This is a combined Sources Sought Synopsis and Request for Information. All responsible businesses, including small businesses, are encouraged to respond to this RFI. This synopsis is for planning purposes only and neither constitutes a RFP, nor do es it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. This synopsis should not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose. This Sources Sought Synopsis is in support of a market survey being conducted by the U.S. Army Resea rch Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Acquisition Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD to determine potential sources capable of providing soldiers alternative commercially available tactical headsets that include integral hearing protection. for Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier. The Ear Protection and Hearing Enhancement Tactical Headsets project within the Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP) defines explicit technical requirements for performance and interfaces. It evaluates currently available products and then publishes results in the Qualified Products Database (QPD), which is a formal DoD Standardization Document. This QPD permits acquisition programs and users to select from a list of Army-approved tactical headsets that have been verified for functionality, ruggedness and in terface compatibility with a multiple types of Army communications equipment. The overall concept for this effort is that industry will be invited to provide sample headsets for evaluation initially at no cost to the Government. The objective of industry will be to be listed on the QPD as a Government approved headset. Our testing will narrow the candidates down as the testing proceeds, and the final phase of testing will employ soldier evaluations in the field. A limited number of headsets which meet all test criteria may be purchased for this final evaluation by soldiers. When Army acquisition programs need a headset or Army units need this capability, each must assess, validate and chose from the variety of headsets on the market before proceeding. This project will verify performance and interfaces beforehand, list appro ved products in the DoD Qualified Products database to streamline their selection process. Note that this program is oriented directly to soldiers and not to specific platforms such as vehicles and aircraft. Potential sources should include their size sta tus for NAICS code 334290. Testing will proceed through easily verified technical requirements that will help narrow the candidates. The project will perform further testing in areas such as ruggedness, environmental compatibility and electromagnetic interference. Headsets that ar e successful in this phase will then be field tested to obtain actual user inputs on suitability. The final phase of this project documents the headsets that meet technical requirements and suitability in the QPD and assigns national stock numbers to each headset. The QPD will include headsets that conform to specific interfaces on the variety of radi o and intercom systems that soldiers use. In addition, we envision separate class and type designations that describe form factor, and operating environment (such as dismounted infantry extremely ruggedized or nominal military use in more benign environme nts). A formal contracting process is part of this effort. To meet this requirement RDECOM Acquisition Center will issue a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). The BAA will consist of the following three (3) phases: Phase 1 Quad Chart The first step will be the submission of a one page Quad Chart that describes the hearing protection headset and a minimum of two or more headset samples for technical analysis. They will be required for a period of approximately four (4) months. Environm ental and ruggedness testing may result in damage to the sample equipment. NOTE: Over-the-ear and earplug headsets will be considered for evaluation provided they meet the following criteria: 1) Non-developmental items are required. 2) Test data that describes the hearing protection performance must be available and releasable to the Government. 3) Form factors shall be over-the-ear or in-ear systems with microphone. 4) No bone conduction microphone or speakers are part of the project. Phase 2 White Paper Offerors whose Quad Chart meets the essential criteria will be invited to submit a white paper that must contain as a minimum: product name, product description, a summary of the types of test data available, product unit cost, compatible military communic ations interfaces, Company Address, Technical and Contracting Points of Contact, Phone, Fax & Email. Phase 3 Request for Proposals Offerors that submit white papers that are consistent with the intent of the BAA, and are of interest to the Government will be invited to submit a formal proposal. These headsets will be evaluated as part of a standardization process to develop a list of qualified products for use by ground soldiers. Future procurements by Government organizations may be awarded based on successful qualification. Questions and/or comments should be submitted to the following e-mail address:
contact@example.gov. An answer will be provided by return e-mail and all questions and answers will be posted on the FedBizOpps site. It is the responsibility of ind ustry to monitor www.fedbizopps.gov for the release of any follow-on information. Any information submitted by respondents to this synopsis is strictly voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information that is submitted by respondents to this Sources Sought Synopsis. The Government requests interested offerors submit at no cost to the government a minimum of two or more headset samples for technical analysis to: U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center, ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-U (Tyrone Knight), 4118 Susquehanna Ave., Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005- 3013, and one (1) copy of their Quad Chart no later than 4:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on March 9, 2007. Quad Charts should be submitted electronically to:
contact@example.gov and not exceed one (1) one-sided 8.5 X 11 inch page. If electronic s ubmission is not possible, please mail the Quad Chart by the time specified to address listed for submission of your samples or fax it to
+1 (555) 000-0000. Point of Contact Tyrone M. Knight, Contract Specialist, Phone
+1 (555) 000-0000, Fax
+1 (555) 000-0000, Email
contact@example.gov
