CWAS RFI-Gloves - FINAL.pdf

Cold Weather Aviation System -Gloves

Request for Information (RFI): #WNUK-12-006

General Introduction:

1. The Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) Human Systems Division (ASC/WNU) is conducting market research to identify, as potential sources, companies that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to respond to the requirements listed in this document. ASC is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to explore cost effective options to provide this capability. This is an RFI only in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.215-

3 - Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997). 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. This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever.

2. ASC is not at this time seeking proposals, and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that the U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this RFI. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the responding party’s expense.

3. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued.

Small Businesses are encouraged to provide responses to this RFI in order to assist ASC in determining potential levels of competition available in the industry, as well as helping to establish a basis for developing any subsequent potential subcontract plan goal percentages.

4. In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the U.S. Government to form a binding contract. It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor the FedBizOpps site for additional information pertaining to this RFI.

5. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this inquiry.

This announcement is not to be construed as a formal solicitation. It does not commit the government to reply to the information received, or to later publish a solicitation, or to award a contract based on this information.

Purpose:

Gather information from industry in order to gauge the market place, state of technology, and availability of a cold weather aviation system (CWAS) gloves. The intent is to provide a daily wear glove for aircrew members that will minimize overall bulk and provide for maximum cold weather protection that that allows for a high level of dexterity and flexibility during flight operations as well as post ejection sequence activities. Only Berry compliant materials/capabilities or Berry waivered materials and information should be submitted.

CWAS- Gloves Performance Requirements:

Gather information in regards to the following performance requirements:

A) Shall be able to withstand a 650 KEAS wind blast for up to 3 seconds without significant degradation of material.

B) Shall provide protection from snow, ice, and wind.

C) Shall provide protection from frostbite in the hand and finger areas in -49° Fahrenheit temperatures over a duration of two hours.

D) Shall provide FR protection equal to or better than legacy flight glove standards.

E) Shall provide the user with the ability to operate all switches and controls.

F) User shall be able to perform crew duty station required tasks such as:

a) Move Cargo

b) Accomplish egress actions

c) Lift doors

d) Enter and exit all hatches, doors and emergency escape windows

e) Operation of hoist and guns

G) Shall not interfere with ingress or egress of the aircraft during normal or emergency conditions.

H) Shall be colored appropriately to integrate with multi-layered garment. (Air Force Digital Tiger

Stripe, Desert Tan & Multi-Cam)

I) Shall minimize overall bulk.

J) Shall provide maximum cold weather protection.

K) Shall allow for high level dexterity and flexibility.

L) Shall provide necessary odor management, moisture management and fungal resistance that would typically occur while wearing the system or sub-system for 12-18 hour durations.

Questions:

Responses from U.S. and non-U.S. firms will be accepted to this Cold Weather Aviation System-Glove

RFI. Responses to questions from interested parties will be promptly answered and posted on this

FedBizOps (FBO) website, unless some release of proprietary information is involved or the answer addresses a question specific to a Company or that Company’s response. Post submittal, one-on-one information sessions with respondents are not contemplated; however, they may be offered to responders to clarify the government’s understanding of their submittal, the capability ramifications, or to discuss their business approach. Information feedback sessions may be offered to respondents after the RFI assessments are completed.

AF Points of Contact (POC) for this RFI:

Amelia Ross, Contract Negotiator

Amelia.ross@wpafb.af.mil

Kelly Snyder, Program Manager kelly.snyder@wpafb.af.mil

Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. All questions will be answered via posting answers to this FBO website; except as provided above. Additionally, questions must NOT contain trade secrets or classified information. The Government reserves the right to not address questions received after 9 January 2012.

RFI Responses

1. Please provide your RFI responses to kelly.snyder@wpafb.af.mil and amelia.ross@wpafb.af.mil by

5:00pm EST on January 13, 2012. Title e-mail responses in the subject line of the e-mail as follows:

“Response to Cold Weather Aviation System-Gloves RFI”

2. Please answer the following questions in your response:

a. What tests were conducted to satisfy the 650 KEAS windblast requirement?

b. What tests were conducted to indicate protection from snow, ice and wind?

c. What tests were conducted to indicate protection from frostbite in the hand and finger areas in

-49 degree Fahrenheit temperatures over duration of six hours?

d. What tests were conducted to ensure FR protection was equal to or better than legacy flight glove standards?

e. What tests were conducted to ensure glove will provide user with ability to operate all switches and controls?

f. What tests were conducted to ensure user will be able to perform crew duty station as outlined in requirement F?

g. What tests were conducted to indicate glove shall not interfere with ingress or egress of aircraft?

h. What tests were conducted to show minimization of bulk?

i. What tests were conducted to indicate cold weather protection is provided?

j. What tests were conducted to show glove allowed for high level of dexterity and flexibility?

k. What tests were conducted to indicate that proper odor management would occur for the duration of 12-18 hours?

l. What tests were conducted to indicate that proper moisture management would occur for the duration of 12-18 hours?

m. What tests were conducted to indicate that fungal resistance would occur for 12-18 hrs?

n. What types of dexterity tests were performed? (i.e. Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test)

o. How much is your annual capability for this type of glove?

mailto:Amelia.ross@wpafb.af.mil mailto:amelia.ross@wpafb.af.mil

3. Please limit your responses to no more than 20 pages, to include product sheets, test data, answers to the technical questions above, and identify a representative to support further Government inquiries and requests for clarification of the information provided, if needed. Marketing materials are considered an insufficient response to this RFI.

4. Respondents should indicate which portions of their responses are proprietary and should make them accordingly. All information received in response to this RFI that is properly marked as “proprietary” will be handled accordingly. Proprietary information must be clearly marked on the outside container and on the materials inside. The Government shall not be liable for, or suffer any consequential damages, for any proprietary information not properly identified.

5. Additional response information

a. Please provide sample(s) of fabric so that it is clear the material is colored appropriately.

Send the fabric to the address below:

Air Force Uniform Office

Attn: Kelly Snyder

1901 10 th Street, BLDG 63

Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433

b. The gloves must have a minimum of 2.5 CLO value.

1. Company/Institute name

2. Address

3. Point of Contact

4. Cage Code

5. DUNS Number

6. Phone Number

7. E-mail Address

8. Web page URL

9. Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System

(NAICS) Code 315992. Based on the NAICS Code, state whether your company qualifies as a:

a. Small Business (Yes/No)

b. Woman Owned Small Business (Yes/No)

c. Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes/No)

d. 8(a) Certified (Yes/No)

e. HUB Zone Certified (Yes/No)

f. Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes/No)

g. Service Disabled Small Business (Yes/No)

h. Central Contractor Registration (Yes/No)

i. Statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign owned, please indicate country of ownership).

j. For small business consideration, would your firm be able to compete under NAICS 314999? If not, why? Please provide your recommendations concerning the proposed NAICS.