Breathing Hose Abrasion Testing

This is a Sources Sought Notice (SS). This is not a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified contractors to provide this service.  Response to this are voluntary and no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information.  Any contractor responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the contractor's qualifications to perform the work.  Describe your process/procedures.

Responses to this market research/sources sought should be sent only via Email to brian.l.ray.civ@mail.mil and kathleen.m.ward20.civ@mail.mil    

Mark any information “Proprietary” that you feel necessary.

Request you include your Name, Mailing Address, CAGE Code, Business Size (Small, WOSB, SDB, VOSB, Large) and company website.

Hose to be tested description:  1 inch diameter "corrugated" hose (is able to be compressed and stretched in the axial direction), resists crushing with embedded wire (radial direction), made from a polymer material that may or may not have a textile covering.  The primary material of the hose will either be isopropyl rubber or an EPDM/Butyl rubber combination.  Minimum of 2 different designs with 5 hoses each to be tested, up to 3 designs maximum.  The Government will provide the hoses to be tested.

Testing desired:  Abrasion testing of up to 3 designs of the hose, without separation of hose materials, to determine acceptability of new designs.  Contractor to propose data to be collected, examples include but are not limited to weight lost after set number of cycles or wire exposure after quantity of cycles.  Proposed testing procedure to be submitted for Government acceptance before testing is to begin.  Final product to include actual data and comparisons between designs via a final test report.  NOTE:  Ability to test leakage after abrasion testing is preferred but not required.