Shelf life packaging extension for IFAK medical components

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, NOR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS; IT IS STRICTLY A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). NEITHER UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS NOR ANY OTHER KINDS OF OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI. NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED PERSUANT TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. SUBJECT: The Defense Health Agency Medical Logistics Division (DHA MEDLOG) is conducting market research for extension of shelf-life packaging to 5 years (minimum), of the critical medical components found within Individual/Improved First Aid Kits (IFAKs). Responses are due to this RFI by 12:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time) on April 30, 2014. DISCLAIMER: This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kind of offers will be considered in response to this RFI. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI marked as "proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Information provided as a response to the RFI will not be returned. DHA MEDLOG will not entertain any questions concerning the composition requirements, or the nature of services to be performed under any future request for proposal (RFP). BACKROUND: All of the applicable contents of the current IFAK have standard 3 year shelf-lives or less, which is not cost effective and poses logistical burden. In an effort to increase the shelf-life of the appropriate contents of the IFAK bag, the Joint-Service First Aid Kit (JFAK) Integrated Product Team (IPT) is investigating the possibility of extending the shelf-life of these contents to 5 years or longer. DHA MEDLOG is investigating the shelf life of the following items: - a. Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) 28FR - b. Extremity tourniquet - c. Occlusive dressing (Chest seal, includes vented and non-vented) - d. Pressure bandage - e. Hemostatic gauze - f. Compressed gauze - g. Non-latex surgical gloves - h. Compressed gauze - i. Cravat - j. Surgical lubricant (3g packets) - k. Water purification tablets - l. Burn dressing DHA MEDLOG preference is order of acceptability are commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), government off-the-shelf (GOTS), or approved foreign off-the-shelf, and research and development (R&D) options that fulfill the capabilities outlined below. REQUIREMENTS: In addition to extending the shelf-life to 5 years (minimum), components shall also meet the following: Withstand extreme environments (e.g., extreme changes in temperature, pressure, etc.) encountered during storage and tactical operations, per MIL-STD 810G As light and compact (low-cube) as possible without degrading component effectiveness Packaging that permits rapid, uncomplicated removal of the component, especially under tactical military conditions (e.g., wet, low-light environments) Durable package material, able to withstand constant, long-term friction and movement within the JFAK/IFAK bag Stored in the JFAK/IFAK bag without damaging itself, other components, or the JFAK/IFAK bag, or injuring the service member Clean or sterile, where applicable Latex free, where applicable Vacuum packed, where applicable MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS: Candidates for JFAK/IFAK medical component shelf-life extension items must satisfy the following top-level requirements. Approved, cleared, or registered by the FDA, if applicable Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliant RESPONSE INFORMATION: Response to this RFI must be submitted to Mr Steve Burrows via email at Judson.s.burrows.civ@mail.mil or to Capt George Diaz at George.y.diaz.mil@mail.mil. Email responses should be no larger than 10 megabytes (MB) in size. If larger attachments are required, please notify Mr Burrows or Capt Diaz at the above listed email addresses. Each RFI response will receive a confirmation email. Please include a point of contact, phone number, email address, website information, and indicate whether the company is a foreign or domestic entity in the contents of the email. Responses must be received by this office on or before 12:00AM (EST) April 30, 2014. This RFI is not a commercial solicitation. The Government will not pay for any information submitted, or for any costs associated with providing the information. The response should describe the company's capability to offer, manufacture, and sustain the components as characterized by the requirements addressed in this RFI. If unable to provide a product(s) capable of meeting all requirements, the respondent should offer trade off considerations. LATE SUBMISSIONS: Failure to respond to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future competition, nor will information provided in response to this RFI be used to exclude anyone from responding to any future requests for proposals. Communications with DHA MEDLOG in regard to this RFI will only be permitted in writing during the RFI response period. Responses to the RFI received by DHA MEDLOG after the submittal deadline and time may be considered. The respondent assumes the risk of the method of dispatch chosen. Postmarking by the submittal date and time shall not substitute for actual response receipt. OWNERSHIP OF RESPONSE TO RFI: All informational material submitted in response to this request becomes property of DHA MEDLOG. Physical samples will only be returned to the vendor at the owner's request and expense. RELEASE OF CLAIMS, LIABILITY, AND PREPARATION EXPENSES: Under no circumstances shall DHA MEDLOG be responsible for any response preparation expenses, submission costs, or another other expenses, costs, damages or loss of whatever nature incurred as a result of the respondent's participation in this RFI process. Respondent understands and agrees that they submit a response at their own risk and expense, and release DHA MEDLOG from any claim for damages or other liability arising out of the RFI process. ERRORS IN RESPONSE: DHA MEDLOG shall not be responsible for any errors in respondent's response. Respondent is responsible for careful review of its entire response to ensure that all information is correct and complete. Respondents are liable for all error or omissions contained in their responses. ADDENDUM: DHA MEDLOG reserves the right to issue an addendum to this RFI at any time for any reason. CONTACT INFORMATION: Mr. Steve Burrows Defense Medical Logistics Bldg 693 Neiman St 2E-119 Fort Detrick, MD 21702 Email: Judson.s.burrows.civ@mail.mil Phone: 301-619-9590 Capt George Y. Diaz Defense Medical Logistics Bldg 693 Neiman St 2E-117 Fort Detrick, MD 21702 Email: George.y.diaz.mil@mail.mil Phone: 301-619-4098