84--CBRN Modification Kit for MOLLE Hydration System

The US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Command, Soldier Systems Center (USA NSRDEC) in Natick, MA is conducting a request for information/market survey on behalf of the US Army Product Manager for Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PM-SCIE) to identify domestic products, suppliers and manufacturers of components or accessory kits to supplement the current MOLLE Hydration System (NSN 8465-01-525-5531) and will interface with current and future protective masks and clothing to provide Soldiers with the ability to drink in a CBRN environment without increasing (or producing) risk. Components or accessory kits must be ancillary items that do not alter the construction or production of the current MOLLE Hydration System, but must function as add-on items. Information submitted shall include unit production cost, literature and illustrations, component material(s) of construction, technical parameters, manufacturing location, relevant company background/experience and any documented test/analysis information that would indicate the results of performance tests such as: chemical resistance (swatch and system); thickness (mils); weight; burst strength (psi), etc. Also, the system chemical protective performance must be equal to or better than that provided by the current CBRN protective ensemble. The water inside the MOLLE Hydration System that flows into the protective mask must be able to meet the US Army Public Health Command (UASPHC) technical bulletin and guidelines (TB MED 577, TG 230A) standards for drinking water. Please include the technical feasibility to provide a system within the next 6 monthsand/or within the next 2-3 years. Pricing data shall indicate per unit price based upon projected requirement of approximately 0.5 million systems (in graduations of 10,000 units). Interested parties may submit component samples, accompanied by corresponding technical data reflecting the performance results of any independent laboratory testing as specified in this announcement, business size statement and information, no later than 5 November, 2010. Firms responding to this announcement shall indicate whether or not they are a small business. Any information submitted will not be returned. If a firm chooses to submit samples, be advised that no payment will be made by the Government for such samples or any information submitted in response to this notice. Responses to this notice are to be sent to the U.S. Army NSRDEC, ATTN: AMSRD-RDNS-WPW-P, A/Jeff Pacuska, D213, 15 Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5019. This notice is for market research only. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION OR PROPOSAL. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT EXISTS. If you should have any questions pertaining to the information requirements of this RFI, please email your questions to contact@example.gov. Only email questions will be addressed. The information received under this announcement may be used for developing acquisition strategy and refining operational requirements.