Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) support for the Uniform Integrated Protection Ensemble Family of Systems (UIPE FoS)-General Purpose (GP)

This Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought Notice is issued for informational and planning purposes only. This is not a Request for a Quote (RFQ). It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. US Army Contracting Command-APG, Natick Contracting Division on behalf of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), and the Joint Project Manager for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Protection (JPM CBRN P) is seeking information concerning the availability of contractors to support the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of the Uniform Integrated Protection Ensemble Family of Systems (UIPE FoS) General Purpose (GP). Background. The JPEO-CBRND exists to manage our nation's investments in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense equipment. The JPM CBRN P develops, fields and sustains CBRN protection and increases mitigation capabilities for the Nation. Its focus, in coordination with JPL CBRN Special Operations Forces, is to unencumber the warfighter by developing a next-generation protective ensemble that reduces the physiological burden on the user and enhances protection to emerging threats. The Product Manager (PM) is tasked to provide a UIPE FoS GP garment(s) that will protect personnel from traditional percutaneous CWA, BWA, radiological materials, and NTA threats. The UIPE FoS GP integrates with existing individual protective equipment, such as masks, boots, and gloves to reduce Warfighter loads, and minimize operational, logistical and training impacts. UIPE FoS-GP is currently in the concept development, design, and test article fabrication phase. The PM anticipates a successful Milestone - B during 3QFY21 and an Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM) granting permission to proceed to LRIP. Special Notice: UIPE FoS GP will replace the current chemical protective clothing ensemble, the Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST). As such, UIPE FoS GP procurements will adhere to the Javits'Wagner'O'Day Act, 41 U.S.C. - 46 et seq., the U.S. federal law requiring that all federal agencies purchase specified supplies and services from nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other significant disabilities. Use of the AbilityOne Program (formerly Javits-Wagner-O'Day or "JWOD") will deliver fair market-priced products and services to the government, with professional contract management that saves time and eliminates inconvenience. For planning purposes, the government anticipates a LRIP quantity of 7,000 - 20,000 garments per month. The government fully expects that the selected vendor will be prepared to both produce a quantity set of articles to provide for representation at Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) and, importantly, establish the initial production base and set the stage, without delay, for an increase in production rate at Full-Rate Production. Submit. Capability Statement (Limit ten pages) describing your firm's ability to provide the Low Rate Initial Production effort for the Uniform Integrated Protection Ensemble Family of Systems (UIPE FoS)-General Purpose (GP). Include: Phased initial, small-quantity production Use of LRIP as a test-phase to develop assembly line models to be used for mass production Plan for and implementation of transitioning from customized, hand-built prototypes to a mass-produced end product Please indicate if you are an authorized dealer/reseller. See Special Notice above. For the purposes of this RFI, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 333249 - Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing. The small business size standard is 500 Employees. If your firm is capable of performing the requirements described in this RFI, please provide a Capability Statement to Mr. Dan Adams at dan.l.adams2@mail.mil and copy Danielle DeChaine-Morris danielle.m.dechaine-morris.civ@mail.mil by 7 MAY 2021, 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In addition, the following information is requested: (1) Company Cage Code, DUNS, name, address, point of contact, telephone number and email; (2) Any small business status (8(a), HUB Zone, veteran-owned, women-owned, etc.); (3) Please indicate which NAICS code(s) and FSC codes your company usually performs under Government contracts (4) GSA contract number if applicable Interested parties must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM). SAM can be accessed at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ or by calling 866-606-8220. The government plans to use the Internet and e-mail as the primary means of disseminating and exchanging information. Hard copies of documents posted on beta.sam.gov will not be made available.