Ultra Low Visibility Concealable Body Armor (ULV CBA) Re-Solicitation

SYNOPSIS W91CRB-15-R-0003 AMENDMENT 01

This synopsis is a follow-on notice to cancelled Request for Proposal (RFP) W91CRB-14-R-0015. Market research conducted to date reveals a total of twelve (12) vendors interested in competing for the ULV CBA requirement. Ten (10) of these twelve (12) vendors were identified as small businesses. Specifically, eight (8) small businesses were identified as capable of providing the soft armor portion and four (4) small business potentially capable of providing the hard armor portion of the immediate ULV CBA requirement.

The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), in support of Program Executive Office - Soldier (PEO Soldier) Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PM SPE) has a requirement for ULV CBA system. The ULV CBA system shall be worn by ground troops conducting non-traditional operations and shall provide increased concealment over the legacy Concealable Body Armor (CBA). Any resulting awardee shall provide all program and production management necessary to meet the quality standards, reporting systems and supportability required for testing, inspection and delivery of the ULV CBA, as defined by the Statement of Work (SOW) and Technical Statement of Need (TSN). The ULV CBA system, in any of its configurations, is considered a critical safety item (CSI). In addition, all items being procured under this acquisition are subject to the Buy American Act and Berry Amendment. The Government anticipates awarding up to three (3) firm, fixed price (FFP), 3-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ)-type contracts using 100% small business set-aside under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 315990 - Apparel Accessories & Other Apparel Manufacturing. The formal solicitation will incorporate Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 52.219-6 -- Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside and FAR 52.219-14 - Limitations on Subcontracting. Large business may partner with a small business prime offeror however, the proposal must be in compliance with both FAR 52.219-6 and FAR 52.219-14. In addition, the solicitation will include a submission requirement for a Work Breakout Narrative; the narrative must clearly address what effort the prime contractor and each proposed subcontractor performs during the manufacturing of the ULV CBA.

The ULV CBA system (with and without the use of the hard armor inserts) shall have a maximum weight between 10.2 (size extra small) & 18 pounds (size Extra Large) and provide maximum concealability under conservative civilian attire (men's dress shirt or women's blouse) and under a military combat uniform. Total system weight shall include front, back, and side protective Ultra Low Visible Inserts-Hard Armor (ULVI-HA) and Ultra Low Visible Inserts -Soft Armor (ULV-SA) and harness/carrier. The carrier shall be capable of quick doffing in emergency situations (between 20-30 seconds) and provide adjustability at the shoulders to permit the height of the armor system to be adjusted. The soft and hard armor ballistic inserts shall be removable and must be secured by way of a suitable closure system that is secure and is easy to open and close. The vest shall have side pockets that allow for the insertion of the soft armor ballistic panels as well as hard plates with belly strap(s) for torso adjustment; straps shall be on the outside of the vest for ease of adjustability. The belly strap(s) shall have elastic properties to permit full range mobility. The ULV CBA system is made up of three components: ULV CBA outer carrier; stand-alone torso/side ULVI-HA that provide select small arms protection; and torso/side ULVI-SA that provide handgun protection when worn without the ULVI-HA.ULVI-HAs shall not be used as a substitute for the Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert (ESAPI) and Enhanced Side Ballistic Insert (ESBI). The design of the ULV CBA shall be unisex and consist of a carrier that accommodates either the ULVI-SA or the ULVI-HA separately and be backwards compatible with the current Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI) and Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBI) plates. The ULVI-SA shall provide protection capable of stopping pistol threats including: 9-mm, 124-grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ); 9 x 18 -mm, 105-grain Steel Jacket Lead Core (SJLC); 7.62 x 25-mm, 85-grain SJLC; .357 SIG 125-grain FMJ FN; and .44 Magnum 240-grain SJHP. The ULVI-HA shall provide protection to defeat threats quote mark F quote mark & quote mark R quote mark without use of ULVI-SA. Data requirements for proposal will be 2 V0's and 2 V50's for each ULVI-SA threat and 13 V0's with threat F for both, the ULVI-HA torso and ULVI-HA side, as well as non-ballistic data. The ULV CBA system shall be worn in the following configurations: Primary - ULV CBA carrier with ULVI-HA (torso and side); Secondary - ULV CBA carrier with ULVI-SA (torso and side); and Alternative: ULV CBA carrier with ESAPI and ESBI. Offerors must be able to deliver eight (8) complete ULV CBA systems with ballistic test data from an NIJ certified lab within sixty (30) calendar days after release of solicitation.

Any questions and/or comments regarding this synopsis shall be submitted electronically in writing to the POC identified below no later than 10:00 am EST on 09 February 2015.

The Government anticipates releasing the formal Request for Proposal (RFP) W91CRB-15-R-0003 on or about 13 February 2015 with all documents, attachments, and amendments posted at the FedBizOpps website located at the following web address: https://www.fbo.gov. No hard copies of the RFP will be issued. All Offerors shall be responsible for obtaining documentation from this location.

Point of Contact (POC) - Lisa Yamakawa, E-mail: lisa.j.yamakawa.civ@mail.mil, 410-278-6129

Ultra Low Visibility Concealable Body Armor (ULV CBA) Synopsis W91CRB-15-R-0003

This synopsis is a follow-on notice to cancelled Request for Proposal (RFP) W91CRB-14-R-0015. Market research conducted to date reveals a total of twelve (12) vendors interested in competing for the ULV CBA requirement. Ten (10) of these twelve (12) vendors were identified as small businesses. Specifically, eight (8) small businesses were identified as capable of providing the soft armor portion and four (4) small business potentially capable of providing the hard armor portion of the immediate ULV CBA requirement.

The U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), in support of Program Executive Office - Soldier (PEO Soldier) Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PM SPE) has a requirement for ULV CBA system. The ULV CBA system shall be worn by ground troops conducting non-traditional operations and shall provide increased concealment over the legacy Concealable Body Armor (CBA). Any resulting awardee shall provide all program and production management necessary to meet the quality standards, reporting systems and supportability required for testing, inspection and delivery of the ULV CBA, as defined by the Statement of Work (SOW) and Technical Statement of Need (TSN). The ULV CBA system, in any of its configurations, is considered a critical safety item (CSI). In addition, all items being procured under this acquisition are subject to the Buy American Act and Berry Amendment. The Government anticipates awarding up to three (3) firm, fixed price (FFP), 3-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ)-type contracts using 100% small business set-aside under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 315990 - Apparel Accessories & Other Apparel Manufacturing.

The ULV CBA system (with and without the use of the hard armor inserts) shall have a maximum weight between 10.2 (size extra small) & 18 pounds (size Extra Large) and provide maximum concealability under conservative civilian attire (men's dress shirt or women's blouse) and under a military combat uniform. Total system weight shall include front, back, and side protective Ultra Low Visible Inserts-Hard Armor (ULVI-HA) and Ultra Low Visible Inserts -Soft Armor (ULV-SA) and harness/carrier. The carrier shall be capable of quick doffing in emergency situations (between 20-30 seconds) and provide adjustability at the shoulders to permit the height of the armor system to be adjusted. The soft and hard armor ballistic inserts shall be removable and must be secured by way of a suitable closure system that is secure and is easy to open and close. The vest shall have side pockets that allow for the insertion of the soft armor ballistic panels as well as hard plates with belly strap(s) for torso adjustment; straps shall be on the outside of the vest for ease of adjustability. The belly strap(s) shall have elastic properties to permit full range mobility. The ULV CBA system is made up of three components: ULV CBA outer carrier; stand-alone torso/side ULVI-HA that provide select small arms protection; and torso/side ULVI-SA that provide handgun protection when worn without the ULVI-HA.ULVI-HAs shall not be used as a substitute for the Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert (ESAPI) and Enhanced Side Ballistic Insert (ESBI). The design of the ULV CBA shall be unisex and consist of a carrier that accommodates either the ULVI-SA or the ULVI-HA separately and be backwards compatible with the current Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI) and Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBI) plates. The ULVI-SA shall provide protection capable of stopping pistol threats including: 9-mm, 124-grain Full Metal Jacket (FMJ); 9 x 18 -mm, 105-grain Steel Jacket Lead Core (SJLC); 7.62 x 25-mm, 85-grain SJLC; .357 SIG 125-grain FMJ FN; and .44 Magnum 240-grain SJHP. The ULVI-HA shall provide protection to defeat threats quote mark F quote mark & quote mark R quote mark without use of ULVI-SA. Data requirements for proposal will be 2 V0's and 2 V50's for each ULVI-SA threat and 13 V0's with threat F for both, the ULVI-HA torso and ULVI-HA side, as well as non-ballistic data. The ULV CBA system shall be worn in the following configurations: Primary - ULV CBA carrier with ULVI-HA (torso and side); Secondary - ULV CBA carrier with ULVI-SA (torso and side); and Alternative: ULV CBA carrier with ESAPI and ESBI. Offerors must be able to deliver eight (8) complete ULV CBA systems with ballistic test data from an NIJ certified lab within sixty (30) calendar days after release of solicitation.

Any questions and/or comments regarding this synopsis shall be submitted electronically in writing to the POC identified below no later than 10:00 am EST on 09 February 2015.

The Government anticipates releasing the formal Request for Proposal (RFP) W91CRB-15-R-0003 on or about 13 February 2015 with all documents, attachments, and amendments posted at the FedBizOpps website located at the following web address: https://www.fbo.gov. No hard copies of the RFP will be issued. All Offerors shall be responsible for obtaining documentation from this location.

Point of Contact (POC) - Lisa Yamakawa, E-mail: lisa.j.yamakawa.civ@mail.mil, 410-278-6129