Insulated Over-Boot/Gaiter

Insulated Over-Boot/Gaiter RFI Synopsis: The U.S. Army Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PM-SCIE) is conducting a market research investigation for insulated cold weather over-boots and/or gaiters. The goal of this effort is to identify firms with capabilities to provide insulated over-boots and/or gaiters for use by Soldiers operating in cold/extreme cold/arctic conditions (i.e. temperatures from -65'F to +32'F). Interest is in readily available product(s) or developmental items capable of being in production within four (4) months of the close of this RFI (must be based on a concise and attainable development/commercialization plan). Desired technical requirements for the over-boot/gaiter are as follows: 1) The over-boot and/or gaiter shall include insulation material and offer improved system-level thermal insulation when worn in conjunction with a cold weather/insulated combat boot. 2) If an over-boot, the sole of the over-boot shall utilize a rubber or polyurethane outsole material (i.e. not a fabric sole). 3) The over-boot and/or gaiter shall include a durable waterproof membrane/layer. 4) The over-boot and/or gaiter shall be compatible with a variety of cold weather combat boots. If an over-boot, it shall be capable of being secured to/around boots of varying dimensions such that the combat boot does not move freely inside of the over-boot. 5) The over-boot and/or gaiter shall not interfere with normal walking/running or reduce Soldier performance and capability to move through varied terrain. Interested sources shall, within thirty (30) calendar days of the publication of this RFI, respond with information on their current product(s) and how they address the requirements listed above. The information package shall contain the following items: 1) Detailed information regarding the firm's production capabilities for the submitted item, to include whether the item can be domestically produced in compliance with Section 2533a of Title 10 U.S. Code (i.e. the "Berry Amendment"). 2) Retail and/or wholesale pricing for currently available products. 3) A detailed description of the product, to include information regarding the materials and insulation package utilized. 4) A list of currently available sizes. 5) A product sample (size 10, D width or equivalent) Production Demonstration Model (PDM) may be submitted, if available. If a firm chooses to submit samples, no payment will be made by the government for such samples. This notice is for market research only. Responses to this notice are to be sent to Mr. Jay McNamara, U.S. Army NSRDEC, Bldg 4, D-323, 15 General Greene Avenue, Natick, MA 01760-5019. This is not a request for quotations. No solicitation document exists. The information received under this announcement may be used to purchase items for Government testing and/or developing acquisition strategy. You may email your questions for Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment to Jay.McNamara.civ@mail.mil. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick R&D (RDECOM-CC), ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, 15 General Greene Avenue, Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact(s): Jay.McNamara.civ@mail.mil