Soldier Protection System Torso and Extremity Protection Modular Scalable Vest Soft Armor Ballistic Inserts

This Request for Information (RFI) is for market research purposes only. All questions relating to this notice shall be sent via email to Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) point of contact (POC) Hilary Shaw. ACC-APG, on behalf of Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PM SPE) of the Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060, is seeking information from potential industry partners to support the Army's effort to produce the Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) Soft Armor Ballistic Inserts (SABI). Background: A validated requirement exists to provide the Soldier a personal protective system that allows the user to tailor his/her loads for mission-specific operations, thereby increasing survivability and mobility. The MSV is part of the Soldier Protection System Torso and Extremity Protection (SPS TEP) system. The SPS TEP design consists of four (4) components: MSV, Ballistic Combat Shirt (BCS), Blast Pelvic Protector (BPP), and Ballistic Battle Belt (B3). The goal of the SPS TEP is to provide the Soldiers with modular and scalable/mission-tailorable protection to reduce weight and increase mobility while optimizing protection. The SPS TEP allows Soldiers to tailor their protection from Tier 1, Concealable, to Tier 4, Full Tactical. The MSV consists of a concealable vest with SABI panels covered in a camouflage cloth that can then be inserted into a tactical outer carrier that also accommodates hard armor protective inserts. The tactical outer carrier also contains two (2) side plate pockets that accommodate SABIs. This RFI is to gather information specific to producing only the MSV SABIs which consists of four (4) panels (one (1) front torso panel, one (1) back torso panel, and two (2) side plate pocket panels). In addition, the MSV SABI manufacturer will provide the side plate pocket SABIs for the Lot Spare Parts Kit per the Purchase Description (PD). The MSV Carriers in which the SABIs will be fitted into will be manufactured under a separate contract. Currently the Government has a valid requirement for at least 710,000 MSV SABIs that will be produced as part of the follow-on five (5) year multi-award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract. When Fair Opportunities are released to produce a full up MSV (Carrier and SABI) it will be the Carrier manufacturer who will integrate the SABI into the Carrier, and the side plate pocket panels into the Spare Part Kits for each Lot. Specifically, this RFI seeks information on the construction of and production capabilities related to the MSV SABIs. The MSV SABIs shall meet the Material Systems Requirement and Ballistic Performance Requirement of the MSV PD, AR/PD 15-03 Rev D Amendment 1, dated February 2018 (attachment). NOTE: If a solicitation comes from this RFI, the AR/PD 15-03 will be broken out into two PDs - one for the MSV Carriers and one for the MSV SABI. Patterns are available but can only be viewed with ACCUMARK. Submission Information: All interested vendors shall respond to the RFI by submitting the below information by 03 December 2018: - Technical supporting information such as white paper, test reports or past research and development efforts investigating material performance or a soft armor ballistic design that meets or exceeds the PD requirements. - Detailed description of any past performance related to the production of tactical belts or soft armor ballistic inserts. - Rough order of magnitude (ROM) unit price - Business name, address, business size and point of contact information (name, email and phone number). - Business name, address, business size of all sub-vendors. - Proprietary information should be clearly marked and will not be disclosed outside the U.S. Government. Interested sources should submit the requested information not later than 03 December 2018 via email ONLY to hilary.shaw.civ@mail.mil. This information should be provided to the contracting office at ACC-APG, ATTN: Hilary Shaw, Contract Specialist, by email at hilary.shaw.civ@mail.mil. The Government does not guarantee that this RFI will result in a Request for Proposal (RFP) or contract award, and will not provide reimbursement for any costs incurred by vendors who respond to the RFI. Interested vendors will be advised if and when the Government decides to pursue a formal RFP or solicitation. Please direct all questions relating to this RFI to the contracting office, Hilary Shaw, Contract Specialist at email hilary.shaw.civ@mail.mil.