The Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) is seeking information from industry on its ability to modernize and upgrade the existing M41 Protective Assessment Test System (PATS) mask-fit testing devices.
PATS is a military version of a commercial device designed to check the readiness of protective masks based on a miniature Condensation Nucleus Counter that continuously samples and counts individual particles that occur naturally in the surrounding air.
PATS is used by the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Army National Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force (active, guard, and reserve) and Surety Sites as well as by other Government Agencies including Department of Justice, the Department of State, and Central Intelligence Agency.
As configured in the current system, PATS is designed to check the readiness of protective masks while being one man-portable and capable of surviving chemical biological and nuclear combat. The PATS continuously samples and counts individual particles that occur naturally in the surrounding air and does not require the introduction of special aerosols or the use of tents or chambers to assess quantitative mask fit.
The PATS modernization effort is being conducted because the current systems cannot be easily maintained or calibrated due to a constrained supply of critical calibration and maintenance repair components and the inability to manufacture specific components.
The modernized PATS system will be a one-man-portable mask-fit test- validation system in a Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) carrying case that can verify fit-factors between 1 and 100,000; this system in the case must be Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) survivable; resistant to vibration, drop, temperature extremes, & pressure changes; and capable of being decontaminated if necessary without damage to the modernized PATS.
The upgraded system will have electronic components that can be serviced and calibrated easily; have system integration capability; and have existing production, modernization, and maintenance capability.
This RFI is part of a market survey to identify businesses with existing Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) or Government off the Shelf (GOTS) solutions meeting PATS criteria, and businesses that can integrate and test these solutions, as well as provide services for logistics, information assurance support, and Government engineering and operational verification test support. Information gathered from the RFI process will be used to optimize the PATS acquisition strategy.
Further details are available via Solicitation Number: W911SR-17-R-M412.
Related: TSI, Inc. Awarded Contract for Replenishment Calibration and Repair Parts for the M41 PATS (Aug 2015)