Gloves for Navy and Marine Corps Maintainers

To promote early exchanges of information with Industry in accordance with FAR Subpart 15.2, Naval Air Systems Command, Aircrew Systems (NAVAIR PMA202) of Patuxent River, Maryland is issuing this Request for Information (RFI). NAVAIR is requesting information to identify qualified sources to provide commercially available Flame Resistant (FR) Maintenance Gloves for Navy and Marine Corps aircraft maintainers and flight deck personnel. The requirements are provided below. Interested parties are invited to describe their capabilities to provide the product as described herein. The Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) items submitted in response to this RFI will be evaluated for the capability to meet the performance requirements listed below and the table listing key system attributes. The Navy plans to approve COTS items that meet user requirements for local procurement by squadrons as required for mission needs. Cost will be a big consideration in determining COTS items approved for use. There is no current plan to add this item to the federal supply system. Multiple items could be approved if found to be acceptable. Requirement Navy and Marine Corps aircraft maintainers and flight deck personnel require durable fire resistant gloves that provide the dexterity and tactility required to perform maintenance on Navy and Marine Corps aircraft and execute tasks including but not limited to: a. Operating tools and systems with controls such as pressure switches, controls, and buttons/knobs. b. Performing tasks that may require identification of an object by feel without visual confirmation. c. Operating ground support equipment. d. Assembling, disassembling and cleaning weaponry and dynamic aircraft components. e. Lifting heavy objects with potential pinch points and abrasive surfaces such as chains and cables. f. Performing maintenance in confined spaces while navigating steel braided lines (fuel/oil/etc.). g. Touching and manipulating aircraft parts and reaching into aircraft component cavities that have very high surface temperatures (134? avg) up to 15 minutes at a time. Maintainers also require cold, hot, and inclement weather gloves, so submissions of this type will also be evaluated and considered for use, however, the primary goal is to identify an all-purpose multi-use every day glove. The gloves must also be capable of demonstrating the ability to provide touchscreen capability by operating tablet devices such as, but not limited to IPADs, Android tablets, Microsoft Surface Pro's and Kindles. The glove must be able to accomplish a multitude of functions on these aforementioned devices including, but limited to: using map features; fingertip tap-to-select, drag, and multi-touch input such as pinch to zoom, turning pages and operating applications, finger writing and tasks necessary for completion of military operations. (See attachment for Key Attributes and Requirements) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes for request for information are: 339920 - Sporting Goods 339999 - Other Misc 424320 - Men's and Boy's Clothing and Furnishings Merchant Wholesalers 424330 - Women's, Children's, and Infants Clothing and Accessories Merchant Wholesalers 315210 - Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors 315211 -- Men's and Boy's Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors 315990 - Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing 315999General 2.Content of RFI Response Interested parties are invited to describe their capabilities as well as provide samples as described herein. In response to this RFI, please provide specification sheets showing the compliance with the above listed requirements, which will be at no cost to the Government. RFI responses are limited to 25 pages. The product sample as well as product information shall be submitted at no expense to the Government. The samples and corresponding information will not be returned. It is also requested that pricing be included with the submitted product and information. Proprietary data MUST be marked on a page-by-page basis, and will be kept confidential and protected in accordance with the Uniform Trades Secret Act. Interested sources shall state whether their product is available commercially and made domestically of domestic textiles. Products must be Berry compliant - manufacturers must list the origin and place of manufacturing operations of all components. 3. Response Submittal Instructions Please address all RFI responses to: Tyesha Parker, tyesha.parker@navy.mil and Jennifer Bartnick, Jennifer.bartnick@navy.mil Please address all technical questions to: Whitney Salter Atwood, Code 4.6.7.4. whitney.salter@navy.mil or (252) 646-6600. Please submit any samples to Naval Air Warfare Center, Human Systems Engineering Dept; Attn: Jim Wilhelmi, 48110 Shaw Road, Bldg 2187, Suite 1240-E5, Patuxent River, MD 20670. All correspondence shall reference the RFI number N0042121NORFPPMA202XX01 on the mailing container and all enclosed documents. Proprietary information MUST be marked as such, on a page-by-page basis. The deadline for responses is 16 March 2021. All Companies shall provide their cage code and business size under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). If the business is a small business per the parameters of NAICS Code, indicate whether the business qualifies under any of the sub-categories: 8(a), Small Disadvantaged Business, HUB Zone, etc. Respondents must clarify if their firm can provide commercial or non-developmental items that could be modified, or the technology and expertise for development, to meet the Government's needs. This announcement is NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, BUT RATHER A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI), nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted in response to this RFI. This RFI does not commit the Government to award a contract. This RFI is for market research only, and any procurement resulting from this announcement, will be synopsized separately.