Aircrew chemical defense material

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground, Natick Contracting Division, Joint Program Executive Office for Protection, intends to award a sole source firm fixed price contract for the acquisition of material related to aircrew chemical protection clothing. This contract will be awarded under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. The two contracts are intended be a commercial small purchase awards to Tex-Shield Inc. and Samtech LLC. The neck dam is to be worn with the Joint Protective Air Crew Ensemble (JPACE) Chemical Protective Coverall (CPC) or the Joint Chemical Biological Coverall for Combat Vehicle Crewmen (JC3), when designated by the appropriate technical manual. The Tex-Shield/Massif material system used in the neck dam has been tested and proven as a system to meet all of the requirements established in the Neck Dam Purchase Description. Chemical protective fabrics require extensive testing and evaluation due to the critical nature of their mission. The testing conducted is time consuming and costly. The battery of tests conducted on the current neck dam materials leverages the current Tex-Shield filter fabric used in the JPACE and uses the Massif fabric to provide comfort and flame protection not afforded by the filter fabric. This material system was selected due to the proven performance as well as benefits such as the logistical benefit associated with the ability to share some production lot testing data between the JPACE program and the neck dam effort, reducing the overall costs to the government. No other material system can be used in the production of the neck dams without first subjecting the material system to the full battery of tests required to qualify that material system. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 313310. This is not a Small Business Set-Aside. The Government anticipates awarding two (2) contract awards. This notice is posted for five (5) business days. No solicitation package will be available. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. If no affirmative written response is received by 3:00 pm EST, August 26, 2016, the contracts will be issued without further notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this contract is based on this notice and is solely within the discretion of the Government. Any questions shall be made in writing and directed to: Mr. Tom Wallace, Contract Specialist, via email at [email protected].