$20.6M for USAF’s new Physical Training Uniform Jackets
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The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA has issued three firm-fixed-price/ indefinite-delivery contracts to small businesses for the Air Force’s new physical training (PT) uniform jackets. Proposals were Gateway solicited with five responses, and the contracts’ performance completion date is January 2008.
The contract values total $20.6 millon, and there are some interesting details re: the procurement program as well. The contract recipients were:
- American Power Source, Inc. in Fall River, MA, which is also a woman-owned business in HUBZone, won a maximum $8.8 million contract (SP0100-05-D-0403). Work will be performed in Fall River, Ma and Fayette, AL.
- Tama Manufacturing Co. in Allentown, PA, also designated as a woman-owned business, won a maximum $6 million contract (SP0100-05-D-0404).
- Standard Manufacturing Co. Inc.* in Troy, NY (located in a designated HUBZone) won a maximum $5.8 million contract (SP0100-05-D-0404). Work will be performed in Troy, NY and Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.
So why the new jackets? A recent USAF news story may help to explain.
Apparently, for force protection issues, CENTAF officials wanted Airmen to be in a standardized uniform with plenty of reflectivity (the latter requirement was apparently a directive from the Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Jumper himself). Additionally, all of the other services in the CENTCOM region are requiring their service members to be in service-unique PT gear when they are not in another uniform.
The new unisex uniform can be worn off-the-shelf, requiring no modifications. It consists of a T-shirt, a pair of shorts and a two-piece nylon running suit. The uniform has enough reflective material on it to ensure wearers are visible from any direction. The running suit top, a kind of lightweight coat similar to what is being used by cadets at the Air Force Academy, features wide reflective stripes that form a ‘V’ across the wearer’s chest and back. Seams on the pants are trimmed with reflective piping, while the shorts feature both a reflective ‘V’ and an Air Force logo. The T-shirt has the Air Force logo on both the front and back. With the exception of the grey T-shirt, the entire ensemble is navy blue. It was designed with comfort and safety in mind, officials said.
Besides reflectivity, some key features of the uniform include two pockets in the shorts; one for a military identification card and one for a key; zippers on the running pants to make it easier to slip them on over a pair of shoes, zippers on the running jacket to aid in ventilation; and a hood in the collar of the jacket.
Wear testing for the uniform began in January at Fairchild Air Force Base, WA and Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Three hundred Airmen tested the uniforms for both comfort and usability.
“The Air Force Clothing Office first did fit tests to make sure the patterns were correct, then went back to talk to individuals to find what they liked and didn’t like about the uniforms,” Sergeant Dean said. “In one case we found the lining was too long, in another case, the shorts were too full. Appropriate modifications were made based on their input. That all took place and concluded around March [2005].”
Total cost for the new uniform is around $125. Enlisted Airmen will be given an increase in their yearly clothing allowance to purchase the uniform, those in basic military training will be issued the gear, and officers will be required to purchase the uniform with their own funds.
The uniforms will eventually be available for sale in military clothing sales stores.
