Next Generation Eye Protection

The U. S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC), Natick, MA is conducting market research to identify potential sources for an upcoming acquisition. The information received will be used to facilitate the decision making process and will not be disclosed outside of the government. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information or samples in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. Submissions, to include samples (if any), will not influence whether or not a submitter receives a contract for any future acquisitions. This announcement does not constitute a Request for Proposal.. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. NSRDEC is seeking sources with the facilities and capabilities to perform the design, development, and prototype production of the next generation of eye protection for the USMC in accordance with the attached draft Statement of Work (SOW). Interested parties are cautioned that this SOW is a draft and subject to change. Interested parties are invited to respond to this announcement prior to the deadline with the following information. For the purposes of this announcement, only UNCLASSIFIED information shall be provided. 1. Name of company, and physical address 2. Primary point of contact(s) and their contact information (name/email/telephone number). 3. A complete description of the interested party's capabilities, related experience, techniques or unique combinations of these factors that are clearly related to the Government's specific needs for this requirement. 4. Whether the interested party has an active facility clearance 5. Past experience providing similar work 6. CAGE code 7. Company business type(s) and percentages (e.g. manufacturing, research and development, etc.); 8. Business size (i.e. large business, small business, SBA certified HUBZone Business, Economically Disadvantaged Small Business, Woman-Owned Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business) For the purposes of this announcement, please indicate size relative to NAICS 339115 Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing, which has a size standard of 1,000 employees. 9. Company's monthly sustainable production rate; 10. Company's maximum production rate; Vendors are also invited to submit comments regarding the draft SOW. The Government reserves the right to determine whether comments are reflected in any subsequent iterations of the SOW. The findings from this market research effort may impact future solicitations related to this requirement. This market research is not a solicitation as defined by FAR 2.101, and the Government is not requesting offers for proposals at this time. Capability Statements, including attachments, are limited to ten (10) pages. Responses should be submitted in MS WORD and/or MS Excel or PDF, including attachments. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. No telephonic submissions will be honored. Interested parties should respond by 5:00 pm Eastern time on May 20th 2016. Please address your responses to: Michelle Markey and Christopher Gudejko at contact@example.gov and contact@example.gov respectively. Samples of products from related work, along with company name, point of contact, and reference to this sources sought notice, may be shipped to: US Army Natick Soldier RD&E Center, Attn: RDNS-SEW-EWE (Michelle Markey), Building N-12, Second Floor, 10 General Greene Avenue, Natick, MA, 01760-5019. Samples will be at no charge to the government, and will not be returned.