Request For Information for Individual Water Treatment Device (IWTD) Laboratory Testing

The Department of the Army Materiel Command Army Contracting Command Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC Aberdeen Proving Ground) is seeking qualified laboratories to validate Individual Water Treatment Device (IWTD) purification capabilities for microbiological and toxic industrial chemicals/toxic industrial materials (TIC/TIMs) contaminants. Interested laboratories must possess ISO 17025:2017 or equivalent certification and demonstrate the capability to evaluate water treatment devices against National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Protocols P248.01 and P248.02, which establish microbiological reduction requirements (6-log reduction for bacteria, 4-log for viruses, and 3-log for Cryptosporidium oocysts) and chemical reduction capabilities (90-95% reduction for various contaminants). Laboratories must also be able to draft product-specific test plans in accordance with the P248 validation scheme and provide comprehensive raw data, test data, and internal standard data. The primary evaluation criteria focus on firm experience, qualified personnel, suitable facilities, technical literature, cost data, business size/socioeconomic status, applicable NAICS codes, and CAGE codes. Responses to this Request for Information are due by March 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST, with technical questions to be submitted by March 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST, and inquiries should be directed to Blaise Liess or Carla Gorton at the Natick Division in Natick, Massachusetts.

This pre-solicitation notice carries no set-aside designation and does not identify any current contractors or incumbent firms. No specific award value or budget range has been disclosed in this Request for Information phase, which is designed as a Sources Sought announcement to identify qualified laboratories and inform a future Request for Proposal. The procurement targets laboratories capable of testing individual water treatment devices with purification capacities up to 135 liters that reduce soldier load and enhance autonomous squad-level operations. Testing protocols require evaluation of devices over defined operational periods (approximately 4.5 days for individual water purifiers and approximately 10 days for small unit water purifiers) using standardized test water with specific physical and chemical parameters. The applicable NAICS category is 541380 (Testing Laboratories and Services) and the PSC category is B533 (Special Studies/Analysis- Water Quality), indicating this is a professional services procurement focused on technical laboratory testing and analysis capabilities.