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
