AMENDED NOTICE: This is not a solicitation but rather a Sources Sought Notice to determine potential sources for information and planning purposes only. The purpose of this Sources Sought is to conduct market research to determine if responsible sources exist and to assist in determining if this effort can be competed. The U.S Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) is seeking qualified potential sources with existing Ultra Low Visibility Concealable Plate Carrier (CPC) solutions in support of Product Manager Soldier Protection & Individual Equipment (PM SPIE). Interested parties shall submit all necessary documentation to validate their ability to meet the requirements outlined below. Program Description: * The Ultra Low Visibility CPC system provides protection against prevalent rifle and pistol threats along with a level of concealability that the current legacy concealable body armor does not provide. Requirements: The Ultra Low Visibility CPC shall provide: * Total system weight between 12 and 19 pounds. Total system includes front, back, and side protective inserts (plates); soft armor backing; and harness/carrier. * Provide threshold soft armor level of protection capable of stopping 9mm parabellum. o V0 = 1430 fps 30 fps o V50 = 1525 fps * Provide objective hard armor plate protection capable of stopping 7.62x39mm Armor Piercing (BZ) and 5.45x39mm Ball- AK-47 and AK-74 rifle rounds, respectively. o V0 = Muzzle plus 50 fps * The torso (front and back) hard armor inserts shall be able to provide protection against multiple impacts (2 to 3 impacts per plate). The plates will be shot on the edge and crown locations. * The side hard armor inserts shall be able to provide protection against a single impact. The plates will be shot in the center of the plate. * The CPC shall consist only of front and back torso carriers and side plate carriers meeting the size dimensions below. No other soft armor is required other than the soft armor ballistic inserts behind the plates. * Hard armor plates shall have uniform areal density. * Size dimensions for plate pockets: o Torso plate pockets: * Small - 8.75 quote mark W x 11.75 quote mark L * Medium - 9.50 quote mark W x 12.50 quote mark L * Large - 10.25 quote mark W x 13.25 quote mark L * X-Large - 11.00 quote mark L x 14.00 quote mark L o Side plate pockets: 6.00 quote mark W x 6.00 quote mark L * Be compatible with currently fielded uniforms (i.e., Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Camouflage Pattern Army Combat Uniform). * Provide easy donning and doffing (between 20-30 seconds). * Allow for sizing across the 5th - 95th percentile. * Must be able to deliver 2,860 Ultra Low Visibility CPCs within ninety (90) calendar days after contract award. Instructions for preparing a response: Interested parties shall submit all necessary documentation to validate their ability to meet the requirements outlined above. At a minimum each response shall provide: * Technical Narrative/White Paper describing the system and what capability/requirement it provides; and * Test Data that supports the described capabilities of the system; and * Production capabilities; and * Delivery capabilities In addition, interested parties shall provide the following information regarding their business, business size, and delivery & production capabilities with their response: * Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code; and * Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS); and * Business size (Small Business (SB) vs. Large Business (LB)) - identifying what type of SB, if applicable; and * Estimated Unit Cost; and * At least two past performance references to include contract number, customer name/organization, quantity ordered, contact information (point of contact (POC), POC email and POC phone number). The North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code that any future requirement would fall under is 315990 which require a business size standard of 500 employees or less. The Government will use the business size information provided to determine the best acquisition strategy should a firm requirement come to fruition. Responses are due no later than 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Thursday, 06 June 2013 to Lisa J. Yamakawa at
[email protected].