83--Market investigation to identify garment cut and sew manufacturers experienced in manufacturing the current Army Combat Uniform (ACU) with interest in participating in a permethrin treated fabric cut and sew trial.

The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), Natick, MA is conducting a market investigation to identify garment cut and sew manufacturers experienced in manufacturing the current Army Combat Uniform (ACU) with interest in participating in a permethrin treated fabric cut and sew trial. The U.S. Army is interested in locating manufacturers currently cutting and sewing Army Combat Uniforms or with previous experience in manufacturing the garment according to specifications, that would be interested in participating in a permethrin treated fabric cut and sew trial. Ideally the facility will have an isolated production line dedicated to ACU production. The facility must be willing to allow access for the Government and contracted environmental sampling companies to collect environmental samples during regular ACU production with standard Nylon Cotton (NyCo) material (baseline) and then while using a permethrin impregnated material (trial). Work area samples to be taken may include air collection in and around the facility and equipment as well as surface swabs. Additionally, employees of the facility may be asked to wear small, lightweight air sampling pumps during the manufacturing process to measure the amount of permethrin present in the air in the immediate worker area. The air sampling pumps clip onto the employee's belt and will not interfere with the employee's ability to complete their work. Hand swabs of employees' skin (such as hands and arms) may also be included in determining the amount of permethrin released into the work environment during the manufacturing process. Results of any personal sampling can be made available and provided to the respective employee for entry into their medical records. Facilities must be willing to cease production of the untreated ACUs in the trial area during the permethrin fabric trial. Information provided should include the manufacturer's ability to provide an operational and isolated production line, capabilities to produce first quality ACUs, facility diagrams (to include layout, square footage, location and number of air circulation fans, types of filters etc.), number of cutting and sewing operations and personnel per operation, description of all identified activities/processes that employees will be involved in for each work area during manufacturing, shift length and number of shifts being run, facility air exchange rate, location and operational status of any local exhaust ventilation (such as an exhaust fan with flexible hose/elephant trunk attachment), the number of uniforms required to ramp up and fill the ACU production area to 80%-100% capacity for at least 2 days for a 24 hour operation or 4 days for operations less than 24 hours and the number of days required for the trial ramp-up. Manufacturers should also provide a cost estimate to cut and sew the uniforms. Treated fabric will be provided by the Government. Cost estimates should consider all aspects of the assembly process excluding the fabric. Information submitted shall include: 1. Company name and address. 2. Point of contact, telephone, fax, Web address, and e-mail address. 3. Relevant company background/experience including an outline of previous projects, specific work previously performed or being performed, availability and description of special facilities required to perform the above study, a statement regarding industry security clearance, and any other specific and pertinent information as pertains to this particular area. 4. A schedule for when the facility may be available to conduct this study. This Market Survey is for information purposes only and does NOT bind the U.S. Government to any type of contracting action, or guarantee any purchase by the U.S. Government. Submittals: Information about a particular brand/product should be submitted in electronic (MS Word) format by 4:00 pm EST on 22 February 2013 by e-mail to Ms. Melynda Perry at contact@example.gov. If submitting via e-mail, put quote mark RFI - USARAFP248 quote mark in the e-mail subject line. Submission may also be sent by mail to: U.S. Army Natick Soldier RD&E Center, ATTN: RDNS-AMSRD-NSR-WP-WT, Melynda Perry, Bldg 5, Kansas St., Natick, MA 01760. All technical questions regarding this RFI should be directed via email to contact@example.gov. Only email questions will be addressed. Additional Info: U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research Development & Engineering Center Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick R&D (RDECOM-CC), ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5011 Place of Performance: RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick R&D (RDECOM-CC) ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street Natick MA 01760-5011 US Point of Contact(s): Melynda Perry, +1 (555) 000-0000