Cotton Blend Shirting Fabrics

Request for Information- Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility Fabrics Background: The Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) is conducting a market survey to determine the availability of Berry Compliant, Commercial, Off the Shelf (COTS), cotton blend shirting fabrics for use in the United States Postal Service (USPS) Uniform Certification Program. The most promising fabrics will be down selected and subjected to physical property testing. Successful candidate fabrics could be used in future uniform procurements for the USPS Uniform Certification Program. Description: NCTRF seeks to identify improvements in the material specified in USPS 155D dated 10 May 2016. The material is used in Male and Female USPS Letter Carrier and Retail Clerk shirts. The fabric should be a preshrunk woven cloth that can be washed and dried, that is equal to or better than the current poplin plain weave. Woven yardage must be dyed and finished in the Postal Blue 5001 shade and incorporate a durable and soil release finish. The material should be capable of meeting or exceeding the physical and performance characteristics outlined in Table I (see attached document). The Key Performance Parameters (KPP) required should be improvements in areas such as soil release, wrinkle resistance, resistance to perspiration staining both initially and after laundering. The material must be able to be made into dress shirts without any workmanship issues with the sewing. Candidates: To respond to this RFI, interested candidates are REQUIRED to submit the following to enable the Government to efficiently evaluate the viability and benefit of the proposed material(s): 1. A minimum of 5 yards full width material. 2. Two (2) samples of Type I, Long Sleeve shirts in Size 15-1/2 made in accordance to USPS 113 - Letter Carrier Men's shirt dated 29 July 2013 with a pattern date of 25 January 2008. 3. A material description, to include; identification of fiber (fiber percentage), mercerized, bleached, de-sized, singed, combed, yarn structure (yarns per inch and ply), weave structure, pre-shrunk and performance characteristics, production lead time, production locations (fiber, yarn, weaving and finishing). Complete disclosure of chemical treatment for topical finishes, applicable Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and documentation for Berry Amendment, 10 USC 2533a, and compliance is required. 4. An estimated unit cost per linear yard (specify width of material), which may be broken down by quantity reflecting economies of scale. 5. Information which certifies that the finished product is composed of materials which have been safely used commercially or provide sufficient toxicity data to show compatibility with prolonged, direct skin contact. The finished cloth shall not present a dermal health hazard when used as intended. Submissions are limited to five (5) materials per candidate. Initial fabric samples and required documentation submitted by interested candidates are due by COB 31 JULY 2019 at NCTRF. Information will be handled as proprietary and samples will not be returned. Contact Information: Please submit responses to this notice and/or requests for specification, patterns and shade standards to K. Fratelli, Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility, 10 General Greene Ave, Bldg. 86, Natick, MA 01760-5019. This notice is for market survey only. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document exists. POC for this request is Kelly A. Fratelli, 508-233-1333, kelly.a.fratelli.civ@mail.mil.