Sources Sought
Survival Vest Improvement System
Dept of Defense · Dept of the Navy · Sol. N00421-27-WPM202-SVSI
Due in 15 days
AI summary Beta
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (Patuxent River, MD) is doing market research to find manufacturers for a Survival Vest Improvement System: a new survival vest (VIPER) plus a low-profile life preserver (Serpent). This is a sources sought only, not a solicitation. The Government expects a five-year IDIQ solicitation in FY2027.
Watch out for
- Life preserver data rights not owned by the Government. The Government does not own the data needed for the life preserver unit, which is owned by Switlik Parachute Company, so a new source may be hard to qualify.
The government does not possess or own data rights necessary to distribute for the LPU.
- Critical Safety Item manufacturing. Life-saving equipment typically needs extra quality and approval controls, which is hard for new small manufacturers.
- Not a solicitation. Responding does not lead directly to an award; a competitive solicitation is expected in FY2027.
This Sources Sought is issued for information and planning purposes only
Read from the notice text only.
Full brief
What they want
- Manufacture and deliver the Survival Vest Improvement System (SVSI): VIPER vest and Serpent life preserver unit
- Describe your experience manufacturing similar equipment and past performance
- Describe your experience with Critical Safety Items
- Describe production capacity; expected quantities are 260 to 1,543 per year, possibly higher
- Contract type
- Sources sought; anticipated five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) in FY2027
- Period of performance
- Five-year IDIQ anticipated
- Place of performance
- Patuxent River, MD
- Offers due
- 2026-10-22 3:00 PM Eastern (2026-10-22T15:00:00-04:00)
- How to submit
- Email a capability response, copying the Procurement Contracting Officer (gregory.e.tollefsen.civ@us.navy.mil) and Contract Specialist (amy.l.wescott.civ@us.navy.mil)
What to include when you submit
- Do not submit pricing information
- Mark proprietary information as Proprietary
- Describe experience, past performance and Critical Safety Item experience
- Describe capacity
- No telephone responses accepted
You must have
- Experience manufacturing Critical Safety Items
respondents should include their experience with manufacturing Critical Safety Items
Not in the notice text
- Estimated contract value
- Set-aside plans for the future solicitation
- Technical data package for the vest (to be provided with the FY27 solicitation)
- Whether the LPU data will be available to new sources
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 22, 2026, 7:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Sep 22, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Solicitation
- N00421-27-WPM202-SVSI
- Agency
- Dept of Defense · Dept of the Navy
- Office
- Naval Air Warfare Center Air Div
- Set-aside
- No Set aside used
- NAICS
- 332510
- Product/service code
- 4220
- Business type
- Manufactured parts & equipment
- Place of performance
- Patuxent River, MD, 20670
- Contracting contact
- Amy Wescottamy.l.wescott.civ@us.navy.mil
Full notice text from SAM.gov
THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary, and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Patuxent River, Maryland is requesting information and conducting market research to identify and determine if there are potential sources to manufacture and deliver a Survival Vest Improvement System (SVSI). SVSI is comprised of a new survival vest, VIPER, and a low-profile Life Preserver Unit, Serpent. VIPER is a NAVAIR owned design that incorporates a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) armor release system designed by Bunker Supply. The LPU Technical Data Package is owned by Switlik Parachute Company. As part of its market research, NAVAIR - PMA202 is issuing this Sources Sought to determine if there exist an adequate number of qualified interested contractors capable of providing the requirement. The Government may use the responses to this Sources Sought for information and planning purposes. This Sources Sought is only for the purpose of identifying potential sources as part of NAVAIR – PMA202 market research. No Request For Quote (RFQ) exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the RFQ. Responses to this Sources Sought are not quotes on which the NAVAIR – PMA202 can issue any contract. This Sources Sought is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not itself constitute an RFP or RFQ. The Government does not intend to award a contract vehicle based only on responses to this Sources Sought. All information received in response to this Sources Sought marked "Proprietary" will be protected and handled accordingly. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Responses to the Sources Sought will not be returned. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Sources Sought. NAVAIR – PMA202 will not pay for information received in response to this Sources Sought. Do not submit pricing information in response to this Sources Sought. Interested sources shall provide a response detailing their capability to manufacture and deliver SVSI. Respondents should provide a brief description of their experience manufacturing similar equipment, including any relevant past performance data (if available). Additionally, respondents should include their experience with manufacturing Critical Safety Items. Respondents should also describe their capacity; production quantities are anticipated between 260 and 1543 annually with the potential to go higher . The Government anticipates a solicitation for a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) in Fiscal Year 2027. The Government will provide a TDP with the solicitation in FY27 for the vest. The government does not possess or own data rights necessary to distribute for the LPU. Any interested parties MUST copy all parties listed below: Greg Tollefsen, Procurement Contracting Officer gregory.e.tollefsen.civ@us.navy.mil Amy Wescott, Contract Specialist amy.l.wescott.civ@us.navy.mil No telephonic responses WILL NOT be accepted.
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