Naval Special Warfare Command (NSW) recently released a Request for Information (RFI) to industry. They are conducting market research to identify, as potential sources, companies who may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience to explore industry’s ability to provide NSW with civilian/rugged clothing. They are particularly interested in small businesses providing feedback.
This RFI is interesting for several reasons. First off, we are seeing a formal inquiry from a SOF component for civilian outdoor clothing. Personnel have been wearing such items operationally for quite awhile, but this indicates making them an issue item. In many instances, civilian clothing is procured by the individual, either with personal funds or with a civilian clothing allowance, when authorized. Although some civilian clothing has been directly issued by units in the past, due to the restrictions of the Berry Act, it is quite difficult to do legally. However, one way is for a unit to buy the non-Berry items while deployed overseas and for the expressed use of overseas only.
The Berry Act may well be an issue for this potential program. As you can see, all of the example types of clothing they are seeking, are foreign sourced. Unless the program remains extremely small, and below Berry’s low threshold, it will be the driving factor for cost as well as performance. But the planning numbers belie such an argument. Conversely, the numbers aren’t very high either, at least from standpoint of the brands they call out. So making the business case is likely difficult for many brands to stand up US manufacturing. Granted, there is clothing made here in the US, but they differ from those in the chart below.
I’d really like to see additional Made in USA outdoor clothing options. Hopefully, NSW will find what they are looking for.
Interested parties should visit www.fbo.gov
Or they could lobby the Govt. to repeal the Berry Amendment and make things a lot easier for our armed forces. Then they can shop at Wal*Mart, Penneys, REI, etc. for whatever they want.
Yeah man lol! Berry Amendment is stupid! xD
I see this becoming the new official “Gray Man” uniform…
Becoming?
An official ‘Gray Man’ uniform is counter-intuitive to the concept of a ‘Grey Man’
That’s the joke
You forgot the sarcasm font
Lunch hour in Spring Lake. lol
Didn’t they ask for Filson gear a while back?
Yep.
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=30226cb6bef17f45fe54f89ca6eb6cb5&tab=core&_cview=0
I don’t understand why they would not, given such a small scale program, opt for a civilian clothing allowance to the individuals to be to satisfy the requirement for COTS outdoor clothing?
They have been. Having worked a place where they came to spend those dollars I wonder if the guys scamming receipts and bad sizes that get returned later made it more attractive to legit issue the clothing…
I’m picturing Beyond technical garments plus Beyond made non technical 5.11 designs…
Might also be an opportunity for Arc’teryx, eventhough I’m not sure whether canadian made garments fall in the Berry Compliant category.
Only made in USA with US materials.
It should be setting off alarm bells at the Flag level that US industry will struggle to fill such a small order.
Why? Some things can be made overseas which can’t be made here for several reasons but primarily due to lack of infrastructure or government regulation. In other cases, companies moved production overseas over the last 30 years because it’s cheaper. To attract those businesses back, it’s going to take much larger numbers than those.
It’s a small order. The fact that all of our industry is overseas leaves us at a disadvantage when we have to fight the next big war. It’s not the thirties, we don’t have thousands of jobs that can be retooled for a war effort.
The berry act should be extended to include Canada and Mexico.
Even though, that’s just my opinion, man.
So…everyone will be wearing different colors of the same style, from the same brand? Doesn’t that defeat the whole plain clothes vs uniform paradigm?
Didn’t anyone take notes during the annual SHOT show early 2000’s…everyone and their uncle was wearing polos, RR/5.11 cargos w/rigger belts, desert boots, and A-III packs?
“Hey Jorge, I see six gringos wearing flannel, cargo pants, and Vans. Who are they?”
“They must be farmers, Hector. Don’t worry about them”
Hah, spot on..
You are right in theory but I think the intent here is to give guys working clothes for LOW profile work (i.e. travelling to and from OCONUS locations) as opposed to COVERT work. For covert ops, no one is going to wear anything issued through a group purchase. That type of work demands locally sourced items for the most part.
Exactly the way it should be, but I have heard a story about issued Reebok’s . Might well be for stateside too. “Who’s that guy/gal?” “Don’t know, looks kinda like a fed though.” Not so much blending with populace as going relatively unnoticed at govt functions.
All this could be just because they need some daily wear at places where uniforms aren’t the norm. I mean ,who really wants to be the only one at a training class in uniform?
Patagonia, Beyond, TAD and Crye Precision should be all over this RFI.
Those garments are bound to become popular among wider civilian outdoor community, too.
Outdoor community is pretty price sensitive and not all that patriotic. The only MIUSA garments I see doing well depend on a largely local popularity to stay afloat.
There’s all sorts of us outdoor geeks, generalization isn’t something I would use here.
Add to that the ones who aren’t US-based but will happily fork out extra $$ for MIUSA stuff.
I visited few Asian countries last year – these guys who are both outdoor and milsim fans are absolutely rapt and immersed in high-priced, quality US-made outdoor, tactical and mil clothing. Add the ‘NSW’ or ‘Specops’ tag to any garment and they’ll be all over it especially if made in US.
The garments this topic talks about are likely to be produced in small and limited numbers anyway.
Actually, yeah. When it involves money, companies generalize.
I was referring to target user market, not products.
US brands with domestic manufacturing like LL Bean, Carhartt and Duluth Trading Company can handle most of the requested items, particularly the cotton-based styles, there’s a number of southeast based lifestyle brands that can make an attempt to play in this area as well. Technical outerwear can be done however, it’ll require a dedicated team of designers, developers, and sourcing personnel to see it through as there are very limited number of places this can be done domestically, mills and findings (trim items like zippers, hook/loop, buttons, etc..) are even harder to source domestically.
Footwear as per requested styles will be a major hurdle, as most manufacturing remaining is geared towards work boot or, dress shoes. New England based running shoe brands like New Balance could get into the more rugged styles…not sure they want to play in a category that’s beyond their expertise not to mention the existing scars from prior forays into gov contracting.
Adidas track suits, soccer jerseys and those cheap, plastic sandals…problem solved.
I thought Kuhl pants and salomons were already issued from the way every frog has them…
The problem is the tats. Most “normal” peps don’t have “Ranger””Seal” and skulls, hummvee’s and shit like “I love Carl Gustav”. I spot it yards away. That and the Oakley shooters cut sunglasses.
Obviously there’s a need for tactical tat sleeves.
Didn’t Magpul just start their own “Abercrombie & Operator” line? Seems like a good opportunity for them
It’s not Made in USA.
Lmao, “Abercrombie & operator” that shit just made my night!
Needs more Carhartt, the Appalachian Tuxedo, though I think the vast majority of their stuff is made overseas.
Same with Levis, plus you can use them for bribes and to pay your own ransom if you’re kidnapped in the 3rd World.
But then you have to E&E in your underwear.
That is just so uncool.
I am a small batch garment maker based in Los Angeles that makes Tech apparel for the tactical industry . We produce both long and short sleeves dri-fit , moisture wicking tech shirts , sewn 4 x 4 velcro loop patches with a price tag of $ 45.00 the most > We take pride in our offering and belief that Made in the USA products should not be a patriotic sacrifice to one’s wallet.
We come from the surf industry and use mil spec and flatlock stictching in our clothes. We have also offer small batch customer specific orders for the MIL and LE industry . We have no experience in obtaining FOB.gov bids put I can easily satisfy NSW’s requirements for Short and Long sleeve tech shirts , Jeans and button short sleeve casual shirts . FightRightGear on FB or IG .
I hope SSE or its readers can contact us via our website fightrightgear.com or IG and help us in meeting or obtaining the solicitation.
I encourage you to contact a procurement technical assistance center. Their whole job is to help you understand the morass of government procurement regulation.
http://www.aptac-us.org
thank you for pointing us in the right direction …
Isn’t Patagonia MIUSA? Or did I get that wrong?
Vast majority of their stuff is made west of Hawaii.
Only the military contract stuff.
Is MIUSA really an acronym now?
Ok dumb question. But Cabela’s has some of their stuff made here in the USA. Only problem is they look like you are trying to look tacticool in some of their pants or shirts.
I see a lot of these requirements being fulfilled by small businesses with local manufacturing. Beyond is a great example with their ability to design a garment and manufacture it, in the US, in a short amount of time. I’m interested to see who NSW turns to for these garments.