01 / Federal Opportunity Brief
Survival Vest Improvement System
02 / Federal Buyer
Who is buying?
03 / Purchase
What is the government buying?
Survival Vest Improvement System
The current notice is soliciting this requirement from eligible offerors.
Partially described. The notice identifies SVSI as comprised of a new survival vest (VIPER) and a low-profile Life Preserver Unit (Serpent), and it references that VIPER and the LPU technical data package are owned by named entities. It does not provide detailed deliverables (quantities, specifications, or how Serpent is delivered/produced) and does not state that scope will be defined in future orders.
The notice is a Sources Sought only, but it states the Government anticipates a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) solicitation in Fiscal Year 2027.
Not disclosed. The notice anticipates an IDIQ but does not describe how individual orders would be issued or structured.
04 / Contracting Requirements
How will this procurement work?
| Requirement | What the notice says | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | The notice describes design/data ownership and components: VIPER is a NAVAIR-owned design that incorporates an SBIR armor release system designed by Bunker Supply, and the LPU Technical Data Package is owned by Switlik Parachute Company. However, it does not state explicit eligibility requirements for respondents beyond being “qualified interested contractors.” | Partially Confirmed |
| Contract ceiling | Not disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Minimum guarantee | Not disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Contract duration | Not disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Foreign participation | Not disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Proposal and award procedure | Submission/usage constraints are stated, but detailed evaluation factors and proposal/award instructions are not provided. The notice says responses are voluntary, the Government will not pay for costs, no RFQ exists, responses are not quotes, and the Government does not intend to award a contract vehicle based only on responses. | Partially Confirmed |
| Staffing and security | Not disclosed. | Not Disclosed |
Read the original SAM.gov description
THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government. All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary, and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. The Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Patuxent River, Maryland is requesting information and conducting market research to identify and determine if there are potential sources to manufacture and deliver a Survival Vest Improvement System (SVSI). SVSI is comprised of a new survival vest, VIPER, and a low-profile Life Preserver Unit, Serpent. VIPER is a NAVAIR owned design that incorporates a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) armor release system designed by Bunker Supply. The LPU Technical Data Package is owned by Switlik Parachute Company. As part of its market research, NAVAIR - PMA202 is issuing this Sources Sought to determine if there exist an adequate number of qualified interested contractors capable of providing the requirement. The Government may use the responses to this Sources Sought for information and planning purposes. This Sources Sought is only for the purpose of identifying potential sources as part of NAVAIR – PMA202 market research. No Request For Quote (RFQ) exists; therefore, do not request a copy of the RFQ. Responses to this Sources Sought are not quotes on which the NAVAIR – PMA202 can issue any contract. This Sources Sought is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not itself constitute an RFP or RFQ. The Government does not intend to award a contract vehicle based only on responses to this Sources Sought. All information received in response to this Sources Sought marked "Proprietary" will be protected and handled accordingly. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Responses to the Sources Sought will not be returned. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Sources Sought. NAVAIR – PMA202 will not pay for information received in response to this Sources Sought. Do not submit pricing information in response to this Sources Sought. Interested sources shall provide a response detailing their capability to manufacture and deliver SVSI. Respondents should provide a brief description of their experience manufacturing similar equipment, including any relevant past performance data (if available). Additionally, respondents should include their experience with manufacturing Critical Safety Items. Respondents should also describe their capacity; production quantities are anticipated between 260 and 1543 annually with the potential to go higher . The Government anticipates a solicitation for a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) in Fiscal Year 2027. The Government will provide a TDP with the solicitation in FY27 for the vest. The government does not possess or own data rights necessary to distribute for the LPU. Any interested parties MUST copy all parties listed below: Greg Tollefsen, Procurement Contracting Officer gregory.e.tollefsen.civ@us.navy.mil Amy Wescott, Contract Specialist amy.l.wescott.civ@us.navy.mil No telephonic responses WILL NOT be accepted.
05 / Historical Spending Trend
How has spending on the selected comparable contracts changed?
The same closed fiscal-year window and the same complete comparable-contract set are used throughout this Brief. Net obligations total $1.16M across 1 fiscal years.

| Fiscal year | Comparable obligations | Actions | Vendors |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $1.16M | 1 | 1 |
06 / Related Historical Awards
Which contracts support the comparison?
No direct contract reference was found. 1 broad match is shown as supporting context.

| Contract | Vendor | Latest activity | Office | NAICS / PSC | Match | Obligations | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N0042125F1167 | FEDTRIBE LLC | Sep 12, 2025 | NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIR DIV | 336413 / 1680 | Broad match Buyer and requirement-language evidence | $1.16M | 1 |
07 / Contractor Evidence
Which contractors have performed related work?
Historical contractors are ranked by direct procurement-family evidence and comparable contract activity. The table distinguishes connected holders from broader performers without identifying unverified bidders.
No directly connected predecessor was identified. The companies below are historical performers selected from the comparable contract set; none is identified as a bidder.

| Company | Evidence | Fit | Why included | Contracts | Actions | Obligations | Latest activity | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEDTRIBE LLC UEI H1LMRXJG66H3 · CAGE 8PG91 | Broad historical performer Historical performer | Moderate | Comparable buyer and requirement history | 1 | 1 | $1.16M | Sep 12, 2025 | GETWAB profile Verified via SAM Entities Official website |
08 / Competitive Landscape
How was comparable work competed?
Competition treatment is calculated from exactly the same closed-period contract set used in Sections 5–7. It describes historical actions, not the outcome of this solicitation.

| FPDS treatment | Code | Actions | Obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full and open after exclusion of sources | D | 1 | $1.16M | 100.0% |
09 / Procurement History
How was this opportunity published and updated?
One SAM.gov notice record was resolved for this procurement family.
| Notice | Type | Posted | Response deadline | Status | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N00421-27-WPM202-SVSI Current Brief record Survival Vest Improvement System | Sources Sought | Sep 22, 2026 | Oct 22, 2026 3:00 PM GMT-0400 | Active | View on SAM.gov |
10 / NAICS and PSC Market Context
How large is the selected comparable market?
Classification codes organize the evidence; they do not prove that every contract in the broader NAICS or PSC market matches this requirement.
11 / Capture Signals and Risks
What should be validated before committing capture resources?
Capture signals separate verified procurement-family evidence from unresolved requirements and market-only indicators.
Direct procurement-family evidence
No direct award record found
Buyer proximity
1 comparable record(s) share the contracting office
Eligibility
No Set aside used
Unresolved requirement fields
7
12 / Who Should Pursue
When does this opportunity fit?
- Your team can demonstrate recent, relevant delivery in Survival Vest Improvement System.
- Your company can document the stated eligibility conditions: The notice describes design/data ownership and components: VIPER is a NAVAIR-owned design that incorporates an SBIR armor release system designed by Bunker Supply, and the LPU Technical Data Package is owned by Switlik Parachute Company. However, it does not state explicit eligibility requirements for respondents beyond being “qualified interested contractors.”
- You can perform under the stated acquisition model: The notice is a Sources Sought only, but it states the Government anticipates a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) solicitation in Fiscal Year 2027.
- You can show credible past performance for NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIR DIV or a closely related federal customer.
- Your technical scope fits, but you lack demonstrated history with NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIR DIV.
- You need a specialist teammate to close unresolved staffing, security, or detailed-scope requirements before committing.
- You cannot satisfy or verify the stated eligibility conditions: The notice describes design/data ownership and components: VIPER is a NAVAIR-owned design that incorporates an SBIR armor release system designed by Bunker Supply, and the LPU Technical Data Package is owned by Switlik Parachute Company. However, it does not state explicit eligibility requirements for respondents beyond being “qualified interested contractors.”
- Your delivery model cannot support the stated contract vehicle or order-based work structure.
- The unresolved requirements shown above cannot be validated before committing proposal resources.



