Industry Manufacturing Capability for Headsets, Push-to-Talk Adapters, and Cabling

Amendment 002: This Amendment updates language in section 2.a); incorporates the Questions received and the Government's Responses, and extends the response deadline to 10 March 2023. Amendment 001: This Amendment updates the Questions submission deadline to 15 February 2023. 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. This Request for Information (RFI) initiates market research under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 and is not a Request for Proposal. The information herein only initiates communication with industry, in order to assess market potential. No solicitation document exists at this time. This RFI constitutes no Government obligation to procure these items or issue a solicitation. The Government does not have an obligation to pay for information responding to this RFI and will not accept any responses as offers. Vendors should mark any proprietary information clearly and appropriately. 2. PURPOSE. The Program Manager Infantry Weapons (PM IW), Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), is seeking industry input that identifies potential sources for Headsets, Push-to-Talk Adapters, and Cables. PM IW requires two different Berry Amendment compliant headsets, one headset for dismounted Marines, and the other headset for mounted Marines operating tactical vehicles. These items must be rugged and capable of operating in a wide range of environments. a) The headset for dismounted Marines should have the capability for Marines to communicate with other team members in near proximity, without the use of an external radio system using non-Bluetooth. The short-range, headset-to-headset communication should allow multiple team members to speak simultaneously within a 25-ft radius. The headset should have the capability to convert from an over-the-head to a rail-mounting configuration without the use of proprietary tools, and be fully reversible (no permanent modifications). The headset should provide a Noise Reduction Rating that is greater than or equal to 20 decibels. The headset Sound Localization for sound measurement shall be tested in accordance with ANSI/ASA S3.71-2019. The headset should provide an Impulse Peak Insertion Loss that is less than or equal to 29 decibels, tested at a minimum of 170 decibels pressure. The dismounted headset should include a Push-to-Talk Adapter that allows the user to transmit on multiple channels, send, and receive data. The cables should be compatible with the Army/Navy Portable Radio Communications (AN/PRC)-117G, AN/PRC-148, AN/PRC-153, and AN/PRC-160 Tactical Radios. One of the cables should integrate with the newly fielded AN/PRC-163 Tactical Radio; the cable should provide the capability to connect with any mobile devices (tablet, laptop, or smart phone). b) The headset for the mounted Marines should have the capability to provide hearing protection, communications intelligibility, and situational awareness for any vehicle platform. The headset should provide Active Noise Reduction no less than 36 decibels. The headset should include wearing options with either a soft-liner, rail mountable, or behind-the-neck rail assembly. The soft-liner must be compatible with a high-cut helmet. The headset should include Push-to-Talk, mode, and volume controls. The headset should have the capability to connect to mounted tactical radios with detachable cable down-leads. 3. SUBMISSION REQUEST. This RFI has a 12-page restriction. However, an executive summary, not to exceed five pages, should accompany each submission, for a total of two attachments, 17 pages maximum. Responses may include any advertising or marketing information. The Government is not scheduling an Industry Day in conjunction with this RFI. The Government does not require Product Demonstration Models with the response. Please include the following information in the response: Organization Name, Address and Point of Contact information: Commercial and Government Entity code, and Unique Entity Identifier: Designate whether the company is a large or small business. Should the company be designated as a small business, please also provide the appropriate category/categories, if applicable: 8(a) certified Disabled veteran-owned Veteran-owned Woman-owned HUB Zone Native American Any other Small Business Administration approved designation. System for Award Management registration expiration date. Estimated Production/Lead time per item. Estimated fixed unit price per item for 2,000 and 5,000 of each item. Material Description: Include a general description of each version and each component of the Push-to-Talk Adapter, Dual Communication Cable, and Intercom System Cables. Please identify which requirements the items meet. Address the system's ability to integrate with the radios mentioned in paragraph 2.a). Berry Amendment / Buy American Act compliance. Existing contracts (i.e., General Services Administration, other agency contracts, etc.) where the goods and services addressed in this RFI may be available. Please submit RFI questions to the Contract Specialist, Ms. Margarita McGinn, via email: guadalupe.mcginn@usmc.mil with a courtesy copy to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Elizabeth Colvin, via email: elizabeth.colvin@usmc.mil no later than 15 February 2023. MCSC will post all questions and answers to the sam.gov website at: https://sam.gov. Please submit all responses to the Contract Specialist, Ms. Margarita McGinn, via email: guadalupe.mcginn@usmc.mil with a courtesy copy to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Elizabeth Colvin via email: elizabeth.colvin@usmc.mil no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT, 10 March 2023. All responses shall reference RFI#: M67854-23-I-1023. 4. PROPRIETARY DATA. The Government may use information received from this RFI to establish future Marine Corps requirements. Vendors deciding to submit competition sensitive or proprietary information bear sole responsibility for marking the information for appropriate safeguarding. Proprietary information will be protected from unauthorized disclosure, as required by Subsection 27 of the Office of Procurement Policy Act as amended (41 U.S.C. 423) (hereinafter referred to as "the Act"), as implemented in the FAR. Notice The Government uses support contractor/non-Government personnel from Skylla Engineering, and their subcontractors, as consultants to help collect and review market information. MCSC contractually binds these companies with respect to proprietary information by organizational conflict of interest and non-disclosure clauses. Supporting contractor personnel are procurement officials within the meaning of the Office of Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 423) and as implemented in the FAR.