Requirements

· The packaged weight and cube of the Desert ULCANS INC 1 camouflage screen system is approximately 61 lbs (28 kg); 5.0 cubic feet (0.14 m3). The camouflage screen system is comprised of the following:

· Hexagon screen (40 lbs or 18 kg)

· Rhombic screen (14 lbs or 6 kg)

· Repair Kit (3 lbs or 2 kg)

· Carrying case for the screen system (5 lbs or 2 kg)

· The packaged weight and cube of the Desert ULCANS support system is approximately 42 lbs (19 kg); 5.0 cubic feet (0.14 m3). The support system is comprised of the following:

· (12) 48-in (122 cm) Support Poles (26 lbs or 12 kg)

· (24) Stakes (6 lbs or 3 kg)

· (6) Shape Disrupters (6 lbs or 3 kg)

· Carrying case for the support system (3 lbs or 2 kg)

System Requirements Specific to the Camouflage Screens

· Each screen system shall contain at least two screens of different physical sizes to allow for flexibility in covering the widest range of area when combined with other screen systems.

· The shape of the screens in the system shall be modular and expandable to be able to cover large objects. The shape of each individual net may be any of the following: rhombic, hexagonal, rectangular, or something else otherwise offered by the respondent. The use of multiple shapes within a system is encouraged. Additional user feedback or information on the performance of the proposed net shape is requested.

· Screen systems shall either be radar-scattering or radar-transparent.

· Screen systems may exhibit an incision pattern on the outer face of the material to give a three-dimensional appearance with a garnish, or they may be two-dimensional without an incision pattern.

· Screen systems may be single- or double-sided/reversible to allow for two different camouflage patterns.

· The outer face(s) of the screen system must exhibit a camouflage pattern consisting of at least 3 but no more than 7 colors. The substrate and/or the colors in the camouflage pattern must provide multispectral (UV/VIS/NIR/SWIR/MWIR/LWIR/Radar) breakup to conceal objects within the intended background when observed from a range of 300 meters or greater in any direction, including from above.

Specific System Requirements Regarding the Camouflage Support System:

· A single pole of the support system should be able to support the weight of the entire screen system without collapsing during setup

· The support structure must not degrade the effectiveness of multispectral concealment of the camouflage screen system. Non-metallic components are desired.

· The support structure, if properly used in combination with the screen system, shall sustain wind gusts of at least 46 mph (74 km/h or 40 knots) without structural collapse or failure. Higher wind performance is desirable.

Specific System Requirements Regarding the Camouflage Support System:

· Recommendations about packaging to facilitate transport, storage, and deployment of the proposed systems will also be considered.

3) SUBMISSION REQUEST.

Responses to this RFI are limited to a total of TWENTY pages (i.e., TEN pages front and back), inclusive of a cover letter not to exceed one page. Responses must include the following information:

a) Company name:

b) Commercial and Government Entity Code (CAGE) and Unique Entity Identifier

c) Small or large business?

d) If small, which categories apply?

i) 8(a) certified

ii) Disabled veteran-owned

iii) Veteran-owned

iv) Woman-owned

v) HUB Zone

vi) Native American

e) Other Small Business Administration-approved designation

f) System for Award Management (SAM) registration expiration date.

g) Do you have a viable Federal Supply Schedule that can support procurement of the UCANS INC 1? If so, provide your GSA Schedule information to include the category of products provided.

h) Estimated Production/Lead time per item.

4) SUBMISSION PROCESS

a) Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing via email to Contract Specialists, Cheryl Dunn: cheryl.dunn.civ@usmc.mil and Mark Denhup: mark.denhup2@usmc.mil no later than February 26, 2026. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after February 26, 2026, will be answered. MCSC will post all questions and answers to the sam.gov website at (https://sam.gov).

b) Responses shall be submitted to Contract Specialists, Cheryl Dunn, via email: cheryl.dunn.civ@usmc.mil and Mark Denhup: mark.denhup2@usmc.mil no later than March 17, 2026. Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Only Government employees will review the responses.

5) PROPRIETARY DATA

The Government may use information received from this RFI to establish future Marine Corps requirements. Vendors deciding to submit competition sensitive or proprietary information bear sole responsibility for marking the information for appropriate safeguarding. Proprietary information will be protected from unauthorized disclosure as required by Subsection 27 of the Office of Procurement Policy Act, as amended (41 U.S.C. 423) (hereinafter referred to as "the Act"), as implemented in the FAR.

6) SUMMARY

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY to identify sources that offer the product(s) listed above. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. The information provided in the RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. The Marine Corps has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed, and the release of this RFI should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur costs for which reimbursement would be required or sought. Further, the Marine Corps is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be released on the SAM.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

DISTRIBUTION: DoD COMMUNITY ONLY

DISTRIBUTION: DoD COMMUNITY ONLY