The US Marine Corps is looking to field a new military ski system consisting of Skis, Boots and Bindings. Oddly, MARCORSYSCOM has released three separate RFIs instead of a consolidated version. Considering they are all supposed to work together, this is a little silly. However, the biggest issue here is Berry compliance and I’d say the boots will be the most troublesome.
Right now, they are just performing “market research to seek potential sources and best practice information towards designing, developing, and buying components for a new Ski System.”
Interested parties have until 4:00 p.m. EST, on Thursday, March 15, 2012 to submit their response.
The skis shall have between eight (8) and twelve (12) degrees side cut. The tip and tail of the skis shall have connectors/notches to allow for the use of skins. The skis tail and tip shall each have a hole to allow use with winter MEDEVAC stretchers. The skis must enable the wearer to operate in conditions between 40 and -25 degrees Fahrenheit. The skis shall be compatible with other components of the Marine Corps Ski System.
The ski wax kit shall include both kick and glide waxes recommended for different temperatures and types of snow to be encountered by the USMC ski.
The kit shall include a scraper and an applicator. The kit shall include a storage bag for the two types of wax, the scraper and the applicator. The storage bag color must be subdued and non-reflective. The ski wax kit shall be able to withstand USMC storage in all weather conditions (hot, dry, humid and cold) and must enable the wearer to operate in conditions between 40 and -25 degrees Fahrenheit. The ski wax kit shall be compatible with other components of the Marine Corps Ski System.
Ski skins shall provide full coverage of the skis.
The color of the ski skins shall be white or subdued, non-reflective. The ski skins should have an adjustable tail attachment and an adjustable, front tip loop attachment. The ski skins must include a compact storage bag, subdued in color, for storage/portage. The ski skins shall be able to withstand USMC storage in all weather conditions (hot, dry, humid and cold) and must enable the wearer to operate in condition between 40 and -25 degrees Fahrenheit. The ski skins shall be compatible with other components of the Marine Corps Ski System.
The ski poles shall have one (1) basket for varying ski conditions and the combined weight of ski poles and basket shall not exceed one (1) pound, eight (8) ounces. The color of the ski poles shall be non-reflective white.
The ski poles shall be easily adjustable from 110cm to 155cm without the use of tools and while wearing any gloves or mittens in the USMC inventory. The ski poles shall have a fastened or detachable wrist strap that is adjustable by a Marine wearing any USMC glove/mitten and a non-metallic handle to help reduce heat loss from the hands. The ski poles shall be able to withstand USMC storage in all weather conditions (hot, dry, humid and cold) and must enable the wearer to operate in conditions between 40 and -25 degrees Fahrenheit. The ski poles shall be compatible with other components of the Marine Corps Ski System.
Ski Boot
The ski boots shall integrate with the ski binding and will be waterproof, insulated to enable the wearer to operate in conditions between 40 and -25 degrees Fahrenheit, and weigh no more than six (6) pounds. The ski boot color shall be non-reflective white. The ski boots shall have a lock buckle fastening system with a power strap that is attached to the thermal boot liner and must be adjustable by a Marine wearing any cold weather mittens or gloves in the USMC inventory.
The ski boots shall allow the wearing of the USMC gaiter without hindering the binding. The ski boots shall have two (2) removable, thermal, fit-moldable liners and a leash loop that attaches to the ski binding. The ski boots shall have a self cleaning rubber sole. The ski boots shall be designed with parts that articulate/bellows to enable the wearer to walk on varied terrain and perform other requisite functions in a cold weather/mountain warfare environment while not on skis. The ski boots should fully integrate with crampons and the Marine Corps Modular Snow Shoe. The ski boots shall be able to withstand USMC storage in all weather conditions (hot, dry, humid and cold). The ski boots shall be compatible with other components of the Marine Corps Ski System.
Ski Binding
The ski binding’s color shall be a dull metal finish or white, non-reflective. The weight of the ski binding and the ski shall not exceed seven (7) pounds. The ski binding shall offer either a locked down heel or telemark-type heel for downhill skiing and an unlocked heel for uphill skiing and touring on a rolling terrain. The binding must have an adjustable heel safety release to accommodate the skier, must automatically activate during a serious fall and must adjust both vertically and laterally.
The ski binding heel shall provide an elevated heel position which is able to resist breakage when transferring the heel from downhill to uphill/touring mode. The heel shall provide a locked and unlocked position to allow for use in downhill and uphill/touring movements. The ski binding shall allow Marines to utilize free heel diagonal stride movement technique. The ski binding must accommodate/adjust to all sizes of ski boots within the USMC inventory to accommodate 5% – 95% of the Marines with only two (2) sizes of binding. The ski binding must enable the wearer to operate in conditions between 40 and -25 degrees Fahrenheit. The ski binding shall be able to withstand USMC storage in all weather conditions (hot, dry, humid and cold). The ski binding shall be compatible with other components of the Marine Corps Ski System.
Tags: USMC
A pair of skis + bindings at less than 7 pounds that can hold a turn for a 350 pound load? They’re dreaming.
This is standard government waste of time – Request for Information only, lots of players will step up and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and hundreds of man hours trying to chase an impossible requirement, just to have it never materialize due to budget cuts. In the end the Marines will just get along with “good enough” like they have always done.