Advanced Tactical Parachute System (ATPS) Lightweight Canopy Fabric

1.0 Introduction

The Project Manager Soldier Survivability (PM SSV), Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PdM SCIE), Personnel Airdrop Systems team is conducting market research to identify potential industry sources capable of providing advanced, lightweight parachute canopy materials. This Request for Information (RFI) is issued in support of the Advanced Tactical Parachute System (ATPS) Design Optimization effort. The Government seeks to identify commercially available or developmental fabrics that offer significant weight and pack-volume reductions over legacy materials. This RFI is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future.

2.0 Background

The current ATPS heavily relies on legacy parachute fabrics designed to withstand the rigorous deployment forces associated with mass tactical airborne operations. The standard material currently utilized for the T-11 Reserve canopy is PIA-C-44378 Type IV fabric. While this material has demonstrated historical reliability, the ATPS Design Optimization initiative seeks to decrease the overall system weight and bulk burden on the Warfighter. Reducing the weight and packed volume of the reserve canopy system is a critical objective to enhance jumper mobility, aircraft egress efficiency, and overall mission effectiveness.

3.0 Technical Requirements / Information Requested

Interested industry partners are requested to provide detailed technical information on proposed canopy fabrics that meet the following objectives and constraints:

• Primary Objective: Identify a lower-weight and lower-bulk parachute canopy material intended to serve as a direct replacement for the currently utilized PIA-C-44378 Type IV fabric.
• System Compatibility: Proposed fabrics must be seamlessly compatible with the design and manufacturing processes of the T-11R (Reserve) canopy assembly. Vendors must detail how their material integrates with existing T-11R suspension lines, reinforcement tapes, and packing methodologies.
• Performance Impact Assessment (Critical Constraint): Industry manufacturers must explicitly detail if, and how, substituting their proposed lower-weight/lower-bulk material will impact, reduce, or alter any other critical performance specifications. Submissions must include comparative data against PIA-C-44378 Type IV baseline metrics, specifically addressing:
  • Tear strength (warp and fill)
  • Tensile strength
  • Air permeability (CFM)
  • Abrasion resistance and long-term durability (UV exposure, snag-ability, etc.)
  • Deployment shock-loading capabilities
  • Relative weight of proposed fabric
  • Pack volume reduction
  • If PFAS-free, provide additional information on performance and manufacturing impacts in comparison to baseline material
  • Seam efficiency
  • Sew-ability
  • Existing use data

• Industrial Capability: Submissions should address:
• Current or planned domestic availability in compliance with Berry Amendment and Buy America Act
• Current or planned manufacturing volume to support parachute production
• Projected timeframe for ramping up to full rate production
• Pricing: Submissions should address:
  • Current cost estimate for 1500 linear yds of fabric (typical 48 in width)
  • Projected cost estimate for full rate production

4.0 Submission Instructions

Responses should be submitted in PDF or DOCX format and must not exceed ten (10) pages, excluding cover pages and test data appendices. Submissions must include the company name, CAGE code, point of contact, a statement regarding the Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the proposed Lightweight Canopy Fabric, and business size under NAICS code 314999 (All Other Miscellaneous Textile Product Mills).

Interested parties may identify their interest and capability by sending responses with information on their current commercial product(s) and how they might address the Military requirement via e-mail ONLY to Mr. Eric Louglin, eric.w.loughlin.civ@army.mil, Mr. Tashfiq Salam, Tashfiq.salam.civ@army.mil, and Mr. Mark Whiteman, g.m.whiteman.civ@army.mil, no later than 29 September 2026. Responses shall provide a courtesy copy to the Contracting Officer and Contracting Specialist points of contact included below.