A--Development of Advanced Sorptive Semipermeable Membranes (ASSM) for Chemical/Biological (CB) Protective Clothing

The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division (NCD), Kansas Street, Natick, MA on behalf o f the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) Natick, MA is entertaining concept papers from firms for the development of advanced sorptive semipermeable membranes (ASSM) for chemical/biological (CB) protective clothing under topic C.4 Chemical/Biological Protection for Individuals of the NSRDEC Broad Agency Accouchement 09-11. The purpose of this effort is to study the effects of changing various physical and chemical surfaces and internal structures of super activated carbon (SAC) loaded membranes, to develop a family of sorptive semipermeable membranes or coatings for fabrication of advanced lightweight CB protective clothing applications. These moisture vapor and air permeable membranes will block liquid chemicals and aerosols, while adsorbing toxic organic solvent vapors. The resulting materials will be in the form of a membrane or a coating that will be thin, lightweight, flexible, liquid-proof and/or aerosol-proof, and have high water vapor transmission and also high chemical adsorption rates. These membranes will be flame retardant, and remain protective to CB warfare agents across different environmental conditions (i.e., across environments that have different temperatures and humidity.) These favorable attributes are to ensure that the resulting materials will be compatible with textile materials for ease of clothing integration. It is also to keep the soldier comfortable, dry, and protected from CB agent dissemination in liquid, aerosol, and vapor forms while conducting his/her missions. Different SAC loaded membrane structures will be produced studied, and characterized for their material performance. The resulting material structures will range from being selectively permeable to being air permeable. Interested parties are invited to submit a concept paper for this effort in accordance with Section II of NSRDECs Broad Agency Announcement Solicitation 09-11 which can be found on the NCD website https://www3.natick.army.mil. The BAA contains instructions for submission of concept papers and where to submit them to. Cutoff date for submission of concept papers for this effort is 3 September 2010. The Government will evaluate all concept papers and provide a written response/proposal invitation to the offerors upon completion of the concept paper evaluation. Cutoff date for this synopses is 3 September 2010.