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SYNOPSIS: This Sources Sought Announcement will enable Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) to identify industry partners capable of manufacturing the U.S. Marine Corps’ (USMC) Enhanced Flame Resistant Combat Ensemble. At the end of this process, a contract will not be awarded. Vendors determined to be qualified will be issued a certification letter, enabling them to sell commercially to USMC units.
The Government requests that responses be submitted electronically to Todd Towles, todd.towles@usmc.mil, and Johannes Schmidt, johannes.k.schmidt.ctr@usmc.mil, by 5:00 p.m. EST on March 9, 2026.
Background: Following lessons learned during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the USMC issued a Universal Statement of Need (USON) to field a flame-resistant combat ensemble to mitigate Improvised Explosive Device (IED) flash-fire burns. That ensemble, known as Flame Resistant Organization Gear (FROG), includes the shirt and trouser configuration covered by this Sources Sought Announcement, the Enhanced Flame Resistant Combat Ensemble (EFRCE). Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), Program Manager Combat Support Systems (PM CSS), Product Manager Combat Support Equipment (PdM CSSE) seeks qualified industry partners that can meet vendor qualification and certification requirements to fulfill unit-level orders.
Specifications: Garments shall be manufactured in accordance with Class 1, type I of MIL-PRF-EFRCE, Uniform, Enhanced Flame Resistant Combat Ensemble Blouse and Trouser, dated JAN 2016.
Description: FROG was developed to provide the warfighter with flame resistance protection in field and combat operations, mitigating the risk of burn injuries. Together, this ensemble consists of:
Deliverables:
Government Furnished Property (Equipment/Materials/Information/Computer Utilization): N/A
Interested parties are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Announcement (SSA).
Please note: This SSA is issued solely for market research and planning. It is not a solicitation, does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), and is not a promise to issue an RFP. No contract will be awarded from this SSA. This notice is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. Unsolicited proposals will not be accepted. Funding is not currently available.
Participation is strictly voluntary. The Government will not reimburse any costs incurred by responding. All submissions become Government property upon receipt.
Only certified vendors will be authorized to sell the EFRCE to Marine Corps units.
Non-response to this SSA does not preclude participation in any future solicitation, if issued, or future requests for certification. Should a solicitation be released, it will be posted on SAM.gov; interested parties are responsible for monitoring that site for updates.
RESPONSES:
Interested parties may identify their interest and capability by sending documentation regarding this requirement via e-mail ONLY to Todd Towles, todd.towles@usmc.mil and Johannes Schmidt, johannes.k.schmidt.ctr@usmc.mil no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on March 9, 2026. Labeled material samples (see deliverable #2) may be shipped to:
Marine Corps Systems Command
Program Manager, Combat Support Systems
Attn: Johannes Schmidt
2200 Lester Street
Quantico, VA 22134
The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this Notice. All costs associated with responding to this Notice will be solely at the expense of the interested party.
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.
QUESTIONS:
Any questions for clarification may be emailed Todd Towles, todd.towles@usmc.mil, and Johannes Schmidt, johannes.k.schmidt.ctr@usmc.mil, no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on March 5, 2026. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. An unattributed list of questions and answers will be published at the same web location of this Sources Sought Announcement.
Files size/type shown when available.
A practical, capture-style breakdown of fit, requirements, risks, and next steps.
It summarizes awarded-contract behavior for the opportunity’s NAICS and sector, including a recent pricing band (P10–P90), momentum, and composition. Use it as context, not a guarantee.
The signal updates as new awarded notices enter the system. Always validate the official award and solicitation details on SAM.gov.
P10 is the 10th percentile award size and P90 is the 90th percentile. Together they describe the typical spread of award values.
Awarded-market signal for NAICS 315210 (last 12 months), benchmarked to sector 31.