REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: NAVY CLOTHING AND TEXTILE RESEARCH FACILITY FLAME RESISTANT NECK GAITERS Background: On 5 April 2020, in response to the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), the acting Under Secretary of the Navy issued a memorandum requiring the use of face coverings for all individuals on DoD property, installations, and facilities when six feet of social distance could not be maintained. NAVADMIN 194/20, issued on 8 July 2020, provided further guidance on the use of face coverings in uniform. The current authorized face coverings present Foreign Object Debris (FOD) concerns for Flight Deck Personnel. The Navy is investigating flame resistant face coverings that reduce FOD risk for Flight Deck Personnel. Description: The Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) is conducting market research to determine the availability of Berry Amendment compliant, Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) flame resistant (FR) neck gaiters that meet the listed Key Performance Parameters (KPP) and Key System Attributes (KSA). The most promising FR neck gaiters will be down selected and subjected to additional physical testing. Successful neck gaiters may be considered for future procurements. Key Performance Parameters (KPP) KPP 1 – Flame Resistant – To minimize the injury threat to Sailors, the neck gaiter must be flame resistant (FR) due to potential flame and flash fire threats from flight deck fuels and munitions. The neck gaiter must be constructed with an inherently FR fiber blend, knitted, non-fleece fabric with a maximum 6.5 inch char length, 2 second after flame, 25 second afterglow and no melt/drip when tested using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D6413 Standard Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textile (Vertical Test). KPP 2 – Design – Material, fit, and manner of wear are critical components for the successful blocking of respiratory droplets to decrease risk of transmission of COVID-19. The design shall be a minimum of two layers and effectively cover the mouth and nose, ensuring frequent and consistent use when social distancing cannot be achieved. KPP 3 – Non-Toxic – Any treatments or finishes applied or inherent to the face covering must not pose any health hazards to the wearer with prolonged, direct skin and mucous membrane contact. Only treatments already evaluated in relevant applications and approved by the appropriate medical service in regards to toxicity shall be considered acceptable. Chemicals recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as human carcinogens shall not be used. Key System Attributes (KSA) KSA 1 – Color – The neck gaiter color shall be a solid Black or Tan or Dark Blue. The neck gaiter shall show colorfastness to xenon light equal to a rating of 3.0 or better on the American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists (AATCC) EP 1 Gray Scale for Color Change when tested in accordance with AATCC 16.3, option 2 (85 kJ). The neck gaiter shall show colorfastness to laundering (after 3 cycles) equal to a rating of 3-4 or better on the AATCC EP 1 Gray Scale when tested in accordance with AATCC 61, option 2a. The neck gaiter shall show colorfastness to crocking (wet and dry) equal to a rating of 4 or better on the AATCC EP 2 Gray Scale for Staining when tested in according to AATCC 8 Colorfastness to Crocking. KSA 2 – Fit – The neck gaiter shall be one size fits all and shall fit snugly but comfortably over the bridge of the nose, under the chin, and along the sides of the face and shall be capable of quick donning and doffing. To ensure a snug fit is retained after donning and doffing and prolonged wear, the neck gaiter shall have a minimum of 20% fabric stretch and maximum of 5% fabric growth when tested using ASTM D2594 Standard Test Method for Stretch Properties of Knitted Fabrics having Low Power. KSA 3 – Durability – The neck gaiter shall provide durability throughout one sea deployment as demonstrated by no degradation of fabric integrity under daily flight deck wear over 6 months or 50 launderings. Shipboard launderings shall be conducted in accordance with Navy Wash Formula II (High Temperature (120-140 degree Fahrenheit) with Detergent) and Dry Program 4 (160 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes plus 5 minute cool down). Fabric bursting strength for each ply of the neck gaiter shall be a minimum of 30 lbs when tested using ASTM D3787 Standard Test Method for Bursting Strength of Textiles – Constant-Rate-Of Traverse (CR) Ball Burst Test). The neck gaiter shall show resistance to pilling with a rating of 3 or better when tested using ASTM D3512 / D3512M - 16 Standard Test Method for Pilling Resistance and Other Related Surface Changes of Textile Fabrics: Random Tumble Pilling Tester. KSA 4 – Comfort - The neck gaiter must meet minimum air permeability requirements to allow the wearer to breathe easily and avoid any risk of asphyxiation, while still capturing droplets and particles that may spread COVID-19 when the wearer coughs, sneezes or talks. The air permeability shall be assessed on the end item, to include all layers, in accordance with ASTM D737 Standard Test Method for Air Permeability of Textile Fabrics, to effectively assess the adequate passage of air. A minimum of 25 ft3/min/ft2 is required. KSA 5 – Dimensional Stability- To ensure the proper fit, appearance, and functionality is maintained, the neck gaiter shall meet a maximum dimensional stability requirement of 8% when tested using AATCC 135 Test Method For Dimensional Changes After Home Laundering, 1, V, Ai. (Alternative Washing and Drying Conditions, 60±3C°, Tumble Cotton Sturdy) (max) ± 3% warp and fill; temperature requirement at 140 degrees Fahrenheit and tumble dry normal. KSA 6 - Interoperability – The neck gaiter shall be compatible with all items issued to the Sailor as an organizational clothing item, including personal protective equipment (PPE) (e.g. covers, hats, helmets, googles, body armor, etc.) and shall not impede or prohibit of all tasks supporting operation of the flight deck. Interested Parties: To respond to the RFI, interested parties are REQUIRED to submit the following: A cover sheet that identifies the interested party, their technical point of contact (TPOC), and contact information (email and phone number) for the TPOC. A product description, to include: identification of materials; identification of fiber content, with percentages, for all materials; material structure; test data supporting that the product meets or exceeds KPPs and KSAs; disclosure of treatments or finishes applied to the material, including Safety Data Sheets (SDS); and documentation for Berry Amendment compliance. Information which certifies that the finished product is composed of materials which have been safely used commercially or provide sufficient toxicity data to show compatibility with prolonged, direct skin contact. The finished cloth shall not present a dermal health hazard when used as intended. A minimum of 3 finished end items. Lead time for production and delivery of a minimum of 28,000 FR neck gaiters. Unit cost broken down by quantity reflecting economies of scale. Submissions are limited to three (3) neck gaiter styles per interested party. Required documentation and fabric samples are due no later than COB 2 Nov 2020. Information provided will be handled as proprietary and samples will not be returned. Submissions will be down selected based on documentation provided. If the NCTRF is interested in further evaluating a submission, the Government will procure additional samples and/or material for testing. Contact: Point of contact for this request is Chris Diaz, 508-206-2750,
[email protected]. Shipping address: Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility, Attn: Chris Diaz, Bldg 86, 10 General Greene Ave, Natick, MA 01760-5019. This notice is a request for information only. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document exists.