Request for Information on Parachutist Oxygen Delivery System (PODS)

The U.S. Army's Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PdM SCIE), operating under the Department of the Army Materiel Command Army Contracting Command Aberdeen Proving Ground, has issued a Request for Information seeking technical details about a Parachutist Oxygen Delivery System (PODS) for high-altitude military parachute operations. The Army requires a comprehensive oxygen system capable of supporting parachutists during exits from altitudes up to 35,000 feet with descent times exceeding 60 minutes, addressing current limitations of existing O2 Bailout Bottles. The system must provide sufficient oxygen throughout pre-breathe, freefall, and canopy descent phases while remaining compatible with existing military parachute systems and operating in extreme temperatures ranging from -65°F to 160°F. Key technical requirements include accommodation of 5th-95th percentile soldier sizes, ability to withstand 15g opening shocks, prevention of hypoxia, and support for total mission durations exceeding 3 hours. Interested manufacturers must submit detailed technical analyses including oxygen depletion predictions, system testing requirements, component costs, and maintenance recommendations by 3:00 PM on June 27, 2025.

This pre-solicitation notice does not include any set-aside designations and is open to all qualified contractors. No incumbent contractors or current service providers are identified in the documentation, suggesting this may represent a new capability requirement or significant upgrade to existing systems. The notice does not specify potential award values, budget ranges, or quantities of systems to be procured, as this information-gathering stage precedes formal solicitation development. The Request for Information focuses on technical feasibility and capability assessment rather than commercial terms, with responses due within approximately one month of the posting date. The extended mission duration requirement of over 3 hours and the extreme altitude capability up to 35,000 feet indicate this system is intended for specialized military operations requiring sustained oxygen support. The classification under NAICS code 332420 for Metal Tank Manufacturing and PSC code 8120 for Commercial and Industrial Gas Cylinders suggests the procurement will likely involve specialized pressure vessel and gas delivery system components.