84--Enhanced Advantage BDU Pants and Blouses

Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the Technology, Systems & Program Integration Directorate (TSPID) at the Natick Soldier Research, Development, & Engineering Center, intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Beyond Clothing LLC, a small business located in Seattle, WA 98108. This is the second phase of evaluation. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document is available. 1. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: The garments that are being purchased from Beyond Clothing are a variety of military clothing items that provide environmental protection. The following items are being procured: 1. Enhanced Advantage BDU Blouse 2. Enhanced Advantage BDU Pants 2. A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights, etc.): These items are made by Beyond Clothing only. Beyond Clothing participated in the initial development of SOF garments. They took that design, and with inputs from SWAT members, further developed the garments to create the Enhanced Advantage BDU Blouse and Pant. Beyond Clothing has the exclusive commercial sales rights to these garments. Consequently, they are the only commercial source for these items. In addition, Beyond Clothing has the ability to rapidly modify the design of these garments. Our intention is to conduct two operational evaluations and then using the operational feedback, make adjustments to these garments and procure another round of test articles for evaluation. 3. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: A sources sought market survey (W911QY09SS0002) for approved military products was performed in MAR 09. Respondents were invited to a Vendor Day held at Natick on 30 APR 09 where products were exhibited to the APPS IPTs. These garments were developed for SOF applications which are very similar to tactical law enforcement. On 21 OCT 09, these products were selected by the APPS SWAT IPT, based on product characteristics and user priorities. 4. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: These products are being procured as limited quantities of test articles for the planned APPS SWAT operational evaluations. Beyond has the capability to rapidly modify the design of these garments. Our intention is to procure a small quantity (QTY-30) of product to conduct initial operational evaluations (Phase I Completed) and then using the operational feedback from those evaluations, to make adjustments to these garments to improve their operational suitability and effectiveness. We will then procure another quantity (Phase II) of improved test articles for further evaluation. These items will be procured later as pricing for the modified garments becomes available. Should these items be determined to be operationally suitable and effective, they will be placed on the APPS SWAT authorized procurement list. Any future procurement from the APPS SWAT authorized procurement list will be made by state and local agencies under their respective local procurement regulations. 5. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required: There are no barriers to competition. No further Federal acquisition involvement will be required as this program terminates at the conclusion of testing. Any subsequent acquisition of this equipment will be conducted at the state and local level and is subject to state and local acquisition rules and regulations. 6. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement to the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division via e-mail to: contact@example.gov no later than noon on March 1, 2010. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick CCRD-NA-SU, Natick Contracting Division Kansas Street, Building 1 Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Steven Streeter, Contract Specialist +1 (555) 000-0000 contact@example.gov