J&A for Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) for Small Stature Soldiers

This notice is being published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 5.101(a)(1) requiring the dissemination of information on proposed contract actions. This is a notice of intent to award a sole-source contract, and is not a request for competitive proposals. The statutory authority for this sole-source procurement is 10 USC 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

The Army Contracting Command (ACC) intends to award a sole source contract to Armor Express, doing business as (DBA) KDH Defense Systems (KDH), for $5M worth of Modular Scalable Vests (MSVs) for small stature Soldiers. The MSV is a component of the Soldier Protective System (SPS) Torso Extremity Protection (TEP) program.   The $5.0 Million is fiscal year (FY) 2020 Operations and Maintenance Army (OMA) funds that has been earmarked in Appropriation Bill, H.R. 1158, for the purchase of MSV.  KDH is currently the only vendor that is First Article Test (FAT) Qualified and has successfully completed delivery orders for MSV.  

Procurement of the aforementioned item support the Army’s ability to provide the personal protective equipment to the small stature Soldiers in the force.  Small statured Soldiers will continue to be in units deploying overseas into contingency operations, in increasing numbers, therefore the need for MSVs in sizes for small statures will continue to grow.  Purchasing the MSV in the sizes and quantities recommended supports the Army’s requirement and the one hundred thousand (100,000) Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team (SL CFT) Soldiers.   

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses
to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.