Request for Information for Individual Water Treatment Device for Reduction/Removal of Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs) and Toxic Industrial Materials (TIMs) from any indigenous fresh water sources (RFI)

Synopsis:

The US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Solider Center, Natick, MA, is conducting a market investigation to identify products that meet Buy American Act requirements and/or suppliers of water treatment technologies for use at the individual Soldier level with the capability or potential to meet military requirements for removal of Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs) and Toxic Industrial Materials (TIMs) from any indigenous fresh water sources for Soldier consumption.

The technologies shall be compatible with current and future organizational clothing and equipment such as the Individual Water Treatment Device (IWTD), the MOLLE Hydration System, standard military canteens, or both. They must be lightweight (not to exceed 12oz.), easy to use/clean/maintain, low bulk/compact, and capable of producing water purified from chemical contaminants throughout an operational life of at least 135 liters. They ideally have an unused service life of 180 days, be storage stable for 5 years and be environmentally safe during use and subsequent disposal. They shall not be impacted by low temperature exposure/freezing (-33 C to 52 C) and shall be fully functional on thawing, and be functional in basic, hot and cold environments.

The technology must be capable of removing chemical contaminants to levels mandated by the Defense Health Agency: Defense Centers for Public Health – Aberdeen (DCPH-A). Relevant documents pertaining to multiservice field water regulations are US Army Technical Bulletin 577 (TB Med 577) and Technical Guideline 230 (TG 230). Ideally, this technology can meet or exceed microbiological mitigation requirements laid out in NSF Protocol P248: Military Operations Microbiological Water Purifiers. The water purification treat to drink time is ideally less than 20 minutes (desired time is less than 5 minutes) with a flow rate (if applicable) of not less than 200 mL/min. Batteries, if used, must be a commercially-available type and of weight and bulk compatible with the overall device requirements for weight and bulk. Processed water shall be palatable, with taste/flavor as in commercial bottled spring or municipal waters.

Due to the wide range of chemical contaminants that could potentially be found across the scope of global operations, the attached table contains a list of representative chemicals, their challenge concentrations, and their associated Military Exposure Guidelines (MEGs). The U.S. Army is interested in a)  identifying firms with products, technologies, and capabilities to reduce the challenge concentrations of these TICs/TIMs to below their associated MEGs; b)  identifying firms with products, technologies, and capabilities to specifically target reduction of the challenge concentrations of the inorganic materials found on the TIC/TIM list to below their associated Military Exposure Guidelines; and c)  identifying firms with combinations of products, technologies, and capabilities to reduce the challenge concentrations of these TICs/TIMs to below their associated MEGs.

Please refer to the attachment “Toxic Industrial Chemical/Material Military Exposure Guideline”

Interested parties are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Announcement. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY

This Sources Sought Announcement is issued solely for information and planning purposes and to identify interested sources. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. This Sources Sought does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. It is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. Further, unsolicited proposals will not be accepted. Funding is not available at this time. The United States Army has not made a commitment to procure any of the items/services discussed, and release of this Sources Sought Announcement should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. Response to this Sources Sought Announcement is voluntary and no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this and any follow-on information requests. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

Not responding to this Sources Sought Announcement does not preclude participation in any future RFP if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in the SAM.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential responders to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this subject.

RESPONSES:
Interested parties may identify their interest and capability by sending responses with information on their current commercial product(s) and how they might address the Military requirement via e-mail ONLY to Eric Brack, eric.m.brack.civ@army.mil, Parker Brandwein, parker.d.brandwein.civ@army.mil and Blaise Liess, blaise.p.liess.civ@army.mil no later than March 8, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. EST. Interested sources shall include information regarding a firm's experience, personnel, and facilities. Information should include product cost, technical information (i.e., technical literature, test data and illustrations, photographs, patents), relevant company background/experience, and a sample (optional). Firms responding shall indicate whether or not they are a small business. Any information/samples submitted will not be returned. If a firm chooses to submit samples, no payment will be made by the Government for such samples. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this Notice. All costs associated with responding to this Notice will be solely at the expense of the interested party.

Please provide business size (indicate your socioeconomic status), applicable NAICS code, and CAGE code. If you hold a GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract, please identify your contract number.

QUESTIONS:
Any questions for clarification may be emailed to Eric Brack, eric.m.brack.civ@army.mil, Parker Brandwein, parker.d.brandwein.civ@army.mil and Blaise Liess, blaise.p.liess.civ@army.mil no later than March 1, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. EST. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. An unattributed list of questions and answers will be published at the same web location of this Sources Sought Announcement.