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This Sources Sought notice is to satisfy the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 206.302-1(d) posting requirement. The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) intends to issue a solicitation and award a contract for a NSF Tactical Vest (NTV) system consisting of a base vest and modular components (including buoyancy) for tailoring protection levels to defeat multiple ballistic and fragmentation hazards while performing Law Enforcement (LE) and Antiterrorism (AT) duties in both land and maritime environments. The NTV is a critical safety item. The NTV body armor is a body armor system providing multiple levels of ballistic protection depending on the system configuration. The NTV provides protection from conventional fragmenting munitions and up to .44 magnum handgun. NTV protection is increased to protect vital organs from multiple hits against small arm rifles and indirect fire flechette when front and back small arms protective inserts are worn.

The purpose of this sources sought announcement, a market survey for written information only, is to identify sources capable of providing support and expertise, with intentions of proposing on this effort. The anticipated NAICS code is 315990 – Apparel Accessories and other apparel manufacturing with a size standard of 600 employees. The anticipated purchase will be a one-time buy, with a maximum purchase of 144 (each) systems. There is no incumbent.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS; however, the Government will consider all responses received to this notice. The information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit or award a contract. The Government is not obligated and will not pay for preparation of responses to this notice. A draft Performance Work Statement is attached to this sources sought announcement.

SUBMISSION CONTENT: Written responses are not required as the RFP will be released following the closing date of this sources sought announcement.

All capability statements should be emailed to Frances J. Negrón, Contract Specialist, via e-mail frances.j.negron.civ@us.navy.mil and Contracting Officer, Courtney Henslee at Courtney.i.henslee.civ@us.navy.mil no later than 28 July 2023, 11:00 am CDT.

This sources sought announcement is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement, or any follow-up information requests. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the Government’s capability assessment.

This sources sought closes on 28 July 2023, 11:00 am CDT.