Department of Defense · Department of the Army · W6QK ACC-APG NATICK
Account requiredWhy it scored this way
Every reason behind the verdict rather than the headline one — which of your certifications match, how much runway is left, whether the work is your size, and what we would need to know to sharpen it.
The requirements that decide a bid — bonding, clearances, experience minimums, page limits — live in the attachments, not in the notice above. Start a free trial to upload them and have them read.
Draft the paperwork
Written against this notice and what you have told us about your company. Anything we do not know is marked [NEEDS INPUT] in the draft rather than guessed at — read it before you send it. Federal notices routinely put the real requirement in an attachment; adding the documents above makes every one of these materially better.
Start a free trial to draft these. Nothing is sent to an agency on your behalf, ever — you get a document to review, edit and submit yourself.
What would disqualify you
Read straight from the solicitation documents: the bonding, clearances, insurance minimums, experience thresholds and deadlines that decide whether you can bid at all — before you write a word.
Sources Sought response
A complete draft response — capability statement, relevant past performance, business size and socioeconomic status, and answers to the agency's specific questions.
Questions to submit
Genuine ambiguities and requirements that disadvantage a smaller bidder, drafted as questions you can submit before the Q&A deadline.
Past performance write-ups
Which of your prior awards best match this requirement, and draft write-ups in the format the agency asked for.
Solicitation details
Solicitation number
RequestForInformationOnCombatBootSock
Notice type
Sources Sought
NAICS
315120
Product service code
8430
Set-aside
Unrestricted
Posted
2026-10-09
Response deadline
Oct 30, 2026, 9:00 PM UTC
Place of performance
Natick, MA
Contracting contact
harvey.walker1@usmc.mil
Market intelligence
Account requiredWho wins this work, and what it pays
Comparable awards under NAICS 315120 at this agency — the incumbent, what they were paid, when their period of performance ends, and the real pricing distribution rather than the headline number. From public federal award records.
SYNOPSIS: This Sources Sought Announcement is to assist the U.S. Marine Corps Portfolio Acquisition Executive Marine Corps (PAE MC) to identify potential sources to provide a Combat Boot Sock. The goal is to provide warfighting capability and mission support in various environments by enhancing foot comfort, durability, and performance for military personnel. The Government requests that responses be submitted electronically to mary.k.prebensen.civ@army.mil and harvey.walker1@usmc.mil by October 30, 2026 by 5 PM EST. Background: Program Manager Combat Support Systems (PM CSS) is conducting market research to identify potential sources capable of manufacturing a high-performance combat boot sock that meets the requirements of Purchase Description MC-PD-24-003. The sock is intended for use with the applicable standard-issue combat boots identified in the purchase description. This Request for Information (RFI) is issued for market-research and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation, request for proposal, or commitment by the Government to procure any product or service. Description: The Marine Corps is seeking sources capable of manufacturing a durable, reliable combat boot sock designed to provide comfort, protection, and performance during demanding operational use. The sock shall meet the following Salient Characteristics specified in Purchase Description MC-PD-24-003, including, but not limited to, the following key requirements: Sock shall feature an over-the-calf length with cushioning comfort to protect the wearer from hot spots, pressure points, and blisters when wearing combat boots, and they provide graduated compression to promote blood flow from the foot with a non-slip top cuff opening. The foot of each sock includes contouring for the sock to stay in place without bunching, arch support, a gore heel and toe for improved fit, and nylon reinforcement at the heel and toe for durability. A seamless toe closure or a recessed closure with equivalent low profile is used for comfort and durability. Basic Materials. The sock shall contain wool a minimum of 52% wool (no coarser than US 60s (25 microns or finer)), a minimum of 20% nylon, and a minimum of 1% spandex and shall not contain cotton or rayon fiber. Shade. Shall be in accordance with section 3.3 of the Purchase Description Visual shade matching. Shall be in accordance with section 3.4 of the Purchase Description The finished socks shall conform to the requirements specified in table II when tested as specified. **Please refer to Table II. Sock performance requirement** Deliverables: This is a Sources Sought Announcement / RFI to identify potential sources. Based on responses, the Government may plan for a future acquisition. Interested parties should demonstrate their capability to produce socks meeting the above requirements. The Government may request samples for future evaluation. Submission Instructions: THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. This is not a solicitation, and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. Responses are for information and planning purposes only. This Sources Sought Announcement does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. It is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. Further, unsolicited proposals will not be accepted. Funding is not available at this time. The United States Marine Corps has not made a commitment to procure any of the items/services discussed, and release of this Sources Sought Announcement should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. Response to this Sources Sought Announcement is voluntary and no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this and any follow-on information requests. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Not responding to this Sources Sought Announcement does not preclude participation in any future RFP if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in the SAM.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential responders to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this subject. RESPONSES: Interested parties may identify their interest and capability by sending responses regarding this requirement to PAE MC via e-mail ONLY to harvey.walker1@usmc.mil no later than October 30, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. EST. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this notice. All costs associated with responding to this Notice will be solely at the expense of the interested party. Please provide business size (indicate your socioeconomic status), applicable NAICS code, and CAGE code. If you hold a GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract, please identify your contract number. QUESTIONS: Any questions for clarification may be emailed to harvey.walker1@usmc.mil no later than October 26, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. EST. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. An unattributed list of questions and answers will be published at the same web location of this Sources Sought Announcement. **Amendment 0001 - attachment uploaded to answer questions**
Contact
Point of contact
Harvey Walker
Role
not stated on this notice — SAM publishes a role for only about 5% of them, so this may be a contract specialist rather than the contracting officer
Email
harvey.walker1@usmc.mil
Secondary
mary.k.prebensen.civ@army.mil
Submit questions
Ambiguities and requirements worth clarifying, written as questions you can send before the deadline.
Opens in your own mail client, addressed and with a subject line — you write the message. GovSprint never sends anything on your behalf.
Emails open in your mail client and are sent from your address, so the reply comes back to you and the exchange stays yours. Confirm the correct channel and any question deadline on the notice before sending — many solicitations require questions in a specific way.
