Background: The Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) is conducting market research to identify vendors with the capabilities to create and grade patterns as well as create prototypes. The patterns shall be non-patented for use in the United States Postal Service (USPS) Uniform Certification Program. NCTRF is requesting materials for the following items: Project 1 . Non-patented Letter Carrier Women’s Wrap Skirt for use in the United States Postal Service (USPS) Uniform Certification Program. The most promising design will be down selected and will be considered for use in future uniform procurements for the USPS Uniform Certification Program. Certified USPS tropical material will be required to be used in garments. a. Development of garment for fit and grade patterns for regular stature Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 (even sizes) Lengths: Petite, Regular and Tall Development Samples (s): in base size Women’s Straight Regular Size 10 1 Prototype Sample, 1 Confirmation Sample 1 Preproduction Sample Project 2 . Non-patented Letter Carrier Men’s and Women’s Short with internal welt leg pocket for use in the United States Postal Service (USPS) Uniform Certification Program. Pant patterns are available for baseline fit/sizing in accordance with USPS 21-01. Certified USPS tropical material will be required to be used in garments. Development of garment for fit and grade patterns for Men’s classic and Women’s straight and curvy in all statures Style A, Man’s Trouser Sizes: 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39,40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 Lengths: Short, Regular, Tall and X-Tall Classic Fit Style B, Woman’s Slack Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 (even sizes) Lengths: Petite, Regular and Tall - Straight Fit - Curvy Fit Development Samples (s): in base size Men’s Classic Regular Size 36 / Women’s Straight and Curvy Regular Size 10 3 Prototype Sample 3 Confirmation Sample 3 Preproduction Sample Project 3 . Non-patented Letter Carrier, Postal Police and Workers Wear Unisex Baseball Cap, for use in the United States Postal Service (USPS) Uniform Certification Program. Base size patterns are developed and are referenced as USPS 88 . Certified polyester/cotton twill material is used in hats. a. Development of cap for fit and grade patterns Full Crown (needed in 3 different colorways/emblems) Half Crown (1 colorway/emblem) Sizes: S/M, L/XL Development Samples (s): in base size S/M 4 Prototype Sample 4 Confirmation Sample 4 Preproduction Sample Project 4 . Non-patented Letter Carrier, Unisex Visor, for use in the United States Postal Service (USPS) Uniform Certification Program. Base size patterns are developed and are referenced as USPS 109. Certified polyester/cotton twill material is used in visors. Development of garment for fit and grade patterns (1 colorway/emblem) Sizes: One Size Fits All Development Samples (s): in base size OSFA 1 Prototype Sample 1 Confirmation Sample Preproduction Sample Project 5 and 6 . Non-patented Letter Carrier Unisex Sunhat, for use in the United States Postal Service (USPS) Uniform Certification Program. Project 5 and Figure 5 has base size patterns are developed and are referenced as USPS 154. Project 6 and Figure 6 is a new sunhat design. Each project uses a certified polyester UFP twill material to produce sunhat. Development of garment for fit and grade patterns (1 colorway/emblem) Sizes: Small/Medium and Large/X-Large Development Samples (s): in base size Small/Medium 1 Prototype Sample 1 Confirmation Sample Preproduction Sample 5. All headwear require the use of certified emblems, See Figure 7. Description: NCTRF seeks to identify cut and sew operations capable of developing and manufacturing designs for USPS. The operation shall be able to procure specified Berry Compliant materials as well as cut and sew low quantity technical garment prototypes. NCTRF anticipates issuing a solicitation in FY 23 for a low quantity run of developmental garments. NCTRF will also consider interested parties for future prototyping solicitations. The information supplied in response to this market research survey will help determine the best method for solicitation. Interested sources shall, within fifteen (15) calendar days of the publication of this RFI, respond with an information package containing the following information: General information regarding the firm, including location, size, and special designations (i.e., Small Business, 8(a), Women-Owned Small Business, AbilityOne, etc.). Information regarding the firm's production capabilities, to include whether the item(s) can be domestically produced in compliance with Section 2533a of Title 10 U.S. Code (i.e., the “Berry Amendment”). Experience manufacturing similar skirts, shorts, and headwear. Experience with sending and receiving Gerber Accumark Version 9 storage area .zip files. An estimated unit cost per project. Must include cost of base pattern and grading of patterns. An estimated unit cost per project for prototyping. Estimated time for pattern. Estimated time for prototyping. This notice is for market survey only. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document exists. Please review the following and provide as much information as possible. Contact Information: Please submit electronic responses along with any questions and/or requests for information regarding this notice to Kelly A. Fratelli, (
[email protected] ), 508-206-2762. Information will be handled as proprietary, and samples will be Government property and will not be returned. Important Notice: Availability of Solicitations: Availability of solicitations, FAR 5.102(d) applies, as our office no longer issues solicitations or amendments in paper form. Offeror should register to receive notification of this solicitation or solicitation amendments. The solicitation will be posted on https://www.dibbs.bsm.dla.mil//. Important Notice: New Federal Business Opportunities FBO Website: Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) moved to SAM.gov the weekend of November 8, 2019. Visit SAM.gov today to preview new features like saved searches and the ability to follow notices. For more information, please visit the SAM.gov learning center at https://beta.sam.gov/help/new-to-sam. Important Note on Foreign Content: The Defense appropriations and authorization acts and other statutes (including what is commonly referred to as "The Berry Amendment" impose restrictions on the DoD's acquisition of foreign products and services. Generally, Clothing and Textile items (as defined in DFARS clause 252.225-7012) and "specialty metals" (as defined in DFARS clause 252.225-7014) must be grown, reprocessed, reused, melted or produced in the United States, its possessions or Puerto Rico, unless one of the DFARS 225.7002-2 exceptions applies.