83--Army Aircrew Combat Uniform-Alternate (A2CU-A)Variant User Assessment

The U.S. Army Contracting Center at Natick, specifically the Natick Contracting Division, plans to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to SNC Manufacturing, LLC, located in Orocovis, Puerto Rico, for limited quantities of the Army Aircrew Combat Uniform-Alternate (A2CU-A) garments. This action is authorized under FAR 13.106-1 (b)(1), allowing solicitation from a single source due to the nature and requirements of the uniform samples. These samples will be used in a User Assessment conducted by the Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PM-SCIE) and the Aviation Center of Excellence (ACoE) to evaluate the feasibility of developing an official variant of the current A2CU. The contract is designated under the NAICS code 315210 and the SIC code 2399 and is awarded to a small business. The solicitation, titled "83--Army Aircrew Combat Uniform-Alternate (A2CU-A) Variant User Assessment," was posted on November 15, 2013, with a closing date for inquiries and capability statements set at 11:00 pm on November 25, 2013. Although the purchase is primarily a sole source award, the agency invited all responsible sources to submit capability statements, proposals, or quotes for consideration. Communication or questions were to be directed in writing via email to MAJ Terry K. Kirkwood. The contracting office is located in Natick, Massachusetts, under the Department of Defense. This effort aims to rigorously assess potential improvements or modifications to the A2CU through a small business supplier with specialized manufacturing capabilities.