While all front line individual rifles are now chambered the same and are all variants of the US made Armalite Rifle, that is as far as the uniformity seems to go. Within units of the KAF you can see times when almost every soldier has a different variant of AR. This is due to the way the Kitoy Ministry of Defense has to buy items, in smaller batches as their funding allows. In the long run this is not just a nightmare for logistics, but costs a lot more as the government cannot negotiate better prices.
So when the Request for Proposal came out for a new Individual Load Bearing Vest many of us were shocked. The ILBV program called for a modular vest to be produced under a single contract to supply the whole of the KAF. This was a great sign that the Republic of Kitoy was behind a full modernization of their armed forces. However, it seems that was not truly reality. Since the release of the draft RFP in February of 2013, little progress has been made.
Some companies began to produce some prototypes based on the draft requirements. And while the ILBV program has not made much progress these various prototypes can be seen worn by members of the KAF, sInce members of the KAF are allowed to wear private purchase gear. This is not to say that the ILBV program will not ever move forward, hopefully it will, but at least the KAF can modernize from within the ranks. Below is the information released by the KMoD almost exactly two years ago.
Solicitation Number: KFA-1AQ4-W15QKN14R0065
Notice Type: Presolicitation
Date of Release: 08 February 2013
Organization: Federal
Agency: Kitoy Armed Forces
Sponsoring Agency: Army of the Republic of Kitoy
Responsible Agency: Program Office - Soldier Systems, Office 17B, Block 9, Esmeth Tower, Cyaiga, Cyaiga 1209-A27, KITOY
Synopsis:
This is a DRAFT Request for Proposal (RFP) KFA-1A-Q4 for the Individual Load Bearing Vest . This announcement is issued for planning purposes only and constitutes a request for exchange of information pursuant to Kitoy Federal Acquisition Standards section 18.23 and KFAS_50.232. The purpose of exchanging information is to both improve the understanding of Government requirements by industry, and improve Government knowledge of industry capabilities. Offerors are directed to NOT submit proposals at this time.
The Government has determined a need to find the best ILBV that provides the best value to the Government. The ILBV will provide the service-members with a highly reliable load bearing system throughout the range of military operations and environments. The ILBV will also possess the ability to utilize current and future accessories through the use of the Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS). The ILBV will replace current load bearing system(s) and leverage commercial technology advancements.
This ILBV DRAFT RFP, for the Individual Load Bearing Vest , is issued under a Full and Open Competition environment, subject to KFAS part 50. The Government intends to award up to three Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) type contracts, with a final down select to be made to a single contractor for their design. All resulting delivery orders will be firm fixed price. The Government will select for award(s) the proposal(s) which represent the Best Value to the Government.
Potential Offerors are invited to participate in a question and answer forum with ILBV personnel, focusing on the ILBV DRAFT RFP. This Q&A forum will provide an opportunity for potential Offerors to ask questions prior to the release of a final solicitation. Offerors shall submit questions electronically no later than April 14, 2013. It is anticipated that questions submitted will be posted on the Kitoy Federal Acquisitions website along with corresponding answers.
Note: No information exchanged with industry will be considered in the evaluation process. Offerors are directed not to submit proposals at this time.
This is a special notice only and is for planning purposes only. THIS IS NOT A FINAL SOLICITATION AND DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A FINAL SOLICITATION.
Excerpt from Draft Statement of Work
Section A
A.1 Background
The Kitoy Ministry of Defense initiated the Kitoy Armed Forces Modernization Plan (KAFMP) in February of 2012. The plan calls for the incremental modernization of the Kitoy Armed Forces' equipment. The Individual Load Bearing Vest (ILBV) is an important component in this modernization plan.
A.2 Objectives
The ILBV objectives are:
1) Replace the various load bearing systems in use in the Kitoy Armed Forces (KAF) today. 2) Provide a standardized load bearing platform for all of the KAF
Section B
B.1 English Language Requirements
B.1.1 All deliverable documents will be in the English Language.
B.1.2. An English language speaking person shall be provided during in-plant visits, inspections, reviews, audits, and other similar activities to facilitate communications and ensure mutual understanding.
B.2 Specifications
B.2.1 Material Specifications
B.2.1.1 The Contractor shall produce the vest in a materials durable enough to withstand extended use in the field.
B.2.1.2 The vest shall fasten close with two side fastening quick release buckles.
B.2.1.3 The material used for the buckles shall remain its properties in tempertaures as low as -25°C
B.2.1.4 The material used for the buckles shall remain its properties in tempertaures as high as 160°C
B.2.1.5 The material used for the buckles shall have a tensile breaking point of not less than 32 MPa
B.2.1.6 The material used for the buckles shall have a impact resistance of not less than average of 63.7 J/m
B.2.1.7 The material used for the body of the vest and webbing shall not burn, nor transmit a flame front across its surface, at a rate of more than 102 mm per minute
B.2.1.8 The webbing and material shall have a color retention not less than No. 2 on the KNTA Geometric Gray Scale
B.2.1.9 The median breaking strength of the color test samples shall be at least 60% of the median breaking strength of specimens of the same type of webbing and material not colr fast tested.
B.2.1.10 The materials used for the body of the vest and webbing shall be subjected successively to the procedures prescribed in KNTA Test Method 30-81, Fungicides, Evaluation of Textiles; Mildew and Rot Resistance of Textiles, Section 1B3 -- Soil Burial Leaching, Section 1C2 -- Volatilization, and Section 1B3 -- Soil Burial Test.
B.2.1.11 The median breaking strength of the micro-organism exposed samples shall be at least 85% of the median breaking strength of specimens of the same type of belt webbing without any exposure to microorganisms
B.2.1.12 All materials used in the construction of the vest shall be subjected successfully to the salt spray test, according to KNTA B117-73, for a period not to exceed 25 hours, consisting
of 24 hours, +0, -0.25 hour of salt spray exposure followed by 1 hour, +0, -0.1 hour of drying.
B.2.2 Design specifications
B.2.2.1 The vest shall open along the front center line.
B.2.2.2 The vest shall be covered with Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) webbing on its external surfaces.
B.2.2.3 The Contractor shall produce magazine pouches of the same material and coloration as the vest
B.2.2.4 The Contractor shall use hook and loop for flap closures on magazine pouches that have closure flaps
B.2.2.5 The Contractor shall produce magazine pouches with both open tops as well as with closure flaps
B.2.2.6 The Contractor shall produce magazine pouches that hold the magazines in a vertical position
B.2.2.7 The Contractor shall produce magazine pouches that hold the magazines with the long side of the magazine parallel to the wearer's body
B.2.2.8 The Contractor shall produce magazine pouches that will hold a single magazine without a closure flap measuring 152mm tall x 76mm wide x 25mm deep
B.2.2.9 The Contractor shall produce magazine pouches that will hold two magazines side by side without a closure flap measuring 152mm tall x 152mm wide x 25mm deep
B.2.2.10 The Contractor shall produce magazine pouches that will hold a single magazine with a closure flap measuring 216mm tall x 76mm wide x 25mm deep
B.2.2.11 The Contractor shall produce magazine pouches that will hold two magazines side by side with a closure flap measuring 216mm tall x 152mm wide x 25mm deep
B.2.2.12 The Contractor shall produce machine gun ammunition pouches measuring 203mm tall x 165mm wide x 89mm deep
B.2.2.13 The Contractor shall produce pouches that will securly hold a one liter canteen measuring 216mm tall x 127mm wide x 76mm deep
B.2.2.14 The Contractor shall produce pouches for general purpose use measuring 280mm tall x 140mm wide x 50mm deep
B.2.2.15 The Contractor shall produce pouches for general purpose use measuring 127mm tall x 77mm wide x 50mm deep
B.2.2. The Contractor shall produce additional pouches for attachment to the vest based on direction of the Government. These additional pouches will be funded separately under Engineering Change Proposal vehicles.
The full specification can be seen at https://acquisition.arok.mod.kir/asfi/solicitation_view.cfm?psolicitationnbr=1AQ4W15QKN14R0065
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