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EXTREME COLD WEATHER HANDWEAR

Why I am not amazed to read the following solicitation! While I previously posted this solicitation it was not complete, so you can if you chose re-read it if you want too. After reading it you will find my comments.

Solicitation Number

:

W911QY-19-R-0026

Notice Type :

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Synopsis :

Added: Jul 05, 2019 9:14 am

ACC-APG, on behalf of the Product Manager for Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PdM-SCIE), intends to release a solicitation to procure, on a full and open basis, new modular and scalable hand wear protection system for extreme cold weather operating environments. The proposed CWGS must meet or exceed the following parameters:

1) Environmental Protection in the temperature ranges of 40oF to -40oF Threshold (T), 40oF to -60oF or below Objective (O).
Rationale: Soldiers operate worldwide to include extreme cold environments. Soldier will need a hand wear system that will provide extreme cold protection for long durations.

2) The CWGS shall provide flame resistance and not melt or drip when exposed to heat or flame at the next to skin level (O).
Rationale: Exposure to the elements, environment and physical injuring during all types of missions are a constant threat to the Soldier, especially hands. Gloves are the Soldier's first line of protection from the environment in a variety of conditions. Gloves provide temporary protection while conducting tasks requiring intricate manipulation, to protection in extreme elements where there is little to no activity. The ability to adjust protection is critical in order for the Soldier to stay operationally effective across the full spectrum of operations and environmental conditions.

3) Hand Dexterity to allow the Soldier to write clearly, easily adjust or use radios and other equipment (optics) with small knobs or levers in temperatures 40oF to 14oF (T), 40oF to -20oF (O). Gloves must not restrict the ability to place the trigger finger cleanly inside the trigger guard at 40oF to -20oF (T), 40oF to -60oF or below (O) of individual issued or crew served weapon systems.
Rationale: Soldiers must be able to accomplish routine Soldier tasks while in their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and uniform. During missions, Soldiers need to have the dexterity and the flexibility to change equipment settings, write, and adjust their night vision optics, and fire weapons quickly and easily. Stopping to remove gloves or exposing the hands to hazards or injury while attempting to adjust equipment can reduce survivability.
4) Capacitive Touch that is compatible with capacitive touchscreens or resistive screens in temperatures 40oF to 14oF (T), 40oF to -40oF (O).
Rationale: Soldiers use technologies including touchscreens such as with NETT Warrior, Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below/Blue Force Tracker (FBCB2/BFT) Joint Capability Release (JCR) during military operations.

5) Made of materials that contain no health hazards or Toxic Industrial Chemicals/Toxic Industrial Materials (TICs/TIMs) Threshold=Objective (T=O).
Rationale: The CWGS may be directly next to the Soldier's skin. It must not cause distraction to Soldiers resulting from irritation.

6) Don & Doff of any component of the CWGS in less than 8 seconds.
Rationale: Gloves must be able to removed and put on quickly, depending on the situation. Soldiers in combat situations can find themselves in a position of needing to remove gloves quickly in order to increase dexterity and tactility of the hands. Soldiers may also find removal of the gloves necessary moving from one event to another.
7) A camouflage pattern or solid color "over-white" capability to potentially replace the current Army over-white mitten shells (NSN 8415-01-481-3434).
Rationale: The CWGS must blend with and not stand out from the rest of the Soldier's personal protective equipment (PPE) and uniform.

8) Back of the hand comfort fabric that is a flexible pile-like fabric, which remains soft in cold conditions and shall not generate electrical static charge when rubbed. The comfort fabric will not freeze with ice and readily shed frost when shaken, and will not ignite, melt or drip in proximity to open flame. The comfort fabric shall contribute to the insulation of the cold weather glove system to protect against cold conditions and be dimensionally stable to laundering.
Rationale: Soldiers currently utilize the extreme cold weather mitten exterior fabric to warm the sensitive cold skin on the face and wipe the nose as needed. Ice and snow build up will scratch the face or cause damage to the skin.

9) System durability for a minimum of 270 (T), 365 (O) days of operational use, in the systems intended environments/conditions without weakening of inner and outer components or separation of any parts of the CWGS.
Rationale: Soldiers require a CWGS that maintains functionality in intended environments and conditions when needed. Soldiers should not be using the CWGS when specialty gloves, e.g., barbed wire gloves, electricians or welder's gloves are required. Soldiers need durable, reliable equipment for the hands in combat operations.

10) Suspension & adjustability feature at the wrist that is capable of being adjusted using the free hand wearing the other glove and the capability to secure the hand wear within close proximity to the hands after removal (T=O).
Rationale: Soldiers in extreme cold weather environments must have a way to tighten their hand wear around their wrist to prevent the hand wear from falling off. Soldiers have typically used a cord routed around their neck to suspend the hand wear when they removed to keep them in close vicinity of their hands for quick retrieval and to prevent gloves from getting lost.

11) Constructed of quick-drying materials to allow for drying time within 4 hours (T), 1 hour (O) under standard lab conditions in a heated environment.
Rationale: Water absorption is an undesirable characteristic as it adds to the weight to the glove system during wear or tactical stowage and will cause extreme discomfort and negatively affect the Soldiers ability to perform duties. A heated 10-man Arctic Tent is commonly used to dry gloves during periods of rest and recovery.

12) Provide a slip-free grip palm and fingers, while affording sensitivity during delicate tasks in the temperature range 40oF to 14oF (T), secure grip for tools and weapons during extreme weather conditions in the temperature range 14oF to -20oF (O).
Rationale: Soldiers need protection to conduct precise technical work such as operating electronic equipment or doing tasks requiring intricate manipulation requiring a sensitive touch, while at the same time protecting of their hands from the cold weather environment. In colder temperatures a glove with additional protection is needed that allows the Soldier to conduct tasks while conducting combat patrols in cold weather such as load, firing and reducing a stoppage of the individual or crew served weapon. Also, tasks such as shoveling, driving stakes into the ground, and erecting tents will be cold weather essential tasks.

13) Compatible with all equipment and items issued to the Soldier as individual
equipment or PPE (T=O).
Rationale: Soldiers must have clothing and equipment that does not interfere with one another. This ensures each piece of Soldier equipment or clothing, current and future will be an integrated, component of the total system and allow the Soldier to tailor their clothing and personal equipment to the mission.

14) Accommodate unisex hand sizes XX-Small, X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large and XX-Large.
Rationale: Soldiers require availability of all sizes to ensure proper form, fit, and function for all Soldiers who wear the CWGS.

15) Resistance to water, wind, petroleum, oils, lubricants, and detergents at a level equal to existing cold weather gloves.
Rationale: Petroleum, oils, and lubricant products are a hazard present on the battlefield from transportation to weapon systems and exposure can result in Soldier illness, which directly reduces the unit mission readiness. The gloves must be able to minimize or avert skin expose while remaining durable. Liquid absorption is an undesirable characteristic as it adds to the weight to the gloves during wear or tactical stowage. Soldiers should not be using the CWGS when specialty gloves, e.g., fuel handler's gloves are required.

16) Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) rate of greater than 7.0 grams/hour (T), greater than 10.0 grams/hour (O).
Rationale: Soldiers require cold-wet weather protective systems, which includes breathable gloves that enables moisture movement away from the body while preventing moisture from entering into the system. Moisture management contributes to warmth and comfort for the Soldier in adverse weather conditions.

The Government anticipates this solicitation will result in the award of multiple Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ), Firm-Fixed-Price contracts.

Proposals due 30 days after RFP release. The proposal solicitation number is W911QY-19-R-0026.

In order to be eligible for award, firms must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). Offeror may obtain information on registration in SAM by calling 1-866-606-8220, or via the Internet at https://www.sam.gov

I previously published this solicitation stating that what they are asking for is not possible. Today I wrote to the contracting officer asking if they have a sample pair and a list of materials. I know they do not have either but no harm in asking, I may be surprised, actually I’d be shocked if they did. What amazes me is the lack of comprehension of what they are asking for. They believe that because they are a government agency industry will be able to give them what they want because if they do the reward is so great.

Imagine being able to make a hand wear product that meets all of the criteria asked for they will possibly sole source you or if it went out for competitive bid you would be the only one capable of making what they want. So companies think this way. Of course those who put out the solicitation may very well consider a product submitted to them good to go with even though it falls short of their goal anyway. Those who work in government are otherwise known as civil servants and they have to justify their existence.

Some have said I should go to a congressman and I say not a chance. Why (?) because they too are civil servants and have no knowledge so when you report someone working in the research and development area of government is lacking in knowledge if the congressman were to inquire he would be told that the complainer is wrong and of course the congressman will just support the civil servant which he is as well. The government at work for you!

ANOTHER EXAMPLE

Apocalypse Designs the company that received the order for the extreme cold weather garment that cost us taxpayers $1086.80 has a web site and on the web site the most expensive parka I could find was $799.00.

The insulation put in the garment is two layers of polyester fiberfill with a total weight of 5.3 ounces. It is a combination of primaloft (the most inefficient polyester fiberfill available on the planet) and Climashield. If they used 5.3 ounces of Climashield by itself the parkas would be far better than the combination but it is still not enough for the -30 degree temperature use the garment is going to be given.

I use the L-6 Lamilite/Climashield which is capable of 0 degrees and maybe a little lower but not -30 degrees. As one reader suggested the contract should be investigated, if so the garments would still be made if in fact they weren’t made anyway so they could be shipped immediately.

I have no problem selling my products to any government agency so long as they order off of my web site. I will even take orders over the phone but when they have the so called research and development projects or if they put out orders via solicitation as the two examples show I will not participate any longer because I chose not to deal with know it all’s who are basically incompetent.

The response to my request of information is as follows:

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

Hello Mr. Wigutow,

Thank you for your question regarding the Army's need for a Cold Weather Glove System. Solicitation W911QY-19-R-0026 is currently posted to FBO. The RFP contains all of the requirements/salient characteristics for the CWGS. Please review the RFP for all the details.

Thank you,

As you can read they do not know what materials will actually perform for the task the cold weather gloves will require. That being the case how can they know what will work when someone offers a product. They do not have any knowledge and will only take the word of the presenter of the cold weather gloves and will I believe settle for any product presented to them. but they will never acknowledge that gloves are a huge mistake!

THE FOLLOWING WAS MY RESPONSE:

I have reviewed it ever since its inception and I KNOW that what you are ultimately looking for cannot be made.

When you have exhausted all avenues I will still be manufacturing the products that will work for the environment that you are needing cold weather hand wear for.

Jerry Wigutow