75mm Ski Boots

The U.S. Marine Corps is procuring 500 pairs of 75mm ski boots under a sole-source justification, sourced exclusively from Danner Inc. in Portland, Oregon, to support Arctic and mountain warfare operations under Force Design 2025 and the DoD Arctic Strategy. The boots, designed with a duckbill toe for compatibility with Voile Switchback bindings, must operate in extreme temperatures ranging from -40°F to 40°F, weigh less than 8 pounds per pair in size 10, feature a waterproof construction with a removable inner bootie, and maintain a height of 9 to 11 inches. Compliance with the Berry Amendment is mandatory, requiring domestic manufacturing and prohibiting any foreign-sourced components, which uniquely positions Danner as the only qualified domestic supplier capable of meeting technical, performance, and regulatory standards. The procurement follows a prior bailment agreement and is driven by an urgent operational need to replace incompatible cold-weather boots, ensuring readiness for training at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Oregon and operational deployments in Norway. Delivery is scheduled between November 2026 and February 2027, with performance and delivery occurring at the contractor’s location in Portland, Oregon. Funding is drawn from FY26 RDT&E appropriations, and the acquisition is justified under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) due to the absence of alternative sources, despite the simplified acquisition threshold, as no other vendor has the technical capability, domestic production infrastructure, or prior government contract experience to meet the stringent requirements. The contract type is likely firm-fixed-price, though not explicitly stated, and the government will evaluate cost fairness and reasonableness through negotiation using a government cost estimate. Inspection and acceptance will occur at operational field locations upon delivery, with final authority resting with the Marine Corps. No formal packaging, marking, or invoicing procedures are specified beyond compliance with existing military uniform standards and the Berry Amendment. Proposals were due December 5, 2024, and the contract was posted on June 26, 2026, with Cheryl Harding serving as the primary point of contact. Danner’s proprietary design elements and restrictive data rights further support the sole-source rationale, as these components are not replicable by other manufacturers.