Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment of the Program Executive Office Soldier, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 is seeking information from potential industry partners to support the Army's next generation protection system called Soldier Protection System Torso and Extremity Protection (SPS TEP) Ballistic Battle Belt (B3). Background. An operational need exists to provide the Soldier a ballistic personal protective system that allows the user to tailor his/her loads for mission-specific operations, thereby increasing survivability and mobility. The goal of 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 is a Government design that consists of four (4) components, the Modular Scalable Vest, the Ballistic Combat Shirt, the Blast Pelvic Protector, and the B3. The B3 is a standalone component worn over the Army Combat Uniform and is designed to provide fragmentation protection and to distribute the Soldiers combat load between the shoulders and waist/hips. The B3 has three (3) sizes: Small (S), Medium (M), and Large (L). This RFI is to gather information specific to producing the B3. Currently the Government has a valid requirement for at least 350,000 B3s over the next five (5) years. Specifically, this RFI seeks information on the construction of and production capabilities related to the non-ballistic belt as well as the soft ballistic armor, which is inserted into the belt. The B3 shall meet the Material Systems Requirement and Ballistic Performance Requirement of the B3 Purchase Description, AR/PD 17-08, dated April 2018. AR/PD 17-08, Drawings, and Patterns are available upon request. NOTE: the Patterns can only be viewed with ACCUMARK. Submission Information: All interested vendors shall respond to the RFI by submitting the below information by 16 April 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 09 April 2018 via email ONLY to
[email protected]. This information shall be provided to the contracting office at US Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG), ATTN: Kelly Doolittle, Contract Specialist, by email at
[email protected]. 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, Kelly Doolittle, Contract Specialist at
[email protected].