4thCAB Aircraft Rafts for Overwater Operations

This is a sources sought notice ONLY. The U.S. Government currently intends to award a contract on a SOLE SOURCE basis but is seeking vendors that may be able to fulfil this requirement to support a competitive procurement. Accordingly, the U.S. Government highly encourages all small businesses to respond to this source sought. The proposed sole source vendor is Life Support International Inc. The Contractor shall provide life rafts that meet the salient characteristics in the attachments of this notice. 

The regulatory authority for the contemplated sole source procurement is the use of simplified acquisition procedures for commercial products and commercial services in accordance with RFO Part 12 and RFO 6.103-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The statutory authority at 10 U.S.C 3204 3304(a)(1) applies. Email your response to: Contract Specialist: George Hargis at george.e.hargis.civ@army.mil and Contracting Officer: Dorothy F. Bell at
dorothy.f.bell.civ@army.mil.

This notice does not constitute a Request for Quote RFQ or a promise to issue an RFQ in the future. This notice does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service. Further, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this source sought notice. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice. Submittals will not be returned to the responder. A determination not to compete with this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. However, if a competitive solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Governmentwide Point of Entry, SAM.gov. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the Governmentwide Point of Entry for additional information pertaining to this requirement.

In response to this source sought, please provide:
1. Competition Considerations: Identify any condition or action that may be having the effect of unnecessarily restricting competition with respect to this acquisition and identify alternatives or solutions.
2. Company Information: Name of the firm, point of contact, phone number, email address, SAM Unique Entity ID, CAGE code, identify business size (large business or a small business), and if applicable, a statement regarding small business status(including small business type(s)/certifications(s) such as SDB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.) and the corresponding NAICS code.

3. Interest in Competing: Identify whether your firm is interested in competing for this requirement.
4. Capability and Experience: Information in sufficient detail regarding previous experience (indicate whether as a prime contractor or subcontractor) on similar requirements, pertinent certifications, etc., that will facilitate making a capability determination. Information in sufficient detail about your company’s capacity to fulfill this requirement.
5. Commerciality and Market Information: Information to help determine if the requirement (supplies and services) is commercially available, catalog pricing, delivery schedules, customary terms and conditions, warranties, etc.

4CAB requires the purchase of Life Support International life rafts for overwater flight capability. Per AR 95-1 life rafts are required for aircraft conducting flight more than 30 minutes or 100 Nautical Miles from shoreline.Further, aircraft must be equipped for the mission, topography and climatology of operation requiring overwater survival kits (included in quoted rafts) sufficient for all personnel aboard. In order to comply with AR95-1, 4CAB aircraft must be equipped with life raft positions for all personnel on board when flying overwater. The HARD 8 and HARD 20 are both utilized by 160th SOAR and are designed for the rigors of military use. The survival kits are packaged in a robust hard case facilitating transport. Two HARD 8 life rafts (UH-60) or two HARD 20 life rafts (CH-47) per aircraft would provide sufficient capacity for UH60 and CH47 passenger/aircrew with a seat in configuration.Both life raft systems can be deployed manually or via static line further enhancing capability. The HARD8 and HARD20 are environmentally sealed and offer the reduced maintenance outlay of competing systems requiring a 5-year recertification cycle instead of annually.