Extreme Cold Weather Sleeping Bag System

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to any contract action or for any supply or service implied or otherwise. Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI.

Intent
The Government is conducting a RFI to identify potential industry partners capable of supplying, designing, manufacturing, and delivering an Extreme Cold Weather Sleeping Bag System for Soldiers operating in extreme cold weather environments.  The objective is to equip dismounted Soldiers with a lightweight, highly compressible, and durable sleep system capable of providing thermal protection and enabling necessary, uninterrupted sleep in extreme cold weather environments (down to -60°F) when heated shelters are unavailable.

Technical Requirements
The Government is currently evaluating the following draft Key Performance Parameters (KPPs), Key System Attributes (KSAs), and Additional Performance Attributes (APAs). Threshold (T) values represent the minimum acceptable capability, while Objective (O) values represent the desired capability.
 

Category              Parameter                                               Requirement Summary

KPP 1            Environmental Protection            Provide adequate warmth down to -40°F (T) and -60°F (O) for 4 hours (T) to 6 hours (O) of uninterrupted sleep.

KPP 2                      Weight                               Total system weight shall be 5.0 lbs (T) and 2.5 lbs (O).

KPP 3             Moisture Management                Compression sack must be highly water-resistant and optimize space in load carrying equipment. Bivy must be hydrophobic and breathable. Outer shell must be highly water-repellent and vapor-permeable (T=O).

KSA 1              Ventilation / Airflow                    Bivy requires an adjustable head-area stand-off and non-detachable, high-airflow face covering to mitigate expiratory ice buildup (T=O).

KSA 2                      Volume                              Total compressed volume shall not exceed 22 Liters (T) and 10 Liters (O), utilizing moisture-resistant insulation (T=O).

KSA 3                    Size / Fit                              Must accommodate 95% (T) to 100% (O) of the Soldier population to ensure equitable thermal protection without creating dead air space.

KSA 4         Signature Management                  Lower probability of detection in Visible, Near-IR (NIR), Short Wave IR (SWIR), and Long Wave/Thermal IR bands (T=O).

KSA 5            System Operability                       Nested layers must feature interlocking/simultaneous zippers for single-motion rapid egress. Zippers must have oversized pulls operable with Cold Weather Glove System (CWGS) and anti-snag stiffeners (T=O).

KSA 6                 Durability                                Outer shell/bivy must withstand ground abrasion. Internal lining must resist puncture from weapons/boots. Insulation must retain 90% (T) to 95% (O) loft after standard compression lifecycles (e.g., 100 cycles) down to -40°F (T) and -60°F (O).

APA 1                  Shelf Life                                 5 years (T) to 7 years (O) with no degradation from dry rot, mildew, or ambient petroleum exposure.

APA 2              Interoperability                            Compatible center zippers. System must integrate seamlessly with ARTC and ECWCS clothing systems without over-compressing internal volume.

Submission Instructions
Interested sources shall, within fourteen (14) calendar days of the publication of this RFI, respond with information on their current product(s) and how they address the requirements listed above. 

The information package shall contain the following items:  Overview information regarding your firm, including location, size, and any special designations (i.e. 8(a), Women-Owned Small Business, etc.) 

Interested sources are requested to submit a brief White Paper addressing the ability to meet the draft requirements. Please specifically address the following:

1. A detailed description of the product, to include specs and material safety information.
    
2. Thermal vs. Weight Feasibility: Can the vendor use existing insulation technologies to achieve the Objective thermal rating of -60°F for 6 hours while simultaneously approaching the Objective weight of 2.5 lbs.?  If not, what is the most realistic weight for a -60°F capable system?
    
3. Pack Compatibility Clarification: Packability is essential for operational success and future Extreme Cold Weather Sleeping Bag Systems must be optimized to fit the form factor of Army Load Carriage Systems (i.e. MOLLE Large/4K).  Are engineering challenges foreseen in creating a compression sack geometry that optimally fits the bottom of all specified rucksacks?
    
4. Moisture & Loft Retention: Detail the approach to utilizing moisture-resistant insulation and other technologies that maintain critical loft and thermal efficiency.
    
5. Signature Management: Briefly describe your methodology for mitigating multi-spectral signatures (Visible, NIR, Thermal), particularly given the high heat retention of an Extreme Cold Weather Sleeping Bag System against a cold environmental background.
    
6. Production Capacity: Name and location of production facility.  What is the estimated timeline from contract award to first article delivery, and what is the maximum monthly production capacity?
    
7. Berry Amendment Compliance: Information regarding the firm's production capabilities for the submitted item(s), to include whether the item(s) can be domestically produced in compliance with Section 2533a of Title 10 U.S. Code (i.e. the “Berry Amendment”).    
    
8. Cost: Retail and/or wholesale pricing for currently available products. 
    
9. Test reports confirming performance claims, if available.  

A product sample may be submitted if available.  If a firm chooses to submit samples, no payment will be made by the government for such samples. 

Information will be used to inform small procurements for further testing.  If chosen, Extreme Cold Weather Sleeping Bag Systems will be evaluated in a cold chamber environment or under appropriate field conditions to verify capabilities.  Larger procurements may follow to enable evaluation during future winter training.

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY.

This Sources Sought Announcement is issued solely for information and planning purposes and to identify interested sources.  THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION.  No contract will be awarded from this announcement.  This Sources Sought does not constitute an RFP or a promise to issue an RFP in the future.  It is subject to change and is not binding on the Government.  Further, unsolicited proposals will not be accepted.  Funding is not available at this time.  The United States Army has not made a commitment to procure any of the items/services discussed, and release of this Sources Sought Announcement should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought.  Response to this Sources Sought Announcement is voluntary and no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this and any follow-on information requests.  All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.  Not responding to this Sources Sought Announcement does not preclude participation in any future RFP if any is issued.  If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in the SAM.gov website.  It is the responsibility of the potential responders to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this subject.

RESPONSES

Interested parties may identify their interest and capability by sending responses with information on their current commercial product(s) and how they might address the Military requirement via e-mail ONLY to Mr. Blaise Liess, blaise.p.liess.civ@army.mil and Mr. Robert Drown, robert.e.drown.civ@army.mil, no later than 14 July 2026. 

Please provide business size (indicate your socioeconomic status), applicable NAICS code, and CAGE code. If you hold a GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract, please identify your contract number.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Contracting Office Address
ACC-APG DIVISION D
6515 Integrity Court
Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-3013

Primary Point of Contact

Blaise Liess
blaise.p.liess.civ@army.mil
 

Secondary Point of Contact

Robert Drown
robert.e.drown.civ@army.mil