AFCEC Bomb Suits

Active

Contract Opportunity

1. THIS NOTICE IS ISSUED AS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUCEMENT FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. This notice DOES NOT constitute a Request for Proposal or complete package outlining the technical competencies/qualifications of the prospective contractor, nor does it represent any commitment by the Government. Since this is a Sources Sought announcement, no evaluation letters and/or results will be issued to the respondents. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement. No telephone calls will be accepted requesting a bid package or solicitation. A solicitation does not presently exist.

2. The United States Air Force (USAF) has a requirement in support of Directorate of Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) for the purchase of Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Bomb Suits. The intent is to eventually award a single year contract to allow for the total acquisition of approximately 42 suits and helmets along with accessories. This total number may fluctuate up or down depending on the bomb suit's shelf life.

In order for the USAF to better understand the capabilities of the bomb suit industry, please address the questions below. Ensure to answer each question in reference to the bomb suit that is being offered or manufactured by your company.

1. Is the purposed suit certified to National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Standard 0117.01 Public Safety Bomb Suit, dated April 2016?

1. Does the purposed suit comply with requirements outlined in the Berry Amendment for clothing, fabrics, and yarns (10 U.S.C. 2533a Section 832 of public law 107-107)

1. Will all electronics be shielded to prevent interference with electronic counter-measure systems and be independently tested as a system for Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) protective performance to meet relevant parts of MIL-STD-461G, dated December 2015?

1. Will the proposed suit have an outer shell that is flame resistant, including in high wear areas of the suit?

• Flame resistant properties shall be in accordance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard D6413-99, 1999, “Standard Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test),” ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 1999, DOI: 10.1520/D6413-99, and determined acceptable per NIJ Standard 0117.01.

1. Will the proposed suit meet or exceed the blast wave standards of protection as defined in NIJ Standard 0117.01?

1. Will the suit and helmet be available in military green and tan colors?

1. Will the proposed helmet (with or without additional components) be compatible with the standard M50 military filtered air mask and supplied-air respirators?

1. Will the proposed helmet visor resist fogging in operational environments defined in NIJ Standard 0117.01.

1. Will the proposed helmet be equipped to cycle air from outside of the helmet at a rate of no less than 5.4 cubic feet per minute and be able to provide fan speed adjustment?

1. Can the proposed Integrated cooling system ensure that it will not further limit the mobility of the user or decrease the protective properties of the overall ensemble that is EMI/EMC Class A certified?

1. Can the proposed suit be donned (including add-on components) within 5 minutes defined in NIJ Standard 0117.01?

1. Is the user be capable of Emergency ensemble doffing (including add-on components) within 1 minute defined in NIJ Standard 0117.01?

1. Does the proposed suit have Integrated adjustable white lights and additional red, and blue lights on the helmet?

1. Will the proposed Integrated communications system allow for the following:

• Compatible with PRC-163 tactical radios

• Integrated stereophonic speakers that are left/right volume adjustable and protects the user from exposure to elevated sounds

• Integrated microphone with no external cables.

• External helmet-mounted microphones on either side of the helmet to capture surrounding audio and discern directional source (voices, noises, etc.).

• A voice emitter which projects the wearer’s voice clearly to those within 10ft when selected.

1. Will the proposed suit have provisions for the attachment of load carrying pouches or items to the thighs, chest, and arms in areas of the suit as well as Incorporate a mounting point on the sleeve for an End User Device (EUD) for the Tactical Awareness Kit that is easily accessible and readable by the user for the currently fielded EUD (Samsung S23) that allows the user to make or receive calls with the EUD while wearing the helmet?

1. Will the proposed electronics use standard commercial-off-the-shelf batteries or military BB-2590s in the suit and/or helmet to provide at least 8 hours of operational time?

1. Will the proposed suit be made available for purchase in sizes for all Air Force EOD Airmen who meet height qualifications (5'2" to 6'8")?

1. Does the proposed suit weigh less but not more than equal to the requirements as outlined in NIJ Standard 0117.01 for the suit and helmet?

1. Will the proposed suit have an integrated control unit with icons for simple control and monitoring of power, air circulation, volume, and lighting, with visual warnings for battery levels and system faults?

1. Are the proposed helmets one overall size with adjustable liner for different head sizes and a retention system that secures the helmet when the head is moved in any direction defined in NIJ Standard 0117.01?

1. Will the vendor be capable of providing printed and digital manuals with pre-use inspection, operation, and maintenance instructions?

1. Can the vendor ship all suits to the EOD Equipment Management Facility at Hill AFB, UT for receipt inspection and further distribution?

1. Will the proposed suit come with a minimum seven-year shelf-life with detailed rationale as to how the shelf life is determined and criteria for the extension of the initial seven-year shelf life?

1. Will the vendor be able to provide ensemble maintenance/repair guidance within one week of notification of any malfunction?

1. Could the suits have optional integrated accessories, hand and foot protection that can be procured separately that meets NIJ Standard 0117.01?

*** All responsible sources are encouraged to submit a capability statement response to this announcement. All such responses will be considered by the agency. Responses can be submitted electronically using the following address: chaston.waller@us.af.mil and nikita.chandiramani@us.af.mil

All responses shall be received by Tuesday, 15 April 2025 at 1:00 PM central time. Responses shall be no more than 20 pages (single spaced, front and back, no smaller than Times New Roman, font size 12 or equivalent). If submissions exceed the page count noted, the Government will only review the first 20 pages and disregard the remainder of the submission. Extraneous materials (brochures, manuals, etc.) will not be considered.

Questions concerning this announcement shall be submitting in writing via email to both Contracting Officer, Chandiramani, Nikita H. (nikita.chandiramani@us.af.mil) and Contract Specialist, Waller, Chaston P. (chaston.waller@us.af.mil) The Government does not intend to rank submittals or provide any reply to firms as it relates to the Government's review of the data submitted in response to this announcement.

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