Background : Welding is a mission-critical process required for the sustainment of many essential U.S. Navy/DoD maritime and aviation assets. Welders perform their work in confined spaces such as ship tanks and voids, submarine ballast tanks and bilge spaces, aircraft fuselage and other confined spaces. Welders are exposed to extreme environmental temperatures, UV radiation and molten metal slag from the welding process. The welders' main concerns are for flame and heat protection, as the falling molten metal slag poses a significant burn risk. This risk is magnified by the positions the welders must get into while performing their tasks, leaving their arms, necks, and hands vulnerable to the falling molten metal slag. The current welding ensemble consists of the following : a) A green utility coverall for overall body protection with a zippered flap. b) A welding jacket (flame resistant (FR) cotton with leather sleeves). c) An anti-flash FR hood. d) Cow hide or pigskin leather welding gloves. Objective : The Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) in Natick, MA, is conducting a market survey to identify material solutions or Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) items for use in current welding personnel protective equipment (PPE) or as replacement items. Specific objectives of this effort are to identify material solutions or COTS items that offer improved protection and performance over the current welders' PPE by reducing the thermal burden; shielding the user from UV radiation/heat/molten slag; and minimizing burn risk. Candidates : In response to this RFI, interested candidates are REQUIRED to submit all of the following to enable the Government to evaluate the viability and benefit of the proposed solutions: 1. A product description, to include material description(s), identification of fiber blend (including fiber percentages), performance characteristics, production lead time, component production locations (e.g. fibers, yarns, finishing), product production location, and illustrations/photographs with corresponding descriptive information that best describes the product/material. Complete disclosure of chemical treatment if using topical finishes or coatings and applicable Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) shall be submitted. The finished material/product shall not present a dermal health hazard when used as intended. 2. Documentation for Berry Amendment, 10 USC 2533a; compliance is required. 3. For materials: cost per linear yard (specify width of material), which may be broken down by quantity reflecting economies of scale. An estimated unit cost for COTS items. 4. For materials: a minimum of five (5) linear yards in any color (except white) or print available. For COTS items: one item in any color. 5. Vendors shall submit available documentation pertaining to the materials/COTS items demonstrating the advantages of the proposed solutions. 6. Welding ensembles may be submitted for evaluation, but are not required. If submitted, cost of the ensemble, any available system level test data (including test method utilized) and MSDS for all components must be provided. 7. Vendors shall provide a point of contact, phone number, and email address. Please submit responses by 30 MAY 2015 to the point of contact identified below. This RFI is solely for information and does not constitute a solicitation or the issuance thereof. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Any information or materials submitted will not be returned, and no payment will be made by the Government for such information or materials. Contact : Please submit responses to this notice to Susan Krantz, Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility, 15 Kansas St, BLDG 7/ WH-20, Natick, MA 01760-5019. This notice is for market survey only. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document exists. POC for this request is Susan Krantz, 508-233-1321,
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