Tunable Insulating Materials

SYNOPSIS: This Sources Sought Announcement is to assist the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Soldier Center (DEVCOM-SC) to identify potential sources to provide information for tunable insulating materials that provide a flexible/adaptable thermal barrier suitable for field use in extreme temperature environments while enabling lightweight, compact stowage with potential to support modular configurations. The Government requests that responses be submitted electronically to jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil and peter.g.lavigne.civ@army.mil by 1 June by 5PM. Description: DEVCOM-SC is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) on technologies or capabilities of low-cost insulating materials that offer flexible and/or modular thermal control technology that are suitable for use in environmental extremes, where resources, manpower and space are limited. Thermal control technology including, low conductivity/high thermal resistivity, thermal break, and/or thermal storage materials suitable for field use are desired. DEVCOM-SC seeks to advance technology and methods to maintain food quality, water and sustainment systems under an extended range of environmental conditions. When deployed, the desired technology must be capable of rapid deployment to various applications, including pallet over-wrap, interior and/or exterior application to refrigerated spaces and other sustainment assets requiring thermal control. The technology must also provide compact stowage with minimum weight characteristics. The technology must also be suitable for use with packaged food and water and disposable concepts shall be low cost and not present an environmental hazard for disposal. Materials will first be evaluated in laboratory scale under extreme hot/cold (140F/-60F) temperatures to assess thermal, mechanical and properties. Description: Benchtop/lab-scale tunable insulation/thermal control technology/system(s) for flexible and/or modular configurations suitable for military field application. Technical Specifications: The offered tunable insulation technology must exhibit low thermal conductivity and low material density (i.e., lightweight) characteristics. Alternative or multiple materials are acceptable to support single material assessment, or evaluation of multiple materials or integrated technologies that are complementary to achieving the overall performance characteristics outlined in the attached metrics table. The product, technology and/or integrated system must be capable of maintaining a minimum temperature differential of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (F) for a minimum of 4 hours, or 20 F for at least 8 hours, while ability to perform at extreme high ambient temperature (140F) is also desired. While it is preferred that material thickness and weight is to be minimized for compact lightweight stowage, operational insulating performance is the primary objective and critical factor to be evaluated. Low end item cost is also desired for affordability and disposable technologies, material substrates, and/or thermal storage/control technologies may offered. Phase change material may also be embedded within OR coupled to the insulation to allow the ability to extend thermal efficiency at high and low ambient temperature extremes. Other novel materials or thermo-responsive technologies may be offered. The system must be compatible for use with packaged food, rations and beverages with potential application to refrigerated storage and/or occupied spaces, where any off-gassing of materials must not present a hazard to food, water or personnel. Flexible or interchangeable material substrates, or modular systems may be offered. Deliverables: All documentation submitted shall be submitted as MS Word, Adobe PDF, MS PowerPoint, Visio, or MS Excel files. Respondents: The White Paper should be written in respondent format, double spaced, and minimum font size of 10 pt. Paper should not exceed 12 pages, including cover. This paper should cover company information (company name, CAGE code, mailing address, and primary point of contact information (to include telephone number and email address). The paper should cover the 5 Ws, as applicable. (e.g., What, Where, When, Why and Who. Example focus areas: Please discuss any/all relevant current products and services that currently meet or will be able to meet the enclosed requirements. Vendors are encouraged to propose alternative products that may be able to meet or exceed the requirements. As applicable, please discuss how your product(s) was implemented within industry/Government. Please discuss, as applicable, proposed hardware used as part of the solution. For Foreign companies: Discuss how the proposer will be able to work with the US Government in the future (i.e., US subsidiary or partner) if required. Additional documentation accepted (and not included in the page count for the White Paper) includes, but is not limited to, the following: PowerPoint presentations, Training documentation, product specification sheets, user handbook/guides, pictures, link to demonstrations, test data, etc. Test, Certification and Accreditation (C&A) Documentation: Vendors are requested to provide any supporting documentation illustrating safety certification, government approval, test data, etc. Cost. Interested parties are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Announcement. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY This Sources Sought Announcement is issued solely for information and planning purposes and to identify interested sources. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. This Sources Sought does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. It is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. Further, unsolicited proposals will not be accepted. Funding is not available at this time. The United States Army has not made a commitment to procure any of the items/services discussed, and release of this Sources Sought Announcement should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. Response to this Sources Sought Announcement is voluntary and no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this and any follow-on information requests. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Not responding to this Sources Sought Announcement does not preclude participation in any future RFP if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the beta.SAM.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential responders to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this subject. RESPONSES: Interested parties may identify their interest and capability by sending responses regarding this requirement to DEVCOM-SC via e-mail ONLY to jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil and peter.g.lavigne.civ@army.mil by 1 June by 5PM. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this Notice. All costs associated with responding to this Notice will be solely at the expense of the interested party. Please provide business size (indicate your socioeconomic status), applicable NAICS code, and CAGE code. If you hold a GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract, please identify your contract number. QUESTIONS: Any questions for clarification may be emailed to jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil and peter.g.lavigne.civ@army.mil no later than 24 May by 5PM. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. An unattributed list of questions and answers will be published at the same web location of this Sources Sought Announcement. Contracting Office Address: BLDG 1 1 General Greene Ave. Natick, Massachusetts 01760-5011