Parachutist Flotation Device (PFD)

The U.S. Army Contracting Command at Natick is set to award a firm fixed price contract on a sole source basis to Southern Mills, Inc., operating as TenCate Protective Fabrics, based in Union City, Georgia. This award is authorized under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) due to the unique capability of Southern Mills to supply flame resistant fabrics with specific radiant heat resistance properties required for a new wildland firefighting garment design intended for wear trials in the 2012 fire season. The fabrics, identified as Comfort MP950 and Advance, must exceed the protection standards outlined in NFPA 1977 for wildland firefighter PPE and, in some cases, NFPA 1975 for station wear PPE. The selection of these particular fabrics is critical for a comparative evaluation requested by the U.S. Forest Service, as baseline fabrics currently in use must be tested for accurate data analysis, and substitutions are not permitted. The contract aligns with NAICS code 313210 for textile manufacturing. Prior to this sole source action, a Request for Information was released to identify fabrics meeting a Required Protection Performance greater than 10 and Total Heat Loss greater than 500. While the award is sole source, the government invites all capable sources to submit capability statements, proposals, or quotations for consideration. Interested parties or inquiries must be directed via email to the designated contact, with a submission deadline of May 23, 2012, at 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time. The contract will support the Department of Defense’s efforts to enhance firefighter protective gear through innovative material solutions.