The U.S. Army Contracting Command-APG, Natick Contracting Division, in support of the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center, is conducting a market survey to identify companies for potential thread manufacturers to conduct Research and Development to provide full scale Berry Amendment compliant production for a new low-cost Fire Resistant/Heat Resistant (FR/HR) sewing thread. The Government requires state-of-the-art fiber technology and fabrication processing for sewing threads to be used as an alternate for current Meta-Aramid (Nomex ) and/or Para-Aramid (Kevlar ) sewing threads being used for combat clothing, combat gloves, flight/combat vehicle crewman uniforms and a variety of other end-items used in potentially high heat environments for all services and other Government Agencies. Currently there are four Government FR/HR type thread specifications consisting of either Nomex or Kevlar fibers which respectively decompose at 700 F and 850 F. US Army Specifications include: A-A-50195 quote mark Thread, Aramid quote mark , A-A-55195 quote mark Thread Para-Aramid, Spun quote mark , A-A-55217 quote mark Thread, Aramid, Spun Staple quote mark , and A-A-55220 Thread, Para-Aramid Intermediate Modulus quote mark . All of these are used in the fabrication of Military items. These thread fibers are derived from a sole-sourced fiber supplier. Additionally, color matching is difficult and expensive. The sole source provider no longer offers Solution Dyed shades and as a result, thread cost has increased considerably. Field experience has proven that these threads offer limited stretch and UV resistant (color fading and strength reduction) characteristics. Also these threads tend to slice through sewn stitch lines and base outer shell material to create open seams. A recent evaluation of USMC Combat Gloves showed a high incidence of open seams on palms and finger tips due to Kevlar actually slicing through the Lockstitch 301 at the interlock points of the stitch lines. This is due to the low stretch and extreme toughness of fibers. Creating a domestic supply chain for FR based sewing threads would offer lower cost FR garments, lessen the current long lead times for FR thread production and assure faster delivery times. The goal of this survey is to determine if a domestic capability and/or technology exists to reduce base fiber costs in combination with enhanced thread manufacturing processes working toward modernized high speed thread production vs. current Nomex and Kevlar type threads. Threads shall be compliant with Berry Amendment, 10 USC 2241, and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Clause 252.225-7012 Preference for Certain domestic Commodities. meet FR requirements with minimum burning, no melt drip, in combination with sufficient strength and elongation to sew uniforms and gloves and offer minimum of 500 F heat resistance in order that a typical combat uniform fabricated with such thread(s) survives ASTM-F-1930, 4 sec manikin heat test with no significant loss in Seam Efficiency. Other factors include capability to dye typical military shades, offer colorfastness properties, Ultra-Violet resistance, withstand 50 home launderings, minimum shrinkage, resistance to discoloration, be capable of high speed sewing to withstand intense needle heat and be available in multiple Tex sizes. All interested firms and manufacturers are encouraged to respond to this request for information. All submissions should include available technologies new to FR/HR fibers, polymers, finishes, thread manufacturing capabilities such as wrapped core technologies, spun and filament concepts, discussion of physical properties, product literature, illustrations, drawings and relevant background/experience. Information submissions must be received no later than 30 January 2014. All information supplied shall be considered confidential unless otherwise specified by the firm or is available from other sources. This Market Survey is for planning and information purposes only. This is not an Invitation for Bid (IFB) or Request for Proposal and not to be taken as a commitment by the Government. Information relating to this Request for Information should be submitted via email to Michelle Miller, Contract Specialist, at
[email protected], no later 30 January 2014.