Enhanced Flame Resistant Combat Ensemble Manufacturability and Certification

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, [email protected], and Johannes Schmidt, [email protected], 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: EFRCE Blouse: A pullover combat shirt with a half-zip front and mock turtleneck, using two fabrics (knit torso with woven sleeves and collar) along with two upper-sleeve bellows pockets with drainage, adjustable wrist tabs (three buttonholes), and external elbow reinforcement patches; a padded zipper placket improves comfort under body armor (Design: MIL-PRF-EFRCE §3.4.1.1; Fabric: knit torso §3.3.1.2 & Table II; woven sleeves/collar §3.3.1.1 & Table I). EFRCE Trousers: Concealed button fly; seven belt loops with side-waist elastic; two side-hanging pockets, two welt hip pockets; two pleated cargo pockets (one elasticized with flap and drainage) and two calf pockets with two-button flaps; seat and knee reinforcements (Design: MIL-PRF-EFRCE §3.4.1.2; Fabric: woven cloth §3.3.1.1 & Table I).

Deliverables: Company information: Provide company name, address, and point of . End item samples: Vendors shall provide one (1) blouse and one (1) trouser manufactured in accordance with Class 1, type 1 of MIL-PRF-EFRCE. If any materials or component substitution needs to be made to meet the requested deadline, provide list of substitutions. Material samples: Vendors shall provide two (2) yard samples, at no cost to the Government, for each proposed material. Each sample shall include a material description identifying fiber content, construction, weight, and any relevant performance attributes. If multiple materials are submitted, vendors shall clearly describe the distinct benefits of each submission. The Government may request additional yardage within 60 days of initial review for further testing. (Requirements for Class 1, Type I: woven cloth for sleeves, collar, body, and trousers per §3.3.1.1 & Table I, and §3.3.7.1 & Table III; knit torso material per §3.3.1.2 & Table II, and §3.3.7.4 & Table V). Physical performance data: Provide corresponding physical test data. (Requirements for Class 1, Type I: woven material performance per §3.3.1.1 & Table I, and §3.3.7.1 & Table III; knit material performance per §3.3.1.2 & Table II, and §3.3.7.4 & Table V; verification test methods per §4.4.5 & Table XII.)

Pricing: Provide estimated price per yard (full width identified) for each fabric submitted as well as garment

pricing for the complete end item (include separate