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Source One Distributors Moves to New HQ

Friday, March 13th, 2009

Source One Distributors, Inc. recently moved its corporate headquarters to 3280 Fairlane Farms Rd. in Wellington, FL. The new 13,500 square foot facility boasts an expanded shipping and receiving area located in an air conditioned warehouse, conference rooms, and private office suites. Source One made the move to prepare for their recent prime vendor designation on a Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) contract slated to go into effect March 9th.

This new contract is an addition to Source Oneâ€™s previous procurement options including, GSA schedule holder, DOD EMALL, NY HIRE contract, 8(a), VOSB, NMSDC, MBE and SDB.

In a statement on the completion of the Headquarters building, Vetreprenuer of the Year and Source One President & CEO, Mark Llano said:
“I am extremely pleased to see the quick transition to our new headquarters. As our growth in the industry gained traction, this move became essential to maintain our core business philosophy of excellence. This move confirms Source One’s commitment to not only our customers and vendors who have shown us unwavering support every step of the way, but more importantly our commitment to the mission of providing improved distribution, best of class equipment, and quality customer service to todayâ€™s war fighter.â€

For more information visit Source One Distributors.

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DHS Advanced Personal Protection System

Friday, March 6th, 2009

The National Protection Center (NPC), NSRDEC, is creating an Advanced Personal Protection System (APPS) for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) users and first responders by using PPE components already developed, approved and/or authorized for use by DOD. User groups for APPS include U. S. Coast Guard Level One Ports, Waterways and Coastal Security units and law enforcement Special Weapons and Tactics teams.

The program has been around for about a year and is led by Fred Chan who is the former PM-SSS. He brings a wealth of experience fielding state of the art PPE systems including PCU and newer iterations of BALCS.

While there is no solicitation for procurement yet, NPC is conducting a market survey to determine what is actually available. In fact the notice makes several references to the fact that there is no planned procurement action associated with this program. Conversely, the Sources Sought Notice makes reference to an “aggressive program schedule”. This combined with the market survey makes me believe they are getting ready to move out swiftly with this “research and development program”.

From the solicitation:

The APPS program is seeking the following DOD personal protection items:
1. Hot weather garments, to include headwear, handwear and footwear
2. Cold weather garments, to include headwear, handwear and footwear
3. Wet weather garments, to include headwear, handwear and footwear
4. Garments with flame resistance characteristics
5. Ballistic protection for the torso and extremities
6. Ballistic helmets
7. Ballistic protective eyewear
8. Communications headsets that can be integrated within a helmet system
9. Chemical-biological respirator masks and self contained breathing apparatus
10. Chemical-biological protective garments, to include headwear, handwear and footwear
11. Individual equipment, such as hydration systems, life jackets, etc.

The PPE must have any one of the following designations for consideration of inclusion into APPS:
-Service level approval, such as Type Classification, Fielding Deployment Release, Material Release, etc.
-Approval for fielding under a DOD program such as the Rapid Fielding Initiative, Rapid Equipping Force, etc.
-Authorization for use under a DOD program such as the Military Combat Eyewear Program (MCEP) Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL), Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP), etc.

Makes total sense, down select based on products already in the system. That’s why I don’t understand this statement:

PPE items that have the following designations or characteristics are not considered valid DOD authorization or approval for use or fielding and will not be considered for inclusion into APPS:
-NSN, NIIN, LIN or IDN designation
-Listed on GSA schedule
-Prior purchase and/or use by a DOD organization

Why wouldn’t you include items that have already been type-classified and have NSNs?

For those interested, the entire notice can be viewed at FedBizOpps.gov.

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Bearse USA

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Although relatively unknown, Bearse USA has been in the contract sewing business since 1921 and maintains a 50,000 square foot facility in Chicago, IL. Their employees average over 10 years of experience and 20 or even 30 years is not unheard of.

Recently, they’ve been supporting the Army’s OTV and IOTV contracts and have produced over 200,000 vests and/or components. As Bearse USA does not produce their own line of tactical goods they are poised to support a wide variety of businesses who require surge support, particularly as part of a government contract. They have found that there are three major challenges to companies trying to fulfill these contracts: large quantities, short delivery schedules, and delays in awards. Bearse serves to augment a company’s capacity and to help them overcome these obstacles in order to get over the hump.

Additionally, Bearse provides a great opportunity for the emerging company with some innovative design ideas based on real world experience. Although such a firm may be short on production know how, they can contract Bearse to facilitate production and make their concepts into reality.

What’s more, they offer capabilities not found in other contract sewing houses including a full time sample shop capable of delivering production quality samples. Additionally, they offer a fully equipped mechanical shop capable of designing and manufacturing equipment, labor-saving devices, work aids, tacker clamps, etc.

For production, they offer over 150 machines including single needle, double needle, long arm, cylinder arm, bar tackers, and programmable tackers. They can even provide screen printing services.

For more information contact Bearse USA
3815 W. Cortland St.
Chicago, IL 60647 USA
(773) 235-8710
(866) 6-BEARSE
www.bearseusa.com
info@bearseusa.com

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Department of Homeland Security Buy-American Provision

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

The Department of Homeland Security Buy-American provision for domestically manufactured textiles and apparel was included in stimulus legislation signed into law by President Obama last week. While there are exceptions, these provisions will become effective on all DHS contracts 180 days after signing (around August of 2009). This essentially brings DHS on par with the Berry Amendment which restricts DoD purchases of textiles to American sources.

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Garrett Container Awarded DF-LCS Contract

Friday, February 20th, 2009

The 37th Contracting Squadron at Lackland AFB TX has awarded Garrett Container Systems, Inc. an award for delivery of Defensor Fortis-Load Carrying Systems. This is a base period of 12 months with four one-year option periods worth up to $16,522,924.13 for the base period and four options. Interestingly, the award stipulates that the procurement is for Air Force Security Forces only so it appears that other organizations will not be able to leverage this contract vehicle.

DF-LCS is a MOLLE-compatible load carrying system designed specifically for Air Force Security Forces and first issued in 2004. Although it originally came in OD, under the new contract DF-LCS will be offered in the Air force Digital Tiger Stripe pattern. Each Security Forces member will be issued a Rifleman’s kit as well as a Multi-Mission Pack. Additional modules for Team Leader, M-203 Grenadier, M-240 Gunner, M-249 Gunner, and K9 Handler are also available and considered an integral part of the DF-LCS kit. Each SF member is also issued a Black rolling equipment bag to store thr kit.

DF-LCS is available online from Garrett for government clients as well as Air Force members. A version of DF-LCS is also available for commercial purchase from Diamondback Tactical.

Photo courtesy of GCS.

Tags: DBT
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Naval Air Systems Command Issues BAA

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

Naval Air Systems Command has issued a broad agency announcement for warfighter developmental protective clothing and devices.

Areas of interest include but are not limited to:

(1) protection against G-induced loss of consciousness, loss of situational awareness, spatial disorientation, and high altitude hypoxia

(2) micro/nanotechnology applicable to life support and protective devices

(3) protection against hypothermia/hyperthermia

(4) auxiliary or integrated human cooling and heating systems

(5) integrated helmet mounted displays, multi-mode helmet vision system technology

(6) advanced filter/device development for eye and / or sensor protection

(7) warfighter / equipment compatibility

(8) breathing systems and advanced concept approaches for current and future applications

(9) crash protection, advanced restraint systems (all axes of restraint), and seating concepts

(10) emergency egress/escape concepts such as but not limited to improved signaling/locating, thermal signature reduction, and day/night cloaking technologies

(11) integrated communications systems

(12) hearing protection and communication capabilities in high noise environments

(13) integrated flotation systems

(14) human strength enhancement technologies

(15) garment textiles/materials, flame resistant / melt-proof fibers, webbings, water-proof, high-stretch, breathable fabrics, durable, malleable, lightweight conductive-network fabrics, low-bulk/high flexibility vascular compression mechanisms for acceleration protection, fast-response cooling/heating textiles

(16) crew/workstation design

(17) lightweight, portable power sources, recharging and scavenging technologies

(18) other personal protective technologies

For the full solicitation visit fedbizopps.gov.

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