SOURCES SOUGHT (REQUEST FOR INFORMATION): THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION; no award will be made as a result of this request. This request for information is for informational purposes only; this is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this RFI. The Government will not pay for information and materials received in response to this RFI and is in no way obligated by the information received. 1. SCOPE. Background: The mission of the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force (REF) is to rapidly increase mission capability while reducing risk to Soldiers and others by equipping operational commanders with off-the-shelf (government or commercial) solutions or near-term developmental items that can be researched, developed and acquired quickly. The REF receives requirements from operational commanders in war zones setting forth the capabilities needed. The REF is chartered by the Senior Army leadership to provide material solutions to meet these requirements in a significantly reduced timeline compared to traditional Department of Defense acquisition procedures. The purpose of this RFI is to information from manufacturers regarding the availability of Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) or Government-off -the- Shelf (GOTS) Improved Standing Soldier's Restraint Systems (ISSRS) for the Stryker Family of Vehicles (FOV). The Army seeks an interim ISSRS that affords the Soldier, conducting out of hatch operations on the Stryker FOV, optimum mobility and protection from being ejected during an Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) attack and/or roll over event. Experience and information obtained from this request for information will be provided to Army Product Manager REF who will evaluate the information and feasibility of issuing a procurement action to resolve the stated problem. 2. REQUIREMENTS. The ISSRS must provide required protection levels for Soldiers as defined below, and integrate with the Improve Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV), Rifleman Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment (MOLLE) set, and Stryker FOV. After review and evaluation of industry submissions, samples of the most desirable candidate products may be procured for a User Evaluation to evaluate the effectiveness of the products identified and determine their suitability for Army use. 2.1. The system shall not hinder normal operations of the soldier individual equipment and address integration with Improve Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) and the Rifleman MOLLE Set. 2.2. The ISSRS shall not prevent use of IOTV capability (i.e. IOTV quick release) or access/use of equipment stored in MOLLE. 2.3. The ISSRS shall be capable of soldier installation without the use of special tools or permanent modification to the IOTV. 2.4. Integration to the vehicle platform - The submitted design shall include hardware to connect the ISSRS to the lead in straps of inertia reel restraint (connected to the vehicle platform). The inertia reel will be compliant with MIL-R-8236 type MA 16. 2.5. The submitted design shall include a quick release capability for emergency disconnect. 2.6. Design static strength minimum of 5000 lbf (22240 N). 2.7. The system must provide a comfortable and secure fit preventing the system from shifting and creating hot spots (if worn under the vest). 2.8. Comfortably fit 5th to 95th percentile Soldier with the appropriate size IOTV with ESAPI (XS, SM, MD, LG, XL) and ESBI (one size only) plates inserted. 2.9. The ISSRS shall be usable in all operating conditions (CBRN, all weather, and limited visibility). 2.10. Easy on and off capability. 2.11. Durable (minimum of 365 days in a combat environment with no essential function failure) and can be maintained and cleaned with soap and water. 2.12. All components must be fire retardant. 2.13. Weight of the ISSRS harness (to include hardware to attach to the inertia reel) should be less than 3.0 lbs. 3. DELIVERABLES Specific information on industry capability to produce a system that can meet the requirements identified in paragraph 2 above, or otherwise solves the problem of identifying and detecting objects being emplaced. This is NOT a Request for Proposal. Companies who desire to participate in this market survey are encouraged to submit a white paper which supports the company's claim that it presently has the technology, qualifications, and capabilities to satisfy the performance and technical objectives described above. The white paper should discuss the company's ability to develop and/or provide existing technologies to improve soldier protective levels and should provide a ROM (rough order of magnitude) price and its anticipated delivery for the solution proposed. Please only submit information on products that are currently commercially available or products that are in the final stages of development and will be available for demonstration. Two ROMs are requested with the white paper: one to be priced based on a total quantity of three (3) units; the other to be priced based on a total quantity of twenty (20) units. The white paper should also discuss related company experience and include point(s) of contact. The white paper should be prepared in MS Word, limited to ten (10) pages, and submitted electronically to Tom Marousek via email at
contact@example.gov. The company shall be responsible for any costs associated with preparing responses to this market research. All requests for further information must be made in writing or via email; telephone requests for additional information will not be honored. The government will review RFI submissions as they are received. The government reserves the right to close this RFI once they have received adequate response(s) to this RFI.
