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The Department of Defense is seeking information on 5-man and 10-man Arctic Shelters for the Arctic Mobility Sustainment System (AMSS). The goal is to assess industry capabilities and potentially inform future procurement.
Evaluate new shelter solutions for the AMSS to address gaps in legacy systems, including rapid deployment, system weight, equipment modernization, and system durability.
This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) notice for the Arctic Mobility Sustainment System (AMSS) 5-man Team and 10-man Squad Arctic Shelter (AS) described below. IMPORTANT NOTICE: This RFI notice is being issued for the purpose of determining market capability of sources and assessing industries’ current capabilities in the technology area. This does not constitute an Invitation for Bid (IFB), a Request for Proposal (RFP), a Request for Quote (RFQ) or an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services contained in this notice. THIS is NOT a Request for Proposals. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME. Any information provided does not constitute a proposal but will be considered an exchange of capabilities and ideas. The Government will not be responsible for any cost incurred in furnishing this information or potential participation in the event. This RFI does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that the government will take procurement action in this matter. All information received in response to this notice that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly Responses will be reviewed, and candidate technologies of interest will be invited to participate in an Industry Day event in June 2026 to demonstrate and show the technology based on information provided in response to this RFI. Additional field evaluations may be completed on the technologies as well. The due date for responses to this RFI is
16 April 2026, 5pm EDT.
BACKGROUND: The legacy winter survival mobility system (Ahkio) was developed after the Korean War in the 1950’s and was supported through the early 1980’s. In the early 1970’s the program received an update to the shelter and heater system. Since the last fielding in the 1980’s, there has not been a program or material solution update. Additionally, the legacy Ahkio (Arctic Sled) and legacy 10-man shelter is no longer being produced, causing units to purchase different styles of sleds and shelters without standardization across the force. Because the Army has a requirement to operate in the Arctic and other extreme cold weather environments, units are purchasing commercial mobility and survivability equipment with unit funds to sustain operational effectiveness in the Zone 7 environment. The service life, weight and performance of the legacy equipment still in use fail to optimize both individual and unit mobility relative to commercially available, modern equipment. The AMSS is the official Program of Record (PoR) initiated on December 06, 2024 to standardize and improve legacy equipment with modern, lighter weight, integrated technology solutions to significantly improve mobility, sustainability and survivability. AMSS will provide BCT formations in Climate Zone 7 who are at risk of failing to maneuver against enemy forces, deny enemy ground, and survive in the current, projected, and regional threat areas, resulting in improved readiness to achieve their mission and significantly reduce loss of life. Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems (PdM FSS) is in the process evaluating new shelter solutions that address gaps in the legacy systems to include, but not limited to, rapid deployment and strike, system weight, equipment modernization, and system durability Information received from this RFI may be used to help identify technical solutions suitable for incorporation in future Army AMSS 5-man Team and 10-man Squad AS solutions. This RFI will help inform the Government's acquisition strategy for a potential future production effort that could exceed 3,000 systems. Information received may ultimately result in requests for equipment manufacturers to demonstrate their capabilities at no cost or risk to the Government.
Requirements: Mature technologies (TRL 7+) and products that can provide the following capabilities are of interest: Both the 5-man Team and 10-man Squad AS shall meet the following: Provide sufficient protection for Soldiers from hazardous cold weather. Breathable, wind/water resistant, and flame resistant. Meet relevant MIL-STD 810-H
requirements. Soldiers shall be able to quickly assemble and disassemble AS while wearing issued arctic OCIE in 20 minutes or less, ideally in 5 minutes or less, in all weather conditions. Shall have a stove stack. Signature management The AS shall have a low profile and have blackout capability. The AS shall have integrated signature management that provides, at a minimum, visual concealment. Ideally the system mitigates detection in the Near Infrared (NIR), Short-wave Infrared, Mid-wave Infrared (MWIR), and Long-wave Infrared (LWIR). Fully operational at –40 F, and ideally at –65
F. Berry Amendment compliant, Buy American Act compliant. Capable of operating for a continuous 72-hour mission. Five (5) years of useful life. 10 years of storage life. The 5-man Team AS shall meet the following: Total shelter system weight not exceeding 140 lbs. The 10-man Squad AS shall meet the following: Total shelter system weight not exceeding 120 lbs. Respondents shall address a solution for both 5-man Team and 10-man Squad AS. CONTENT AND FORMAT OF PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS: The electronic copy of responses is to be in .PDF or .DOCX compatible format using a size 12 font with one-inch margins. Following a review of the responses received, PdM FSS may elect to request additional information, to gain additional information about their proposed solution(s). SUBMISSION – should include: The intent of the product synopsis is to identify systems/technologies that have already been shown to meet many of the performance
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