84 -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: STAIN RELIEF ON SAGE GREEN BOOTS

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICITATION ISSUANCE. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. Any formal solicitations will be announced separately. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information provided in response to this RFI. PURPOSE/GENERAL INFORMATION The 77th Aeronautical Systems Group at Brooks City-Base, TX is seeking information from sources that are capable of providing a solution for the removal of stains on the new Air Force Sage Green Boot. We anticipate using NAICS code 541490 for this project. The small business size standard associated with this NAICS code is $6.5M. All business sizes, to include small business and the sub-categories of small businesses, are being looked at during our market research phase. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION The current commercial sage green boot is used by the AF as a working & field boot. The sage green boot is replacing the tan boot for the Airman's Battle Uniform (ABU). The sage green boots will not hide many potential stains. Air Force Uniform Program (AFUP) compiled data on stains that are of the biggest concern. As a result AFUP is seeking information regarding industry available, stain repel-and-release finishes and cleaners. This is not a solicitation, and no award will be made for this effort at this time. 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 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. The Government holds the right to test any of the submissions. All submissions must be Berry Amendment compliant. Proposed solutions shall be currently available technologies. FUNCTIONAL CONCERNS Types of stains encountered by the Airmen have a correlation to their functional daily tasks & responsibilities. In Maintenance functions typical stain types include engine exhaust soot, tire break grime, fuel, deicing fluid, hydraulic fuel, mineral vegetable and ester based oils, and liquid oxygen. In Field use Airmen reported sand stains, blood, grass stains, dirt stain, red clay, flare (orange/red), and muddy water as typical. General staining in everyday "life" tasks such as eating and drinking are tomato, coffee, soda and juices. TECHNICAL INFORMATION The 77th Aeronautical Systems Group requests test data results for each product. Finish should not cause changes in shade, or near infra red spectral reflectance values as a result of application. Use of Nano technology and other state of the art technologies encouraged. Any available Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) sheets should also be forwarded. Since this product will come in close proximity to the skin while in use, proof is required that no potential health issues are posed by the proposed remedy. If this fabrication is currently in use please note current applicable industry or military end uses as well as any known positive or negative feedback from current end uses. If needed, request material(s) from an AAFES vendor. Corcoran Belleville Bates Danner The Government WILL NOT provide materials. RESPONSE GUIDANCE Interested parties must submit at least one sample of treated boot fabric/leather and marketing literature if applicable for potential solutions to this problem. Include in key points any additional benefits or risks, manufacturing constraints, effect of finishes on specified salient characteristics, any known health concerns, and associated MSDS information. All boxes/packages submitted in response to this solicitation should be clearly marked with the following information: the company name or identifier, the solicitation number, the number of the box per total boxes/packages shipped (such as 1 of 8) and the type of product contained within. Address samples to: Capt Gail Hammer Air Force Uniform Program 1901 10th St., Area B, Bldg 63 Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7605 Request comment from interested parties to the following questions: 1. What is your business size? If you are a small business, do you also qualify under any of the sub-categories (8(a), small disadvantaged business, woman owned small business, veteran owned small business, HUB zone small business, service disabled veteran owned small business, and HBCU/MI)? 2. If you are a small business, would you consider submitting a proposal as a prime contractor? 3. In what socio-economic programs do you now participate (e.g. Mentor Protege, Indian Incentive, etc.)? What is the extent of your participation in these programs? 4. It is currently anticipated that up to 3 contract awards will result from this acquisition and that a portion of these awards will be reserved for small business. For small business consideration, would your firm be able to compete under NAICS 541490? If not, why? Please provide your recommendations concerning the anticipated number of contract awards, how many contracts should be reserved for small business, and the proposed NAICS. 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. 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 (Contracting Officer) or Jennifer Pollard, Capt, PSK 77 Aeronautical Systems Group 7980 Lindbergh Landing Brooks City-Base TX 78235 moseley.soule@brooks.af.mil and jennifer.pollard@brooks.af.mil Chele Martines Clothing Designer 1901 10th St., Area B, Bldg 63 Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7605 Chele.martines@wpafb.af.mil Carol Neri Chemist 1901 10th St., Area B, Bldg 63 Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7605 Carol.neri.ctr@dla.mil *Please include all parties listed above during e-mail correspondence. Please include the following with your response: name and address of firm; size of business; point of contact and telephone number, average annual revenue for past 3 years and number of employees, classification standard i.e. large, small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, etc, affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, and potential teaming partners. Please e-mail responses to Maj Soule or Capt Pollard no later than 29 Aug 08. Since this is an RFI to be used in planning the acquisition, please do not send in a proposal. The request for proposals, if and when issued, will be available on the Internet at FedBizOpps.gov. As such, it is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any additional information. Contracting point of contact for this acquisition is Major Moseley Soule at (210) 536-6507. Please note that official information concerning this acquisition will be provided only by the Contracting Officer or the Buyer. Any information received from other sources should not be relied upon as official acquisition information.