Request for Information - Lens Technologies with Improved Impact Resistance

The U. S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC), Natick, MA is conducting market research in the area of protective eyewear. Of specific interest are state of the art lens technologies that offer significant improvements in impact protection over products currently listed on the Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL), are conducive to production in large quantities in a short period of time (such as injection molding-based technologies), and are ready for maturation from a manufacturing readiness standpoint. Technologies of interest are those of sufficient technical maturity to have already undergone prototype demonstration in a relevant environment and: - have been demonstrated in the form of an optical quality, optically corrected, curved lens fitted into an eyewear frame, to include as a - blade style lens in a spectacle frame (the most common spectacle style on the APEL). Other formats, such as goggles, visors, and spectacles with separate left and right lenses, are of interest, but not required for the purposes of this market survey. - demonstrates significant improvement in fragmentation protection over currently fielded APEL items without exceeding MIL-PRF-32432A eyewear assembly weight requirements - are compliant with ANSI Z87.1 - 2015 - American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices - are easily produced in clear as well as tinted (sunglass and/or other) lens configurations - meet, or nearly meets, overall MIL-PRF-32432A requirements Lenses that achieve increased impact performance by simply increasing the lens material thickness over that of current APEL items are not of interest for the purposes of this market survey. Technologies of interest shall clearly demonstrate the ability to reliably achieve significant (preferably twenty percent or more) improvement in protection as demonstrated through increased V0 and/or V50 velocities when tested in accordance with MIL-PRF-32432A and associated documents. The information received will be used to make government decisions on future procurements for supplies and/or services related to this market research and will not be disclosed outside of the government. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this request or any follow-up information requests. Submissions will not influence whether or not a submitter receives a contract for any future acquisitions. This request for information does not constitute a Request for Proposal. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. Interested parties are invited to respond to this announcement prior to the deadline with the following information. 1) Company Information (limit 3 pages), to include: a. Name of company, and physical address b. Primary point of contact(s) and their contact information (name/email/telephone number). c. 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. d. Past experience providing similar work e. CAGE code f. Company business type(s) and percentages (e.g. manufacturing, research and development, etc.) g. 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. 2) Description of the capability (limit 7 pages), to include: a. Description of the technology and how it works, along with description and photos of prototypes fabricated to date using the technology. b. Description of how production rate and cost of the new technology is expected to compare (once the technology is manufacturing ready) to an equivalent item with standard polycarbonate lens. c. The extent to which the technology improves the fragmentation resistance over currently fielded APEL products, along with substantiating evidence (to be included as an Appendix). Substantiating evidence does not count toward page limit. Eyewear assembly weight and lens thickness of the products tested shall be included with the pertinent fragmentation test results. d. Ability to meet ANSI Z87.1 - 2020 - American National Standard for Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices, with the optical tests performed in the - as worn position, along with substantiating evidence (to be included as an Appendix). Substantiating evidence does not count toward page limit. e. Degree to which prototypes using the technology meet MIL-PRF-32432A requirements, along with substantiating evidence (to be included as an Appendix). Substantiating evidence does not count toward page limit. f. Trade-offs, special considerations, or noteworthy points associated with the technology g. Whether the technology is currently in production or, if under development, when it is expected to be production ready. h. Conformance to Buy American Act Supporting product samples (optional) may also be provided to help demonstrate the technology. All samples shall be clearly identified as to what they are, and include company name, point of contact, and reference to this notice. Samples may be sent to: US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, Attn: FCDD-SCD-PMI (Michelle Markey), 10 General Greene Avenue, Natick, MA, 01760-5019. Samples will be at no charge to the government, and will not be returned. The findings from this market research effort may impact future solicitations related to this topic. 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. 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 12 August 2022 by email to the following two individuals: Mary Prebensen at Mary.K.Prebensen.civ@army.mil and Michelle Markey at Michelle.L.Markey.civ@army.mil . Please include your company name and - Lens Technologies with Improved Impact Resistance as part of the subject title.