84 -- Air Force Clothing Development Project

Request for Information (RFI) for the Air Force Clothing Development Project required to design uniform clothing items; develop uniform clothing prototypes; manufacture initial lots for fit and wear testing; and manufacture limited production runs of Air Force uniform items. Responses to this RFI are due no later than 20 Apr 2007. 1.0 DESCRIPTION The 77 Aeronautical Systems Group (77 AESG), is seeking information regarding the market for development of Air Force uniform items. The Air Force Clothing Development Project is envisioned to be the vehicle for streamlining the design of new, as well as altering/modifying existing, uniform items for the Air Force. The Berry Amendment and Buy American Act apply. Applicable NAICS is 541490 Clothing Design Services (Other Specialized Design Services). Specifically, this RFI seeks the following information: - How the different processes for clothing development are segregated - What the capabilities are of individual companies currently participating in the clothing development market - Comments on additional technical questions contained in section 3.0 of this RFI - Ideas and suggestions that provide alternative approaches to designing, patterning, developing, sizing, testing and producing uniform items - A brief description of your company's business size and business status (ie. small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned, HUBzone, veteran owned, service disabled veteran owned small business, and HBCU/MI); - Whether you are interested as a prime or subcontractor and any anticipated teaming arrangements; - For this type of work, whether the Air Force Clothing Development Project Subcontracting Goals, calculated on the basis of total subcontracting dollars, are realistic: Small Business 24% Small Disadvantaged Business 13% Woman Owned Small Business 2% HUBZone Small Business 1% Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business 1% If you don't feel the above goals are appropriate, provide achievable goals with your supporting rationale. This information will be used to establish Clothing Development Subcontracting Goals in the solicitation when, and if, released 2.0 PURPOSE The purpose of this RFI is to open a dialogue with industry and other communities of interest, to ensure to the maximum extent possible that industry input and comments are given proper and due consideration in development of the Air Force Clothing Development Project. The RFI is also expected to help the 77 AESG to develop an acquisition strategy for this project. This RFI is for planning purposes only, and there is no intention to award any contract based on this RFI. The Government will not compensate any interested party, firm, or individual that may choose to provide a response to this RFI. An appropriate Request for Proposal (RFP) process may follow at the appropriate time, but is not necessarily linked directly to the questions and responses generated in this RFI. 3.0 CAPABILITIES SOUGHT The topics for responses set out the information on concepts and designs that the 77 AESG is seeking in relation to the Air Force Clothing Development Project and scope of this RFI. This section lists Government questions/comments on capabilities for clothing development. Industry should answer questions about the specific requirements called out below, as well as respond with comments and potential solutions. - What are your company's areas of expertise (design, patterns, sizing, prototyping, garment construction, finishing, etc.)? oAre all these capabilities in-house or subcontracted? Please provide a summary - Are patterns created electronically? oIf yes, what pattern making system do you use (Gerber, Lectra, etc.)? - Is 3-D prototyping available? - Does your company have the capability and expertise produce and manage a clothing item from the concept through initial low rate production? - How do you acquire fabric for your customers? - If you have had previous experience with similar or related Govt contract, please provide a brief description. oWhat type of contract is generally used for these efforts (Fixed price, Cost, etc.)? - Has your company partnered with other companies to meet contract requirements? If yes, please provide a brief description - Does your company have experience managing clothing test programs? If so, please provide a brief description. The purpose of this RFI is to gather information about those capabilities specified in Section 3.0. To the extent simplifying assumptions are needed, respondents are encouraged to make and document such assumptions in their responses. 4.0 RESPONSE GUIDANCE Respondents to this RFI should submit documents via email to all of the POCs listed in section 7.0 of this RFI. In the response, please reference specific sections in the Draft Performance Specification by number, with the comments and evaluation of that particular section following. Submitted responses should be in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat format. 5.0 INFORMATION APPROACH When the responses to this RFI are received, they will be evaluated and analyzed by the Government. The information received will be considered in the development of the acquisition strategy and may serve as input to a business case. In all cases pertaining to this RFI, the Government will take absolute care not to present information outside of the Government in a way that clearly identifies individual vendors or products. 6.0 DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only, and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. In accordance with FAR 15.210 (e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. 7.0 CONTACT INFORMATION Responses should include the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with us. The following are the Government Point of Contacts (POCs) for this RFI: Moseley Soule, Major, PSK Gary Wellman, Capt, USAF Contracting Officer Contracts Manager 77 Aeronautical Systems Group 77 Aeronautical Systems Group Brooks City-Base TX 78235 Brooks City-Base TX 78235 moseley.soule@brooks.af.mil gary.wellman@brooks.af.mil Jason Hale, Capt, USAF Program Manager 648th Aeronautical Systems Squadron Brooks City-Base TX 78235 jason.hale@brooks.af.mil *Please submit responses via e-mail in Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat format.